The Temptress (Montgomery/Taggert 8)

“What do you want from me? Do you want me to tell you the truth? The truth is that all you are to me is one hot little morsel and I finally took a bite. You’re no more or less to me except a way to get a pardon from prison. You’re more trouble than a corral full of sheriffs and half the time you’re not even as much fun, what with your do-gooder attitu

de of wanting to save the world. All I want is to turn you over to your father, get my pardon—if he’ll give it to me after violating his pure daughter—and get the hell away from you and your kind. Now, have I made myself clear?”

Chris straightened her spine. “Perfectly,” she said through a throat that was swelling shut. “And you’ll get your pardon. I’ll see to that.”

She didn’t want him to see how horrible she was feeling. Slowly, she turned her back to him, dropped the blanket and began to dress in her damp under clothing.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing that will interfere with your pardon.”

“Chris, wait…”

She didn’t look at him. “You’ve had your say, and, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not hear anymore. You may have your blanket back. I wouldn’t want to cause you more inconvenience. I shall stay here in this corner until morning.”

She didn’t look at him again as she sat down with her back to the wall.

Chapter Sixteen

Morning came much too soon. Chris had slept very little and her head and eyes ached. Twice Tynan tried to talk to her but she turned away. The rain had stopped and, without a word between them, they left the cabin. Tynan put out his hand to help her mount but she moved away from him and mounted by herself.

They had to ride quite far to find a fordable place in the stream, and all the while, Chris did her best to keep from touching Tynan, and she never once spoke to him.

When they finally reached the Hamilton house, she was never so glad to see anything in her life.

“We’re going to leave in one hour,” Tynan said but she refused to look at him. He caught her arm as she started to walk away. “Did you hear me? I’m taking you out of this place and back to your father where you belong.”

Chris jerked away from him. “I’ve heard every word that you’ve had to say,” she said as she turned away and started back to the house. She hesitated for a moment on the outskirts of the garden, wondering what her reception would be, if Owen knew where she was or if anyone had been looking for her. Idly, she picked a tall daisy, twirled it in her hands before putting her chin back and moving forward. As she entered the garden at the back of the house, she saw Owen, and Asher with his back to her.

Owen stopped talking, his eyes widened and the next minute, Asher turned, saw her, and was running toward her with his arms outstretched. He caught her in an exuberant hug, lifting her off the ground, twirling her about.

“Chris,” he said with his face buried in her neck. “I was worried to death. Are you all right? You aren’t hurt?”

She hugged him back with enthusiasm. It was so very, very good to feel wanted. “Yes,” she managed to whisper because her throat was overcome with tears.

But the next moment her tears disappeared because a shot rang out. She could feel the hot rush of the bullet as it went tearing past the back of Ash’s head. Chris looked down at the suddenly headless flower in her hand then at Tynan standing a few feet away, a smoking gun in his hand. He’d shot the flower, which she’d held as she’d hugged Asher, away.

Unity came running from the house. “What’s goin’ on? I heard a shot.”

Tynan was looking at Chris and she was glaring back at him in return, her arms still around Ash.

“Just doin’ some weedin’, ma’am,” he drawled before turning away.

“What was that all about?” Asher asked.

Chris threw the headless flower down on the ground as if it were poison. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” She looked up as Owen came toward them.

“Diana, we were very worried about you. No one knew where you were. We’ve been out all night looking for you.”

For the first time, she looked at the two men, saw the way they were dirty and tired-looking, with unshaved cheeks.

“I saddled my own horse when I left,” she mumbled. “We found shelter from the rain. Could I see you for a moment?” she asked, turning to the man who was playing her husband.

“Of course, dear, you must be very tired.” Like a concerned husband, Ash escorted her into the house and up the stairs to the room they shared.

“All right,” he said as soon as they were alone, “I want to know where you’ve been and what was going on outside. Has that man done anything to you?”

“Not anymore than I’ve asked for. Turn your head; I want to change out of this. I followed Owen and that dreadful man, Beynard Dysan, out into the forest.”