Clutching her knees to her chest, Chiquita wanted to pray. She’d heard Eduardo talk to his God, and with all her heart, she wished she had a God who loved her, too. She didn’t want just any God, she wanted the Jesus she’d been learning about.
Jesus, why did I have to be so unworthy of You? If only You would accept me, I would love You with all my heart. She held her breath to stop the sob threatening to come out. I’m such a sinner, Jesus. I know that’s why You’ll never want me. Please, if You care for Eduardo, help me, too.
The crunch of the man’s footsteps sounded outside the stall. He paused. The quiet pressed down on her. Her heart pounded, shaking her with the intensity. She held her breath.
“Why there you are.” The stall door creaked as he eased it open.
Chiquita huddled tight in the straw and dirt on the floor, hoping he hadn’t seen her. The yank on her hair told her different. Her eyes watered as he jerked her upright. “You didn’t think you could escape me, did you?”
In an instant, his countenance went from playful to deadly. He drew her close. The smell of unwashed clothing and man gagged her. Her fists clenched tight as he began to drag her toward the door.
“I’d love to stay and play, honey, but we have to get out of here before your husband returns.”
The sunlight blinded her as they left the barn. She hoped he was blinded as well. Drawing back, she flung the contents in her hand at his face. She turned her head. He cried out. Letting go, he began to claw at his eyes. Bits of straw clung to his mustache. Chiquita darted away. The door to Pilar’s house flung open. Pilar stood there, a rifle in her hand. She raised the weapon as Chiquita raced up beside her. Only then did Chiquita turn to look back at the man. He faced them, pistol in hand. Even from this distance, she could see the sheen of moisture on his cheeks and knew his eyes were burning from the dirt in them.
With a snarl of rage, he swiveled around and stalked off. A few minutes later, she heard the rapid clip of hooves as his horse carried him over the hills and away from them.
Pilar dragged Chiquita through the door and set the bar in place. She almost threw the rifle down before taking Chiquita in her embrace. “I saw the gun. I thought he would kill you.” The two women clung together, weeping.
Later that night, Chiquita curled up in bed, trying to keep from shaking. Eduardo had been enraged when he’d come home. Through a series of questions, Pilar had already pieced together what happened, and she told Eduardo. She hadn’t allowed Chiquita to return to the house until after the men came home. Instead, Pilar gave orders for the two of them to fix supper. She’d taken charge, as if Chiquita were a young child who needed something to occupy her so she wouldn’t dwell on the afternoon’s terror. Chiquita had been grateful.
Now, however, the earlier events wouldn’t be squelched. Her mind went from remembering, once more, the feel of Eduardo’s comforting embrace, to the horror of the stranger dragging her off. More than ever, she felt a need for Eduardo. That need had been growing, but tonight, she didn’t think she could bear being apart from him.
Lying in bed, Eduardo stared out at the moonlit night. He could almost read by the brightness if he’d wanted to, but he knew he couldn’t concentrate on reading. Longing and rage warred in his heart. When he’d heard what happened to Chiquita today, he’d been furious. How could any man have the audacity to invade his home and threaten his wife? She had never done anything to anyone. Was this someone he’d offended in the last few years? With the temper he had, he certainly might have insulted someone, but he couldn’t imagine anyone he knew wanting to hurt Chiquita.
The longing came from the way his arms could remember the feel of her. Small and soft, she felt wonderful. She smelled of a clean, woman scent. He’d come to the point where he wanted to have her as his wife in all ways. However, he didn’t want to scare her. With the rough treatment Diego had meted out, she still feared men. He could see that every time she was around Rico or one of the other men. He had to give her more time. He couldn’t force his love on her but had to wait until she was ready.
The door to his room creaked open. Chiquita stepped inside. His breath caught in his throat. In the moonlight, the white nightdress she wore gave her an achingly beautiful appearance. Her hair, flowing free about her shoulders, shimmered with a touch of moonlight. He was afraid to move—afraid she would disappear.
She pushed the door shut. After taking two small steps toward the bed, she halted. She looked like she wanted to run.
