by Bobbi Smith
He loved her desperately. Yet their love could never be. He had known it from the start, and now he had to accept it. It was over. He would never know the joy of holding her or loving her again.
Hunt closed his eyes against the pain.
He would survive.
He had no choice.
It was hot. There was little breeze stirring, and Mimi was seeking what comfort she could, sitting out on the porch. She was feeling much stronger and was glad, but even feeling physically better didn't ease the pain of her worries about Glynna. Where was she? Was she alive?
"Mimi, I don't know how much longer I can stand this," Charles said as he came out of the house.
Mimi glanced up at her brother as he paced restlessly on the porch, and suddenly realized how much his concern for Glynna was taking its toll on him. He looked haggard and exhausted. Even his usually sharp-eyed gaze was dulled by the pain of his anxiety about his daughter's safety.
"I know," she said sympathetically. "Every day I get up believing that we'll hear something, and every day it's the same. Nothing. Where is she, Charles? Where can she be? Is she safe?" Tears threatened as she finally voiced her own terror.
"I wish to God I knew. If I did, I'd go after her myself. I know Tom and Paul told us that Hunt was the best man for the job, but it's been almost two weeks and we haven't heard a word. What if something's happened to Hunt? How long do we just sit here and wait for an answer that may never come?"
"I don't know. I was thinking the same thing. Do we stay here and wait until she returns?"
"If she returns," Charles said.
"Charles!" Mimi protested. "You can't allow yourself to think that way! You have to have hope! We have to believe Glynna's coming home to us!"
"But we've both read the accounts of white captives. Sometimes they're not found for years. Sometimes they're never found at all." Charles wearily rubbed a hand over his eyes, struggling to stay in control. He'd been strong for so long, but all the empty days and nights were wearing on him.
"Glynna will come home. If there's any way for her to come back to us, she will. She has to." Mimi tried to be firm in her conviction. She wanted to bolster Charles's spirits. Even though her own mood was as low as his, she wouldn't completely give in to it.
"You're right," he agreed, forcing himself not to think of the worst possible outcome. "But maybe it is time I contacted the cavalry or the Rangers. Surely there's someone, somewhere out here, who can help us. Lord knows, I've got money enough to hire more men to go after her. I'd give up my entire fortune if it meant getting Glynna back, but I don't think money has anything to do with this."
They shared a knowing look. It was so hard to sit by and wait; they were both used to taking charge and making things happen.
"Wherever she is, I know Glynna's thinking of us. We may not be able to talk to her, but she knows we love her."
"I hope so. She's been my whole life. All I ever wanted was for her to be happy."
Mimi looked up at her brother, open adoration for him shining in her eyes. "You know, Charles, you've always been my hero."
He was astonished by her statement. "I have?"
"Oh, yes. You are a wonderful man. You have always been there for me whenever I've needed you, and I love you more than I can ever tell you."
He smiled gently at her. "I love you, too, Mimi."
"I bet you didn't know it, but even when we were little, I thought you were wonderful," she said, grinning as she remembered their childhood.
"Even when you were causing me trouble?" It seemed he had always been saving her from one misadventure or another, trying to keep her out of trouble with their parents.
"But you always helped me. You were always there for me. Always." She said the last with loving emphasis. "Just as you are now."
Charles leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. "We'll find her. You just wait and see."
"I know," she said, believing him.
Mimi lifted her gaze past Charles and frowned. It looked as if someone was riding in, but she couldn't be sure.
"Charles..."
"What?" He saw the direction of her gaze and turned to take a look. "Someone's coming!"
She grabbed his arm. "Can you see who it is? Can you tell if it's someone from town or maybe-"
Mimi got to her feet. They both left the porch as they strained to see if they could identify the riders. She didn't recognize the horses, and, for a moment, she thought it wasn't Hunt. He would have been riding Warrior, and she would have known that stallion immediately, even at this distance.
"Oh, God, Charles. It's her," Mimi whispered as the riders finally drew close enough, and she could see that the one out in front was Glynna.
