Tres dedo Gato

Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. The characters of Bernardo and Zorro are from the Disney TV show. Not sure who owns them. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy.

Spain

A frightened little girl of ten lay hidden in the underbrush as soldiers marched along the road. It seemed like hours since she had hidden herself.

It did not matter which Army the soldiers belonged to. The French would either kill her on the spot or if she were caught she would be flogged, branded and deported.

The Spanish would send her to work for an "honest" family after she was taught the fear of God.

The English would probably rape her and then kill her for she was only a gypsy.

She was Gitano although the word "Gitano", her language and even her clothing were outlawed. If she were caught, she would never see her family again.

She had played this game before, watching the soldiers so she could warn her family. In the past, many of her family had been hung without trial or had been mutilated by having an ear cut off. At best they had been deported to the colonies as slaves. It was the same all over Europe. Hatred for the Gitanos was rampant. This time she was lucky, she escaped from her hiding place unseen.

Five years later the same girl hid in the forest hiding from the soldiers. As she watched behind a tree she felt a sharp point at the back of her neck. Carefully turning around, she faced a Spanish soldier. He warned her to silence and then led her away. The soldiers on the road were French.

Four Years later

It had been four years since she had been captured and placed in an educational environment where she had learned the fear of God. When captured, she could not read or write Spanish and it would have gone very badly for her if she had been caught speaking Romi, the Gitano language.

She had been lucky, as the Spanish soldier had been kind. Even though he had a duty to fulfill and did it, he found the outlawed Romi camp and told them where to find the girl. Somehow mother and daughter found each other. The girl was told to stay with the Gadji where she would learn many things.

Her mother had read the tarot cards and told the girl that she would be an important part of another girl’s life. She would travel and have a good life, one filled with excitement and danger.

As the gypsy girl grew older, she ended up as a maid and then confidant to a young spirited and positively wild daughter of a Don. The gypsy girl also kept close contacts with a Gitano boy named Bernardo, who was servant to the son of a Spanish Don. The Don’s son was a ladies man in Madrid and very handsome but Bernardo was the girl’s first love. Bernardo could not speak and developed a character that everyone believed could not hear also. The girl and Bernardo taught each other a sort of Romi sign language.

Alta California

"Marta, Marta!"

Marta woke from her daydreaming of her past with a start.

"What is it Tessa? Are you hurt?"

"We have guests arriving shortly," Tessa proudly proclaimed.

\More relatives or another pompous ass pushed on us by Colonel Montoya? \ thought Marta.

"Who is it Tessa? There have been no ships for quite awhile and the last guest was totally unwelcome."

"I am not going to tell you until they arrive. I had a letter from an old friend from Los Angeles."

As Marta pondered who Tessa knew in Los Angeles, the hacienda was prepared for guests. Five minutes after Marta had inspected the hacienda and given her approval she heard horses in the drive.

Marta heard a schoolgirl type of squeal as Tessa flew out the door and hugged a tall man who was getting out of the carriage. Marta looked the man over. \Tessa he is too old for you,\ she thought. \He is more my age and he is very attractive but he does look familiar.\

A smaller stocky man, about five feet eight inches tall and slightly balding came around the carriage. The sight of the her first love made Marta’s heart skip a beat. \Bernardo.\

Marta rushed out of the door past Tessa and the tall man and hugged Bernardo.

Through sign, Bernardo explained that due to the misfortune of having two pistols discharged by his ears at the same time, he could no longer hear. Marta and Bernardo were so engrossed in signing that they ignored Tessa and her friend who were ignoring them.

Suddenly several soldiers rode up led by Captain Grisham.

"Senorita Alvarado, we had word that two strangers had arrived in Santa Elena and it is my duty to find out who they are," said Grisham with an air of superiority.

"Why Captain Grisham, I didn’t know that your duties included spying on the Dons and their guests, or is it just me you are spying on?"

Tessa and Marta led their guests into the hacienda as Grisham started to dismount.

Tessa turned back to Grisham.

"Oh, Captain, you are not invited into my hacienda," she said as she slammed the door.

Grisham was red faced with a combination of jealousy and anger at having the door slammed in his face by the Senorita. He turned and raced back to the pueblo.

Grisham galloped into the pueblo and dismounted almost before his lathered stallion had come to a full stop. He tossed the reins to a soldier at the bottom of the stairs.

"Water him," Grisham ordered as he took the stairs two at a time. He didn’t even bother to knock as he entered Montoya’s office.

"Colonel, not only did she refuse to introduce me to her guests, she slammed the door in my face."

"And who is the she you are referring to?"

"Senorita Alvarado."

"Grisham, you amaze me. It would never have occurred to you to do such a thing to Don Hidalgo or any of the other Dons. They would have shot you. Could it be that you have feelings for Senorita Alvarado or is it that you still feel her sting when she said she would rather have a dog than you. You have absolutely no concept of how to treat a lady."

Montoya scowled at him.

