But for Tomasita’s sake, she knew she had to accept. Because as far as Tomasita’s situation was concerned, Luke’s letter was alarming. If Sloan remembered correctly, Angelique LeFevre had set her claws in Luke four years ago, if only briefly. It wouldn’t have surprised her if Angelique and Luke became lovers again.
On the other hand, maybe seeing Luke with Angelique was just the kick in the pants Tomasita needed to make her stake her claim on the Ranger.
That evening, Sloan planned how best to approach Cruz to be sure he would agree to what she asked. When he excused himself after dinner, saying he wanted to check on his
When she reached the stable, she heard voices. In moments she recognized them and froze in the darkness. Cruz! And the Englishman!
“I warned you not to come here again,” Cruz snarled.
“I had no choice. Time is running short. The American Congress has passed a resolution offering statehood to Texas under very favorable terms. Your President Jones has agreed to wait at least ninety days before acting on the American proposal. Jones is, at this very moment, preparing an ultimatum to present to the Mexican government. He is demanding an immediate acknowledgment of independence from Mexico in exchange for his pledge that the Republic of Texas will never allow itself to be annexed by the United States.
“I want you to detain Beaufort LeFevre at Three Oaks until Jones has had time to finish his ultimatum and dispatch it to the Mexican authorities.”
“How long do you think that might take?”
“Bloody hell! How should I know?”
“And if I refuse?”
“You wouldn’t like the consequences of failing me, Hawk.”
“I am not afraid of Alejandro Sanchez, Englishman.”
“I thought not. That’s why I made sure I have a little extra insurance?”
“What insurance?”
“Some letters your brother left with the Mexican government. They implicate your wife in a pretty nasty little plot to overthrow the government of Texas.”
“Those letters must be over four years old.”
“A traitor is still a traitor, no matter how much time passes. I will leave you now, Hawk. Don’t disappoint me.”
Sloan waited in the shadows until the Englishman had settled his rotund body in his carriage and driven away. She remained there while Cruz lit and smoked a cheroot, the sweet tobacco smell floating to her on the slight breeze.
She closed her eyes and held her breath when he finally left the stable and headed back toward the house. Then she slid down along the side of the adobe structure until she was sitting on the ground, her forehead resting on her knees.
Cruz had actually tried to quit his work for the British government. But it was clear the Englishman had no intention of allowing that to happen. She could hardly believe the incredible source of the whip wielded by the Englishman to keep Cruz in line.
The question now was what she should do with the information she had acquired.
Her first thought was to confront Cruz with what she had heard. However, it was unlikely he would agree to change his plans, and if he knew she was privy to them, he might take steps to make sure she wasn’t around to interfere with them.
Or she could tell Luke what she had heard. But he might feel compelled to report Cruz to some higher authority. Texas and Mexico were still at war-although all the battles were being fought on paper.
Cruz’s actions could easily be construed as treachery by those Texans who had lobbied so hard for annexation. She didn’t presume to understand why President Jones was presenting such an ultimatum to Mexico. No matter what the Mexican government did now, most Texans would vote for annexation when the issue was presented.
She would simply have to do something herself to thwart the Englishman’s plans. It seemed they would be playing right into the Englishman’s hands if they accepted Luke’s invitation to Three Oaks, but it was important for Tomasita’s sake that they go.
Perhaps she could delay their departure a few days, or maybe even a week. With luck, Beaufort LeFevre would have already made contact with President Jones by the time they arrived.
Now, she just needed to find some reason to keep Cruz involved at Dolorosa.
Sloan pushed herself up onto her feet, brushed herself off, and headed back to the house. For the first time in months, her step was light. Things weren’t settled by a long shot, but she had never felt so much in control of her life.
That night in bed, Cruz said casually, “We have not been able to get much work done in this weather, and it has been a long time since you have seen your father. It has been even longer since he has seen his grandson. How would you like to visit Three Oaks?”
