of a celebration. After all, they were much the same. All the women cried and everyone would say how nice she looked.
A rustling sounded in the loft. For a second Cozette thought she might be rescued, maybe by a tornado, or a hailstorm, either of which would take everyone’s mind off the wedding. Then reality weighed against her heart. A storm wouldn’t make the ranch hers. Nothing would. Until a few hours ago her father had wanted the priest to perform the marriage at his bedside when the groom arrived, but he’d finally demanded she marry in the tiny chapel. She’d seen the blood in his handkerchief each time he coughed and guessed the reason.
The rattling above came again. Cozette refused to turn around, thinking the rat in the church must be huge . . . almost big enough to be an uncle. Her father loved the ranch, but Uncle Raymond saw only a fast way to make money. Her beloved San Louise would be sliced up and cannibalized within months, because with no groom, her uncle could chop it into small farms. One of the oldest Mexican land-grant ranches in Texas would vanish.
Shouting came from beyond the chapel walls. Cozette pressed her cheek to the window. She could die in a few minutes when all was quiet, she decided. She saw shadows of men run from one building to another, but she couldn’t tell what was happening. Shouts echoed through the foggy night air and she thought she heard gunfire near the barn.
As she pushed away from the window, she became aware of someone behind her. Before she could turn, the barrel of a gun pushed sharply against her back.
“Turn around, pretty lady, and you’re dead,” came a voice low and rich.
“Who are you?” she demanded, thinking of the old stories she’d heard of outlaws raiding the ranch years ago.
The laughter only inches behind her chilled her blood.
“I’m a bandit come to relieve you of the burden of your wealth. I’ll start with that necklace.”
She tugged off the heavy gold necklace and handed it to him. “Take it and be gone.”
“And the ring.” He was so close to her she could feel his warm breath on her bare shoulders.
She jerked off the gold band she’d bought for herself before she left Austin.
“A willing victim?” the robber said. “A change from what I expected.” His voice was more educated than she thought a bandit’s might be, but the steel of his weapon seemed no less deadly.
“Is that all you want?” she asked as she stared out into the night wishing the gun in his hand would go off and end her misery.
“Oh, we’re taking plenty. I checked out the chapel, and my band is loading all your wedding gifts in a wagon.”
“Good,” she said.
“You don’t seem upset that we’re taking everything of value.”
“I could care less,” she answered.
“Don’t play games with me, miss. I may not kill you, but my gang wouldn’t hesitate.”
Cozette placed her hands on the windowsill, fighting to see beyond the thick glass. “Your gang? They wouldn’t be three short fat men dressed in black.”
“What makes you say that?”
“They’re being led away by several of the ranch hands. I don’t know how mean they are but one looks like he might be sobbing.”
The outlaw pushed her against the window as he looked out. His strong fingers rested on the back of her neck, holding her, but not hurting her. His touch was as warm as the glass was cold.
“That’s them.” He mumbled an oath. “Great, I leave them for five minutes and look what happens.”
“My men will come after you next.” She tried to wiggle away. “They’re probably already checking every building on the ranch.”
For one second his hand slipped against her hair and she twisted to face him. She drew in a quick breath to scream, but his stormy eyes stopped her. He was tall, and darkened by the sun, but his eyes were unlike any she’d ever seen. He was young, maybe only a year or two older than she, yet the sadness in his stare held a hundred years of sorrow.
“Great!” He pulled her from the window. “You’ve seen my face. Now I have to kill you.”
“Good!” she shouted back. “Shoot me!” Heaven had answered her prayer.
She straightened against the wall, bracing herself for the blow. “Shoot me right in the heart.” Cozette closed her eyes and waited.
After holding her breath for as long as she could, she let out the air and glared