The day grew into night and in the distance Bernardo could hear the procession for the nightly Las Posadas as it went around the pueblo. There was a marked difference in the spirit of the people. They were very happy and the children were having a good time also. They were happy to have their padre back safe and sound and to know that the Commandanté had been foiled once again.He woke Zorro so that he could hear the festivities. Zorro listened for quite a while and said, “Yes, it is good to hear, Bernardo. The sounds of children laughing as they break the pinata. The music. It is good, Bernardo.”
Zorro trailed off as he returned his attention to Tornado and became solemn once again. Slowly both of them became aware of a shuffling noise just outside of the store.
“Hide, Bernardo!” Zorro whispered urgently as he rose on one knee and began to pull his sword. He had it halfway out of its scabbard when he saw Eneida’s face peering at him around the door.
She held out her hand and said, “It is all right, Señor. I have someone here who would like to see you.” She stepped into the store followed by Padre Felipe who was holding a lighted candle. Eneida was putting dark cloth on the windows to hide the light from outside eyes.
Padre Felipe said, “Señor Zorro, only God can repay you for what you have done this day. I have nothing to offer you but my prayers for you and your gallant steed. But the children have prepared something special for you.”
Going to the door, he motioned for them to come. As each child came in, he or she lit the candle they were carrying using the padre’s candle. Then they came and placed each one on the floor in front of Zorro and Tornado, casting a warm glow around the room. They gathered in a group in front of Padre Felipe.
They were the orphan children of the pueblo. Zorro noticed that each one was wearing new clothing and new sandals and appeared to be freshly washed. Eneida’s gift was already being put to good use.
The oldest was a boy around ten years old and the youngest was a small girl, with great round eyes, about three or four years old.
“Now children, you may begin,” said Padre Felipe looking down on his little flock.
Softly at first, because they were shy, the children began singing. The song was a prayer for those who traveled the world alone, for those who faced enormous odds when doing the work of God. The children’s voices blended together and Zorro found himself transported on its words, comforted by the promises for those who seek after good.
He smiled at the smallest little girl. She was trying to sing with the rest, but all the words just wouldn’t come out right. But she smiled at him and his heart was melted. When the last note faded away, there was a sweet silence in the room.
“Silence?” Zorro thought, looking down with worry on Tornado. He had stopped wheezing. Zorro’s worst fears rose to the surface. But then he had to jump back when Tornado began gathering himself and in one great surge got up on his feet; the blankets falling to the floor. He swayed unsteadily for a moment and had to shift his feet before he was stable, but he was standing.
Zorro stood back just looking at the miracle he had just witnessed. Tornado braced himself and gave himself a mighty shaking from head to tail and then poked his nose at Zorro. Zorro embraced Tornado’s neck and stroked his nose.
“You’re all right, boy?” he asked. Tornado tossed his head a few times and the children laughed to see the stallion seeming to answer the masked man.
One of the children tugged at Padre Felipe’s robe and he bent down to listen. When he stood up again, he caught Zorro’s attention as he was stroking Tornado’s nose. “Señor Zorro? The children were wondering if they might pet your horse.”
Zorro looked at the eager, young faces before him. “Of course, they may, Padre. Just have them move slowly and quietly.”
He stood on the off side and looked over Tornado’s back as the children came forward and began petting the black horse. He was amused when he sensed their awe in touching the horse of El Zorro, but then they began to enjoy petting the horse for his own sake and Tornado seemed to enjoy it also.
Zorro looked down beside him as he felt someone tugging on his cape and felt a little hand on his leg. It was the youngest little girl. She held her hands up to him and he picked her up, holding her easily in his left arm. She smiled the most winning smile he had ever seen and put her arms around his neck. Zorro hugged her tightly to him.
Eneida had come around to where Zorro was and their eyes met. She saw that, in this night, Zorro had just received his reward for all his lonely deeds. His eyes were shining with the love and warmth he found in this room full of children.
Seeing Zorro holding the little girl in his arms, the other children lost their remaining shyness at being in the same room with their hero and they all crowded around him. He knelt down to be on the same level with them and hugged each one to him.
He looked up at Eneida and Padre Felipe and said, with eyes brimful, “Thank you. Thank you so much. You do not know how much this has meant to me.”
Eneida thought that she did. As long as the man behind the mask remained an outlaw, he could only long to have a family and children. Tonight, these were his children. She exchanged glances with Padre Felipe and saw that he knew also. They smiled at each other.
Tornado noticed that he was not getting attention any longer and put his nose into Zorro’s chest and pushed. That reminded Zorro that he needed to get the stallion home as quickly as he could. They would have to walk the whole distance, because he would not ride the stallion again until he was completely recovered.
