“Was there anything else you wanted to speak with me about?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then I will say adios. I must join the roundup. I have already been gone too long.”

“I thought you were going to teach me how to run Dolorosa,” Sloan said, realizing that once again she was being left behind. “I thought we were going to be partners, riding side by side.”

“The roundup is no place for a woman.”

“Not even for your wife?”

“Especially not for my wife.”

Sloan saw the banked desire that darkened Cruz’s blue eyes until they were the color of a stormy day. His free hand grasped hers, and his thumb caressed her callused palm.

She felt her skin heating and jerked her hand away, appalled to see how quickly she had succumbed to his mesmerizing touch. “All right, I’ll stay here… at least until I can contact Luke and see what’s going on at Three Oaks. Perhaps Rip is ready to have me come home.”

Cruz’s protest was cut off by a shriek of terror from Tonio’s bedroom. Sloan’s horrified eyes met Cruz’s before they both raced toward the room where she had left Betsy.

When they reached the doorway, they found Betsy crouched on top of the pillows at the head of the bed, whimpering. Cisco was on his knees beside her, his small hand patting her shoulder in an attempt to calm her.

“Do not cry, nina,” Cisco said.

Sloan hurried to the bed and sat down beside Cisco. “What happened?”

“I did not mean to make her cry, Mama. I only wanted to play with her.”

Tears had begun to fill Cisco’s eyes. Sloan felt the urge to pull him into her arms and soothe his tears away, as she had done for Betsy, but she caught herself just in time. That way lay disaster.

Because she could not follow her natural inclination, her voice was more harsh than she had intended. “Never mind. I’m sure Betsy will want to play with you later. Right now, though, she’s resting. Why don’t you find Tomasita and see if she wants to play?”

Sloan had told herself that Cisco was too young to recognize her rejection for what it was. The lost, miserable look on his face made it plain she was wrong.

But he only said, “Si, Mama,” and ran from the room.

Sloan suddenly realized that she hadn’t thought twice about sending her son to seek out Tomasita while she stayed to comfort a child who was not even her own flesh and blood. Maybe Dona Lucia was right. Maybe there was something unnatural about her.

Sloan looked up and found Cruz watching her intently. She dropped her eyes from his. He did not have to speak for her to feel his censure. She had promised him she would treat the children equally. She was somehow going to have to get over the reserve she enforced around her son.

The child on the bed moaned. Sloan settled herself comfortably on the feather mattress, with her back leaning against the ornately carved headboard, before picking Betsy up and cradling her in her arms. She was totally absorbed in the child until she felt Cruz’s touch on her arm.

She looked up, startled, and said, “I thought you had left.”

“We never finished our discussion.”

“Our discussion?”

“Of what you will do to fill your days at Dolorosa while I am gone.”

Sloan absently rubbed her hand against Betsy’s rosy cheek.

“But I see there will be much to occupy your time,” Cruz said brusquely. “I must go, Cebellina.”

“You’re leaving right now?” Sloan didn’t like the bereft sound of her voice. She cleared her throat and said, “How soon will you be back?”

“Not for a week at least, perhaps longer. I want your promise that you will not leave Dolorosa-for any reason-until I return.”

Sloan’s lips flattened in the mulish expression Cruz had learned to recognize.

“I can’t promise anything.”

“If you are not here when I get back, I will come after you.”

Betsy whimpered at the tone of Cruz’s voice.

“You’re frightening her.”

“Be here. Adios, Cebellina.” His hand curved around her nape as he gave her a quick, claiming kiss.

Sloan stared after him as he walked out the bedroom door, his satchel under his arm. He hadn’t even given her a chance to say good-bye.

A moment later she wondered what possible use he could have for a satchel of business papers on the roundup.

Cruz walked quickly through the house, frustrated with the series of events that had made it necessary for him to attend to affairs of state at a time when he would much rather attend to affairs at home.

