Chapter 2

Miguel hid Tornado behind some trees and used the back entrance. He tiptoed to his room and found the supplies he needed to replenish his medical bag. He hoped it was all he needed. He grabbed the surgical instruments he thought he would use and tucked a medical book under his arm. Listening at the door for any signs of life, Miguel poked his head out into the hallway and then stuck his toe out. He gingerly stepped around a known creak in the floor and navigated quietly back the way he came.

Passing by the sala, his father was sitting in a wingback chair, reading a book by the fire. Miguel ducked off to the side just as his father tipped his head up from his book. Miguel held his breath, waiting to hear if his father had spotted him. After a few moments of silence, Miguel exhaled quietly and continued into the kitchen and out the back door.

He found the black beast waiting for him. No sooner did he mount the stallion did it take off at lightning speed. He clung tightly to his book and medical bag, hoping he wouldn't lose them along the way.

No wonder Zorro was always able to elude the clutches of the law. No one could catch this incredible animal.

zzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

Zorro was restless in her lap. He stirred again, squeezing his eyes tight and emitting a hiss.

"Hold on, Senor. My brother should be here soon," Moneta encouraged, praying desperately for the man to fight to live. "Who would be coward enough to shoot you in the back?"

He blinked a few times as if it was hard to recall, "Bandidos. They stole the collection from the mission," he adjusted and sucked in a short bit of air from searing pain.

Moneta stroked his head again in a way to calm him down. It was futile, she knew, but it was all she could do. His face was contorted. Moneta had gone to great lengths to force herself to not stare at his face. If she studied him for too long, she might be able to identify him. So instead she would only make quick glances or focus on her hand stroking his head. But his rising pain was concerning her. Her eyes were locked on his eyes which were squeezed tight. A few tears managed to escape and disappeared into his mask. Moneta stared at the cave opening, hoping, willing her brother to rush in at that moment. But when he didn't, she stiffened her back and swallowed. It was up to her to keep him calm. "Should I tell you a story?" Maybe keeping his mind distracted from the pain would help. "It is a terribly embarrassing story and you must promise to never reveal it to anyone."

He weakly chuckled, "It is safe with me."

Moneta grinned and recounted her tale, "When I was a young girl, I desperately wanted to play with my brother and his friends. But it wasn't proper for a young lady to fight and swim and have fantastical adventures. Well, one day I was going to prove them all wrong. I took a friend of mine, I will keep her name a secret, and we were determined to do the things that the boys could do. We went to old Miller's pond and –" she cleared her throat, "dressed down to our undergarments and jumped in. We couldn't swim but it was not too deep. But oh, the fun we had splashing around – being reckless. Now comes the embarrassing part."

"You have my rapt attention," his voice was weak but remained lighthearted.

"As we came out of the pond to dry off, we found leeches on our limbs and torso. We shrieked and danced around. Our arms and legs flailing about. I'm sure it was quite a hilarious sight." He huffed a few times and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "We jumped back into the pond to get them off only to have a few more of those vile creatures attach themselves to us. We came back out and spent the horrifying next few minutes picking the leeches off of one another," Moneta giggled. "We then came up with a cover story in case anyone asked about our whereabouts and the condition of our appearances. At the time it was terrifying, but now I look back at it with fondness. I don't think I've ever told that story to anyone, even my mother."

"I am honored. I will cherish it."

"I don't understand how those boys loved to swim in Miller's pond," Moneta shook her head with a grin. "It is nice to talk to you, Senor. Maybe it's because I do not know who you are. It is like having a companion to share my innermost secrets with."

"I enjoy your secret. You must apologize that I cannot share any of my own."

"I understand," she pried the cloth away from his back. "The bleeding has stopped," she exhaled as she gave her tired wrist a shake. He moved slightly but cried out in pain and growled as a few more tears disappeared into his mask. Moneta placed a comforting hand on his chest and patted him gently. He took her hand and held it as his body eased. Moneta inwardly calmed herself at the scary moment. She swallowed and continued on in a forced cheery tone, "Now, I think the first time I ever heard of you was almost three years ago. I remember sitting in the sala with my friend Isabella Linares when Mateo came rushing in looking for Miguel. He told us about the exciting commotion that happened in the pueblo that previous night. Nacho Torres had been arrested. Do you remember that?"

