The Outlaw's Lady. Laurie Kingery

if they raise a ransom, you mean? What sum are you demanding for me? Your men have already taken possession of the fifty dollars I earned from my godfather.”

      He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “If money was taken from you, it will be returned,” he promised, then called sharply over his shoulder, “Esteban?”

      The man Tess had mentally named Mustachio stepped forward. “Sí, Sandoval?”

      “Give the lady back her money. I told you nothing was to be taken from her, and you have disobeyed. Just as you did by transporting her in such a position of discomfort.”

      Esteban smiled sheepishly at her and held out a small, cloth drawstring bag which clinked as Parrish took it from him.

      “And there is no question of ransom, Te—Miss Hennessy,” Parrish went on. “You will be staying among us for a time to take pictures of Diego Delgado and his men, and possibly some pictures of our adventures—though I understand the limitations of the camera make it impossible to portray us in the midst of action.”

      “No, I would have to pose you amid your stolen booty, afterwards,” she hissed at him.

      He shrugged, as if her intended insult did not touch him. “Once Delgado is satisfied that he has pictures enough to record his adventures for posterity, you will be escorted safely home.”

      All she could do was stare at him, her brain reeling at the implications of what he had said.

      “I’ll find a way to escape,” she whispered at least, hating the shakiness of her voice. “If not with my camera, then without it. I won’t stay here in a camp of outlaws, with only your promise to protect me.”

      He lowered his head so that his lips were mere inches from hers. “I would not advise that, Miss Hennessy. You are across the Rio Grande, in territory foreign to you, and you’re clearly a gringa. Not only Delgado’s men roam this land, but other bandoleros much less civilized than these, not to mention Apaches and Comancheros. As I have said, I will protect you from all harm. I make this promise before God, and I consider it a sacred promise. And one other thing you have said is wrong, Miss Hennessy.”

      “Oh, and what is that?” she asked.

      “That God does not know where you are. He does know, Miss Hennessy—Tess. And if the promise of my protection does not comfort you, the promise that He always knows where you are, and will keep you safe, should give you all the assurance you need.”

      Chapter Four

      He could tell by her sudden stillness that his words had made Tess think. She looked down, blinking. When she lifted her face again, her expression was calmer, though her blue eyes still flashed with defiance.

      She’s afraid, he realized. What woman wouldn’t be, in these circumstances? But she doesn’t want to show it. Most women would have swooned by now, or succumbed to a bout of hysterics. His admiration for her spirit grew.

      “You’re right, He does know where I am. And if you believe in God, how can you take part in something like this?” She made a sweeping gesture as if to include everything—her kidnapping, the camp and all of Delgado’s men.

      He allowed his face to show polite regret and shrugged. “A man must earn his bread in the best way he is able.”

      “Having ranches on both sides of the river wasn’t enough for you?”

      Inwardly he winced at her scornful tone, much preferring the spark of interest he had seen in her eyes at the barbecue. He wished he could take her into his confidence, tell her she had no reason to fear him, that he was on the side of justice, but it was too dangerous. There were too many eyes on them right now.

      “Ah, where is the zest in that? There is no excitement,” he said, knowing his words would make her more furious still, but that she would control herself because she knew she must.

      “So being a bandolero is a sport for you?” Tess exclaimed, but didn’t wait for an answer before asking another outraged question. “You never did intend to come and pick up your framed picture at my shop on Tuesday, did you?” she asked then. “That was just a ruse. And you probably don’t even have a mother, do you? Much less one having a birthday soon.”

      “On the contrary, Miss Hennessy, my mother is very much alive, living on my ranch north of Chapin, and will be very pleased with the picture you have taken of me, frame or no frame. You do have it with you, don’t you?”

      She nodded sullenly, pointing into the wagon.

      “And if you had not driven home by yourself, then yes, the appointment on Tuesday would have been necessary—although a kidnapping raid in broad daylight in a town, involving seizing you, packing up your wagon and hitching up your mule, would have been much more risky, not to mention difficult.”

      Again, she appeared to consider his words, and it was a long moment before she spoke again.

      “Do you think that my parents will just tamely wait for me to return?” she asked. “You don’t know my father. He’ll have the Texas Rangers after you—maybe even the army!”

      He couldn’t help grinning at the irony of what she was saying, and knew she would take it as insolence.

      Which she did. “You think I’m joking? Mister, you just took hold of a tiger’s tail!” she cried.

      “Miss Hennessy, don’t you think if the Rinches—the Rangers—or the army were capable of catching us, they would have long ago?”

      He thought she would have another retort for him, but just then he saw her look behind him, and heard footsteps approaching.

      “Ah, our guest has arrived at last, eh?” Delgado remarked in Spanish.

      “Sí, jefe,” Sandoval said, turning to face the outlaw leader, and switched to English, which Delgado understood as well. “Miss Teresa Hennessy, may I present Diego Delgado, leader of our band, and the reason you are here.”

      He saw Tess’s eyes widen as she beheld Delgado, who had dressed for the occasion in the spotless uniform of a Mexican coronel, which had been cleverly laundered of its bloodstains and mended by Delores, Esteban’s old mother, to hide the bullet holes that had caused the uniform’s sudden availability.

      Delgado swept her a bow as courtly as any European count could have made.

      “Señorita Hennessy, I am delighted you were able to join us, especially on such…shall we say ‘short notice’?” His English was as flawless as Sandoval’s, though more heavily accented.

      “Mr. Delgado,” she replied, “the pleasure is all yours. I am here very much against my will.”

      He stared at Tess for a moment as if he was not sure he had heard her correctly, and then he threw back his head and roared with laughter. “‘The pleasure is all yours,’ she says!” he exclaimed, slapping his side gleefully. “Sandoval, you said she was a feisty one and you were correct, amigo! Ay, caramba, I like her!”

      Delgado’s eyes gleamed as, coming toward her, he looked her up and down, as if she were an untamed mare that needed breaking, and suddenly Sandoval had to fight the urge to clench his fists. “Jefe, I have promised her she need not be afraid, for she will be safe among us,” he said quickly, hoping Delgado would get the hint.

      It seemed he did, for Delgado took a step back. “Señorita, you will be as safe here as in the midst of a church,” he said, sweeping her another bow. “I, Delgado, have sworn it.” He turned and repeated his words in Spanish for the benefit of his men. “Any man who touches this lady will answer to me, and will pay with his life, you understand, amigos?”

      There was a resounding chorus of agreement.

      Delgado turned back to Tess. “You see, they agree. You will be as their hermana, their sister.” He made a gesture with his hand to indicate that he considered this problem solved. “And so