Eduardo didn’t remember moving, but suddenly he stood before her. He traced the curve of her cheek. She studied him with her wide-eyed gaze. As if in a dream, Eduardo lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss that made him forget about trouble.
CHAPTER 15
I’m telling you, this is the right thing to do.” Eduardo could still see the hesitancy in Chiquita’s eyes. “I know you don’t remember going to Tucson before, but I have some friends there. You’ve met Conlon and Quinn. Quinn’s the deputy sheriff who was at our wedding. If anyone can help keep you safe, Quinn can.” Uncertainty shone in her gaze.
“Oh sweetheart.” Eduardo pulled Chiquita into his embrace. He knew she didn’t want to leave the ranch, but he couldn’t keep her here with this threat hanging over them. He kissed her, slow and tender, trying to show her his love. She clung to him. When he ended the kiss, she relaxed against him and sighed. He grinned. He hadn’t realized a man could be so content.
“Pilar will be fine, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He stroked her back, wanting to stay like this all day. “Rico can take care of everything until we come home. He knows what needs to be done. Lucio even promised to tend to your garden.” That one hadn’t been easy, but the young vaquero had agreed.
“Come on. I’ve got our things already loaded in the wagon.” He led her outside, where the others waited.
“Jorge and I’ll be riding through the hills on either side of you, in case there’s trouble.” Rico spoke in a low voice. Eduardo and Rico had discussed the need for extra protection at least until they were through the pass. They worried that the gunman would catch them unawares on the road to Tucson.
“Keep a sharp eye out.” Eduardo appreciated Rico not saying anything in front of Chiquita. He didn’t want her to worry more than she already did. The long trip would be tiring enough without any added tension.
Pilar hurried to them, a basket in her hands. “I’ve made some lunch for you.” Rico lifted the basket into the wagon while Pilar hugged Chiquita. “Don’t worry. I’ll see that your garden is tended. By the time you get back, you’ll have some fresh vegetables waiting for you.” She stepped back, blinking rapidly, lifting her hand in farewell as the wagon rattled off.
Clouds gathered on the horizon. There had been a few uncharacteristic showers in the past week. The mountains got most of the moisture. The dust from the road rose up around them. Eduardo hoped the rain would come again, but not until they reached town.
A swarm of bees flew across the road. Pulling the horses to a stop, Eduardo waited for them to pass. Even though swarming bees were usually docile, he didn’t want to get in the middle of them. Trying to appear as if he were following the swarm’s flight, he scanned the hills. “That sound makes my hair stand on end.” He flashed a smile at Chiquita, hoping she couldn’t sense his concern. “When we get back home, I’ll take one of the boys to see if we can find the hive. We can always use more honey.” He couldn’t see Rico, but then he’d warned him to stay out of sight as much as possible. Flicking the reins, Eduardo urged the team to start.
The horses plodded up the steep incline. He took Chiquita’s hand in his. She gave him a shy smile. He wanted to stop the wagon and kiss her. Instead, he tugged her closer on the seat until they were touching. Somehow, in the last few weeks, she’d become very important to him.
“Would you like me to tell you about the people you’ll be meeting?” She nodded, and he couldn’t resist giving her a light kiss. She ducked her head. He grinned and gave the
countryside a quick scan, knowing she wouldn’t notice.
“Conlon is a lieutenant in the cavalry, stationed at Fort Lowell. His wife is Glorianna, and they have twins—a boy and a girl.”
Chiquita raised her eyebrows. He chuckled.
“I hope you’re not wanting me to tell you their names, because I can’t remember.” He shrugged. “Conlon mentioned another baby coming, too. I don’t know how soon.”
“Quinn’s wife is Kathleen. They have a baby boy. No, I have no idea what his name is either.” She gave him such a comical look that he laughed. “I’m not good with kids.”
Her eyes darkened, turning solemn. He could almost see the thoughts rushing around in her head. Without relaxing his vigilance, he snuggled her closer to his side. “I’ve never been good with other people’s children, but I can’t wait to have one of our own.” Although he hadn’t thought about children, the possibility excited him. A picture of a little girl who looked just like Chiquita warmed his heart. What he’d said to her was true. He couldn’t wait to become a father. He pushed the thoughts away. Right now, he needed to keep his wife safe from harm.
