lives of most of my men, it took every dime I had. I’ve got a ranch with no cattle. When we first came here, after the war, I could have rounded up enough strays to start over, but not now. The treasure at Goliad-if it exists-will give me a fresh start.’’
Adam stood and moved to the stove to pour himself another cup of coffee. ‘‘It sounds too good to be true. All the valuables from hundreds of men just waiting to be found.’’
Wes laughed and held out his cup to be refilled. ‘‘That’s what I thought, too. There’s only one thing I forgot to mention. Vince gave me the map saying that his grandfather believed the treasure was cursed. I told him I didn’t believe in curses or ghosts. It seems every man who ever had the map or looked for the treasure died. First Vince’s grandfather, then his father and both his uncles, now Vince.’’
‘‘Oh, fine.’’ Daniel laughed. ‘‘We’re all sitting about looking at a map that’s killed everyone who ever got near it. Makes me want to go treasure hunting.’’
Wes shook his head. ‘‘No, I’ll go alone. I only wanted you to know where I was headed. Since the night of the stampede, something’s been bothering me. Two of the men on early watch reported seeing riders that night who asked about Vincent Edward. But no men came into camp, and Vince took his shift about an hour before the stampede.’’
‘‘You think they were planning to do Vince harm?’’ Adam voiced his thoughts.
‘‘Or take the map,’’ Wes answered. ‘‘If they confronted him while he was on watch, I’d stake my life that Vince wouldn’t tell them where the map was. But they may have guessed by now. Or, they may think the secret of the map died with Vince.’’
‘‘You think they might have killed him?’’
‘‘One shot would start a stampede,’’ Wes answered. ‘‘We never found Vince’s body to know one way or the other. Maybe they only meant to frighten him. Maybe they died along with him.’’
‘‘If they killed him for the map and lived, they’ll be after you if they think you might have it.’’
‘‘That’s why I need to get to Goliad as fast as possible. If the mission holds a treasure, I’ll find it before this blasted curse catches up to me. And I’ll telegraph back here every few days to keep in touch. If someone comes asking after me, they’ll start with one of you.’’
‘‘We’ll let you know if you’re followed,’’ Daniel promised. ‘‘But if you need help, send for us. Luckily, I still have Willow to look after the twins and every woman in the settlement thinks she’s the assistant. I can be ready to ride within the hour.’’
‘‘What about Allie?’’ Adam asked.
‘‘I was thinking, she’d be better off staying with you.’’ Wes set his jaw. ‘‘She gets along great with Nichole. Plus, I want her out of danger. I can’t very well take her with me.’’
‘‘What about your promise to her?’’
‘‘It can wait a few weeks. I’ll find her family, but first I have to find the treasure.’’
Daniel frowned. ‘‘She may think her family is more important than the gold.’’
Wes ignored his disapproval. Neither of his brothers seemed to understand that he was doing no good here. It might be weeks before a lead on her family came in. Time was running out on the treasure. He could feel it. The odds were against him already; every day lessened his chances.
Standing, he added, ‘‘I’ve made up my mind. I’ll leave at first light.’’
‘‘You’d better tell Allie,’’ Adam warned. ‘‘We’ll be glad to have her stay with us, but you can’t just leave her without telling her you’re leaving.’’
‘‘All right.’’ Wes didn’t think it would do any good. ‘‘I’ll tell her now. Not that she’ll understand or care.’’
As he walked out of the room he noticed Adam was pouring Daniel another cup of coffee. He knew they were planning to continue the conversation without him. Neither of them understood the drive that pushed him. Wes didn’t want to settle down. Oh, he envied his brothers from time to time, but there was something in his blood that didn’t take to sameness day after day. He needed the adventure, the unknown. The days spent recovering had been long and wearing on his nerves. He wasn’t a man who could be molded to routine. Angela Montago did him a favor by refusing his offer of marriage. He’d only been dreaming when he’d asked her. What was right for his brothers wasn’t right for him. The sooner he learned to live with that, the better off he’d be.
