Cruz sat up slowly. “What is that?”

“Tomasita has changed her mind about marrying Don Ambrosio.”

He frowned. Did she think to make this decision for him also? However much he realized the necessity of sharing responsibility with her, he still bridled at the newness of it. Here was something that need not be her concern. “Tomasita will do as she is told,” he said. “I have already signed the contracts with Don Ambrosio. It is done.”

Sloan didn’t miss the irritation in his voice. His face was pale and dotted with perspiration. She crossed to him and put a hand on his shoulder to force him back flat on the bed. “Rest now. We can speak again later.”

“I have nothing more to say on the subject.”

“Very well. Then say nothing more,” she said with asperity.

Sloan brushed the sweat-damp hair from his brow as though it were the most natural gesture in the world. “Go to sleep now. Rest and get well.”

The feelings of love that welled inside her made her uncomfortable. How could she love him and distrust him at the same time? Could she ever forgive him for masquerading as the Hawk?

She had promised him six months. She had six weeks left until the end of April. She need not think about leaving him now. That could come later.

Sloan stayed with Cruz until she was sure he was asleep and then went hunting for Tomasita. She found her kneeling at the prie-dieu in her room. Sloan entered the room silently and stood inside the door, listening to the quiet, comforting murmur of the young woman’s voice.

“Tomasita?”

Tomasita stood immediately and crossed to Sloan. “Is something wrong? Has something happened to Don Cruz?”

“No, he’s fine. I wanted to talk with you. Shall we go for a walk?”

Tomasita followed Sloan out to the courtyard among the blooming jonquils. She took a seat on one of the stone benches and patted the place beside her. Once Sloan had joined her, she said, “Something is wrong. What is it?”

“Cruz is determined that you will marry Don Ambrosio. Which means if you plan to tell Luke about the baby before you make your decision whether to return to Madrid, it must be soon.”

“Holy Mary.” Tomasita put a hand to her pounding heart. “I cannot speak to Luke. I cannot.”

“You must. You owe it to your child. You owe it to yourself.”

“I will think about it.”

“Think hard. And think fast. You haven’t much time. Once Cruz recovers, he is sure to press for your marriage to Don Ambrosio. You’ll find Luke at Three Oaks,” Sloan said. “He’s gone there to oversee the spring planting of cotton.”

Sloan felt a tightening in her belly at the recognition that this year, for the first time in her life, she hadn’t been on hand to set the cotton seeds in the fertile soil to sprout and grow. She had been busy with an entirely different kind of birth-thousands and thousands of longhorn cattle dropping their spring calves. She had found the experience equally miraculous and equally demanding.

Over the next few days, as Cruz regained his strength, the March weather remained fractious, and Sloan was kept busy with the calving that went on despite the wind and the rain. However, each day she found time to ask Tomasita whether she had done anything about approaching Luke.

For her part, Tomasita found herself unable either to seek out Luke or approach Don Cruz, terrified of the responses she would get.

What if Luke would not marry her?

Her heart would break.

What if Don Cruz refused to allow her to return to Spain?

She would be forced to marry Don Ambrosio and live her life with one man when she loved another.

What if he did send her back to the convent?

After living in the world, such a lonely, quiet life would be too terrible to endure.

And so she did not do anything.

With Tomasita’s wedding day rapidly approaching, Sloan took matters into her own hands. She sent a message to Luke telling him that she needed to speak with him and to please come to Dolorosa as soon as he could, and left the rest up to fate.

To Sloan’s surprise, she received a prompt message back from Luke.


Dear Sloan,


Beaufort LeFevre and his daughter, Angelique, have arrived at Three Oaks, where they’re staying while Beaufort waits for his audience with President Jones. Beaufort is part of the contingent of American politicians sent to convince the Texas government that annexation is the best way to go. Personally, I have to agree.

Anyway, the gist of the situation is that I wish I could get away, but I can’t. Whatever time I don’t spend out in the fields is taken up by Angelique.

She is even more beautiful now than she was four years ago, when she and Beaufort came to visit at Three Oaks. The scars she got from the time Cricket’s pet wolf attacked her hardly show at all.

Why don’t you come to Three Oaks and bring Cruz and Cisco? Oh, and bring Tomasita, too.


Too busy to spit,

Luke

If she had been the only one involved, Sloan might have refused the offer to come visit Three Oaks. It was bound to be a painful venture for her. Besides, she didn’t want Cruz anywhere near Beaufort LeFevre.

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 bayo, she nodded, planning to give him a few minutes alone before she joined him.

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.