"Now get out of my sight. Go find Senora Hidalgo. I am sure she will ease your pain."

Montoya snickered. "Oh I am sorry, I forgot that Senora Hidalgo doesn’t want anything to do with you either."

Grisham turned and stormed out of Montoya’s office and bumped into a soldier coming up the stairs.

"Soldier, you are on report. Meet me in the exercise ring in fifteen minutes," snarled Grisham.

The soldier’s eyes grew wide in fright and then he turned and ran to the barracks, grabbed some clothes and the scrambled into the stables where he saddled his horse and rode away as if the devil was chasing him.

As soon as the soldiers left, Tessa, Marta and the two men went back outside to the carriage.

"Don Diego, I apologize for ignoring you, but it seems that Tessa has made up for my rudeness. I have not seen my good friend Bernardo in many years."

"Marta that is perfectly all right. The last time I saw you, you were running interference for Tessa. This time I brought someone with me to run interference for me," he laughed as he took her hand and kissed it.

Marta blushed but did not take her hand away.

"Ahem, Marta, would you please get some refreshments for our guests?" asked Tessa as she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest and tapping her foot.

Marta completely ignored Tessa as she started signing to Bernardo. The two of them turned and went into the hacienda, leaving Tessa and Don Diego alone.

"It is so hard to get good help when there is a handsome man around," commented Tessa.

Don Diego burst out laughing. "Looks like we get to take our luggage in ourselves."

"What do you mean we?" asked Tessa as she turned and left Don Diego. She stopped at the door. Well, come on, we haven’t got all day," she said playfully.

Put in his place, Don Diego picked up four suitcases and hastened into the house.

"Pardon me Senorita. Pardon me Senorita," Don Diego kept saying as he entered the house with his head bowed and his shoulders slumped. He deposited the bags in the entryway and held out his hand. "Tip?"

"Here’s a tip. Don’t anger the Dona of this hacienda," replied Tessa with an angry scowl. The scowl melted into a big grin as Don Diego burst out laughing.

"I'll take my tip anyway I can get it," he said as he pulled her to him and kissed her. She started to pull back and then kissed him back. Their tongues explored deeply as Don Diego’s hands gently caressed Tessa’s back. Tessa held on to Diego’s neck and did not realize her feet were two inches off of the ground.

Eventually the two broke the kiss as they were out of breath and very warm.

"Tessa, we need to talk. Only Bernardo and you know my identity and I trust both of you implicitly.

"Then I hope you will trust me now."

Tessa took Don Diego’s hand and led him into the parlor where they found Bernardo and Marta in a clinch. Marta pulled away as soon as she heard them and blushed.

"Marta," said Tessa in shock.

"What? You think you are the only woman in this hacienda who attracts the attention of a man? Bernardo may play the fool to the soldiers, but I know for a fact that he is all man. A very brave one at that. Do you know why he cannot hear?" asked Marta.

"I thought he was born that way," replied Tessa.

"No," replied Don Diego. "The Commandant didn’t believe Bernardo was deaf, so he fired two pistols at the same time, an inch from Bernardo’s ears. Bernardo did not even flinch."

"Madre Dios, no wonder you and Bernardo are so close, Diego," said Tessa.

Tessa took Diego’s hand in hers.

"Marta, it is my honor to introduce you to Zorro."

Don Diego’s mouth fell open.

"You don’t think the Queen rides alone do you?" asked Tessa. " Who do you think sews up the bullet holes and sword slashes? Moi? Of course Marta knows all. We have no secrets, well hardly any secrets between us. Now what is so important that you came all the way to Santa Elena? I know you didn’t come all this way just to see me," Tessa batted her eyelashes at Diego and grinned.

"I had word that a shipment of arms and gold are being sent overland to Monterey from Los Angeles. They will be guarded by fifty soldiers. There will be two wagons two hours apart. They will pass Santa Elena tomorrow morning."

"So what is so unusual about that? I don’t have a problem with Los Angeles paying their taxes to Monterey."

"The gold and weapons are not going to the Viceroy as is expected. This is going to some men who intend to overthrow the Viceroy and claim Alta California as their own. Your Colonel Montoya’s name has been mentioned but I do not know in what context. It could have been a warning to beware of Montoya."

"Ah, now you have me interested. Do you have any idea which road they will use? If we take out the second wagon first, before it arrives in Santa Elena, we could ride ahead and take out the first one after it leaves."

They discussed the plans and made modifications. The first wagon transported the weapons and the second one the gold. They would cut the road after the first wagon passed and liberate the gold.

The next morning, the two black clothed figures waited at their ambush site along a deep arroyo. As the first wagon passed, the soldiers had to squeeze past a narrow passage caused by a previous landslide, brought about courtesy of the Queen of Swords a month or so before. As the second wagon approached the blockade, the sound of gunfire erupted from up the arroyo. The soldiers raced in the direction of the gunfire, leaving the gold wagon guarded by two soldiers.

"Who do you think was shooting?" asked Zorro.

