Page 43 of The Copper Heir
“What?” His brother wiped at his eyes and peered at him through the light streaming in from the hallway. “What time is it?”
“Half past two. Get up. Emmy knows the plan and, according to her note, she’s going to get to Campbell before us and tryto negotiate the exchange herself. We have to make sure she doesn’t get on that train. It leaves in just over three hours.”
Cas was cursing as he slipped into the trousers he’d left lying across the end of the bed. “Las niñas?”
“She didn’t take them. They’re sleeping.”
After he’d stepped into his boots, Cas shrugged on his shirt and was fastening the buttons as he approached Hunter. “She’s a handful of a woman. Are you sure she’s worth the trouble?”
“Yes. I’m going to marry her.” If he’d had any doubt before, finding her gone had solidified that for him.
Cas paused, eyes frozen on Hunter as he realized what that meant.
“I won’t desert the gang. I made a vow to you and I’ll honor it.”
“I already told you, it’s my vengeance, not yours.”
“And I don’t give a damn. We’re brothers.”
Cas grinned and reached for his gun belt lying across the footboard. “Seems like a lot of trouble. A woman with fire in her, like that one, can be good for some things, but not for a wife. A wife should be obedient, biddable.”
His gun fully loaded, Hunter slid his second revolver into the holster. “Sounds boring as hell.”
“That’s why they invented mistresses,” Cas called from behind him as he started for the stairs.
Now that they were dressed and on their way, Hunter had no worries about overtaking her before she reached town. Even if they didn’t, with hard riding they could be at the station in under two hours. They had plenty of time before the train left. He’d find her and bring her back home before leaving in the afternoon. “One day,” Hunter promised and clapped Cas on the shoulder as his brother came abreast of him. “One day you’ll find a woman you’ll want to be both.”
“The only woman I’m interested in is one with a fortune at her disposal.”
“The Sophie Buchanan’s of the world? Finally taking my advice? A wealthy bride could restore your hacienda.”
Cas grimaced. “Not her.”
“Not any of them. They’re all the same,” Hunter reminded him. They’d had this conversation many times before.
“Perhaps. But it’ll be worth it to have my home back.”
“All the years you’ve worked have made you too cynical.” Hunter smiled.
“Perhaps you’re right, but at least I’m not losing my head over a—”
They were just descending the main staircase when the front door crashed open. Angel, one of the men who’d ridden back with Cas, stood framed in the doorway. “Eduardo just saw Campbell head into the barn. Looked like he had Miguel strapped to the back of a horse.”
For a moment his mind couldn’t accept what he had heard. The idea that Campbell could have found them and ridden right into his barn was impossible to accept. “Tell me what happened.”
“It’s Eduardo’s night to do the rounds. He was just riding back in from the East Field near the river when he saw a horse. Thought maybe one had gotten out, but he followed and realized a man on foot was leading a horse. Someone was strapped to the back. He didn’t get close enough to see for sure before they walked into the barn and barred the doors shut behind them. The horse looked like that dapple Campbell rides.”
Hunter’s heart paused for a beat as he imagined Emmy out there alone. “Has anyone seen Emmy? She left. About a half hour ago is my best guess.”
Angel shook his head. “No.”
“Damn. Go check the stables. See if a horse is missing. Then get all the men together.”
They watched Angel run back across the yard, Cas managing to wait until he’d disappeared into the stable before turning to Hunter to ask, “You don’t think she planned this with—?”
“No!” His brother was cynical enough to believe that Emmy might have somehow conspired with Ship and was meeting with him now. Hunter might have believed that at one time as well. But not anymore. He knew her. She wouldn’t do anything that would put them in danger. She loved him. “If she’s with them it’s because they’ve taken her.”
“Did she take the fifty thousand dollars with her?”
