Free My Heart Stood Still (Sisters Of Mercy Flats 2) by Lori Copeland Page B

have been promised to one another.”
    “Since when?” Anne-Marie didn’t know why she had this sudden urge to cry, but it was all she could do to control the impulse.
    “Since a long time ago. The arrangement is sealed.” Her eyes skimmed her clothing. “You have no expectations concerning Storm Rider.”
    “No… of course not. Creed hasn’t mentioned that he is… spoken for.” Of course he hadn’t mentioned anything about his life, so the news shouldn’t startle her. “You… and Creed,” she clarified, just to make certain she understood, and she dearly hoped that she had.
    “Storm Rider and I. And since he is soon to be my husband, his welfare is my concern. You are welcome to our fires.” Dipping her head, she backed toward the tent opening.
    Anne-Marie felt compelled to add. “My only concern is Creed’s well-being.”
    The young woman nodded.
    “But I do need to talk to him, if you have no objections.”
    Berry Woman hesitated, apparently weighing her trust. “Perhaps. Tomorrow. When his wound has been treated and he is rested.”
    The two women openly measured each other.
    “Thank you—you will tell me when he awakens?” Why Anne-Marie felt this protective urge she wasn’t sure. She barely knew the man, and their brief time together had been less than ideal. Still, if it were not for her, Creed Walker would be dead by now. Maybe she ought to point that out to this woman. And then maybe not. She’d caused Creed enough trouble.
    The young woman bent her head. “I will send for you when he is stronger.”
    “Thank you. You’re most kind.” Anne-Marie’s thoughts swirled with the past hour and the abrupt change of plan. She was truly alone now, and in a place so foreign to her that she swallowed back rising terror. She couldn’t fall apart. She still had long miles to cover to reach her sisters.
    Berry Woman turned, parted the tent folds, and exited, leaving Anne-Marie to wonder where her fate now lay. Surely in God’s hands, but also in Quincy’s protection? He had been a gentleman in every sense, but would he be good enough to see her back to Mercy Flats? She lay back on a soft buffalo pelt, weary and discouraged. And yet sleep eluded her. She longed to cry but she wasn’t a quitter. The McDougals never gave up. Creed was safely with people who would care for him now and she could rest. And yet she couldn’t deny that deep within her heart she longed to look into those warm dark eyes and be comforted, but Creed Walker belonged to another woman.

    Cortes’s swarthy features flamed. Veins bulged in his neck. No one bested Cortes!
    Pacing beside his horse, he went over his predicament. He must find that gold, and pronto. He was Cortes! Finding gold was his heroic mission. Not to mention Streeter would have his hide if he didn’t. They’d been following the buckboard tracks for hours and they were getting nowhere. Either that indio , black, and nun didn’t know where they were going, or they were taking the long way getting there.
    “They no fly like a bird. You no look muy bueno !”
    “We have so looked good. We’ve spread like bad news and covered every inch of that wagon track trail, but the folks is wily, boss, just plain wily,” Ollie accused.
    “Weren’t our fault,” Butch declared. “The truth is we’ve just plain lost ’em.”
    “How can we lose a negro, a monja , and an indio ?”
    The men hung their heads.
    Cortes thought he had met up with some stupid people in his past adventures, but Ollie, Butch, and Rodrigo were just plain idiots. He glanced up to study the worsening weather. “They no go far. They are here somewhere, you’ll see.”
    “Maybe they found somebody to help ’em,” Ollie volunteered.
    Cortes’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know of anyone who’d help an indio ?”
    The men swapped stumped looks.
    “Well, what do we do now?” Butch asked.
    “What we do ahora ?” Cortes slapped his forehead. “We search, fool!”
    Squinting, Butch nodded.