Nancy Whiskey

“Practiced walking fifteen miles a day?”

“Twenty, actually. I had to be sure I could manage it, don’t you see? In case we should ever be on a forced march, or, God forbid, a retreat.”

“Well, do not let us hold you up, Captain Riley,” he taunted. “Would you like, perhaps, to lead the way?”

“The way, as you call it, is plainly marked and I suppose anyone could find it here. But I suspect it may become more convoluted when we reach the mountains. I am content for you to lead.”

“Content, are you?” Daniel glowered at her, then set off with his string of ponies, pretending not to care if anyone followed him or not.

“Child, if you knew how much you bother him,” Trueblood said with a chuckle as he brought his own string of ponies up level with her.

“I do know.”

“Then why do you do it?”

“When he is competent and in control, he takes me for granted. He may even forget I am here. When I throw him off his guard, he can think of nothing but me.”

“And how much he would like to give you the whipping you deserve.”

“Did he say that?”

“Somewhat incoherently, but that was the gist of it. Does it worry you?”

“No, for I do not think he really means it,” she said wistfully.

“You would never tolerate it.”

“No, of course not. But if we were married, there is not a great deal I could do about it.”

Not for the first time, Nancy left Trueblood with a puzzled frown. Normally when a woman said something nonsensical he merely thought she was babbling. But Nancy was an intelligent woman, and here she was acting as irresponsibly as a moonstruck girl…That was it! She was in love, and Daniel had not the slightest inkling. There was nothing new about that. Daniel only wanted women who were ineligible. If a woman fell in love with him, he had not the acuity to realize it.

Trueblood hastened to catch up with Daniel. “What do you intend doing about Nancy?”

“What the hell do you mean by that? I am delivering her to her father.”

“Well, Daniel, you have a reputation for impatience, especially with women. For using them rather hastily and leaving them in despair. If you—”

“Trueblood, what have you done? Have you fallen in love with Nancy?”

“In a manner of speaking, I have, but not in the way you imagine.”

“If there was ever a time to speak clearly, brother,” Daniel threatened through clenched teeth, “it is now!”

Trueblood blinked at him. “I mean that I treasure Nancy for her talents, her loyalty, her…hmm…”

“What?”

“There is something even I cannot fathom about her. Nevertheless, believe me when I say that if you mean to seduce her and leave her weeping, I will nip this affair in the bud.”

“I believe you mean it,” Daniel said in astonishment, taking in the determined set of his brother’s brows.

“It is the only thing you could do that would make me turn against you.”

“She has made an impression.” Daniel stared ahead at a twist in the road, trying to picture Trueblood not at his side. It was inconceivable.

“I think she would also make you an admirable wife. No other woman we have ever encountered has been at all suitable for you.”

“Is that why you relieve me of them so consistently?” “As I would remove a poison mushroom from your plate, for your own good.”