The following morning was cooler than usual during that time of the year. Don Alejandro was working in the garden when he noticed three armed, mounted men nearing the hacienda on the main road to the house. He was not the only one, as the Count also exited just in time to spot them, and hurriedly signaled for the men he had guarding the hacienda. Muskets in hand, they positioned themselves at the entrance, right by their master and the elderly don.
The riders hesitated at noticing such a display of force and, as soon as they stopped the horses, glanced at each other, then slowly dismounted.
Don Alejandro took a few moments to recognize them, then, taking a step forward, he uttered, in a defiant tone of voice: "I only have one question for you. Where have you old buzzards been hiding yourselves?" Saying that, he smiled and hurried to embrace his old friends, under the consternated looks of the Count and everyone else there.
"You know these men?" The nobleman asked as he also neared the group.
"We go some thirty years back," Don Alejandro replied. "Don Sebastian, I want you to meet the three toughest hombres in the Fifth Spanish Cavalry: Captain Carlos Frontera, Sergeant Pablo Escobar and Private Juan Traves… at least those were their ranks the last time I saw them…"
"We were all Captains by the time we retired from duty," Juan said.
"I expected no less…" the elderly caballero replied. "My friends, this is –"
"Don't tell me!" Carlos said, staring at the tall nobleman as if studying him for a few moments. "Your son!?"
Don Alejandro and the Count exchanged glances, then the don turned towards his friends, shaking his head. "No… My son, Diego, has been gone for years now…"
"I see… Forgive me…" The man uttered, embarrassed.
"I am Sebastian de Murrieta, Count of Dragonera," the young man introduced himself, aware of how painful a subject his presumed death was for his father.
The newcomers looked at him with confusion. "We didn't expect to meet a Count here…" Juan said. "All we expected to find was our old friend here. The finest horseman in the whole Spanish cavalry… And the man who is going to lead us into our final battle…"
"Battle? What battle?" The Count asked in confusion.
"Cordoba!" Carlos answered.
Don Alejandro looked dumbfounded. "Cordoba? He's still alive?"
"Yes. And he is here." The same man replied.
ZZZ
It was an hour later when, having made sure the newcomers each received a guestroom at the hacienda, then granted the four old friends some time to catch up, the Count exited to the courtyard to find them drinking coffee and discussing plans for capturing the outlaw Antonio Cordoba.
"You can't be serious! You are no longer the soldiers you once were," he uttered at overhearing them. "If the man is as dangerous as you make him out to be, all you'll achieve is getting yourselves killed."
The four stopped to look at him. "We may not be as young as you, Your Excellency, but this is a matter of honor! The man betrayed us all!" Juan said.
"He turned against us in the heat of battle and shot Don Alejandro's brother in the back. Alfonso has been in the ground for thirty years, and yet Cordoba still walks the earth!" Pablo confirmed.
"We made an oath to capture him then, and we'll be damned if we don't keep it!" Carlos added.
Don Alejandro clenched his fists at the memory of his brother, and the young man understood exactly what was in his heart at that moment. He, too, had been betrayed. He, too, had the right to seek revenge.
"Very well…" the Count said, sitting down, next to Don Alejandro. "In that case, before you do anything, I suggest you spend some time training. I can also give you some of my best men to help in your endeavors."
"We appreciate the offer, Your Excellency," Pablo replied, "but this is something we need to do on our own. We may be a little rusty, but we each used to be great fighters once. It's just a matter of fine-tuning our skills, once again. I doubt it will take long…"
"A few hours' training should suffice, I think," Juan confirmed, self-confidently.
Unwilling to fight with them, though he was certain they needed more than a few hours – perhaps a few months – to fine-tune whatever skills the men had once possessed, the Count nodded. Standing up, he headed for the guards, instructing them to get whatever props Don Alejandro and his friends needed for their training. Then, taking his leave from them, he headed into town.
