Page 41 of The Copper Heir (The Gilded West #1)

“Emmy, you’ve met Castillo, my brother.”

She nodded, but her brow was still furrowed as she walked into the circle of his arms. “Is it time?”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Cas said as he rose, but stopped next to her on his way to the door.

Hunter bristled, but decided to let him talk.

“I apologize that you were pulled into this. Don’t fret, hermanita.

” He gave her a wink with a rarely seen smile.

“We’ll keep you and las ninas safe. On my honor.

” Then he left and Emmy watched until he closed the door behind him, all signs of anger gone from her lovely face.

Hunter shook his head and swallowed his laugh.

He’d seen his brother’s rarely given smile turn even the most righteous woman’s head.

But the second he was out of the room, she turned her attention back to him and he quickly explained the arrangements Cas had made to exchange the hostages in a canyon outside of Billings.

Just that very moment, he resolved to not give them up, though he didn’t mention it.

He’d take a satchel full of cash and try to buy Miguel back first. Anything to keep them from getting hurt.

The exchange would take place in a couple of days and they’d take the late-afternoon train tomorrow.

He didn’t tell her she wasn’t going. He’d leave on his own and face her anger when he returned.

“Could there really be shooting? Do you think Ship will put up a fight?”

“It’s always a chance, but we’ll have men hidden just in case.”

“So will he. Ship’s not stupid, Hunter. He’ll have men to fight back. What if they start shooting after the exchange?” She grabbed the front of his shirt and held tight.

“Shh...it’ll be all right.” He sounded more confident than he actually was, but she didn’t need to know that.

If his men were harmed because of Ship Campbell and his band of buffoons, Hunter would make sure they never lived to harm anyone else.

Pulling her close to him, he buried his face in the floral scent of her hair and savored the way her tiny body felt against his.

It had been just two weeks and already there was more padding on her bones and her generous bottom had filled out nicely from the hearty meals he fed her.

He couldn’t even think of her going back to how her life had been before.

Moving his hands down her body, he cupped her bottom and pulled her up against him, loving her small sigh of pleasure.

This wouldn’t be their final night together.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. ”

“I’m not worried about me... I’m worried about you.

” She had pulled back just enough to look at him and the sincerity of that look warmed him from the inside out.

She really didn’t give a damn about the money he’d given her or how much more she could likely get from him.

She cared about him. It was a sentiment that had been lacking in his life.

“Don’t worry about me either.” He managed a half smile and cupped her face in his hand. “Once this is over, we’ll have many more days at the ranch ahead of us. You’ll see.”

“But how? I have to go back.”

She wasn’t going back. “I took you once. Don’t you think I can take you again?” he teased.

Her lips parted in a quick smile and he took advantage by covering her mouth with his, slipping his tongue inside to briefly taste her sweetness before pulling back.

“Do you mean that?” she whispered.

“I do.” He wanted to mention marriage, but it was too early, too uncertain to bring that up.

Hell, he wasn’t even sure how he could wrap his head around the concept just yet, except that he didn’t need to.

It just fit. Keeping her with him, even if it meant marriage, seemed right. But the gang needed him too.

Smiling, she nibbled lightly on her bottom lip and her eyes darkened. “I don’t want this to end, either.”

“Then it won’t.” He met her halfway for another kiss, determined to keep tomorrow at bay for as long as he could.

Emmy didn’t go to sleep that night. They had made love three times, consumed with the notion that this could be the last time for a while.

A shaft of moonlight spread across the foot of the bed and settled on the mantel across the room where the clock showed it to be almost two o’clock.

She knew that a train left most mornings at six and she planned to be on it.

She should have left earlier, but Hunter had just gone to sleep.

She rolled over to watch him as he dozed, his lips parting as he drew a breath.

She wanted to kiss them, but dared not risk it.

She wondered if this might be the last time she saw him.

It seemed impossible that her feelings for him should be so intense after such a short time together, but she couldn’t deny the ache growing in her heart.

Leaving him was the worst thing she’d ever have to do.

With every fiber of her being she wanted to stay with him, to trust him, to create the life with him that teased her in her dreams. The worst part was that she wanted that life even though she knew it couldn’t be real.

She’d seen her mother’s own happiness wither and die in the face of Ship’s neglect.

No matter how that voice in her soul kept saying that Hunter wasn’t like Ship, she couldn’t quite believe it.

But she wanted to believe it so badly.

Rising as quietly as she could, she walked to the writing desk and found a pencil.

It seemed only right that she leave a note to explain her plan.

If she could find Ship and exchange herself for Miguel, then all of the danger could be avoided.

She’d appeal to Ship and the little bit of decency she knew he possessed.

No matter how she disagreed with him, she knew that he loved the children.

He had to know that it was best for them to not return.

Surely she could make him understand that.

For insurance, she’d take a little of the money from the satchel in her bedroom and use it to sweeten the deal.

The girls’ safety was worth a little of her pride.

Once she gave it to him, she’d leave and come back to get her sisters.

If Hunter still wanted her, then she’d consider staying, if not, then they’d move on.

Either way the children would be safe for a while.

Leaving the grossly inadequate note—how could a simple “I love you” at the end possibly explain all she felt?

—she tiptoed to her bedroom and dressed.

Then she retrieved the satchel from under her bed and made her way to the hallway.

Stopping briefly at the children’s door, she allowed herself a quick peek inside to quietly tell them goodbye before continuing on.

One day, she promised herself, they would have security and she would never have to leave them again.

She made her way outside and took a moment to pause in the shadow of the house.

If she allowed herself to stop and realize how many holes were in this plan, she’d get frightened and run back inside.

But that wouldn’t keep Hunter from getting shot and that wouldn’t help Ginny and Rose keep the only bit of security they had ever known.

No, she couldn’t second-guess the plan. She’d make it onto that train before anyone ever knew she was gone and she’d find Ship and figure out how to get Miguel back. It was the only option.

Taking one last glance toward the house to make sure all the windows were still dark, she ran and didn’t stop until she’d reached Cinnamon’s stall.

She wouldn’t saddle her there. The other horses were already sticking their noses out to see who had interrupted their sleep.

They’d be too noisy and rouse the two men who slept above the stables.

Instead she patted her nose and stroked her mane, talking gently to her as she led her out.

She’d take her out into the darkness and return for the saddle.

But she didn’t make it that far at all. She was just leading her past the barn, the outbuilding farthest from the house, when Cinnamon snickered a warning.

There was no time to react as someone came up behind her and pulled her toward the barn.

A large hand covered her mouth before she could even think about screaming and a strong arm came around her waist so tight that it was very nearly painful.