"I don’t know, but let’s hurry up and grab the gold before they come back," replied the Queen.

Nonchalantly the Queen started a second slide that left only enough room for horses but no wagons.

"Why another slide?" asked Zorro.

"It will keep the gold wagon where we can get to it easier," she grinned.

Zorro and the Queen surprised the soldiers and quickly relieved them of the gold. The sacks of gold were placed in saddlebags carried by two extra horses that the Queen had brought with them. They sped away to the south but then circled back to the North.

Suddenly they saw a cloud of dust moving Eastward in front of them at a distance. As planned, they stashed the extra horses and gold in a secluded canyon that the Queen used quite often.

Leaving the canyon, they rode towards El Camino Real where the gunfire had come from.

They found the scene but the wagon and guns were gone. Twenty-eight dead soldiers scattered around the area was the only evidence to the battle.

"I don’t understand Don Diego. There were forty-eight soldiers, but there are only twenty-eight soldiers. Where are the other twenty?"

Don Diego looked at the ground and then the bodies.

"Tessa, something is wrong here. Look where the wagon stopped and then look where the soldiers are. There are five near the where the wagon stopped and they were all shot from close range and in the back. The other twenty were killed before they got to the wagon and from ambush. They never had a chance to bring their rifles to bear. I think their own men ambushed them. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find that they staged an ambush so the second group would race ahead and be cut down. They probably figured they would go after the gold wagon. I’ll bet there were highly perturbed when they found out the gold had already been stolen."

"There are too many of them for us to confront. Maybe we had better go home and rethink this," said Tessa.

"Good idea, let’s go."

The dinner table had just been cleared when Captain Grisham barged into the Alvarado hacienda.

"What is the meaning of this invasion, Captain?" demanded Tessa.

"Your friend is Zorro, a notorious criminal in Los Angeles and you are the Queen of Swords," replied Grisham.

"You are out of your mind, Captain. What proof do you have?" asked Tessa.

Your own actions against the bandits, witnessed by Colonel Montoya when you shot the bandit," replied Grisham with an air of authority. "You fired a weapon very skillfully."

"If you are referring to those deserters who attacked Marta and me at the beach after the Ciclon, then you should talk to Colonel Montoya. He was there also," countered Tessa.

"May I remind you Captain that this is a dangerous land. I would wager that every Dona in Alta California is able to fire a weapon. How many frontier women in Los Estados Unidos can fire weapons?"

"That is different."

"How so?" demanded Tessa.

"They are Americans."

"Are you saying that only American women are able to defend themselves? You are insulting the women of the very country that you are a guest in. I will file a protest not only with Colonel Montoya but the Viceroy and the Crown, you arrogant gringo," replied Tessa as a red color flashed on her face.

"I would like to hear your answer also," asked Colonel Montoya who had entered the hacienda after Grisham.

"Pardon, Senorita, I came here as soon as I heard of Captain Grisham’s accusation against you. Fortunately one of my guards informed me of these outlandish charges," said Montoya.

Montoya turned to Grisham, "Senorita Alvarado is absolutely correct. You have insulted Spanish Womanhood. May I remind you that Marta also killed a bandit? Does that make her the Queen of Swords also?"

"But Sir, the evidence?"

"You only have a suspicion not evidence. Now what about your accusation about Don Diego?" asked Montoya.

"Watch," replied Grisham as he tossed a sword to Don Diego.

Don Diego attempted to catch the sword with both hands and in doing so stumbled over a chair. The blade slipped between his hands and gashed his left hand.

"Colonel Montoya, this is an outrage," said Tessa. "First your dog barges into my home and accuses me of being the Queen of Swords and then he tries to convince you that my old friend Don Diego, a guest in my home, is Zorro himself."

Tessa looked at Don Diego’s bleeding hand. "Marta, get some bandages, quickly."

"Colonel, I have known Don Diego since we were in Madrid. He was so busy chasing all the eligible ladies that he did not have time to play with swords."

"So why didn’t he capture you?" asked Grisham smugly.

"Have you ever met Marta?" asked Don Diego.

"Of course I have. What has that got to do with anything?" asked Grisham.

"Have you ever seen a mother bear protect it’s young? Well, I would rather face a she bear protecting her young than challenge Marta when she is protecting Tessa," said Diego.

Marta glared at Don Diego.

"Captain Grisham, I think it is time for you to leave," said Montoya. "Please forgive the intrusion."

Tessa slammed the door so hard that Montoya could feel the concussion from the door.

Montoya mounted his horse and rode away, with Grisham racing to catch up.

"Colonel."

"I don’t know what to do with you Captain. Staking you out on an ant hill would be punishing the ants."

"But Colonel."

"No buts. The next time you are suspicious, I suggest you run it by me first."

"I am willing to bet that that fop Don Diego is Zorro."

"Sure, and Marta is the Queen of Swords. Let’s go over the evidence, shall we?"

"Ok. Two strangers come to Santa Elena and a gold shipment is hijacked," replied Grisham.

