NOTE BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER: THIS STORY IS NOT MINE!

WRITTEN BY KARLA GREGORY

Account Holder Note: And here it is, the Epilogue! To tell you the truth I've Always been a little bit in love with this story and I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did!

Epilogue

Two weeks had passed since "that night". Only two days ago, Padre Ramon had consented to let Diego get out of bed and begin to walk around. He found himself walking listlessly around the little house and out into the walled yard. He tired very easily. Most of the more shallow of his wounds were nearly healed, but those that had pierced deeply were proving to be most bothersome. This time his convalescence weighed more heavily upon him because he had nothing to focus on. Monastario was gone and there was no need for Zorro. He had written down all of the details of the plot to steal the military goods and sent it to the authorities anonymously and apparently the information triggered the arrests of several men and the recovery of other stolen goods. This had raised Diego's spirits for a time, but he soon returned to his listlessness.

Going back into the house, he sat on the edge of the bed and lay back staring at the ceiling. Finally, he covered his eyes with his arm and fell asleep. After a time, he dreamed he was back in California. He could hear his father saying, "Diego! Are you going to stay in bed all day? Half the morning is gone and still you do not get up!" He smiled as he lay there. It was so real! If only he could be home and hear his father say that again. Suddenly, he was shaken by the shoulder and when he took his arm away from his eyes he saw his father standing there.

"Diego, did you not hear me?" he said with false gruffness, grinning all the while. "Will you not get up and greet your own father?" He held his arms open wide.

Diego could only sit up staring with his mouth open. Padre Ramon stepped into view and said with a laugh, "Diego, if you don't close your mouth, the flies will get in! (He closed it.) Get up and greet your father as you should."

Pain and lethargy forgotten, Diego fairly leaped off the bed and into his father's arms. They hugged each other tightly as they laughed together, cried, and laughed some more.

Finally, Diego held his father at arm's length and looked at him with concerned eyes.

"Father, what of Bernardo? Is he alive? I have been so afraid he was killed that day."

Don Alejandro was grinning from ear to ear because he could see Bernardo's expressive eyes peering over Diego's shoulder. Diego looked around to see what his father was grinning at and found Bernardo. He was subjected to the same treatment as Don Alejandro.

Bernardo was so happy to see his friend, but what a toll the last months had taken on him! But he, Bernardo, was here now and Diego would be well taken care of. He would see to that! Still holding on to Bernardo, Diego encircled Don Alejandro's waist with his other arm and pulled both of them close to him as though he would never let go. He buried his head on his father's shoulder.

Padre Ramon stood aside watching. He had not seen Diego happy until today. His heart swelled with emotion as he watched these three people who truly had affection for each other. After all that Diego had gone through, he was pleased to know that he would be going to a home filled with love.

Diego suddenly felt his weakness return and was forced to sit on the bed. Bernardo was there instantly to make Diego lie back on the bed, fluffing his pillows, inquiring if he could get anything for him to eat or drink.

Diego held up his hands to ward him off and said smiling, "Stop fussing over me, my friend. You and father pull up some chairs and sit down so we can talk together." He gestured to the padre. "You too, Padre. Bring a chair and join us."

When they were all seated, Diego said, "The first thing you must tell me father, is how in the world you found me!"

So Don Alejandro told of the search for Diego and how they had found only Bernardo at the sight of the kidnappings. Bernardo was able to tell Don Alejandro that Diego was being sent to Spain and that Monastario was at the heart of it after overhearing the bandidos talking. They had proceeded to Santa Barbara and had found Diego's horse tied up to the wharf. From the fisherman there, they had confirmed that a young man answering Diego's description had been placed aboard a ship sailing for Spain that very night.

"Imagine my frustration, my son, when I found out that there would not be another ship for Spain for six weeks! It was intolerable!" he slapped his knee in anger and Diego smothered a laugh. He was enjoying watching his father act… well… like his father.

Bernardo indicated that he too was frustrated by the delay. "I could not tell Sergeant Garcia all of the details about why you were taken. I convinced him that you had been kidnapped for ransom and that the kidnapers had panicked and put you on that ship heading for Spain just to escape capture. I told him I only knew two things. One, you had been taken to Spain and two, I was going after you."

Bernardo signaled.

"Yes, Bernardo would not be left behind."

"But Father, you could not possibly know where in Spain I would be taken," Diego said. "Spain is a big country."

"I knew enough to know that wherever Monastario was that is where I would find you. When we arrived here, I began asking questions about Monastario and found out that he was in Madrid. Bernardo and I hastened to Madrid as fast as we could. But, by the time we arrived, we found out that Monastario was dead. We were told that he had been killed in his house and that a mysterious "Z" had been carved on the wall next to him."

Diego shot a questioning look at Padre Ramon, who nodded and made the sign of a "Z" with his finger. Diego nodded in satisfaction. This exchange was not lost on Don Alejandro or Bernardo.

Don Alejandro continued. "I did not know where to turn next, but our faithful Bernardo did," he said patting the servant on the back. Bernardo beamed. "He told me we should go to the university and visit the church there to pray. While we were there, Bernardo recognized the good Padre, and Padre Ramon, as soon as he saw Bernardo, knew why we were here. He brought us straight here to you, my son. We have heard nothing of your story except that you were hurt fighting Monastario and that he was finally brought to justice. The padre says it is not his story to tell."

Diego reached out and placed his hand on Padre Ramon's arm and squeezed it in affection. "He is right, Father," he said. "And I will tell the whole thing to you when we are on a ship heading back home to California, if you don't mind. For now, I will just say that Zorro and I had to come to an understanding about who we really are." Don Alejandro and Bernardo exchanged questioning glances.

Diego smiled, "Father, the next time you see Zorro, look into his eyes. You will see me, Diego de la Vega, looking back at you.

Fini