He nodded weakly, his breathing a little labored.

She went on to recount several of his escapades from a bystanders point of view. She laughed at the funny predicaments the soldiers were left in trying to chase Zorro. Then she fondly squeezed his hand, "...And I will never forget what you did for my father. Saving him from treason while Miguel was away at school. We are indebted to you."

He gritted through his teeth, "You're making me blush, Senorita."

She chuckled at his lighthearted remark. "Are you one to blush, Senor? I imagine you've done your fair share of making women blush. How many hearts have you captured? Why several of my friends who have met you have had heated conversations about who holds your highest affection. It is quite humorous. Do you have someone who you love? One who is missing you this night?" She received no reply, "I know you cannot tell me. It might reveal your identity."

His slight grip on her hand had loosened and she realized he had fallen asleep. At least he could get some rest and maybe regain some strength. She stared at the cave opening. "Come on, Miguel."

Moneta dipped her chin and caught herself from falling asleep. The fire had died out. She shook her head to wake up. Where was Miguel? Just then, a hurried sound of hooves approached and then scuffled noises. She gripped Zorro's shirt in a protective manner, hoping it was just Miguel. Her prayers were answered as her brother ran inside with his medical bag and a book.

"Is he still alive?"

"Si. The bleeding stopped. Do you have everything you need?"

"I think so," he took no time to kneel at his patient's side and crack open the medical book.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure that I don't kill him," he clipped back at her. He spent a few minutes reading then put the book down and opened his medical bag. He then stoked the fire so he could have adequate light. Then he pulled out a bottle and poured the contents onto a cloth. "We need to turn him over onto his stomach," they gingerly did so and Moneta placed the blanket underneath his head. Miguel handed her the cloth. "This is chloroform. It will put him to sleep while I extract the bullet. Hold it over his nose and mouth. Be careful not to breathe any of it yourself."

Moneta placed the cloth over the masked man's mouth but he seized her wrist and jerked it away to prevent her from placing it over his face. "Please, Senor. We are trying to help you."

But Zorro would not let them place it over his mouth. Miguel leaned over his patient and said gruffly, "I am going to remove this bullet, Senor. But you cannot be awake to do it. Either you breathe this in or I bash you over the head."

Zorro finally relented and breathed in the chloroform. Soon his body eased and he was breathing steadily.

Moneta glanced up at her brother, "You need to work on your bedside manner," a small grin formed on her lips.

"I think he can handle it," Miguel grinned back at her. He grabbed a scalpel, "Okay, I am going to make an incision and then use the retractor to keep it open to find the bullet."

Moneta watched in fascination but when he pulled apart the skin, she covered her mouth and looked away. The blood started to seep out.

"Don't go fainting on me, Sister. Hold your breath or do whatever you need to do to stay conscious." He worked in silence then whispered, "I see the bullet," he grabbed a long set of tweezers and dug into the wound. He cursed, "I lost it." His hands were shaking and his voice was trembling.

"It's okay. You can do this," she tried to encourage.

He tried again and she inwardly rejoiced when he pulled out the surgical instrument along with the bullet.

"You did it," she exclaimed in a hushed tone.

Miguel was about to revel in his triumph when his expression dropped, "Oh, no."

"What? What's wrong?"

"He's bleeding. A lot. That's not supposed to happen. That didn't happen when Dr. Moreno extracted the bullet."

"What is happening?" Moneta's voice panicked. The blood was pulsating out of the wound.

Miguel's thoughts raced with what he might've done wrong and what he could do to fix it. "Ah – uh, okay. Wait. I remember once Moreno nicked an artery on a restless patient as he was extracting a bullet. He sewed up the artery. But I've never done that before. I don't think I can do this."

Moneta seized his wrist, "Yes, you can. You've never pulled out a bullet, yet you just did. You've assisted in several surgeries. You can do this. Now, do it."

Miguel paused for a moment as he collected his resolve. "Okay. Okay, I need to sew up the artery. I can do this," he had Moneta thread the needle then he hesitated before forging ahead.