"Stop!" yelled Montoya

Grisham pulled up sharply.

"Two strangers come into town to visit Senorita Alvarado," said Montoya. "The next day twenty-eight men are killed and the gold stolen. The other twenty men are missing along with the guns they were guarding. Think Grisham how one or two people could annihilate a total of thirty soldiers?"

"They had help?"

Montoya rolled his eyes. "Grisham, have you ever known the Queen of Swords to execute a man?"

"No. She kills them in a sword fight."

"Excellent. Now how did the twenty eight men with the guns die?"

"They were shot."

"Good. Now how did the two men with the gold wagon die?"

"Shot in the back of the head at close range," replied Grisham, wondering where this was leading.

"The Queen of Swords would not kill a man like that and she sure as hell didn’t ambush and kill twenty eight men."

"But the Z slash on the wagon?"

"Oh I am sure Zorro stole the gold, maybe with the Queen’s help, but no, they did not kill the men."

"Then who did?" asked Grisham.

"I wonder Grisham. I wonder," replied Montoya.

"Don’t look at me. I was with you the entire time and we had no patrols out, either," replied Grisham.

"We have at least twenty well armed unknown supposed soldiers running around the area. Find them."

"Sir," saluted Grisham as he ordered his patrol to follow him to the site of the ambush.

Suddenly a rider approached at a full gallop. Coming to a stop in a cloud of dust, he saluted Montoya and handed him a dispatch.

Montoya opened the dispatch and read it. A flush of anger showed on Montoya’s face.

"Corporal, Captain Grisham just rode off, go get him. Rapido!"

The Corporal rode off and within a few minutes Grisham returned.

"What’s up Colonel?" asked Grisham.

"I just received a dispatch from the Commandante of Los Angeles. They found the bodies of twenty soldiers. Their uniforms were missing. One man managed to survive and made it back to the pueblo. Apparently they had been ambushed by some outlaws and killed. I think we now know who killed those men and stole the guns."

"Who?"

"A notorious bandit named Reyes Feliz, also known as Tres dedo Gato. You Americans would call him Three Finger Jack," said Montoya.

"I have heard of him. A real bad one."

"And apparently very viscious. Now he has guns for an army. We must find him Captain. The guns would be better served in our hands."

"I’ll get right on it."

Montoya placed the dispatch inside his uniform blouse as he watched Grisham leave unaware that he missed the pocket. As Montoya rode towards the pueblo, the envelope slipped out of the bottom of the blouse and fell to the ground.

Jaime, a ten-year-old boy whose family worked for Senorita Alvarado watched from behind some boulders. When Montoya left he ran and picked up the envelope. He opened it and saw there was no money in it, he ran to the hacienda. He stood at the door of la cocina and caught Marta’s eye.

"Jaime, what is it?’ asked Marta.

"Senora, Colonel Montoya dropped this," he said handing it to her. "There was no money in it."

"Gracias, Jaime. You are a good boy to give it to me. I will make sure it is returned to Colonel Montoya," she said as she handed him a basket of hot sopapillas and a jar of honey.

Marta walked into the parlor. "Guess what I have that Montoya doesn’t?" she asked with a smirk.

"Marta, what did you do?"

"Nothing, Jaime found a letter that Montoya dropped. Read it."

Tessa and Don Diego read the letter.

"Madre Dios," said Tessa. "This is terrible."

"Worse than that. I know of this man. He butchers anyone who gets in his way. Now they are well armed and dressed as soldiers, they could ride right into Monterey and no one would stop them."

Several days later, Captain Grisham and four soldiers on patrol came across the tracks of a large group of horsemen and began to follow.

Zorro and the Queen of Swords watched from a distance as Grisham and his men trailed the bandits. Unbeknownst to the dashing duo, they were being followed by two individuals on horseback and carrying rifles.

Grisham led his men into a boxed canyon where the trail led. Zorro and the Queen split up, Zorro moving along the top of the canyon and the Queen following Grisham. The two individuals saw Zorro dismount and did the same. For a change, Zorro carried a rifle besides his sword and whip.

Marcus Grisham bravely rode into the canyon and right into an ambush. The bandits were hidden among the rocks and as the patrol come close; gunfire erupted from the bandit’s rifles. Grisham was hit in the shoulder and flung from his horse, which turned and fled the way it came. Two soldiers were killed outright and the fourth soldier followed Grisham’s horse.

The Queen caught the reins of the white stallion and waited. She watched as the soldier raced away in a cloud of dust. She could hear many rifles firing at Grisham and his men. She approached cautiously and spotted the American alone behind a boulder, blood running down his arm. The bodies of the two soldiers lay sprawled where they fell.

The bandits started moving closer when a gunshot from the top of the canyon rang out and a bandit dropped. The rest sought cover and returned fire. Two more gunshots rang out and as the bandits returned fire, The Queen made her move.