He had meant what he said about including Sloan in his work at Dolorosa-even the roundup. However, that was impossible right now, because he wasn’t headed directly for the roundup. First, he had a rendezvous with the Englishman, and he had no choice except to be there.

He rode like a man possessed, certain he would never arrive in time. He pulled up his bayo as he reached the camp of Mexican bandidos under the lone oak tree. He searched the gathering for the dapper Englishman and found him by the fire. Cruz froze as he recognized the man sitting beside Sir Giles.

However incredible it seemed, Alejandro Sanchez was alive.

Cruz saw from the startled expression on Alejandro’s face that he was equally surprised to see Cruz.

Alejandro turned to Sir Giles and demanded angrily, “What is he doing here?”

“Didn’t you know? My dear man, this is the Hawk. From now on, you two will be working together.”

“I think not,” Cruz said in a cold voice. “This bastard murdered my brother.”

“I executed a traitor and a fool,” Alejandro retorted. “One in whose footsteps you follow-Hawk. Or were you also involved in Tonio’s plot? For shame, Don Cruz, letting the Rangers capture your brother. If not for that-”

“You have said enough, Alejandro,” Cruz said curtly, interrupting the bandido’s speculation. “Whatever I was… whatever I am… you will pay for taking my brother’s life.”

Sir Giles looked from one man to the other, and saw them bristling, hands fisted, ready to fight. “Bloody hell!” he exclaimed. “I don’t give a damn what your personal differences are. I have work that has to get done.”

“Have you tasted the delights to be offered by Tonio’s puta?” Alejandro taunted Cruz.

“Shut your mouth, Alejandro, or this time I will cut out your tongue.”

“Where is she now?” Alejandro asked. “Have you tired of her so soon? I would not have thought she was much in bed myself, but Tonio bragged-”

Cruz’s hand shot out to grip Alejandro’s throat. In an instant the civilized man was gone, replaced by a ferocious beast. Alejandro was helpless in his grasp. The cold point of a sharp blade was pressed to the flesh beneath Alejandro’s jaw. “If you say another word about my wife, I will kill you.”

The two men measured one another, a mad dog and a ferocious hawk, both deadly, both capable of dealing swift and sure death.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen.” Sir Giles stepped toward the two men, but stopped short, suddenly aware how little he could do to stop them.

Cruz regained control by reminding himself of the importance of his mission. As suddenly as the beast had come, it was gone. He released Alejandro and sheathed his knife.

There was more at stake here than seeking revenge for his brother’s death and the insults to his wife. Tonio would be avenged-when the time was right. And for all his threats, Alejandro could not reach beyond the fortressed walls of Cruz’s hacienda to harm Sloan.

“I don’t care what your personal grievance is against this man,” Sir Giles said to Cruz. He turned back to Alejandro. “What is important to me is that the two of you manage to deal with one another. Now, what is it to be?”

Alejandro shrugged. “So long as you pay me well, I will work with the devil himself.”

Sir Giles looked at Cruz and thought maybe Alejandro was going to get his wish. “And you, Hawk? What say you?”

“I am willing to put my personal feelings aside. Until my mission is finished.”

Cruz’s gaze clashed with Alejandro’s. They both knew the day would come when they would fight to the death. Until then, they would watch and wait.

Because neither man intended to be the one to die.

Two days after Cruz had left, Sloan received a letter from Cricket.

Dear Sloan,

Luke wrote and told me what happened. I can hardly believe we have a brother! But then, I’ve always known there was something special about Luke. Can you believe what a noodleheaded lumpkin we have for a father? Imagine giving everything to a son!

Luke said you had gone to Dolorosa. I would say my feelings were hurt because you didn’t come here, but I suspect you had your reasons.

Is there any truth to the romance Bay suggested might be sprouting between you and Cruz? I hope so. I saw how Cruz watched you at Jesse’s christening last year. His eyes fairly glowed!

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