Wes opened the door to his bedroom with a snap. Might as well wake Allie up and tell her, he thought. She’d probably breathe a long sigh of relief not to have him around anymore.
As he’d expected, Allie was curled up in the hard wood chair with her cape around her. She raised her head when he entered and stared at him with those dark blue eyes. Except for that cold night he’d carried her to his bed, he hadn’t slept beside her again.
‘‘Evening,’’ he mumbled, wondering how many years would have to pass before he no longer saw the fear in her eyes each time he entered a room. ‘‘Sorry to wake you,’’ he said without any sorrow in his tone or any belief that she’d been asleep. ‘‘But we have to talk.’’
She straightened and pulled the cape tightly around her.
Wes moved to the end of the bed and sat facing her. He could have reached out and touched her, but he didn’t. ‘‘I have to leave tomorrow at dawn.’’
Her eyes widened slightly.
‘‘You’ll be safe here with Nichole and Adam. They’ll stand beside you, should anyone come to see you.’’ He hesitated, wanting to be honest. ‘‘Where I’m going may mean trouble, and you’re better off here.’’
She didn’t move. If he’d expected a reaction, he would have been disappointed.
‘‘With luck, I’ll be back in a few weeks. A month at the most. By then maybe we’ll have a lead worth following on any family you might have left. I’m not forgetting my promise.’’
She didn’t move.
Wes slapped his knee. ‘‘Well, good-bye.’’ He wasn’t going to get sentimental about leaving a woman who looked at him like he might kill her at any time.
But then he remembered the feel of her hand in his. Funny, he thought, he’d never considered himself the kind of man who’d hold a woman’s hand. But he had to admit, he liked the way her fingers curled around his own. He liked the comfort of knowing that, for a few moments at least, she wanted him near.
On impulse, he stretched out his hand, palm up, toward her.
She stared at it a moment, then slowly lay her fingers on his.
Wes saw the ring and remembered that, as far as the world was concerned, this woman was his wife. The ring she wore had meant so much to May, Daniel’s wife. And when she’d died, Daniel had slipped it on his little finger as if somehow he could keep the bond alive. He’d taken it off to save Allie. But the ring lost its meaning in the passing. Allie wasn’t Wes’s wife. No woman would ever be. She’d saved his life and, with the ring, he’d saved hers. That was all.
‘‘I’ll miss you, little blue eyes.’’ Wes smiled. ‘‘I’ve grown used to our long talks.’’ He placed his other hand over her fingers, warming them. ‘‘If I don’t make it back, you’ll be safe here. Adam will know what to do.’’
Her hand felt so tiny in his. Now that the bruises were healing, he could see she was really a pretty girl. Once he found her family, she’d probably fit right in with a circle of friends.
‘‘Well…’’ He stood without letting go of her hand. ‘‘I have to get some sleep if I’m going to leave at dawn. I’ve been out of the saddle too long.’’
As he turned loose of her hand and moved away, she watched him with those huge blue eyes he figured he’d see in his dreams for the rest of his life. She didn’t really need to talk. Her stare told him much. She was still afraid of him, but she didn’t want him to leave.
Wes undressed and climbed into bed. But sleep wouldn’t come. He lay there staring at the darkness, wondering if she were doing the same thing. He thought about getting up and carrying her to bed, but the night wasn’t all that cold and she might not understand.
Not that she was any company anyway. He wasn’t even attracted to her in the way a man’s attracted to a woman. He told himself it was more like how a man would feel about helping a child… well, not exactly. Maybe the way he’d feel about saving a wild animal… well, not just like that.
‘‘Well, hell,’’ he mumbled and rolled to face her. ‘‘Allie, are you awake?’’
She didn’t answer, but he sensed she was watching him from her perch on the chair.
‘‘I…’’ Wes stopped. What could he say? I want you to come over here and crawl in bed with me? He didn’t need her. He’d never needed anyone.
‘‘I thought…’’ Wes closed his eyes tightly, trying to forget that she was a few feet away. He’d sound like a
