Free The black invader by Rebecca Stratton

any more sacrifices on your part,

    Kirstie, it isn't necessary!'
    Kirstie's colour flared hotly and her eyes were bright and angry. She hated him for that jibe about making sacrifices and for the moment did not appreciate that he ha4 made it so that his brother did not overhear. If she had given rein to her temper, heaven knew what the outcome might have been, but in the event it was Luis Montanes who brought a calmer voice to the situation.
    'I suppose I should have realised the mare was too light for you,' he said, his eyes on Kirstie. *rm sorry, Miguel, but I just didn't think.'
    It was impossible for things not to cool down after that, and Miguel's fierce gaze was already less fearsome as he looked at the contrite face of his brother. He sighed and shook his head, then put a hand on Luis's shoulder. Try and think next time you feel like running my horse into the ground,' he told him, ^that's all I ask.' Luis stood still holding both horses and looking as if he wondered what to do next. 'If you were going to unsaddle for the senorita, you'd better go and do it,' Miguel advised mildly. *And give Hassan a rub down and then resaddle him for me, will you? I'll have to take him, but I'll give him a while to get his breath back first.'
    'Yes, of course.' Luis seemed more than willing to do as he said, and a small flutter of rebellion stirred in Kirstie's breast on his behalf. Then he seemed to recall that he still had some unfinished business, and he half-turned, looking at Kirstie over his shoulder. 'I'll see you again, Kirstie?'
    She nodded, aware of Miguel's swiftly arched brows when he noted the familiarity of her name, and her response was quite deliberately encouraging. 'Yes, of course, Luis; hasta luegoV
    'Hasta luegof The brief look he gave Miguel was slightly but definitely triumphant, then he turned and led the two horses away.
    Suddenly aware of the time again, Kirstie yet again found herself unexpectedly under escort by Miguel as

    they crossed the stable yard, and she wondered if, now that his brother was gone, he meant to remark on their riding together. 'Unless you had breakfast before you came out,' he said, 'you haven't much time; it's already eight-thirty.'
    'I know, but I won't take very long. I'll be back here by nine, Don Miguel, don't worry.'
    'It isn't my concern if you're late, it's my uncle's,' he told her. 'I just wondered if you'd realised what the time was, that's all.' They approached the arched gateway into the patio and he moved closer to allow for them to go through together. 'You think I was too hard on Luis?' he asked, and Kirstie jerked her head round quickly and looked up at him. 'I shouldn't have lost my temper with him, eh?'
    Kirstie hesitated, unable to resist saying what she thought, but not quite sure how he was going to react. 'I don't think you should have lost your temper with him while I was there to hear it,' she said in a huskily small voice, and to her surprise she realised he was nodding his head.
    'It's true. I don't usually let my temper get the better of me, and I can't think why I did on this occasion.'
    It was such an uncharacteristic admission coming from him, that she wasn't sure what to say for a moment. 'I suppose you had a right to be angry when you found both horses gone,' she allowed warily, but again he seemed to accept her opinion and was nodding his head gravely.
    'Luis has a lot to learn, but we have high hopes of him,' he observed as they walked through the patio gardens. 'The only problem is having him in such close proximity to you while he's learning the business. He has a penchant for pretty girls, and unfortunately he's all too easily distracted.'
    'Then I shall do my best not to distract him!'
    Heavy-lidded eyes looked down at her, faintly quizzical. 'Is that possible?' he asked, and Kirstie looked up at him, anxious suddenly and prepared to offer assur-

    ance that she wasn't very sure she could keep if she had judged Luis Montanes correctly.
    'I take my