“From charges of child abduction? Not even Senator Brandon is that delusional. This will ruin him. If he lives through it.”

“Any ideas?” Paco asked after a moment of silence.

“A few. I sent a telegram to Colonel Prime at Fort McIntosh.”

Paco’s brow lifted, and his drenched eyelashes dripped rain when he blinked. “You think they’re headed in that direction?”

“It’s just a hunch.”

Heat shimmered up in blurred waves from red rock and stretches of dun-colored ground scattered with clumps of greasewood. It was familiar territory, another long ride, but this time there was a new sense of urgency. Trains, boats and horses had brought them within sight of Fort McIntosh.

The dust coated horses, clothes, skin and even tongues. The three of them wore neckerchiefs over noses and mouths, wide brimmed hats providing scant shade against the searing beat of the sun. Steve and Paco rode abreast, with Ginny riding a few paces behind.

Steve turned in his saddle to glance back at her. She looked like a wilted flower. If not for the taut set of her shoulders, he’d have thought her asleep. Her chin dipped toward her chest, the hat brim hiding her eyes.

Steve nudged his mount closer to hers. “We’re almost there, Ginny.”

“I know.” The words were muffled behind the yellow scarf covering half her face. “I’ve swallowed enough dust to fill the Gulf of Mexico.”

“That’s better. When you’re complaining, I know you’re all right.”

Her head lifted, and he caught a glimpse of narrowed green eyes above the yellow triangle. “Did you think I would not be? I may collapse after we have Laura and Franco safely with us, but I won’t give up until then. I won’t give up!”

“No, you’re not the kind of woman to give up, my green-eyed wife. I know that about you. You’re as stubborn as I am when you want to be.”

“Steve, we will find them. Won’t we?”

Couched behind the steady timbre of her voice was a note of uncertainty. Leaning over, he put his hand atop her arm. “We’ll find them. I swear it to you.”

Her gaze was cool. “I know. I don’t know why you think they might be here, but I trust you to find them.”

He hoped his hunch would pay off. It was a wild idea, and even Paco thought he was crazy for pursuing it. But he remembered Brandon’s certainty in San Antonio, and his smug assurance that he would build his rail line from Texas into Mexico. The meeting with Uriah Lott had occurred to Steve, and he recalled the discussion about railroads that night at Fort McIntosh.

William Brandon had been involved then, too. And he’d blamed Steve for ruining that business deal.