Ginny hugged her children fiercely to her, shushing their frightened sobs with tender firmness as they huddled in a corner under the watchful eye of an armed guard. Tante Celine looked dreadful, her hair more untidy than Ginny had ever seen it, her garments rent in places and caked with dust. But her spine was rigid, her eyes blazing with contemptuous outrage.

“They are animals,” she said in French to her niece, and only a slight quiver betrayed her strain. “But they have not harmed us, though they did drag us across miles of desert. It is him I worry about. He looks ill.”

A nod of her head indicated the man lying on a rough cot nearby. Ginny’s gaze shifted. William Brandon lay listlessly under a tattered blanket. His cheeks were hollow, his eyes sunken, and he responded weakly when spoken to by anyone.

“Virginia…” His voice was a grating whisper that she had to strain to hear. “I’m sorry. My fault.”

Moved to pity despite their circumstances, she nodded. “Yes, but save your strength. Don’t try to talk.”

A short, swarthy man Steve had called Delgado returned to the stuffy chamber, grinning at them as he surveyed the two men bound tightly with rope and held beneath the warning rifles of the guards.

“You do not seem so cocky now, Morgan,” he said. “Have you lost your courage?”

Steve shrugged. His eyes were dark blue, ruthless in a face that had been battered by heavy fists.

“It’s easy to taunt a man who’s tied up, Delgado. Cut me free and ask me that question.”

“Ah, no, that would be foolish.” Delgado moved to the small wooden table against the far wall and poured dark wine into a cup, then turned to gaze at them, satisfaction glittering in his dark eyes. “This has turned out much more pleasing than I had thought. You have been of great help, Morgan.”

“Glad I could oblige,” Steve drawled. “What do you hope to gain by this? You can’t keep a United States senator captive forever. Every soldier in Texas will be out looking for you.”

“But I am not in Texas. I am in Mexico. Even your famous Rangers cannot follow me here.” Delgado looked quite pleased with himself, his smile smug. “It was a great stroke of fortune that delivered the bait to lure you. I had not thought of using your children.”

Steve’s gaze shifted to the senator, a flick of his eyes that made the Mexican grin.

“Yes, he saved me much trouble. I am grateful to him for his thorough attention to details.”

“Morgan…” The rasping voice dragged Steve’s gaze to the cot as Brandon struggled to sit up. “Not the way I planned. Would not harm them.”

“Shut up, old man,” Delgado barked. “You are useless to me now that I have what I want. Do not tread too harshly or I will rid myself of your presence.”