ZZZ
The three newcomers stared for a while as the nobleman's coach slowly disappeared from view, then turned towards Don Alejandro.
"I thought he was your guest, but he acts like he owns the place…" Carlos remarked.
"That's because he does," the don answered. "This is the Hacienda Dragonera, now. I had been out of luck lately… Had it not been for the Count, I would probably be in the poorhouse right now."
"What do you mean? Last I heard of you, you were the most prosperous don in California…"
"That was a while ago… Then, our former Alcalde stole my land grant; the new one found out about it, and decided to use it to get his hands on my lands… I found myself forced to buy my own hacienda back from him. But it still went downhill from there. To repay my debts, I had to sell everything, piece by piece. One of the Count's men bought most of it – first my animals, then this house, and all my lands… And he was more than generous, I have to say…"
"Well, if that is the case… While I admit he seems like a good man, how can you be sure the Count is not behind your misfortunes? What if the Alcalde works for him?"
"No… That's not possible. And De Soto, that was the man's name, is also our former Alcalde now… He died recently, as he tried to evade justice. The Count was part of those who made sure he'd suffer the consequences of his actions. Besides, De Soto was working for another man, called Risendo. He came here as the king's Emissary and he was the reason why I found myself forced to eventually sell the hacienda. But I guarantee you, he's not a friend of the Count's, either."
"But if the young man is the owner of all you once owned, how come you still live here?" Juan inquired.
"He is not the sort who knows how to manage a ranch. So he proposed that I remain here and continue handling the affairs of the hacienda."
"You are his employee?"
"Well… Not exactly. He doesn't pay me for my work. Instead, we divide the profits equally…"
The three men again exchanged a glance. "And you stay in the main house…" Pablo uttered.
The elderly don nodded. "I occupy the rooms I have always occupied…"
"And you are allowed to have guests… like us, for example." The same man said.
"Yes…"
A moment of silence followed.
"I have never heard of such a thing!" Carlos exclaimed.
"Me neither…" Pablo also said. "If he was a close relative who wanted to help you, I would have certainly understood. But for a stranger to act like that…"
"Earlier, when he heard us discussing our plans, he seemed genuinely worried. He seems very protective of you, Don Alejandro…" Juan remarked.
"I once pointed out to him that same fact. He never gave me a straight answer as to why he feels the need to protect me. Though, I suspect that he might be simply trying to stop Risendo. It sometimes seems to me that he has his own accounts to settle with the man..."
"Perhaps." Pablo confirmed. "But it is still very strange… Very strange indeed…"
"Well, while we ponder the mystery of this Count, how about we spend our time more usefully, and start training? Cordoba must have at least five or six men in his gang. We'll need to take them out before we get to him," Juan pointed out.
ZZZ
"Your Excellency," Mendoza said, standing up, as the nobleman entered his office after being announced, "I understand you wanted to discuss something with me?"
"Indeed, Sergeant," he replied as he sat down, indicating for the sergeant to do the same. "I wish to know all you can tell me about a certain Antonio Cordoba. I understand he's a wanted bandit with a rather large price on his head."
"Cordoba? Cordoba…" Mendoza seemed to think, then called for Gomez, instructing him to bring him a wanted poster.
The lancer did as asked, and returned to hand the paper to the sergeant.
"I believe he is a very dangerous man. He has a 2000 pesos reward on his head. It says here that he is wanted for murder and theft," Mendoza uttered, then handed the poster to the Count.
The younger man took it and, after studying the drawing of the thug's face for a while, he glanced at the information below. "You know nothing else about him? How many men are part of his gang, for example," he asked.
"No… But he's nowhere near here. Last I heard, he was in Baja California. Perhaps he was caught by now."
"I fear you might be wrong, Sergeant. This man is the one who killed Don Alejandro's brother. Some men who had served under his command just arrived this morning at the hacienda, certain Cordoba is nearby."
"They think Cordoba is here? In Los Angeles?" The Sergeant inquired.