The blood didn't bother her anymore. Her eyes were glued to her brother's hands as he found the artery and sewed it up. It was fascinating to see the blood cease to pulsate from the wound as he successfully had sewn it up.

Miguel sat back on his heels as he wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand. Moneta took a cloth and wiped his forehead. "Gracias. Okay. I think I got it."

"I know you did."

"I just need to finish sewing him up then apply medicine and bandage him up." He worked for another ten minutes to sew him up and make sure he tied the knot securely. He then cleaned all the blood off of the skin.

Moneta noticed there was no more blood coming from the wound. It was a straight, clean line sewn together.

Miguel applied the proper medicines to keep it from getting infected then applied a bandage. Once done, he fell back and propped his weary limbs up on his knees. "I did the best I could."

"You did it," Moneta exhaled. She took her brother from around his neck and hugged him. "You saved him," she pecked him on the cheek. "See? Who else can say their first patient was the famous outlaw Zorro?"

"I just hope they won't say Miguel killed his first patient, the famous outlaw Zorro."

Moneta began to collect all the bloodied cloth and gathered together his equipment. "I'll burn these," she stood and her legs ached. It was then that she realized how exhausted she was.

"I will wash my equipment in the river." They did their best to clean up and Miguel came back and patted the black stallion, "I think he's going to make it, my friend."

The stallion nodded vigorously.

When he went back into the cave, he found his sister had fallen asleep next to Zorro. He picked up his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. As he fell asleep he imagined his father worried and sending out search parties for them. In the morning, they would have to leave. They couldn't risk their father sending out people to look for them. Miguel didn't know when he had fallen asleep.

In the morning, Miguel blinked and yawned. He stretched his stiff limbs and remembered he was in a cave. He turned to his patient. He was still asleep. Miguel felt the masked man's pulse. It was steady. The man in black's chest had a steady rise and fall. He lifted the bandage and inspected the wound. It was already showing signs of healing. Miguel put the back of his hand to the outlaw's covered forehead and held it there to try and distinguish if he had a fever. There was no alarming heat. Which meant there was no infection. Miguel sat back on his heels with a smile. He did it. Zorro had a good chance.

"Is he awake?" Moneta asked as she arched her back and rolled her neck.

"No."

"Is he alright?"

"I believe he will make a full recovery." Miguel glanced to the mouth of the cave where the sun shone bright. "Father might have gone to the commandante to report us missing. I know you will hate this suggestion, but I think we need to leave him here to wake up on his own. We need to go back to our house –" he held up a hand as she was about to protest, "would you rather a search party find our whereabouts. The buggy can easily be spotted in the daylight."

Moneta knew he was right but didn't want to just leave him there alone. Her brother helped her to her feet. "I'll be there in a moment."

Miguel let her say goodbye as he grabbed his belongings and took them to the buggy.

She knelt down and stroked his cheek, "Goodbye, Senor," she turned as she heard a loud whiny. It must have been the outlaw's faithful horse. She turned back as movement caught her eye. He stirred and in a moment opened his eyes. "You are safe, Senor Zorro," she reminded him. "I am so glad you are awake. My brother removed the bullet and sewed you up." She told him as he pushed up on his arms and gingerly pulled himself into a sitting position.

"Come on, Moneta," Miguel stopped at seeing the outlaw awake. "Finally, I was beginning to think you'd never wake up. We were about to leave you here," he grinned as he bent down to help the outlaw to his feet.

"My apologies for not adhering to your timetable," Zorro quipped. He let Miguel drape his cape over his back to hide the tear in his clothing on his back. Miguel then placed the black sombrero on his head. "Gracias," the outlaw said quietly. He then let Miguel wrap his arm around his shoulder and guide him out of the cave. The morning sun was bright and Zorro paused.

"You are used to the night, aren't you," Miguel teased.

"Miguel, don't be cruel," Moneta admonished.

Zorro removed his arm from around the young man, "It makes it easier to not have to see your face," he took a few steps himself.