Padre Felipe saw the change that came over Zorro and sensed what was on the masked man’s mind. So he said, “Come children, we must go now. Señor Zorro needs to take his horse home to finish getting well.”
Reluctantly, the children gathered at the door and Padre Felipe saw them off. The littlest girl was the last to go out and she smiled at Zorro once more. Padre Felipe turned back one last time and made the sign of the cross as he blessed those who remained. Then he was gone.
Zorro turned to Eneida. There seemed to be no words to say. They turned their attention to Tornado and petted him, just enjoying what little time was left to them. Finally, Zorro said, “I must go now. We have a long way to go before morning. It has been a pleasure knowing you, Señorita Eneida.” He took her hand and kissed it gently. “I wish you a safe journey back to your home and your new life. Whenever you are ready to leave, just let Don Diego know of your wishes and everything will be taken care of.”
Eneida longed for more than just the kiss of Zorro on her hand, but knew she would have to be content with only that. But then . . . . ? She never expected to see Zorro again after tonight, and just who would he tell? So she caught his face in her hands and stood on her toes and kissed him.
Laughing, she gathered her shawl around her and was out the door so quickly that Zorro did not have time to react. He touched his lips as he gazed at the door. Then shaking his head and smiling contentedly, he said, “Come on, Tornado. Let us get you home.”
As Bernardo came in from his hiding place to help, he thought it best not to comment concerning what he had just seen.
It was a weary, but happy trio that finally reached the cave in the early morning hours of Noche Buena.
*****************************
Epilog
Eneida decided to remain in Los Angeles to celebrate the festivities of Noche Buena with the children she had come to love. Also, she wanted to attend the midnight service at the church where Padre Felipe would be conducting the mass. So much had happened in such a short time that sometimes she was not sure that all of it was real. And then the children would gather around her and she knew it was real.
All of the towns people and those from the surrounding countryside would be attending the mass tonight. She watched from in front of the church as people began arriving in carriages, on horseback, or on foot. Everyone was dressed in their finest, no matter how humble it might be.
She was introduced to many people, so many that she could not possibly remember all of their names. Everyone thanked her for coming to the trial and giving the testimony that freed Padre Felipe. She was pleased and embarrassed at the same time by all of the attention.
Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her in the crowd and turned around. There was a tall, dark haired man watching her with an amused look on his face. He was very handsome.
Seeing that he had been noticed, he bowed to her and said, “Señorita Zamora, may I introduce myself? I am Diego de la Vega.” In a lower tone, he continued, “I understand from a mutual friend of ours that I am to make sure that your stay in Los Angeles is a pleasant one.” He smiled.
“Señor de la Vega,” she said, offering her hand which Diego kissed gently. In an equally low voice she said, “Our mutual friend endured much to ensure that I would arrive safely at your fair pueblo and I have been treated with great kindness since my arrival. I am afraid that I must prevail upon your kindness in order that I might return to my home as our mutual friend is unable to assist me further without danger to both of us. And we would not want anything to happen to him, would we?”
“No, Señorita, indeed we would not,” said Diego, quietly enjoying this byplay. If she only knew . . . . He continued, “I am ready to assist you in any way possible. You need not want for anything while you remain with us.” Holding his arm for her, he asked, “Shall we go in for the service?”
Don Diego’s smile was so reminiscent of someone else that she knew, Eneida thought to herself. But no, that wasn’t possible. He would never come so openly into the pueblo. She took Diego’s arm and they walked into the church together.
As they made their way down the aisle, Diego was filled with contentment that all was right with the world. At least for tonight. Padre Felipe was free, the people could celebrate Christmas in happiness, and he had a very pretty señorita on his arm. The church was quite crowded with all the people who had come for the services and he greeted many along the way.
Then, from out of the pews, a little girl of three or four ran up to Diego and held her hands out to him, wanting to be picked up.
“Rosa!” said Eneida in a urgent whisper. She did not know how Diego, a man obviously of the upper class, would take to an orphaned peon child clinging to his leg. But she need not have worried.
Diego reached down and swept Rosa up into his arms smiling at her and was rewarded by Rosa’s cheerful smile in return. “How is my little Christmas Rose?” he asked her.
Rosa hugged his neck tightly and Diego’s eyes met Eneida’s. At that moment, Eneida knew. She had seen that look before and that smile. Diego winked at her and then their attention was drawn to the service which was just beginning. Together, the three of them took their places and let their happiness be transported to heaven on the voices of the children joyfully singing.
THE END
