Laurie Kingery - The Outlaw's Lady

His head snapped back as if she had slapped him, and he paled. For several endless moments they stared at one another, breathing hard. Then Parrish walked past her and she thought he was leaving, but he only went to the door and stood there for a few moments, peering out into the darkness. Tess realized he was making sure no one was nearby.

He walked back to her. “You’re right, you wouldn’t. You have every right to think the worst of me, Tess Hennessy. And I can see why you’d think I had you kidnapped to make myself look good to Delgado—but I’m telling you that’s not exactly the case. There’s more to it than that, and it’s up to you whether you believe me or not. The best thing you can do is trust me, and mind what I tell you. I told you I wouldn’t let any harm come to you.”

“But why, Sandoval? What do you hope to gain?” she demanded, self-control slipping, the tears of outrage and fear suddenly threatening to spill over onto her cheeks.

His gaze became more intent then, and she realized she had unconsciously called him by his first name for the first time.

“I can’t tell you that, Tess,” he said. “Not yet, anyway. I…you may not believe this, but I’m not a bad man.”

Something about the softness of his tone and the kindness in his eyes was her undoing, and she gave in to her tears. Then suddenly he was holding her, patting her back as she wept. There was nothing disrespectful about the way he held her, but even so, Tess knew she should move out of his embrace. But it felt comforting and right, and she remained where she was until her tears stopped.

He took a step back from her then, regret that he must do so showing clearly in those dark eyes of his.

“Buenas noches, Tess,” he whispered. “Go to bed now. Delores will be along as soon as she has cleared Delgado’s table, and will sleep out here,” he said, indicating the rolled-up straw pallet. “No one will bother you.”

Dazed, Tess watched him turn and lift the blanket door, and then he was gone.

Leaving the candle lit in the wall niche for Delores, she walked into her bedroom area and saw that the lace-trimmed muslin nightgown she’d found in the trunk was laid out on the pallet for her. She changed quickly into it in the darkness, unpinned her hair, then lay down on the pallet, sure sleep would come with difficulty if it came at all.

Now that Parrish had held her—and she had allowed him to do so—she was more confused about who he was than ever before. What kind of a dangerous game was he playing with Delgado? She’d thought she knew why he’d kidnapped her, but he had said she was wrong, that she didn’t know the real reason. Could she—should she believe that he was on the right side?

Yes, her heart told her. He’d had her under his power moments ago, and could have done anything he wanted to her, then fobbed Delgado off with some excuse for why it had taken him so long to return. He had only held her—but what strength and comfort she had found in his embrace. She had felt at home there. It seemed to her he had been showing her a glimpse of his heart, showing her that despite the reasons he had for thrusting her into this dangerous situation, he cared for her. Or was that only what she wanted to believe?

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