were worried about my pain. No one’s ever done that before.’’
‘‘And why did you take me from Victoria’s house?’’
‘‘That Katherine lady would have picked you apart. You deserve to be with people who take the time to see inside you… who want you.’’
Allie watched him closely. ‘‘And do you want me?’’
The question was too honest not to be answered.
‘‘Yes,’’ he finally said.
One word didn’t answer her question. She had to have more. ‘‘How do you want me?’’ she pushed. ‘‘As property? As company?’’
‘‘I want you safe,’’ he answered. After a moment, he added, ‘‘I want you with me because, for some crazy reason, it feels right to have you close. You make me believe in a better world than either of us has ever seen.’’
‘‘I can take care of myself in my world. I lived for many winters alone. I won’t be anyone’s property again. You’ll have to cage me to hold me that way. And I’d fight. Eventually, I’d escape, so don’t think you can hold me just because you want to. It’s not your choice.’’
Wes looked frustrated. He’d finally gotten her to talk to him, and she suggested something he’d never do. Maybe they should go back to silence. ‘‘I wouldn’t lock you up, Allie. My life is a mess right now. Someone should probably lock me up. I sometimes question why you’d stay of your own free will. I’m chasing a dream that may never come true. I should be traveling fast and light, but all I can think about is you. I thought when I found your family everything would work out fine. Now I’ll have to think of something else. Until then, don’t threaten to run. When you go, it will be to someplace you feel is right.’’
Allie thought of telling him that she had a place to go, and if he’d just help her find the way, she’d be fine on her own. But she didn’t speak. Since the night in the barn, she was in no hurry to leave. She couldn’t seem to put it into words any better than he could, but she’d felt something when he’d kissed her. It was as if an invisible part of her reached out and laced into an invisible part of him, binding them, making them both stronger.
‘‘Will you ever kiss me again?’’ she asked, wishing she could feel that way again.
‘‘Would you like me to?’’
‘‘I think so,’’ she answered.
He leaned near and lightly touched her cheek with a kiss.
‘‘No,’’ she pouted, ‘‘like you did in the barn.’’
Wes laughed. ‘‘I’m afraid I can’t do that in public. Folks are watching us enough just because we’re strangers in town.’’
‘‘I can.’’ She stood suddenly and closed the distance between them. Before he could move, she tilted his head back and kissed him full on the mouth as he’d taught her to do in the barn.
Wes gently broke the kiss, his laughter tickling her lips. ‘‘We can’t…’’
‘‘Why not? Are we doing something wrong?’’
‘‘No.’’ He held her several inches away. ‘‘We most certainly are not doing something wrong. I’d say you’re doing it just right.’’
‘‘Then, again, please.’’ She strained against his hold.
‘‘It’s just that people usually don’t show affection so openly… not that it’s wrong. We’ll be the talk… not that I care about what anyone thinks in this town. But proper folks… even husbands and wives’’-he pulled her gently to him- ‘‘Oh, hell, Allie. Who cares if we’re in public?’’
She felt his warm, wonderful lips touch hers. His hand released her arm and spread lightly across her back just above the waist. It had been far too long since he’d last tasted her and she felt his hunger for the kiss equal her own.
A few minutes later, when she raised her head, everyone in the restaurant was looking at her. She leaned close to Wes and whispered, ‘‘Oh, I understand. The people no longer talk. They all watch us.’’
‘‘I’m guessing by the time we leave, they’ll have plenty to say.’’ He laughed as his nose brushed against her hair. ‘‘You know, if we don’t want folks to notice us, maybe we should act more like everyone else in the place.’’
‘‘Agreed.’’ Allie glanced around and saw no one else kissing, so she moved back to her chair. ‘‘I will not kiss you again.’’
‘‘Until we’re alone?’’
Allie nodded. ‘‘Until we’re alone. This I promise you.’’
A loud cough sounded from behind them. ‘‘I see you can act like newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. McLain.’’
Sheriff Hardy limped into view. He looked tired and road-weary, but he was smiling as though his journey was now at an end.
‘‘Morning, Hardy.’’ Wes’s voice was calm, but Allie didn’t miss the way he’d shifted his hand to within an inch of his gun.
Hardy lowered himself into the chair Jason had abandoned without waiting to be asked. ‘‘I’ve had quite a hunt trailing you two. By the time we figured out you were gone from the ranch, you had an hour start on me. In the old days, before I took the lead in my leg, I could have caught you by nightfall. Nowadays, I move a little slower.’’
‘‘Get to the point, Sheriff Hardy,’’ Wes interrupted. ‘‘If you’ve come to ask us to go back, forget it. Allie doesn’t need relatives who don’t welcome her. She can stay with me.’’
Hardy pulled out two cigars and offered Wes one.
Wes refused even though Allie saw the way his eyes followed the cigar back to Hardy’s pocket.
‘‘I know she can,’’ the sheriff admitted. ‘‘After you left, I went to town and telegraphed your sister-in-law, telling her you’d kidnapped Allie from her own grandmother’s house. She answered that as far as she knew in Texas a man can’t kidnap his own wife. Not if she goes willingly.’’
Hardy leaned back in his chair and lit his cigar. ‘‘I didn’t believe it until I walked in this place and saw the way this little lady kissed you.’’ His smile was somehow sad. ‘‘You’re a lucky man, Wes McLain.’’
‘‘So, why are you still here?’’ Wes grumbled. ‘‘You must have figured out by now that she’s not being held against her will.’’
The sheriff laughed again. ‘‘I know you’re not going to believe this, but I’m here to protect this little lady from the storm a-coming. You see, Victoria still doesn’t believe Allie’s her granddaughter, but Victoria’s son, Michael, isn’t taking any chances on having to split the family wealth. He’ll come looking for her. And when he does, I’ll have my gun loaded and ready.’’
To the sheriff’s surprise, Wes nodded. ‘‘He already has. We saw him and three other men at dawn. Luckily, they didn’t see us. They rode past, heading south, but Jason told us who he was. Tell him he has no worry from Allie. She doesn’t want anything from the Catlins.’’
Maxwell Hardy shook his head. ‘‘You’ll never convince Michael of that. I’m the only one he might listen to, and he hates me.’’
‘‘Mind my asking why?’’
‘‘He owes me his life,’’ Hardy admitted. ‘‘So until he shows up and I talk to him, I’m traveling with you.’’
‘‘I already have a crowd traveling with me.’’
Hardy took a long draw on his cigar. ‘‘Well, then, you won’t notice one more.’’
Wes stormed out of the cafe and headed to the barn with Allie and the sheriff in his wake. ‘‘I’m leading a damn parade!’’ he mumbled. He fought the urge to yell to the town, ‘‘Does anyone else want to come along on this secret treasure hunt?’’ Maybe he could get a band, or a medicine show. Maybe they could form a wagon train to Goliad. Hell, they were starting to follow him like he’d been appointed head cow on a long drive.
Wes stopped in the middle of the street. ‘‘I’m not going back to Victoria’s place, Sheriff. I can take care of Allie without any help.’’ Max might tag along, but
Wes wanted it plain the old fellow would be giving no directions.
Max shrugged. ‘‘I didn’t figure you were a man to backtrack.’’ He glanced down the length of Wes. ‘‘And I didn’t live this long without being able to size a man up. If it were just you and Michael, my money would be on you. But it’s not just you and him. Michael always takes along a few friends to increase the odds. He’ll follow you wherever you go.’’
‘‘Well, aren’t you even going to ask where I’m headed?’’
The old man shook his head. ‘‘It don’t matter. I’ll find out when I get there. All I know is, wherever you’re