Spurring Chico on, she led Grisham’s horse into the canyon. She stopped next to Grisham, who was trying to reload.

"Grisham! Get on!" she yelled.

Grisham scrambled out from behind the rocks and flung himself over the horses back, with only one foot in the stirrup when the Queen led the horse away. Grisham finally got his other leg over the horse and hung on to the horses mane with his uninjured arm.

The bandits realized their quarry was escaping and tried to run after them. Gunfire from the rim discouraged them.

Zorro placed his rifle back on the saddle and stormed over to Bernardo and Marta.

"What did you think you were doing," he demanded.

"Evening the odds," replied Marta. "It looks like it was a good thing we did."

"Maybe this time, but we will all talk when we get home. You two go home, I need to catch up with the Queen," he said as he swung into the saddle.

Zorro turned Toronado and raced after the Queen. Grisham was hampering her as he was bleeding badly. The Queen heard a horse racing toward her and turned her head to see who it was. She slowed down when she recognized the flowing cape behind the rider.

"Are you all right?" asked Zorro breathlessly.

"I am but Grisham isn’t. I need to get him to a Doctor or he will bleed to death," replied the Queen.

"Let’s find some cover and then I will take a look," said Zorro as he pointed to some rocks well off the trail.

A few moments later, they were in the safety of the rocks and had helped Grisham off his horse. Zorro removed the uniform blouse and shirt while the Queen got bandages from her saddlebags.

"The bullet went through, so that is a good sign. We won’t have to dig it out, but you’re right we have to get him to a doctor and fast," said Zorro.

The Queen applied bandages to the entry and exit wounds while Zorro tied the bandages in place. They hoisted Grisham back on his horse. The Queen led Grisham’s horse to town while Zorro stayed as a rear guard, in case the bandits tried to follow.

An hour later the Queen rode into Santa Elena with Grisham.

"The Queen of Swords!" yelled a guard.

Montoya raced to the balcony.

"Hold your fire!"

The Queen rode to the commendancia.

"To what do we owe this please, Reina? You are surrendering?" asked Montoya.

"Not hardly. A large force ambushed Grisham and his men. One of your soldiers ran and is probably in Monterey by now. Grisham is badly hurt and lost a lot of blood," said the Queen. Out of her eye she saw Doctor Helm approaching.

"What about the other two soldiers?" asked Montoya.

"They never had a chance. They walked right into the ambush."

"How is it that you have him then?" asked Montoya.

"I was following him when the gunfire broke out. When his horse came back riderless, I went after him. He was conscious then."

"How is it that you got out without being shot?" asked a suspicious Montoya.

"I had help from a marksman, high up on the rim. I was able to ride in and get Grisham while the bandits were otherwise distracted," smiled the Queen.

Several soldiers helped Grisham down and placed him on the ground. Helm looked at the wounds.

"He is lucky that you got him here when you did," said Helm.

Grisham started to stir and opened his eyes. He looked up to see Helm bent over him.

"Montoya. Tell Montoya we were ambushed. Queen got me out. I owe her," said Grisham weakly as he passed out again.

Helm ordered some soldiers to carry Grisham to Helm’s office.

The Queen was still on her horse with only two soldiers next to her.

"Colonel, these men are viscous and are a danger to all of us."

"I agree. Are you proposing that we work together?" asked Montoya.

"Agreed Colonel. I will send word when I locate them again. I am quite sure they will leave the canyon."

"Let her go," ordered Montoya. "For now."

The Queen turned Chico and raced away from the pueblo.

An hour later Tessa marched into the parlor to find Marta, Bernardo and Diego.

"What the hell were you trying to do? Get yourself killed?" shouted Tessa.

"Easy, Tessa, they have already been read the riot act," said Diego.

"Well here is part two," replied Tessa.

"Marta what would happen if you got yourself killed? I need you, but I need you alive. How could you take such a risk? And you," she waved her finger at Bernardo. "How could you let her do something so stupid?"

Bernardo just stared at her with a blank look. He looked at Marta who did not sign, and then at Diego who shrugged his shoulders.

"He can’t hear you, Tessa," said Diego.

Exasperated, Tessa threw up her hand and plopped into a chair.

"What am I going to do with you?" asked Tessa.

Bernardo took her hand in his and looked at her with puppy dog eyes. Tessa looked at him and burst out laughing. She hugged him.

"Oh Bernardo, you are such a dear man. Just don’t take chances, all right?" said Tessa looking at Marta.

Marta quickly signed and Bernardo grinned as he nodded his head and signed, "No more chances. Only sure things," he grinned as Marta translated.

A week went by before the bandits were discovered again. This time all of the soldiers made it home, but five of the eight were severely wounded. Montoya was furious. He now had lost two dead, six seriously wounded and at least two deserters. Montoya sent out a dispatch rider to Monterey, but the man was found dead two days later only twenty miles from the pueblo.

Montoya was working late one night. The candle, which had started out eight inches high, was now an inch high and flickering.

