Free The Minister's Maid by Jamie DeBree Page A

dragon for it?"
    Ian shrugged. "A dragon is the least of our worries." He grabbed her hand, bending gallantly to kiss it. "Shall we retire to the castle, milady?"
    She laughed. "Indeed, good sir. We'll hope the beast is in a good mood today."
    Her hand nestled in his, Betsy followed Ian back toward the main compound of the ranch. The castle was situated in the southeast corner, and they would have to pass several of the larger buildings to gain access. Unfortunately, that made run-ins with the group Harley and Monica were entertaining - if you could call it that. As they skirted the edge of a meadow, she wondered how her brother and his new bride were doing. Hopefully better than it had been when she'd had to leave. If Harley would just quit being so stubborn and admit that he loved Monica...
    She looked thoughtfully at Ian, then laughed, shaking her head. He glanced over at her, his brows drawn in confusion.
    "What's so funny?"
    She shook her head, and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "You and Harley," she said, letting Ian help her over a fallen tree-trunk in their path. "You seem so different, and yet in a lot of ways you're so much the same. Both running from the thing you want most because you're convinced it's the one thing you can't have."
    Ian stopped, pulling her in a wide circle that ended right in his arms. "And just how do you propose to know what it is that your brother wants most? Or me, for that matter?"
    "Isn't it obvious?" She leaned back against him, reveling in the warmth of his body against hers and the way the sunshine felt on her face. "Harley never would have married Monica without feeling a strong bond with her, no matter what he says. He doesn't want to be alone - he wants the family we never really had."
    Ian nodded, his ear against hers. "And me? What is it that I'm convinced I can never have?" His voice was so soft, yet so full of nuance that her knees almost buckled as his hot breath caressed her ear.
    "Me," she whispered, not daring to break the stillness around them. "Or at least it was, until you finally decided to give me a chance."
    "How very touching. True love wins again and all that jazz. Tell me, Ian - when's the wedding?"
    Derek stepped onto the path in front of them, his hands coming together in a slow golf-clap. Ian released his hold on her, but only long enough to gently push her behind him.
    "Next summer, if she'll have me. But I think the more important questions are, how did you find us, and when are you leaving?"
    Derek shrugged. "I'm not leaving until I get my money. And as for how I found you..." He pulled the second half of the map out of his pocket and unfolded it. "That barn is the first thing on my map - easy enough to decipher once I got a good look at the compound and where things are. The castle has a very nice view - pity you two won't be able to enjoy it from where I plan to leave the two of you."
     
    * * *
     
    Ian held Betsy's hand as they entered what appeared to be a cellar at the back of the dungeon with Derek close behind. Stepping carefully with only the dim light of Derek's flashlight to illuminate the stairs, Ian cringed every time he heard a creak caused by his weight. When he was finally standing on bare earth, he turned and grasped Betsy's waist, lifting her off the last few steps.
    "Isn't that just frickin' adorable," Derek mocked as he joined them. Holding the flashlight beam straight ahead, he motioned with the gun. "Keep moving - take a left when you get to the wall."
    Ian could feel Betsy open her mouth, and he squeezed her hand. The last thing they needed was to antagonize Derek. He pulled her behind him, moving quickly and following the stone wall as they turned. Just like all the other buildings in the compound, Harley and Betsy had done a spectacular job of making sure everything was as close to authentic as possible, right down to the sound of water dripping in the distance, and a damp chill that drifted through the passage.
    "Turn right there,"