I am your rock, and your fortress, and your deliverer. I am your strength and your shield.
He stared up at the dark sky for a long moment, stars blinking at him from high in the heavens. The truth of the words swept over him like a warm breeze.
God had delivered him. He had shielded Levi and kept Lopez’s men from seeing him. It was the only explanation that made sense.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ebenezer’s barking woke Natalie.
Morning sunshine filtered in through the sitting room window while a light breeze teased the curtains. She’d fallen asleep with her head on the seat of the chair, praying for Levi. Her neck stiff, she rolled her shoulders before she rose and peeked out the window. The sun was barely over the horizon.
The dog continued to bark.
Hope sprang to her soul. Had Levi returned? Was Ebenezer even now welcoming him? She practically flew down the stairs to the front porch, her heart nearly beating out of her chest with joy. But when she raced outside, the man standing in the yard was not Levi.
“Alexander.” A flood of mixed emotions rolled through her. Was he the friend she’d believed him to be all these months, or was he the thief Levi claimed he was? She noted he looked disheveled, a complete contrast to his normal impeccable appearance. Dust clung to his clothes, and at least one small branch stuck out from the cuff of his pants.
“Call off your dog before he takes a piece of my leg,” he said, his voice demanding.
“Ebenezer, come.” The dog quieted, ran up the steps, and sat at her feet.
Once he was out of immediate danger, Alexander cast a quick glance toward the road then back to her.
“What brings you to Rose Hill so early?” she asked, unease working its way into her gut.
“I thought to check on my cattle, but the desire to see you was too strong.” He eyed the dog as he took a few steps forward. “I fear I must return to Mexico for a family matter. I may not be back for several months. However, I could not leave without a proper farewell. I hoped you would do me the honor of accepting my proposal before I depart.” His smile was far from genuine. “To know you will be mine when I return would bring happiness to my heart.”
He planned to leave Texas. In a hurry. His timing, his early arrival at her home, his disheveled look all confirmed what Levi had said.
Fear sent her heartbeat racing. She couldn’t let Alexander see the truth in her eyes. She took a step backward. “I’m afraid I’m not quite ready to accept your offer, Alexander. I wish you well on your journey.”
Her voice trembled, as did her legs. Alexander’s gaze narrowed, and his false smile faded.
“Let us not pretend, Natalie. I followed the Yankee here last night. I had a suspicion he or the corporal had discovered my unconventional business practices. When I saw him on the road to Rose Hill in the dark, I knew I was correct.”
She swallowed. “So it’s true. You are a cattle thief.”
“Yes.” He smiled. “While the stupid Americanos killed each other in the war, they left their women and animals ripe for the taking. My only problem was figuring out where to keep the cattle until we were ready to drive them north.”
Natalie’s stomach dropped. “What about your ranch? You told me your family had a large spread.”
His upper lip curled. “My family could never afford to purchase land in Tejas. Our own Mexican government would not give my parents a land grant, as they had given to hundreds of greedy Americans, throwing away what rightfully belongs to me and every other son of Méjico. My father and mother were forced to labor for Texans until they died, broken and poor. I have only been taking back what should have been mine in the first place.”
The confession stunned her.
He was not a gentleman rancher. He was a thief and a liar. What a fool she’d been to trust him.
He chuckled. “Do not feel so bad. You are not the only widow to fall for the ruse.”
Her surprise must have shown on her face because he laughed all the harder.
“I have arrangements with quite a few lonely widows, all deeply in love with me and more than willing to let my cattle get faton their grasses.” His gaze narrowed. “You, however, presented a challenge. My charms did not impress you. I truly thought to court and marry you. Owning Rose Hill and Langford Manor would benefit my business very much.”
His face grew stony. “But then you agreed to let the Union Army camp on your land. The roads are even now crawling with bluecoats looking for the dead body of Colonel Maish.”
Natalie clutched her heart. “No!”
Alexander gave a cruel laugh. “So, you have fallen in love with him, eh? That is a shame. I shot him last night. I suspect the buzzards have found him by now.” He sighed. “We could have built an empire together, you and I. But now those plans are ruined. I will have to live out my days in Méjico with the fortune I have acquired from selling stolen Confederate cattle to the Yankees. But before I go”—his eyes raked her up and down—“I have come to take what is mine.”
She could taste the fear in her throat. “Leave, Alexander.” She backed toward the door behind her.
He started up the steps. “Do not flatter yourself, Natalie. What I want are the jewels I know you possess. Now that I can’t sell the herd of cattle I have grazing in your pastures, I want compensation in whatever form I can get.” He reached the top of the steps as Natalie lunged for the door.
Alexander grabbed her arm and dragged her