A low cough brought Montoya around as he reached for his pistol. A dagger suddenly pinned his coat sleeve to the desk.

"Now, now, Colonel, is that anyway to receive guests?" asked Zorro.

"I don’t recall inviting you here," replied Montoya.

"I am sorry, Colonel, I brought him," smiled the Queen of Swords as she emerged from the shadows.

"Great all we need now is Mary Rose," scowled Montoya.

"Colonel, your men are getting beaten up badly and the bandits are starting to raid the outlying haciendas. If something isn’t done soon, the Dons will come for you," said Tessa.

"Quite frankly, I am at a loss as to what course of action to take. It is almost like they have a spy in Santa Elena," said Montoya as he freed his sleeve and returned the blade, hilt first to Zorro.

"That is why we are here," replied the Queen.

"You definitely have a spy in town. The day your last patrol was shot up, a mirror flash was seen coming from the town. It was answered by another flash from the hills. They have a network of people signaling your every move," said Zorro.

"And you know this how?" asked Montoya.

"I watched the pueblo that day and saw the flashes. They must be using some sort of heliograph," replied Zorro.

Montoya got up and walked to the credenza and took out a box. "You mean like this one?" he asked as he opened the box. Shock appeared on Montoya’s face.

"It is empty!" shouted Montoya.

"Sir, I still have it in my quarters. Remember I had to use it when those pirates attacked? I never brought it back," said Grisham.

"Go get it. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" asked Montoya.

Grisham ran to his quarters and returned a few minutes later.

"It’s gone, Sir. Someone stole it," wailed Grisham.

"Now we know," said Zorro. "I know where the flashes came from, maybe there is a clue," said the man with the cape.

"Where did it come from?" asked Montoya.

"Where you would least expect it. Your own jail."

"There is no one in the jail," said Grisham.

"I have an idea," said Tessa. "Have it known that you will lead the patrol tomorrow morning, Colonel. Zorro and I will watch and see who enters the jail."

"Sounds like a good plan, but we should check it tonight to make sure one is in there now," said Grisham.

"Excellent, I will inspect it myself, since Captain Grisham is supposedly on his death bed," said Montoya.

"Colonel, I enlisted the help of Senorita Alvarado and Don Hidalgo. They will be sending some of their caballeros to town tonight. Senorita Alvarado will also come to see you in public in the morning. It will be a chance to see how good of actors you both are," grinned the Queen.

"Young woman, I will have you know I was considered the best actor in schools days," replied Montoya with a crooked grin.

Undercover of darkness, rancheros from the Alvarado and Hidalgo haciendas came into town by twos. They took over the positions vacated by the soldiers going on patrol. They would protect the town in case of a surprise attack by the bandits.

The next morning, the soldiers made a big sowing of mounting a patrol. They let it be known that only a handful of wounded soldiers would remain behind.

Montoya was sitting at the almost vacant cantina when Maria Teresa Alvarado approached him. She noticed a non-descript man wearing a sombrero and a poncho sitting at the table by the wall of the patio and motioned to Montoya with her eyes. Montoya nodded his head slightly.

"Colonel, I am very concerned for my safety. Your soldiers have been unable to apprehend the banditos. In fact, they have gotten beaten up every time they encounter the rapscallions."

"Senorita, I share your concern. That is why I will personally lead this morning patrol to the south."

"I hope you will catch them, and please be careful." She said as she left and walked to the market.

As Tessa left, the man quietly got up and walked away. Montoya took note of the man’s movements and watched as the man disappeared into the jail.

A short while later Montoya led his patrol out of the pueblo. Fifteen minutes later, flashes of light were seen by two men in the hills. One of the men used his own heliograph and signaled back.

"Pablo, take this message to Tres dedo Gato. He will find this very interesting."

"What is it Armando?"

"The Colonel has taken his patrol south looking for us. He left only his wounded soldiers behind. The pueblo will be easy pickings," he laughed as Pablo mounted and sped away.

The man in the jail walked out of the jail and into the fist of Marcus Grisham.

"Surprise! I am not dead yet," he said as he massaged his fist. "Damn that hurt."

Tres dedo Gato read the note and an evil grin crossed his scared face. He was five foot and seven inches tall, shaggy black hair and beard. His bulky frame belied the fact that he was a fast man. His face sported a four-inch scar from his forehead to his cheek centered over his left eye. The scar made his sinister grin even more terrifying.

"Pablo, take the men and attack the pueblo."

"Where will you be?" asked Pablo.

The evil Three Finger Jack pulled out his machete and plunged it into Pablo’s stomach.

"Don’t ever question me," he snarled as Pablo fell to the ground.

"Garcia," the bandit leader said. "You take the men. I saw a beautiful senorita riding alone near her hacienda the other day. I think she would make a fine bed warmer. You may have her when I am finished with her, if she survives," he laughed.

Two hours later, seventeen men charged the north end of the pueblo. When they were fifty yards from the town, angry led bees filled the air from the defenders. The fusillade left three men and four horses dead and five men wounded. The bandits dismounted and took cover in a nearby ravine. They returned fire as the remaining terrified horses took flight.

