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for thinking so. I love you so much... !
She clung to him, answering his hungry mouth, but too tired to do much more than that. He
laughed wickedly.  Have I exhausted you, my dear? he asked gently.  You, and our child, she
whispered, watching his eyes as she said it and then smiling at the stunned reaction that stilled his
expression. He scowled.  Our... child. She nodded. She took his lean hand and placed it over the faint
swell of her stomach, no longer shy or inhibited with him, though neither of them were covered.
 Will you mind, so soon in our marriage?  Oh, no, he said genuinely, and his eyes began to sparkle
with feeling.  No, I will not mind. He began to smile and then to chuckle as his eyes boldly wandered
over her.  I thought this very becoming radiance was my doing, but I can see now that it is not. He
bent to kiss her, cherishing her mouth. But when he drew back, his eyes were troubled.  It was the first
time, that we made this baby, he began slowly. She put her fingers over his mouth.  I loved you even
then, she said quietly.  Let us not speak of it again. He brought her palm to his mouth and kissed it
hungrily.  Forgive me! he whispered roughly.  I wish that I could take back every hurtful thing I
have ever said or done to you!  Time will erase it all, she promised.  And now we have not only
our happiness together but a new life to look forward to. Oh, King, we are so, so lucky! He looked
into her eyes and agreed with such fervor that she laughed and pulled him down to her again. Three
weeks later, King had to go into El Paso and rescue a very drunk Quinn from the county jail. He took
his brother-in-law out to Latigo and established him in the guest room.  It's that girl, Maria,
Rodriguez's daughter, who haunts him, is it not? Amelia asked King later, after she'd checked on her
unconscious kin.  I believe so, he replied.  He has resigned from the Rangers, they told me at the
sheriff's office. I am certain that he would never have taken such a step unless he was not all himself.
 They have reorganized the Frontier battalion, and he was not happy with it, she reminded him.
 Also, he has not been the same since Policeman Stewart was shot and killed by those army men from
Ft. Bliss after the arrest of their disorderly comrade.  A tragedy, he agreed,  but the perpetrators
have been brought to justice.  That does not bring back Mr. Stewart, she pointed out.  Quinn
admired him.  I know. So did many of us.  What shall we do about him? King thought for a
moment.  I believe there is only one solution, he said grimly.  Which is?
He brought her face up to his and kissed her warmly.  Don't wait supper for me. He walked out
while she was still trying to question him, got on his horse, and rode away. Malasuerte was not hard to
find. It took King a little over three hours to get the information he needed from the sheriff and
proceed over the border. He asked for the girl and was politely escorted to a small hut in the pueblo
which was, presumably, hers. King took off his hat as he was admitted. The girl was very pretty, he
thought. She was slender and well- made, with black hair and blue eyes. Those were very sad eyes,
though. Lonely eyes.  What do you want, señor! she asked dully.  My papa is dead, you know.
Rodriguez is not here anymore.  I didn't come about Rodriguez. He twisted his hat in his hands as
he squatted down to talk to the girl, who was making tortillas over a small fire.  I married Quinn's
sister, Amelia. Her hands slipped, and one of the tortillas tipped off the pan into the flames. She
moved the pan off the fire and stared, with tragic face and eyes, at King.  Quinn! she said miserably.
 I sent him away. I blamed him for Papa's death, for everything.  Yes, I know, King said dryly.  He
gave up his Ranger badge and has apparently determined to become an alcoholic. At least, he
certainly gives that indication. She gasped.  Quinn does not drink, señor. Well, perhaps a drop or so
of mescal...  He drinks to excess and has for the past few weeks since Rodriguez killed himself, he
informed her.  Now there's only one way this can end. He'll keep on going downhill until he ends up
dead.  No! His eyebrows arched.  Isn't that what you want? That's what he told me.  No, no, a
thousand times no, I do not want him dead! she cried, tears welling in her eyes. She went close to
King, grasping him by the shoulders.  Please. Will you take me to him? Will you permit that I ride
back to your ranch, to speak with him?  Why do you want to? he asked shrewdly. She shrugged and
moved back.  Because I am sorry for him, of course.  I'm glad. But that really won't do, he told her.
She lifted her eyes to his.  Then, because I love him, she said gently. He smiled.  That was the reason
I hoped to hear. Do you have a horse?  I will borrow Juliano's, my brother's! She ran to get it, her
face radiant. Minutes later she was back, in the saddle, waiting for King.
He looked around as he got back on the horse. These people lived in the most appalling sort of
poverty, but they seemed happy enough. They waved, along with the boy Maria had called Juliano, as
they rode out.  My papa was not happy about what he had done, Maria said as they went toward the
border.  He said that the past haunted him. It was for us that he did it. And it was for us, for his people,
that he died, so that the authorities would stop persecuting us in their search for him. She glanced
toward him.  He was a great, and good, man, señor. I owe him my life, and so does Juliano. Whatever
the gringos say about Rodriguez, he was no devil.  I had discovered that through Quinn. He is not
the sort of man to love a devil, he told her.  He has mourned Rodriguez.  Yes. As have we all. I was
wrong to accuse Quinn. I hope that it is not too late to show him how much I care for him. King
nodded. But privately, he hoped the same thing. Quinn had been belligerent and uncooperative on the
way out to the ranch, and since. He spoke of Maria but not in any complimentary way. Amelia was
sitting on the porch when they arrived long after dark. She stood up with relief written all over her
when they dismounted, leaving the horses with a ranch hand, and went into the house.  I had no idea
where you were, she told King irritably, and then ruined her angry stance by going into his arms and
hugging him hungrily.  Where have you been!  Getting Maria, he said simply.  This is Maria, he
added, introducing her.  Rodriguez's daughter. Amelia smiled warmly.  I am happy to meet you at
last. Our poor Quinn is very lonely without you. Maria flushed.  It is the same for me. I was very
cruel to him. I hope that he can forgive.  I think you'll find that he's more than willing to meet you
halfway. Come. Amelia shot a loving look at her weary husband and led Maria down the hall to the
guest room. She opened the door, and Quinn, very hung over and headachy, looked up from where he
was sitting, fully dressed, on the side of the bed.  What the hell do you want? he asked Maria coldly.
 Another slice of my heart? She went forward, kneeling in front of him.  I am much too greedy,
señor. I want all of it. She smiled and held out her arms. With a rough cry, Quinn went into them, [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]

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