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again, to shield her.
Antonio was always such a good boy, raised to do right, but maybe a bit spoiled because he was the only one. Vincente looked for
understanding. It was easier to make him happy than to see his tears. He became used to such things. When he got older, he still wanted everything
given to him.
It was a common enough story. Ranching was a hard life with little profit. Many young men went out in the world for easier pickings. Some
stayed on the right of the law, others went to the left. Vincente s son had obviously chosen the second route.
If only the old man would lower that barrel a fraction more& You done? Tracker asked.
Vincente shook his head. The pistol held steady. My wife could not accept what Antonio became. Every day she prayed for his return to
the path we had laid out for him. But he got further and further away and my wife s heart broke more and more. An apologetic look filled Vincente s eyes
as he pleaded for understanding. Josefina cannot see Antonio for who he is. She still sees him as a little boy who just needs guidance.
There was no shielding Ari now. The only thing Tracker could offer her was the full truth. So when he brought you Ari, you agreed to hold
her for him.
It was a statement, not a question.
I was not here when she was brought, but had you seen her, you would have understood why I would not have said no, had I been.
Tracker had seen Desi. It was entirely too easy to imagine how Ari had looked. I understand.
Something bumped his thigh. Ari s foot. He reached down. She twisted away. He caught it, needing to hold her as Vincente delivered
blow after blow with his confession. She needed comfort. Tracker was all she had.
Antonio is a Comancheros, Tracker said.
Ari went very still. Tracker looked over his shoulder. Her gaze was locked desperately on Vincente, as if through sheer force of will she
could change the words coming from his mouth. She shook her head.
Vincente hung his. To my shame, yes.
That s why your ranch can remain undisturbed and undefended.
Yes. Last fall, he came here with Ari, talking big, not caring that she was injured and pregnant.
Behind them Ari moaned. Tracker swore under his breath. Vincente kept going, as if he couldn t see the devastation his words wrought.
He said he just needed a place to keep her until he could find this man who would pay to have her.
Ari s family attorney. The man who d ordered the death of them all. The man who hunted Ari and Desi, because whoever owned them
owned their inheritance.
Your wife had to know it was wrong.
She is not reasonable when it comes to Antonio. Vincente looked every one of his years as he shook his head. We did wrong by Ari. It
had to be made right.
Tracker squeezed Ari s foot. It was all the comfort he could give. So you were the one who sent me the message.
The old man nodded. Sí. I got to know her. She is a good woman. She deserves a life bigger than the lies we told her. Bigger than what
my son would have.
You told her the lies about her past so she could be happy.
He nodded again. We grew to love her.
And Miguel?
I love him, too.
But he means more to your wife. Tracker hazarded the guess as he glanced toward the window. Much longer and Shadow would come
check out the delay. One look at the gun and he d shoot. Tracker didn t want Vincente dead.
My wife sees in him another chance to raise a child.
And you don t?
I m an old man in failing health. For my son I have done things that do not make me proud, but I will not do this. I will not give to him an
innocent woman and baby.
No, you won t. Tracker palmed the knife tucked up his sleeve. If it meant he had to kill Vincente to insure that, he would.
He has chosen his path. I have chosen mine. He motioned with the gun. You must take her and leave.
Tracker looked over at Ari. She was lying still in the bed, staring at the ceiling, tears leaking from her eyes.
How much of what she d heard did she understand? How much did she remember?
There were no gringos in town, were there?
I only created them to keep Ari out of town, so there would be no questions.
While you waited.
Vincente frowned. Yes. You took longer than I expected.
I was delayed. Getting Tucker s pregnant wife to safety. Fighting off Comanches. Dropping off stray women at Hell s Eight.
You should know that Antonio knows she is worth money to a gringo.
Perfect.
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