The Count nodded. "Not in the pueblo, but close enough…" he replied.
Thanking Mendoza, the nobleman took his goodbye and left his office, just in time to notice Victoria removing some empty dishes from the porch. Smiling, he headed towards her.
"Don Sebastian," she greeted as she almost bumped into him at exiting the kitchen with a tray.
"Señorita!" He replied with a smile. "Are you very busy?"
"A little…" She answered.
"I was hoping you might be free for dinner tonight. Don Alejandro has some old friends over. I'm certain he'd be glad for the opportunity to introduce them to you and vice-versa."
"Tonight?" She wondered. "I might be free…"
"Excellent! I'll send the coach for you at 7."
She nodded her agreement with a smile, then took the plates she was carrying to a nearby table, where three customers were waiting. He smiled back and soon left the tavern.
ZZZ
By the time the young woman arrived at the hacienda that evening, the four older men had already drunk a bottle of wine between them and were merry for more than one reason. They dined and shared old memories with the two young people, then retired on the terrace to discuss their plans.
"The place where Cordoba is hiding, Canyon de las Piedras, is a natural fortress. We'll have to draw them out; to create a diversion." Don Alejandro suggested.
"You're not serious about this!" the Count said as he also joined them, while Victoria had remained behind to exchange a few words with Juliana.
*"We've never been more serious." Don Alejandro answered.
"You think we're too old?" Carlos asked as he held up his right hand, putting his elbow on the table. "Come!"
The Count shook his head, yet accepted the challenge. He grasped Carlos's hand and, at Pablo's signal, he did nothing but resist the older man's attempt to push. He was far stronger than Carlos, but his heart was far too soft to humiliate the man in front of his friends. Just as Victoria was also exiting to the terrace, he allowed himself defeated, a decision that gained Carlos cheers from the other three men there.
"We are like good wine, you see!" the former Captain explained. "We improve with age."
"Don't worry, Don Sebastian!" Pablo reassured him. "Cordoba will be ours."
"He's right," Don Alejandro uttered as he stood up and all three headed back inside to get some more wine.
"I saw that," Victoria told him as they were the only ones left on the terrace. "You let him win, didn't you?"
"Yes. It was a mistake," the young man said.*
"We ride tomorrow at dawn." They heard Don Alejandro say from the house.
*"Don Alejandro and his friends surely like talking about the good old days," Victoria remarked.
"The problem is," the young man said pensively, "that they intend to do more than just talk about them…* But, forgive me! You must be tired," he continued, glancing at the young woman. "I will have the coach ready to take you home."
"Gracias, Don Sebastian," she agreed. "And thank you for the invitation. Dinner was lovely."
"I am glad you came." He told her.
They stared at each other for a few moments, then Victoria averted her eyes, glancing around. "Your garden is even lovelier than it was the last time I saw it." She said.
"None of its flowers compare to you in beauty." He replied, looking longingly at her.
Victoria, in turn, glanced at him in dismay. "I do believe that is the nicest compliment I have ever received…" she replied blushing.
"I speak only the truth." He said, then headed for a servant, ordering him to have the coach and a couple of armed men waiting in front of the house.
"Is that truly necessary? I doubt I need armed men to protect me," Victoria said as he returned to her.
"It's two miles to the pueblo, and it's quite dark outside. I'd rather not take any chances. Not when it comes to you." The young man answered as he escorted her back into the house, and towards the front of the hacienda.
After taking her goodbyes from Don Alejandro and his friends, who were talking in the library, Victoria exited to find the coach already waiting for her.
"Will you come by the tavern tomorrow?" She asked the young man as they were about to part.
The Count nodded. "I plan to." He said. "Till then!" He then uttered, kissing her hand.
ZZZ
As they had decided the previous night, armed with their weapons of choice, Don Alejandro and his friends headed for the canyon where they knew Cordoba and his men were hiding. None of them suspected that Zorro was also following them closely, set on making sure they'd survive their adventure. The masked man, in turn, had no idea that Mendoza and his lancers were also following the elderly men, hoping to get the reward money for the bandits.
