Special thanks for IcyWaters, who read and corrected the text!
The name "Pulido" is the same as in first novel by by Johnston McCulley, but neither the family, nor the girl in my story have nothing in common with the Pulidos from "The Curse of Capistrano".
Of course I own nothing.

My respected father is so predictable, I could write his diary for him two weeks in advance. When at the beginning of June he announced that we are going to have guests for a few weeks, although he tried to hide satisfaction, I could see from the excited glitter in his eyes that at least one of these guests will be a young, pretty, unmarried girl. And that the girl is from the good, old family, which lands probably lay in the neighborhood of ours. Considering that, it was not difficult to find out who our mysterious guests would be.

"So, Don Ignacio Pulido has decided to return from Mexico with his daughter?" I asked innocently.

Father looked a bit irritated for a moment – I spoilt him the surprise. But then he only waved his hand. "Yes, and their house was uninhabited for so long, that it needs to be renovated and cleaned up. They want to see to it, and are going to stay with us in the meantime."

"Ah, good news then. We must have the guest rooms prepared." I deliberately not asked about the daughter and waited for my father to bring up the subject.

"Yes, please, see to it, Diego. Oh, and they are coming with Rosa's fiancé, but he will be staying in the tavern."

Now I was surprised. No secret plans of marrying me off this time? I looked at my father, but he only smiled with satisfaction and left the room. I was sure he was hiding something – well, time will bring the answer...

One week later we waited for the carriage from Monterey on a sunny, dusty plaza of Los Angeles. One question was troubling me since our first talk about the Pulidos and finally I asked: "Isn't Rosa too young to marry? How did it happened, that such little girl is already engaged?"

My father laughed. "She is not a little girl anymore, Diego! You last saw her no less than ten years ago. In fact, she should have been married long ago, and that worries her father a lot."

"Worries? Why?" I calculated quickly. Indeed, it was ten years since they had moved to Mexico, because of weak health of Senora Pulido. She was too weak to lead a difficult life in a small pueblo. When she died, father and daughter stayed in the city for the girl's education. Apparently, Senor Pulido wanted also to find the husband for his daughter – and has succeeded.

"Well, she is not getting any younger! And so aren't you, Diego! You should also finally find a decent wife. You are my only son, you are responsible for maintaining the de la Vega name!"

Oh, no, not again. My fault, this time I gave him the occasion to start that topic.

Since my father discovered my second life, the night escapades as el Zorro, our life in the hacienda was almost perfect. He was so proud of me! He helped me – me as Diego – to hide my secrets, and he beamed each time when he saw me as Zorro. We shared the joy of fighting and together celebrated the victories. All these father and son jokes and talks... almost perfect. Almost – because I still hadn't fulfilled one of his expectations: to marry and bring to life little de la Vegas, who would secure the future of our name and land.

My dear father – he just couldn't understand that some things are impossible when you are a black fox, reigning in the darkness of Californian nights. How could I take the woman's heart and life, when each night, when I ride as el Zorro, can be my last one? I can be shot, stabbed or caught and publicly executed. And my wife would be a widow of an outlaw, a convicted bandit. No, I could never burden any women with such fate.

On the other hand, I could try to marry and continue my double life without sharing it with my wife, but it would not be easy. And it would not be even more difficult to find love as Diego de la Vega. Marriage, yes. There are many women who would gladly marry the de la Vega heir, even without serenades under their windows... But not love. Spanish women love men like Zorro – brave and dashing. Not easy-going, polite scholars, as Diego.

Not that I didn't try. Anna Maria... I fell in love with her in spite of any reason. I could do anything for her, if she agreed to be mine... Well, Diego could do anything for her. But she cared only for Zorro. And Zorro – there are some things that el Zorro cannot do even for love...

To be short: I promised her we will meet again, she promised to wait for me - but the girls in California have no patience when it comes to the lovelife. I heard that she was engaged with some young caballero from western California, with a great future and even greater wealth. It hurt, so I think I really loved her, but what could I do? Buena suerte, mi querida, I don't think we will see each other again.

I sink into my thoughts until the carriage arrived. Then I had to put aside my worries, as we hurried to welcome our guests.

Senor Pulido hadn't changed a bit, but when I saw Rosa, at first I didn't recognize her. Indeed, she wasn't a little girl anymore. She was a woman. Very beautiful – and quite aware of her beauty. I helped her to get out of the carriage and when I put her on the ground, she was still leaning on my shoulders. I thought that she is doing it a bit too long, when I realized that she cannot let me go because I am still keeping her. I quickly released her and – to hide the impression she made on me – looked for her fiancé. I found the young man with an angry expression on his face just behind me. Apparently he wanted to help the senorita to get out as well – and I overtook him, without even noticing it.

My father noticed everything, judging from the satisfied smile on his face.

Luckily Senor Pulido started the presentation – and that gave me the time to gather my thoughts:

"Senores, allow me... May I introduce Don Carlos Conti from Mexico, who will accompany us for a few weeks... Don Alejandro and Don Diego de la Vega, our closest friends from Los Angeles, who were so kind to invite us to stay with them, until our hacienda will be prepared..."

"And Diego was my dearest childhood friend," Rosa said merrily. She had a beautiful, joyful voice. "I longed so much to visit all the places where we used to play! On our way we saw this little lake near the King's road – you remember, Diego? Our small battle with Miguel? You both were so covered with mud, that your parents couldn't recognize you!"

Ah, yes. I remembered. Miguel threw a bit of mud on her, she hit him, he tried to hit her back, I have broken his nose – or something like this. Only that I didn't remember it was her. In my memories it was Chiquita, daughter of Benito Montez, from the Monterey.

"I hope we will be able to make your stay in hacienda equally entertaining, even if there will be no mud involved," I answer smiling.

Don Ignatio and my father laughed, Don Carlos was getting more and more gloomy, but she continued: "I wouldn't mind it! I enjoyed everything in Los Angeles, and I am so happy I have returned! Oh Diego, do you remember what you said to me, when I was leaving?"

That was the problem. I remembered quite well – although I wouldn't like to quote it now aloud. If I recall it correctly, I said that she is the loveliest and the dearest girl in the world, that I will miss her, think of her, that I hope she will not forget me... as for any seventeen-year-old I was quite outspoken, but now I cannot find the words. I begin to play with my ear – as always when I am embarrassed. Luckily I hear a familiar voice:

"Senores, senorita! I am Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia, acting commandante of the Pueblo de Los Angeles! It is my duty to ask you a few questions and check your luggage!"

Long live the brave soldiers of the King – arriving just in time to rescue me...

Later that day, when Don Carlos returned to the pueblo, our guests went to their rooms to rest, and my father and I finally sat alone in the library, I couldn't resist and asked: "Father... None of them ever mentioned that Rosa and Senor Conti are actually betrothed..."

"Well, officially they aren't – yet. But he had already proposed, and Don Ignatio supports him strongly. So it is only the matter of time. However," added my father, suddenly very mysterious, "I heard that Rosa is not very fond of this man. But what can the poor girl do, if that is the wish of her father, she will have to obey..."

I had to do my best in order not to laugh aloud. So, that is the trap! Clever, clever father! He will try to appeal to my compassion and make me rescue the lady in distress, get rid of the unwanted suitor, and then of course marry her myself... I am sorry, father, but it is me, who is the most cunning member of the de la Vega family. And I learnt to be cautious with young women, who you invite to our house...