Diego's cousin is visiting the hacienda with his fiancee. However, when it becomes apparent that she plans to leave him due to her infatuation with Zorro, he plans to challenge Zorro to a duel.

When Zorro finds a few bandits' spoils, the loot includes a 'bundle of joy' they are glad to be rid of: a baby-girl, which is stolen, as Diego guesses right from the cloths, from Russian immigrants, who are flooding California at the time, and change the alcalde's mind from 'not interested' to 'alcalde's job' by posting a 500 peso reward. Poor Felipe is stuck sitting the cry-baby, so he literally begs Zorro to ride and get more willing help from senorita Victoria Escalante, who proves very maternal.