“No.” She tapped him lightly with the riding crop she held in one hand. “Tell me, I know there’s something strange going on. What is it? You owe me an explanation of some sort, so don’t look at me like that. After all that we’ve been through in the past, you should know you can trust me.”

Warily, Paco fixed her with an intense stare, his black eyes half-lidded. “I can’t tell you any more than Steve has told you, I’m sure. I’m just an errand boy.”

Ginny’s mount shied a bit when Paco put a hand on its bridle, dancing away from him. She lifted a brow as she calmed the horse. “I doubt that very much, but I can see you have no intention of telling me anything. Very well, I’ll just ask Steve. Is that the ship we’re taking?”

Paco nodded. “Yeah, it should get us there pretty fast, unless there’s another hurricane. It’s the time of year for them.”

The Liberty rode at anchor at the end of the dock, a small, two-masted schooner that looked neat and trim. Burly stevedores were loading cargo, huge boxes and crates that were lifted by a crane and swung on ropes to be lowered into the hold. The vessel dipped with each new burden, straining at thick chains and coils of rope holding it to the dock while men shouted orders and curses.

“Will you be sailing with us, or can you answer even that question?” Ginny asked. Paco flashed a white grin.

“I’ll be going along, at least at first. I’ve friends of my own to visit once we reach Mexico. But then, you’ll be visiting Don Francisco so shouldn’t miss us.”

“Us? I hope you don’t mean that Steve is going with you instead of staying with me. You do! I can tell by your face that’s what he plans, damn him. After promising me we would not be separated again. Where is he?”

“Ginny, por Dios, I didn’t mean…Look, you can’t blame him for something he didn’t say. Damn, my big mouth is going to get us all in trouble one day. Just wait and see what he says, all right? I don’t know if he’s going with me or staying with you. Steve hasn’t made any such decisions, or told me about it anyway.”

“Then I suppose Jim Bishop has told you that he has plans for Steve to go elsewhere?” Anger boiled inside her, coupled with dismay, hurt and uncertainty. How could he? Would he? After all the promises, the assurances that they’d stay together this time? Wasn’t that why she’d come with him, leaving behind their children once again?

Steve Morgan, I can’t live in uncertainty…. You will tell me the truth this time, by God!