ZZZ
"They're planning something… De la Vega and that Count…" Inez said that very morning, a sixth sense warning her that something was off that day.
"Do you think he suspects who I am?" Gilberto asked her.
"Maybe. But, of course, there's also the chance that he expected to have a deformed son and, since you are perfectly healthy and normal, he might not even consider you are him." She replied.
Gilberto seemed to accept that explanation, yet, since the day Don Alejandro and the Count had visited them, he'd been wondering over and over about the haciendado's words. There was something about all he had told him that simply didn't fit with the image of him his mother had created in his mind.
"You must do something to be finally done with him, Gilberto!"
He glanced at her and nodded. "I had initially thought Zorro was my main foe in all this. But, I find myself forced to admit that the Count is, indeed, quite a complication. He's rather stubborn in protecting the old fool… I wonder why."
"His reasons are of no importance!"
"On the contrary, Mother. Reasons are everything…" Gilberto mused. "Take Zorro's, for example. Since the day he showed up, all my plans have crumbled. My plans for the innkeeper, for De la Vega… Ignacio's downfall, even De la Vega's fortune being restored. It was all mainly his doing. And why he did all he did for them is the question we need answered if I am to find a way to rid myself of him."
"Then you must find out!"
"But how? Nobody knows who he is…"
"Then focus on the Count. Get rid of him first!"
"How? He's just as much a mystery to me as Zorro."
"That's hardly true. You know the man…"
"Do I? Because I certainly do not understand him. I can't, for the life of me, understand why a Count would cross half the world to come here. And why, once he took over his new hacienda, he decided to become the protector of its down-on-his-luck former master, allowing him to live in his house and never doubt his motives and intentions?"
"The man is just a fool!"
"No… There's nothing foolish about him. All he does is well-calculated… Think about it, Mother! The king offered him a land grant exactly next to the De la Vega lands. Yet, considering the money he offered the crown, he could have asked for any other piece of land in the area. Hell, given his fortune, he could have bought all of Alta California! But, instead, he asked for land here – and he determined where he wanted the land, of that I have no doubt.
"Then, his man comes to buy more land and animals, then ends up buying the entire De la Vega Hacienda; for which he vastly overpaid, a thing the Count surely knows. Rumor is they didn't even touch Diego's room in the house out of respect for Don Alejandro… Who does that? Why? It almost seems like he was, from the start, determined to come here and protect the old dog! And that is what I truly don't get. Why would someone like him do that?"
"If what you say is true, Son," Inez told him, "could it be that this Zorro and the Count are somehow in league with each other? After all, the Governor did issue a full pardon for Zorro when he had De Soto arrested. Who but the Count could force him to do that?"
Gilberto stared at her for a few moments, then nodded. "That might be, Mother… That just might be…" he uttered, then stood up to leave. "I believe I need to finally have a serious conversation with Don Sebastian… And study the hacienda a little to find its vulnerabilities. If he insists on standing in my way, the Count will end up as my victim," he informed the woman before heading out.
ZZZ
*Don Alejandro and his friends found Cordoba exactly where they knew he would be. The canyon itself was steep and traitorous, impossible to access on horseback. After leaving their mounts in a place they knew the horses would be safe and visible from the main road, should anything happen to them, the four friends headed down the canyon, making sure to stay away from the men guarding the camp, and neutralize those who stood in their way.
In turn, Zorro made sure to actually take those men out while allowing the older soldiers to believe they had been the ones to do it.
When Don Alejandro finally took on Cordoba, down on a plateau, Zorro stood ready to intervene, yet only if his father would lose the battle. That was not the case, as the don eventually managed to subdue the crook just in time for Mendoza to arrive and take him and his men to prison.*
*Dialogues and descriptions from/of NWZ episode "Alejandro rides again". I take no credit for them.