done.”
Duncan moved to his horse. “Why don’t we debate this later? Right now we need to get the women back to the mission and start looking for Lewt. We’ll lose four or five hours, but we can make it up. A few of those outlaws looked like they hadn’t been in the saddle for months and had grown fat on beer and the sisters’ cooking. They’ll be needing to stop often and long. If I know Lewt, he’ll put out a deck and try to extend each stop with a little game.”
“We’ve got better horses and better riders. We’ll catch up to them and then we’ll figure out what to do.” Wyatt grinned at Em. “But I can tell you right now, when we find him, I ain’t the one who’ll be kissing on that gambler.”
Em had no more time to talk. She simply made a face at the ranger as Sumner turned the wagon around and they doubled back to the mission.
Duncan told her to stay close to the wagon while he and Wyatt lagged behind to make sure the outlaws hadn’t decided to double back. “If you hear gunfire,” he whispered to Em, “ride hard toward the mission.”
“Aren’t you going to tell Sumner the same?”
He laughed. “Sumner knows. He’s been in a few fights before, but for you, cousin, this will be your first. Up to now, you’ve been a virgin.”
Em didn’t miss the glint in his eyes. He was teasing her, but she wasn’t sure exactly about what.
Duncan was born for this life. He loved the adventure, the fight. She simply hoped they all lived to tell the story.
He tipped his hat and yelled, “I’ll catch up to you before you reach the mission doors.”
She rode with her rifle across her legs, ready if needed, but her thoughts were on Lewt. She’d told herself that last night had been more dream than reality. She’d found him alone and wanted to kiss him one more time. His life would never blend with hers, but she needed the memory of this one man. He’d touched her body and soul deeper than anyone else ever had. He’d made her feel desirable and wanted beyond all reason. Even when she knew what he was, she still longed for the touch of his hand and the taste of his kisses.
Before she faced Lewt again, Em knew she had to make up her mind about how she felt about him. She thought she knew how he felt about her. He hated her for making a fool of him. For lying to him and letting him share his secrets about wanting to marry rich without telling him who she was. She also knew he wanted her. Not just a woman or a wife, but her.
It took them more than two hours to get the wagon back to the mission. Her cousin rode in at full speed just as the priest closed the gate. She saw no sign of Wyatt and guessed he was somewhere up ahead scouting things out.
Duncan spent thirty minutes convincing Anna that she would be safe there without him. Finally, he put a second lock at her door and a tiny hole so she could look out before she unlocked either bolt.
With Sumner and the two cooks promising to stand guard over her, Anna finally turned loose of Duncan’s hand.
Em hugged Sumner.
“I should be going with you,” he whispered. “I need to look out for you.”
Em smiled. For the first time she saw that the old man liked her. “I’ll be all right with Wyatt and Duck. You’re needed here.”
He looked at the two cooks and frowned, as if worried he might be the one facing true danger. “You take care of yourself,” Sumner warned, “just as I plan to. Bring that wild cousin of yours back in one piece along with that gambler. He’s starting to grow on me even if he’ll probably never be much of a horseman.”
She smiled. “He’s growing on me too.”
Duncan and Em left the mission at a run. They rode McMurray horses bred for strength and distance. It was time to put them to the test.
An hour later they reached the spot where she’d last seen Lewt playing cards on his bedroll and talking with the outlaws as if he were just passing time. Wyatt was waiting for them. He’d ridden ahead and knew the direction so they didn’t have to worry about tracking, which was a good thing because a winter rain began to