Miguel laughed out loud. Their parrying was comfortable and familiar. He watched as the stallion rushed to the outlaw's side. Zorro rubbed his horse's nose and neck tenderly, reassuring the animal he was okay. And as if the horse knew what to do to help his owner, he took a few steps forward to make the saddle closer to his owner. Zorro grabbed the pummel and hesitated. His body was weak.

"Is this a good idea to be riding around in the daylight in your condition, Senor Zorro?" Moneta came to his side.

Zorro dipped his head at an onset of dizziness, "I will be alright," he tried to lift his leg to place it in the stirrup but could not. Miguel was about to help him when the horse miraculously knelt down to allow his friend to step over him and sit into the saddle. What a magnificent creature. Miguel marveled as the animal rose slowly to his feet. Zorro slumped a little in the saddle, clinging to the pummel.

"I do not think this is a good idea," Moneta said.

"Moneta, let the man go," Miguel looked up at the outlaw, "Be extra careful though. Our father may have a search party looking for us.

Zorro nodded as he collected the reins.

"Be sure to change the bandage and keep the wound clean so it won't become infected. I could stop by and check up on you."

Zorro flashed a grin, "I'm injured. Not gullible, Senor."

Miguel displayed his arms in a playful manner. "What, no thank you for saving your life? I should send you a bill."

Zorro chuckled, "A bill I'd most happily pay. I am indebted to you both. You will make an excellent doctor. That is, if I don't die from your handiwork," he gave a tender glance toward Moneta before tapping the reins. Tornado eased into a gentle run.

Moneta wiped a tear with the palm of her hand. Miguel wrapped his arm around her. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm so happy," she stated.

"I think you're tired. Come, let's go home," Miguel exhaled a breath of relief as he helped her into the carriage and directed them home. "I got to ride Zorro's horse. Another thing no one will ever be able to say," he stated proudly.

"Nor will they ever know because you cannot tell anyone," Moneta teased and laughed as his face dropped at the realization.

Thankfully, the Esperon land neighbored the De la Vega land. Even though it seemed like a long ride, it wasn't as long as it could have been to which he was grateful. He had to be extra careful, taking the warning of what Miguel had said. Diego breathed a hallelujah when the shrubs came into view. He eased his head this way and that, to assure he was alone before dipping his head and letting Tornado guide them into the secret cave.

He was so tired. Tornado took him all the way into the cavern that doubled as his stable and Diego slid down to the ground, clutching the pummel still to keep from collapsing. His own bed was all he wanted, but turning and leaning against Tornado for support and seeing the mountain of steps, his heart sank. He'd never make it up those steps.

His half prayer was answered when Bernardo and his father descended the stairs and were shocked to find him scrubbing off his mask and sombrero.

"Diego!" His father exclaimed and they were at his side.

He quickly explained what happened and let them help him up the stairs. They helped him into his night garments and tucked him into his bed. He reassured them at least a hundred times that he was alright. "Zorro had two allies in Moneta and Miguel," he grinned. "Miguel is going to make a wonderful doctor someday. Just needs to work on his bedside manner," he stated lightheartedly for the benefit of his two very concerned companions. He then instructed Bernardo that the bandage on his back would need to be changed later that day and his injury would need to be monitored for infection.

As Bernardo fluffed his faithful friend's pillow and helped ease him down, Diego continued after a yawn, "Bernardo, the stolen money is in one of Tornado's saddle bags. See to it that it gets back to the mission."

Bernardo nodded emphatically.

"That's enough Zorro talk. You are to sleep and rest, my son," Alejandro squeezed his son's arm affectionately. "I am just happy you are home and safe."

"Thank you, father. Me too."

Bernardo draped the blankets over the young don and tucked it around him. They let him sleep and shut the door to his bedroom. Diego lied there in blissful comfort. Well, as comfortable as he could be with the ache in his back. As his head sunk deeper into the pillow, a vision flashed across his mind. It was of young Moneta flailing around with leeches on her arms and legs. He couldn't help but grin as he drifted off to sleep.

The End

Hope you enjoyed this little 2 chapter story. Thank you for reading it. I literally wrote this in one day and knew I just needed to post it to get it out of my head hahahaa