“Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“I did tell you that I can outshoot most men. And that adventure is pulsing in my blood like a runaway train. I did not join the agency to sit idly by in a hotel room while you risk your life to close cases.” His face displayed the hours of pain that one moment in history had caused him. She cupped his face in between her palms. “I don’t think Sarah would want you to live in fear and not be able to accomplish your job to the best of your ability. I certainly would want you to move on and fight the forces of evil.” She felt him relax under her fingers. “Did you love her?”
“No. I respected her but not love.”
“Do you think you could love me?”
“I very much fear you are too late in asking that question.” His words said yes but still the shadows lingered.
She grinned and leaned closer. “Do you suppose we need more practice kissing? Just to satisfy my brother’s doubts as to your inability to play the part of a love-struck man.”
“You don’t need to ask me twice, wife.”
Trace tilted his head and met her eager lips half way. The kiss was sweet, tantalizingly sweet, and he pulled her closer. She slid her arms around his neck and the two became lost in a moment - that stretched into quite a few. Eventually, he inched back and their eyes made contact, speaking volumes of secrets trapped within their hearts for too long. Gen silently admitted to falling madly in love with her husband. She tried to remind herself that he could just as quickly end their union like he had with wife number two. The thought disturbed her, but while still quivering from his kiss, she doubted it would be anytime soon.
“Loving these practice sessions,” he said.
She stood to her feet. “Yes, well first things first. We are no further ahead with a plan of attack.”
“Where did you leave the gun? They took mine.”
“Immediately behind where I came out of the trees you will see a bush. My handbag is stuck in the middle somewhere.”
“Did I say a proper thank you for saving my life?”
She laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself. I had to come back to see if they’d killed my brother.” She meant it as a joke, but when the shadow fell again, she tried to soften the blow.
“I was teasing, Trace.”
“I’ll wait outside until you get ready for bed.”
“I was thinking of sleeping in my clothes, in case we are wakened unexpectedly. A girl doesn’t want to traipse in front of that sorry lot with her nightgown on.”
“Nothing will happen tonight. Get ready for bed.”
And with that, Trace jumped from the back of the wagon and closed the flap. She stood with hands on her hips and her mouth open. Now what was that about? Why the cold shoulder suddenly and how could he be so sure Andrea’s knight in shining armor wouldn’t choose tonight to come and rescue her? She lay in bed a long time before Trace snuck back into the wagon. He’d found the gun. After ripping a small section of his pillow, he wiggled the firearm into the middle. He fluffed the stuffing and placed the cushion under his head, taking his guard once again by the door.
Although she watched him by the dim light diffusing from the night sky, he never once glanced her way. She felt more confused than ever. She’d hoped their kiss had wiped away all that separated them, but it appeared not.
Chapter 10
In the middle of the night, the ruckus began. Trace bolted to attention and jumped from under his cover, colliding into a shocked Gen.
“You never changed out of your dress?” he said, pulling the gun loose from inside his pillow.
“Women’s intuition. Had an inside hunch something might come down tonight.”
“Remind me to listen next time,” he said. “Sounds like new forces have arrived. We’re going to sneak out of here while they play catch-up, and head for the tree line before they come looking for us.”
“We tried that - remember,” Gen said.
“There is too many for us to eliminate while prisoners in the camp. Stay low and follow close behind me.” He peeked outside. “Lots of cloud cover so we have that in our favor. Try not to trip.”
On the way out, Gen dove her hand into the medical bag, and pulled out a derringer. She grinned at Trace and dropped it in her pocket. He was impressed. Two guns – the woman was full of surprises. He scanned the middle common area on the front-side and noticed no stragglers. The men congregated around the fire, drinking and slapping one another on the back. Trace counted, five of the original men and now three more. Eight became his new lucky number.
Trace turned and helped Gen from the wagon. He squeezed her hand and pulled her behind him. They stayed low and the only sound was crickets and the sound of the new horses settling in with the others by the corral. Beyond the tree line, they picked up the pace and didn’t stop until he reached a natural protection.
“Are you all right?”
“I am, but I don’t see what we can do here,” she said.
“I’m hoping to draw them out in small numbers and lessen the odds.”
That excited Gen. “I can do that. Entice a dawdler and draw the chap into the woods where you will be waiting to put him down.” The smile died on her lips.