The exchange of gunfire went on for several minutes and then turned into a standoff. The bandit’s cover was good and the defenders did not have a good angle of fire. The bandits however were able to pick off a couple of defenders as they knelt to reload. The rest of the rancheros reloaded while in the prone position.

An hour later the flash of a mirror from behind the bandits was seen by the men in the pueblo. Captain Grisham studied the flashes.

"When I count three," he said to the men. "Every first man will fire, then every second followed by the third. Then the first man. You will keep it up until I tell you to stop."

"Captain," said Don Gaspar reloading his rifle. "Surely you don’t expect to hit anyone, do you?"

"No, but it will keep their heads down. Colonel Montoya is behind them. When we stop firing the bandits will return fire. They probably will all fire at the same time. When they do, Colonel will charge them."

"Sounds like a very good plan, Captain. Was this plan yours or the Colonel’s."

"Actually neither. The Queen of Swords and Zorro recommended it. I have to hand it to them. Their plans have worked so far," replied Grisham.

Zorro and the Queen watched from the hills as the battle took place. Armando lay nearby, tied securely. He had been taken before he could warn the bandits of Colonel Montoya’s approach.

"I think I will go home and change. I want to be presentable when I meet with Montoya again."

"You are always presentable, Tessa."

"Flatterer," she said as she kissed him and then mounted Chico.

Bernardo was in the stable pitching hay when the bandit leader arrived. Neither man saw each other as Tres dedo Gato concentrated on the hacienda.

The bandit kicked in the kitchen door and charged in with a sword in his right hand and a machete in his left. Marta was at the stove and threw a pot of hot coffee at the intruder. Grabbing a frying, she ducked the wild flailing of the sword as the man tried to recover from the hot liquid.

As the bandit charged, Marta deflected the sword with the frying pan and ducked under the machete. Marta noticed that the hand that held the machete was missing the fourth and fifth fingers. Getting by the bandit, she rang out of the door and to the stables. Tres dedo Gato followed her.

Running into the stable, she found Bernardo and started to sign a warning when the bandit’s form filled the doorway. Bernardo forced Marta behind him and raised the pitchfork he had been using. The bandit laughed as he swung his weapons, but Bernardo was able to block each swing.

Finally, Bernardo was able to pin the bandit’s left hand to the wall. The bandit lost hold of the machete but was able to impale Bernardo with the sword.

"Bernardo," screamed Marta as she grabbed the machete and swung at the bandit. The steel blade severed the bandit’s left hand at the wrist.

The bandit howled in pain and pulled the sword out of his victim. He charged Marta, who backed up, tripping over a bale of hay.

The bandit shouted with glee as he raised his sword to slice at Marta. The bandit felt a pain in his back and looked down to see three feet of steel sticking out of his own stomach. The sword was withdrawn and the bandit turned to see his attacker, the Queen of Swords standing there with blood covered blade.

He rolled his eyes and collapsed into a pool of his own blood.

Marta ran to Bernardo with tears running down her face. She cradled the head of the man who risked his life saving her.

"Quickly Marta, hitch up the horses," said the Queen as she grabbed bandages out of her saddlebags. She finished wrapping the bandages around Bernardo’s waist and then ran into the hacienda. She quickly changed her blouse and put a skirt on over her pants. Stopping for a moment, she took her fathers sword and some of Diego’s clothes.

They lifted the dying man into the wagon and with Marta in the wagon bed with Bernardo, Tessa raced the team towards the pueblo.

As they bounced down the road, Zorro arrived having seen the dust. Without breaking stride, he jumped into the wagon.

"Diego, change your clothes before we get to town," said Tessa.

Diego found his clothes and stripped off his shirt and pants. He sat on the bench seat putting his pants on when the wagon lurched right, almost sending Diego off the wagon. Tessa instinctively reached out and grabbed Diego’s waistband. She quickly glanced to see Diego clothed only in his long johns.

"Will you keep you eyes on what’s important," cautioned Diego.

"I was," said Tessa quietly. \Oh boy what a nice . . .\ she thought as a wagon wheel hit a chuckhole.

Diego was completely dressed when they entered the pueblo. Soldiers stood outside the pueblo, policing up the defeated bandits. Tessa passed the guards and stopped at Helm’s office. Diego carried Bernardo into Helm’s office and laid him on the table.

Colonel Montoya watched as Senorita Alvarado drove in and walked over to the surgery.

"Senorita Alvarado, what has happened?"

"Marta was attacked by Tres dedo Gato and Bernardo was hurt protecting her," replied Tessa.

"Where is this bandito now, We must pursue him."

"He is in my stable, dead," replied Tessa.

"Dead? How did this happen?"

"Diego and I were out riding. When we got home, I discovered the kitchen door kicked in. I heard a scream and grabbed Papa’s sword. When I got to the stable, I saw Bernardo on the ground and the bandit swinging at Marta. I shoved Papa’s sword into him. Oh my, I killed him, I feel woozy, Colonel."