Mimi started to run. She was barely strong enough to walk a few steps, but the sight of her beloved daughter returning banished all weakness from her. She held her arms wide as her tears flowed unchecked.
Charles was right by her side, his gaze on Glynna. She was alive! She had come back to them! His heart was pounding, and he had never known such ecstasy. "Thank you, God," he prayed as his daughter raced toward them at top speed.
Glynna had thought the miles and days would never end. What had kept her going was the driving need to see her Aunt Mimi again. She knew every minute of the pounding ride would be worth it if she got back and found that her aunt was all right.
Hunt had told her that morning when they'd broken camp that they would reach the Rocking M that afternoon. She hadn't truly believed him until they'd crossed a creek some miles back and he'd told her they were now on Rocking M land. Until they'd come over the last hill and seen the ranch house, though, she'd feared it would never happen. And then when she saw Aunt Mimi and her father running toward her, her heart had filled with joy unlike anything she'd ever felt before.
"Aunt Mimi! Papa!" she cried as she charged toward them as fast as her weary mount would go. She didn't rein in until the very last minute, and then all but threw herself from the horse's back. She was sobbing uncontrollably as she ran into their waiting arms. "Oh! Aunt Mimi! Papa!"
"You're back!" was all they could say as they enfolded her in a strong, loving embrace.
They stood, crying, wrapped in each other's arms. There was peace in their world.
Tom, Paul and Edmund had been down at the stables when they heard the shouts from Mimi and Charles. Wes and Gib followed them as they ran for the house. The scene they came upon thrilled them.
Edmund hurried forward, acting eager to see Glynna, but in his thoughts he was less than grateful to the fate that had returned her to him. "Glynna! Thank God, you're here, and you're all right!"
Glynna looked up from where she stood in her father's and aunt's arms and managed to smile at Edmund. She had thought that her father might be there, but she hadn't even considered that Edmund might have traveled to Texas, too. "Edmund..."
Edmund opened his arms to her, and she had no choice. She went to him.
Mimi and Charles looked on. Charles's expression was satisfied at Edmund's display, but Mimi was frowning slightly as she watched them together.
"I'm so glad you're back," Edmund told her. "We've been going crazy waiting to hear some word about you.,,
"I'm glad I'm back, too," Glynna said tearfully, still being held close in his arms. She found his embrace comforting, but it was nothing like being held in Hunt's arms. Even as the realization came to her, she pushed it away. Edmund was to be her future, not Hunt.
Hunt had ridden in behind her, and was still mounted, looking on at the happy reunion. When Glynna went into the other man's arms, a fierce emotion stabbed him. He fought it down. He had no claim to Glynna. She was back where she was supposed to be with her family and the man she was promised to. He wasn't needed there. He had just started to ride toward the stable when his father came to him.
"I knew you could do it, son," Tom told him, beaming up at him, pride showing in his eyes.
Hunt nodded and, knowing he couldn't get away now,
dismounted to stand with his father. "The raiders had taken her up north. They were camped in a secluded canyon, but I managed to find them."
"How'd you get her away from them?"
"I made a trade Warrior for Glynna."
Tom knew how much the stallion had meant to his boy. He clapped him on the back. "I'm proud of you.
Hunt gave him a tight smile. "Is Mimi all right?"
"It was a bad gunshot wound, but she's getting better. Glynna's coming home will do more for her recovery than all the doctoring in the world."
"Good."
"That's her father, Charles, there with Mimi and Paul, and the other man is Edmund Moore, the man she's supposed to marry when she goes back to New York."
Charles looked up then to see Tom standing with the man who'd rescued his daughter and brought her home. He went straight to Hunt and held out his hand. "You must be Tom's son, Hunt."
"Yes, sir," Hunt responded, looking Charles in the eye as he shook his hand.
"I'm Charles Williams, Glynna's father. I can never thank you enough for what you've done for Glynnaand for Mimi and me." His words were completely sincere.
