“Don’t you dare mock me, Steve Morgan! For all I know, you’re going off to some woman, and just using Bishop as an excuse. It would be so easy for you, and I’d never really know, would I?”

“Is this the trust you mentioned?” He said it quietly, and saw her startled glance at him before she turned away, cheeks still flushed with anger and eyes bright with tears. He felt only the slightest twinge of guilt for not telling her about Elizabeth Cady, but hell, Beth was married and it was unlikely he’d ever see her again anyway.

Relenting, he said, “The man I’m supposed to meet is someone you know very well, Ginny. Sam Murdock. Shall I give him a message for you?”

Some of the frustration faded from her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “Tell Sam next time he wants to meet with you, he can come to you instead of making you come to him!”

Steve laughed. When he went to her and put his arms around her to pull her close, she didn’t resist but leaned into him with a shaky sigh. Her hair was fragrant, a teasing scent like exotic flowers, light and sensual, filling his senses. He was supposed to leave in an hour, but he didn’t want to leave her like this, not without making sure she understood.

It was only natural to sweep her into his arms and carry her the few steps to the wide bed, the mattress dipping in a squeaky protest as he laid her on it and leaned over her.

“This doesn’t rectify anything, Steve Morgan,” she said as she lifted her arms to wind them around his neck, “so don’t think you can just make love to me and all will be forgotten!”

“If any man ever knew that, it’s me, love. I still have the scars from where you convinced me of it…. Look, wait here for me if you want. I’ll get back as soon as I can.”

“No. Laredo has bad memories for me.” She sounded so dejected. He blew softly on her ear until she sighed and stirred beneath him.

“Then Paco will take you to the new rancho in Chihuahua and I’ll meet you there.”

“You haven’t even seen it yet! It could be a mud hut with no roof.”

“I doubt it. Hearst said he stayed there for a time.”

“And if I prefer going to Zacatecas, or maybe on to Mexico City?”

“Ginny love, you can’t go with me.”

“I didn’t ask to go with you, Steve Morgan!”

“No, but you’re trying to make me crazy thinking about what you’ll do if I leave you on your own. It won’t work this time….” He stopped her protests with his mouth, a harsh kiss that smothered them effectively.