By Peggy

Zorro sat silently and still in the shadows. He crouched over Tornado’s head, which was lying in his lap at the moment. The Zorro cape was spread over them both as the riders passed by them on the trail. The riders were close enough that he could hear the horses’ shoes striking the rocks as they passed by them. Thankfully, Tornado had learned to play dead (when he wanted to), and was cooperating for the time being. As soon as he was sure the riders would not be doubling back, he and Tornado headed home to their evening meal and a good night’s rest. Tomorrow night would be a long one for all of them.

A gang had been operating in the area, committing all manner of crimes against the people. No one had been killed yet, but if they were not stopped, someone would die soon. There had been robberies at the local stores and banks, individuals had been accosted in their travels, a young girl would have been raped if Zorro had not intervened. The Church had even been robbed. The Priest had been badly pistol-whipped.

Tonight Zorro had discovered their headquarters, and found out who their leader was. He recognized the men as ranch hands of Don Luis, one of Alejandro’s neighbors. Don Luis was not aware of the criminal activity based at his hacienda. The gang leader was Don Luis’s right-hand man, Rafael, a jealous, greedy man, who wanted all that Don Luis had for his own. Rafael was building his wealth by stealing from others. When he was ready, no doubt something bad would happen to Don Luis, and Rafael would take over the hacienda. Zorro’s plan was in place and tomorrow night would see an end to their evil activities.

Elena, waiting at the hacienda, was worried and anxious for their return, as always. She constantly worried about him. He tried, but could not convince her not to worry. His Zorro skills and physical conditioning were honed to perfection. She knew that……she frequently worked out with him……. but she knew how treacherous evil people could be. Zorro was cunning, intelligent, and a very accomplished swordsman, but guns were something else, and he was only one person against many.

At last, she heard the secret passage slide open and her beloved Alejandro came through. She felt as if her heart and lungs had completely stopped until she saw him and ran into his arms. Love and thankfulness radiated in her eyes as she looked up at him. He covered her face with gentle kisses, starting at her brow, across her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally brushed her lips twice before claiming them with a deep growl from the back of his throat.

Several minutes later, she looked up at him. “You must be starving.”

“Yes, my love, but not only for food,” he answered with a wicked smile and a wink.

Her heart fluttered and her knees went weak as she looked into his handsome face. His beautiful eyes always flooded her in amber warmth when she was blessed with his gaze. She mentally shook herself and pulled him to the kitchen, sat him down, and placed his dinner in front of him. He pulled her down on his lap for one more heavenly kiss, struggling with her as she tried to rise, but finally gave in to his stomach’s rumblings.

When he finished eating, and the kitchen was cleaned up, they checked in on their sleeping children. Joaquin, their beautiful son, had his father’s dark curls. They tumbled over his forehead as he slept, his long lashes brushing his cheeks, a tiny smile on his lips…..no doubt put there by a mischievous dream. In his right hand, on top of the covers, was a play sword. They carefully removed the sword from his hand, kissed him softly, and backed out of the room. Esperanza lay on her side, facing toward the door. Her long, wavy, dark hair spread across her pillow. Alejandro’s heart always moved into his throat when he looked at his tiny, chubby, baby daughter. Her innocent dependence on him for care and protection flooded him with feelings of responsibility. Unlike Joaquin, her expression gave nothing away of what might be going on behind those closed eyelids. They both kissed her, and left the room with their arms around each other.

In their own room, Alejandro told Elena about the progress Zorro had made this evening and they discussed the plans for the following night. Elena made a few quiet suggestions that might increase his chances for safety. He respectfully acknowledged her ideas, and adjusted his plans accordingly. Tomorrow, dressed as a peasant, he would put his plan in motion.

After some giggling, tickling, and playful lovemaking, they fell asleep.

The scruffy, bearded man, dressed in peasant clothes, entered the stable at Don Luis’s hacienda. He looked very much the same as the rest of the workers at the hacienda. No one noticed him as he went about the chores he had set for himself.

When he had finished, he mingled with the workers until he could walk away without anyone noticing him.

Dusk was falling as the gang saddled up and prepared for their evening mayhem. The men were huddled by the large sliding doors of the stable, discussing their plans. Zorro silently moved from horse to horse, then slid out the back door.

Going back to where he had left Tornado, he quickly mounted. Silently, they rode to the vantage point he had chosen. At one point on the trail, the side-hill dropped off quite steeply for a space of about 100 yards. The trail was narrow here, and the gang would have to go in single file.

Zorro and Tornado hid in the trees at the bottom of the slope below the trail and waited.

It wasn’t long before the first rider appeared. Now if the timing would go as Zorro had planned……

Ahhh, the powers that be were on the side of good tonight! As soon as the gang was strung single file along the narrow stretch of the trail, the bridle of the horse right behind the leader broke, allowing the bit to fall from the horse’s mouth and swing down, whacking the animal first on the chest, then the knees, and tangling in his feet. The startled animal reared, unseating the surprised man, who tumbled down the hill-side. The rearing horse started squealing and stomping as the bridle tangled more around its feet, finally it slid down the hill. The noise spooked the rest of the horses, and they all started to jump and plunge about. As the men tried to control the horses, they put their weight on the stirrups, causing the carefully sliced leather straps to give way. One by one, men and horses came sliding down the hill.

Each time a man came tumbling down, a black shadow would appear, a long whip snaked around their ankles, and they would very quickly and efficiently be trussed up. Soon Zorro had the whole gang tied with their backs to a clump of cactus, one of his favorite things to do.

Now that he had their attention, Zorro warned them they had better abandon their wicked ways. He told them he would be watching them, and if they didn’t become model citizens, one by one they would be removed!

Zorro walked over to the leader. With his lightning sword, he carved a swift “Z” on his chest, cutting just deeply enough to scar.

Leaving them tied, he mounted Tornado and quickly rode away. By the time they untied themselves, they would have plenty of time to think about what they were or were not going to do in the future.

Zorro returned home, rewarded Tornado with a good rubdown, some oats and sweet-smelling hay. After a quick bath and a change into Alejandro clothing, he went into the house through the hidden door to collect his own reward.

As usual, Elena was anxiously awaiting his safe return. In their bedroom, she carefully inspected his body, inch by inch, for any fresh wounds…

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