"I'm just glad everything turned out all right."
"Glynna's back with us. That's all that matters. Thank you, Hunt."
Hunt glanced Glynna's way to find her gaze upon him, even as she stood in the circle of Edmund's arms. Hunt's expression remained impassive. He displayed none of the emotion raging within him. He looked calmly back at Charles. "We were very lucky."
"We were all lucky-lucky that you were here so you could go after her so quickly. If it hadn't been for you, we might never have gotten Glynna back."
"Charles is right, Hunt," Mimi said as she came to speak with him.
Paul was at her side, his arm around her waist.
She went on, "Without your help, Glynna might have been lost to us forever. You saved her." Mimi's gaze met his as she drew him down to her so she could kiss his cheek. "Thank you for bringing her back to me."
Her heartfelt thanks touched Hunt deeply. "I'm glad she's back where she belongs, and I'm glad it's over now. Glynna's safe."
"Yes, she is."
They turned to look at Glynna as she stood with Edmund, his arm possessively around her shoulders.
Edmund was looking at Hunt, and he knew he should thank the man, too. He guided Glynna over to her rescuer.
"Thank you for bringing Glynna back safely," Edmund said, offering Hunt his hand, but still keeping one arm around her. "She means the world to me."
"I can understand why. She's a wonderful woman." Hunt shook hands with him, his gaze upon Glynna as he spoke. "You're a very lucky man."
"I know," Edmund replied, looking proudly down at her as if he owned her.
Glynna wanted to hit them both for talking about her as if she wasn't even there. Somehow she managed a benign smile, when all she wanted to do was glare at them for their arrogance. You're a very lucky man.... Inwardly she was seething at Hunt's cava Her words. She would have stormed off, but a display of temper right then would have raised too many questions-questions she didn't want to answer.
Wes and Gib came up to them then, to welcome them back.
"I think this calls for a celebration. What do you say?" Tom suggested.
"Absolutely!" all agreed.
"Let's go up to the house!"
The last thing Hunt felt like doing was spending any more time around Glynna and Edmund. It had taken all his considerable willpower not to hit Edmund for just having his hands on her. Hunt told himself that he had no right to feel that way. He had sacrificed that when he'd told her there was no future for them. She was free to do whatever she wanted to do and be with whoever she wanted to be with. He was out of her life forever. That was how he'd wanted it. But all the logic in the world didn't change the anger he felt at the thought of her with the other man.
Hunt told himself they were back on the Rocking M, and that was all that was important. He was certain Glynna didn't want to be around him either, but there was no way to avoid the festivities to come.
"I'm going to the bunkhouse and get cleaned up first," Hunt told Tom as the others headed for the house. "I'll join you shortly."
"All right, son. We'll be waiting for you."
Hunt took his horse and Glynna's and led them toward the corral. He would take as much time as he could getting cleaned up. That way he'd have to spend less time watching Glynna and Edmund.
"We'll help you with the horses, Hunt," Wes and Gib offered.
"Thanks."
Glynna glanced toward Hunt as he walked away with the two hired hands. A great sadness welled up in her as she watched him go. Even surrounded by friends as he was, Hunt was still a solitary man.
"Glynna?" Edmund saw the direction of her gaze and wondered what she was thinking. He'd noticed a look of near longing on her face and didn't like that at all. He wondered what had gone on between the two of them while they'd been alone out in the wild.
"Yes, Edmund?"
"You must be very grateful to Hunt for rescuing you."
"I am. I don't know what would have happened to me if he hadn't shown up when he did. I'm sure he saved my life."
"It's wonderful that he got there in time to help you."
"Yes, it was."
Something about the way she said it bothered Edmund deeply.
"Well, it's over now," he declared. "You're back with us, safe and sound. Just as soon as we can make the arrangements, we'll head home to New York City. Then we'll be back where we belong."