“I guess that would be all right,” Sloan said. “But there are a few things I have to get done here before we can leave.”
“What sort of things?”
“I promised Miguel I would-”
“Anything that Miguel must do, he can do without your help.”
Sloan played idly with the dark hair on Cruz’s chest. “But these are projects I suggested. I would like to see them through to the finish. You don’t mind, do you?”
She smiled secretly as she felt Cruz fidgeting. Of course he minded, she thought, but what could he say?
Cruz was thinking about the promise he had made to himself to include Sloan more in his life. He only wished he didn’t have this intrigue with Sir Giles hanging over his head. “Very well, Cebellina. But I will come and help, that you may be done the sooner.”
“Of course,” she agreed with a pleased grin. “I would like that very much.”
Each morning for the next week, Sloan kept Cruz occupied with one project after another. The weather helped by being absolutely awful. It rained, the wind blew, and the storms left more damage that had to be taken care of before they could think about leaving.
She could see Cruz was getting anxious about the delay. But she was as determined to keep him at Dolorosa as he was to leave.
“Miguel promised that today he would put up the
She could hear the control in Cruz’s voice as he asked, “What
“The one for orphaned newborn calves.” Sloan crossed to Cruz and put her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his broad chest. “It’s a perfect solution to a cruel problem. Your vaqueros don’t have the time or patience to bother with calves that have been orphaned before they can survive on their own. If we build a
“You are giving my longhorns to the
“Only the calves that would die if they were left on the range.”
“Those longhorns are wild. What makes you think their calves will accept nourishment from a human hand?”
“Because we’ve already tried it, and it works.”
Cruz shook his head in resignation. “I should have known you would have your arguments well planned. All right. When do we start?”
Sloan hugged him tightly and felt a fierce spiral of need well inside her.
Sensing her tension, Cruz tipped her chin up with his hand and touched his lips to hers.
Her response was instant and powerful. She sought his lips with hers, feeling a hunger that grew even as she fed it. She felt her nipples budding against his hair-rough chest and rubbed against him. She heard him groan and tugged at his ears, pulling his head down to kiss her again.
“We have work to do,” Cruz said, his breath shallow.
“It can get done later,” she whispered. “I… I want you.”
Sloan was almost as surprised as Cruz was by her admission. She had little time to think about what she had said before Cruz swept her into his arms and carried her back to bed.
Their lovemaking had a different tenor, less restrained, a joining of not just bodies but spirits. Demands were made and answered. Prayers were offered and fulfilled. Touching one another became a matter of necessity. Ravenous with hunger, Sloan took what she needed; thirsting, she drank from the cup of love. There was nothing gentle about their mating; it was wild, tumultuous, consuming.
Cruz tried to be gentle, but Sloan would not allow it. Her hands were all over him, touching, embracing, scratching, pressing. Her mouth and tongue and teeth tantalized him, seeking pleasure in the giving of it.
The need to be inside her was excruciating, but she would not let him in. She kissed her way down his belly, laughing deep in her throat as he groaned in pleasure. He grabbed a hank of silky sable hair and pulled her away before she drove him mad.
Then his mouth was on hers, his tongue thrusting deep inside.
Sloan felt everything, heard everything, smelled everything with senses that were heightened beyond bearing. She tried to keep Cruz’s tongue in her mouth, but failing that, followed his tongue when he retreated and tasted the roof of his mouth and his tongue and the silky cavern beyond.
His mouth moved to her throat, biting, then soothing. She arched her hips up into his, sheathing him, and felt him harden and swell inside her.
Then his mouth was on her breasts, gentle licks and strong sucks, the contrast exciting beyond belief. She was forced to release her grasp on him as he kissed his way down her stomach to the nest of curls that hid her femininity.
His tongue was gentle and slow, and she had trouble catching her breath.
Sloan writhed helplessly beneath Cruz as he held her up to his mouth and took what he wanted. Her body quivered as his tongue dipped and