“For a long time, I thought I would never want a family.”
Chiquita looked up at him, a question in her eyes.
He stared out at the cactus-covered hills, finding it hard to talk about something he’d kept hidden for so long. “You saw the family graves. You know my parents lost nine children. My mother, especially, carried that grief with her until she died.” He shrugged. “I didn’t want to face the losses they faced.”
Her hand touched his cheek. Glancing down, he could see the brightness in her eyes. He forced a smile.
“I know. Most people don’t experience death like that.” Clasping her hand in his, he caressed her palm with his thumb. He cleared his throat, easing the rawness. “I better pay more attention to the road. The mountain pass can be a bit rough.” He still kept her hand in his, but the road wasn’t what bore watching. If anyone were to ambush them, the next few miles would be the place. A man with a gun could hide anywhere.
Chiquita leaned against him. Her gaze swept the hills, too. Eduardo regretted alerting her to the danger. For some reason, he wanted to not only protect her, but keep her from any hint of distress. When he thought of what she’d faced the other day, he wavered between rage and a feeling of failure. She was his responsibility. He needed to protect her.
The drive through the mountain pass proved uneventful. Eduardo kept a close eye on their surroundings and the rock-studded hills above them. He prayed continually, unwilling to consider the possibility that something could happen to Chiquita, not when his love for her was growing every day.
Eduardo continued to study the foothills. He caught a glimpse of Rico signaling all was fine. He and Jorge were returning home now. Eduardo could relax his vigil now. They should be safe if no one had followed them this far.
A sense of unease had been gnawing at Chiquita all day. She hadn’t wanted to leave the ranch. Despite the three attacks on her, she knew Eduardo would be more careful. She felt safe at the ranch. She’d never become comfortable like this at home with her parents. For the first time in her life, she looked forward to each day.
Since she’d gone to Eduardo two nights ago, he’d changed even more. Papa never showed affection for Mama like Eduardo showed her. He seemed to want to touch or kiss her all of the time. Her face warmed as she thought how much she enjoyed his attention. He made her feel beautiful and wanted. He treated her like she was the most precious possession he had. She wanted to accept and bask in his adoration, but she feared one day he would see her as unworthy. No amount of devotion could erase the fact of who, and what, she was. Someday, he would see that.
Eduardo’s thumb continued to stroke her palm, pausing at times as he perused the country around them. She knew he wanted to hide his concern from her, but she had already guessed they might be followed and attacked.
Coming down off the pass, Eduardo nodded to a small stand of trees. “There’s a little spring there. We’ll stop and see what Pilar packed in that basket.” He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to cook one of the horses.”
She leaned closer, drawn by the warmth in his gaze. He had the strangest effect on her. With just a look, he could make her want to be close to him. His cheeks creased in a grin, as if he understood her roiling emotions. When they stopped for lunch, she didn’t know if she wanted him to take her in his arms once more or give her some space to get her feelings under control.
“Here we are.” Eduardo jumped down from the wagon, then reached up to help her down. He didn’t let go, but pulled her close. His gaze turned darker. Lowering his head, he gave her a lingering kiss that set her pulse pounding.
“I’ll water the horses while you set out the lunch.” Eduardo’s voice had an unusual huskiness to it. Chiquita tried to slow her breathing as she reached for the basket he retrieved from the wagon. Eduardo chuckled when he met her gaze. “If I kiss you anymore, we may not get to town before nightfall.”
Her face flaming, Chiquita carried their lunch to a grassy, shaded spot and began to set out the food. Was this the way husbands and wives usually felt about each other? She’d never had anyone look at her or affect her like Eduardo did. Even though she feared it wouldn’t last, she didn’t want these feelings to ever change.
During lunch, Eduardo glanced at the sky with a concerned frown on his face. Thunder rumbled in the distance. A heavy bank of clouds had settled over the mountains to the northwest of them quite awhile ago. Eduardo stood and stretched.