Glynna didn't say anything more as he led her toward the house. She knew she should have been thrilled at the idea of returning home, of leaving this wild, untamed land, but she felt nothing. She felt only empty.
They reached the house and went inside. Maria came out of the kitchen to welcome her, and Glynna went immediately to her to embrace her.
"I'm so sorry about Diego," she told her.
"Thank you." Maria began to cry, both with happiness that Glynna had been rescued and sadness for her lost son.
"He was very brave that day. He tried to save us." Glynna held Maria close, feeling her pain, knowing how much she'd lost.
"Your aunt told me. I am glad that you are back here with us now. We were all worried about you and praying for you."
"Thank you."
They spoke a moment longer, Maria telling her about the funeral and where Diego had been buried. "But tonight we celebrate your return, and that is a happy time for us," Maria said, smiling in spite of her tears. "Would you like to bathe and change clothes? Your room is as you left it. We knew you would be back."
"Thank you, Maria. I would love to freshen up."
"Then you go on upstairs. I will bring the tub and water to you."
Glynna excused herself from the others and went upstairs to get cleaned up. Mimi would have gone with her, for she wanted to talk to her, but she was too exhausted from all the excitement outside.
Everyone settled in, and for the first time everyone relaxed together.
"It's really over, Tom, thanks to your son," Charles said, relief sweeping through him as he accepted the tumbler of whiskey Tom handed him.
"I knew he could do it. I'm just glad they got back here as quickly as they did." Tom poured a drink for Paul and Edmund, too. Mimi had declined any liquor.
"Here's to Hunt," Paul said, lifting his glass, and the others followed suit.
They'd just finished taking their first drink when Hunt entered the house, followed by Wes and Gib.
"We were just toasting you," Charles said as he smiled at Hunt.
"Here, have a drink with us." Tom handed glasses to Hunt and the hands.
Mimi beckoned Hunt to come sit with her, and he went to her side gladly.
"I'm glad you're doing so well," he told her, and he meant it.
"So am I, but that's not important. What's important is what you did. How can I ever thank you for bringing Glynna home to me?" She touched his arm with heartfelt
gratitude.
"You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad things turned out the way they did."
"Hunt," she said, lowering her voice, her concern for Glynna very real. "I haven't had the chance to talk with Glynna about this privately yet, but I wanted to know....was she harmed in any way by the renegades? Is she really all right?"
His expression was serious as he answered her in all honesty. "None of the renegades touched her. She was scared, and she'd been a little roughed-up when I found her, but otherwise she was fine."
"That's right, Aunt Mimi," Glynna announced as she appeared in the parlor doorway. "I am fine. Hunt got me away from the renegades before any harm could come to me."
Glynna had rushed through her bath and changed into a pretty day gown before hurrying back downstairs to join them. As she heard her aunt's question, she was glad to have the discussion over with as quickly as possible, for she could just imagine what everyone had been thinking.
They all looked up at the sound of her voice. Hunt stood up and moved away from Mimi as Glynna crossed the room toward her aunt.
Mimi felt like crying in happiness as Glynna came to her, looking for all the world as if nothing terrible had happened to her. Glynna was really here with her. Her baby was safe.
"Oh, darling, I am so glad that you're back!"
Mimi glanced over at Paul and saw him watching Glynna intently. His expression said it all. He loved her, and that was what she'd wanted. They would never reveal the truth, but would keep the precious secret in their hearts for the rest of their days. They would love Glynna, yet they would allow her her innocence.
Glynna sat down beside Mimi and swept her into a loving embrace. Remembering her wound, she took care not to hurt her in any way.
"I missed you so much, and I worried about you constantly," Glynna said, at last finding some peace in her aunt's arms. "You will never know how much it meant to me to see you standing there waiting for me as we rode up. Hunt had told me that you'd been seriously wounded, but we didn't know if you had lived or died."
Mimi lifted a hand to caress her cheek. "Well, don't you worry about me any longer. I'm fine now that you're here. All I care about is you, darling. You're safe at last."