"Where was Don Diego?" asked Montoya.

"Poor Diego, I ran out of the house so fast that I pushed him out of the way and he fell over a chair on the patio."

"If you faint, you will end up on the ground, Senorita. I saw you face down a man on horseback, remember? When you are protecting someone you love, the fear in you leaves and you fight back," grinned Montoya. "You are not quite as helpless as I once believed."

"It must be the terror, Colonel, then when it leaves, I start to shake."

"I understand, it is the rush of excitement leaving. Now tell me, how do you know that the bandit was Tres dedo Gato and that he is dead?"

"There is a jar in the back of my wagon," replied Tessa.

Montoya walked to the wagon and took out the clear jar. In it was the hand of Three Finger Jack.

"I won’t ask how his hand became separated from his arm."

"Poor Marta. She reacted without thinking when she saw Bernardo was wounded. She picked up the machete and swung it."

"Marta is a remarkable woman also. With your permission, I will send this to Monterey."

"What ever you want, Colonel. The Viceroy may even give you a promotion," smiled Tessa. "I understand that the Queen of Swords and Zorro were a big help."

"Yes, well, one must take assistance if a crises from wherever it comes," replied Montoya.

Captain Grisham wandered over to the Doctor’s Office.

"What is that?" he asked.

"The thing that will make this pueblo famous, Captain. Oh, when you are finished with the bodies out there, please have some men remove the bandit chief from Senorita Alvarado’s stable. When you return we will hang the five surviving bandits."

Marta walked out of the surgery door. She was pale and was crying.

"Marta?" asked Tessa.

Marta shook her head.

Diego walked out and placed his arm around Marta.

"Doctor Helm is still working on him. If he lives it will be to your fast thinking of bandaging him and getting him to the Doctor," said Diego.

Two weeks later

"Tessa, it’s time I go home to Los Angeles," said Diego over breakfast.

"I don’t want you to leave, but I understand," replied Tessa as she made swirlies in her scrambled eggs with a fork.

"Father will be worried. My mission was accomplished and I need to get Bernardo home."

"You can take a wagon, it will be more comfortable, although slower."

"Gracias, Tessa. It would be better for Bernardo also."

Marta walked into the kitchen carrying a tray of untouched food.

"You men are absolutely infuriating," said Marta.

"What did I do?" asked Diego.

"Not you. Him," replied Marta motioning behind her with her head.

In the doorway stood Bernardo. He quickly signed.

"Don’t make a big fuss. Marta has taken good care of me, but it is time for me to resume my duties," said Marta as she translated Bernardo’s sign.

"You were right Diego," said Tessa. "He is tougher than he looks."

"I still don’t understand how Bernardo was able to stave off that bandit’s attack for so long," said Marta. "It was amazing."

"Marta, didn’t I tell you? Bernardo has been my sword sparring partner for several years. When Maestro Torres taught me the use of the sword, he also taught Bernardo the use of swords and how to use whatever you had available to defend yourself. I don’t think Maestro Torres envisioned a pitchfork though."

"It was very inventive. He isn’t the only one who has used a pitchfork," grinned Marta.

Diego looked at Tessa questioningly.

"As Tessa, I had to use a pitchfork to defend myself."

"It turned out well, I see," replied Diego.

Tessa gave him a half grin. "For me it did. He is buried some where on my land."

"I think maybe staying another week would sound better," said Diego.

"Good," replied Tessa and Marta in unison.

Colonel Montoya sat in his office, reading a dispatch. Captain Grisham knocked and walked in.

"This has been a very interest several months, Grisham," said Montoya.

"Interesting? How?"

"Where have you been? We have had Fires, cyclones, two groups of pirates, The Queen of swords, The Black Shadow and now several very bad bandits. I am getting to old for this," replied Montoya. "If we have another pirate attack, I think I will retire," said Montoya.

"What did Monterey have to say about your gift to the Viceroy?"

"He was ecstatic about receiving the hand of Tres dedo Gato and the gold from Los Angeles."

"Did you tell him that the hand was cut off by a gypsy and the most notorious bandit around was killed by Senorita Alvarado?" asked Grisham.

"Uh, No."

"Did you explain that the Queen of Swords intercepted the stagecoach taking the hand to the Viceroy and handed over the tax money to the driver?"

"Uh, No. Sometimes Grisham it is better to leave out some facts, when dealing with politicians. Heaven knows how many time politicians leave out certain facts when dealing with the populace."

"True, Colonel. I am going to the cantina for breakfast, care to join me?" asked Grisham.

"Lead the way Captain, you’re buying," replied Montoya with a grin.

The End

Author’s note: Three Finger Jack actually rode with Joaquin Murrieta in California until they were surrounded and killed. Murietta head and Three Finger Jack’s hand were kept in separate pickle jars and put on display in Monterey.