“We need to get on to town before the storm moves this way. Should the water start running in the mountain streams, we might have some trouble crossing the washes if we wait too long.” He strode away. Chiquita began to gather the remainder of their lunch, packing everything back in the basket.
The wagon jolted and creaked as Eduardo set a fast pace. The horses, refreshed from their break, seemed eager to get to town. They snorted occasionally. The scent of rain in the air made them frisky.
The road flattened out, flanked by heavy growths of twisted mesquite and paloverde trees. A coyote trotted into the road a few hundred yards ahead of them and paused to watch them. Like a shadow, the animal disappeared into the brush long before they arrived at the spot where he’d been.
Eduardo relaxed. She knew he thought the danger had lessened once they left the mountain pass behind. Here in the flatter land, with the thick undergrowth, an attack would be harder to commit. Once more, he took her hand, tugging to urge her to come closer to him. So content she thought she might start to purr like a cat, Chiquita leaned her head on his shoulder.
A shot rang out, shattering the tranquility. A horse squealed. The wagon jerked, throwing Chiquita off balance as the horses stretched out in a full gallop. Another shot split the air. Thunder cracked. Chiquita clutched the seat as Eduardo sawed the reins, trying to slow the runaways, to no avail.
Almost losing her balance, Chiquita caught a glimpse behind them. Her gasp alerted Eduardo. He glanced back. A rider raced after them. Even from a distance, Chiquita could see the rifle he held at the ready. Eduardo leaned forward, not attempting to slow the horses, but urging them on instead.
“Get down.” His yell swept away on the wind.
The wagon bounced and jolted, threatening to toss them off at any moment. Chiquita could feel the blood drain from her face. They were going to die. One man on a horse would be faster than the wagon. If this was the man who’d come to their house the other day, she knew, without a doubt, that he would kill them. She had felt the evil in him.
Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder that urged the horses to run faster. The brush rushed by in a nauseating blur. Chiquita glanced back. The gunman lifted the rifle to his shoulder. She hoped his racing mount would throw off his aim. Eduardo yanked her down so her head was on his lap. She could feel the man behind drawing steadily nearer.
&n
bsp; Huge drops of rain began to hit them. Chiquita shivered. How far were they from town? Was there anyone to help them? She had no idea. Glancing at the rifle under the seat, she knew Eduardo couldn’t use the gun and handle the team. With a pang of regret, she wished she’d been able to learn one of these skills. That might have saved their lives.
She hazarded a look behind. Something buzzed past. The man was close now. She could almost make out his face. This had to be the same man who tried to take her from her house.
Eduardo shouted something. The man lifted his gun. Chiquita had the feeling she could look directly down the barrel. Would she see the bullet as it came at her? She closed her eyes, unwilling to face the sight.
The wagon tilted, throwing her forward. Eduardo caught her, steadying her. The team, slowing very little, raced into a wide wash. Tiny streams of water ran across the roadway. Eduardo looked grim as he glanced upstream toward the mountains. The peaks had long since disappeared in the dark storm clouds.
Careening wildly, the wagon crossed the wash. The gunman’s horse slipped coming down the embankment behind them. His shot went wild. He jerked the reins, managing to keep his mount upright.
Chiquita couldn’t stop glancing between the road, Eduardo, and the man following them. At any second, a bullet would find one of them, and everything would be over. The man raised his rifle. Thunder cracked. The rumble seemed to continue. Eduardo flicked the reins on the horses’ backs, urging them to go faster. They were surging out of the wash.
The rifle jerked. The man glanced toward the mountains. His eyes widened. Chiquita followed his gaze and gasped at the wall of water rushing at him. Eduardo yelled at the horses. They seemed to sense the danger and put forth a burst of speed. The wagon flew over the edge of the wash.
She caught a glimpse of the first wave of the flood. Brown water churned past. Uprooted trees and undergrowth spun in the rushing waves like chaff in the wind. The rider, still several yards from the bank, couldn’t keep his mount upright. A tree trunk, like a mighty hammer, smacked into them. The horse screamed. Both were swept away in the torrent.
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