The Spanish Outlaw (18 page)

Strange, because this was what she’d wanted all
along, wasn’t it? Finally, Anton could relieve himself of her.

She swallowed the lump of emotion lodged in her throat. “Are you certain I’ll be safe?”

“I have devised a plan in case somebody is waiting on shore and watching us. After we dock, I will take you with me to the nearest hotel. The captain will have his cabin boy come later and meet us in the room. The boy is about your height and coloring, so you can dress in his clothes to leave, and our watchers will think it is the servant.”

She shrugged. “It sounds plausible, but how are
you
going to remain safe?”

“I have not figured that out, but I will be extremely cautious. I will not let my uncle win.”

“So, you think if I am by your side then, it’ll make your mission more difficult to complete?”

“No, but I will be putting you in danger.” He cupped her chin. “If you met with another accident or illness, my heart would not be able to take it.”

How could she understand this man? Did he really want to be free of her? Was he saying these words just to alleviate her worry?

“Oh, Anton, you do care,” she teased with sarcasm.

He gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “Yes,
querida
, I do. More than you will ever know.”

Her heart beat wildly, and she fought for control. But there was a different tone in his voice that made her pause, one she hadn’t heard before. She pulled away and gazed up at him. “I don’t understand.”

“When I thought I had lost you in the sea, heaviness grew in my chest so much I could have suffocated. Then, when your fever was so very high, and the physician’s methods were not working, I could not stand the massive pain of losing you.” He pressed the side of his face against hers. “I would have died for you. If
Díos
would have let me, I would have taken your place.”

His confession tugged at her heart, weakening her resistance against him. Dare she believe he held some feelings?

Ridiculous.

Cursing her premature enthusiasm, she found her anger once again and pulled back. “Thank you for your concern, but once I leave with the captain, I won’t be your problem any longer and you won’t need to worry about me.”

His forehead crinkled. “Vivian, I have never thought of you as my problem.”

With a shrug, she snuggled into the bed. “I’m tired now, Anton. I’d like to sleep.”

Gathering the blankets around her, she turned to her side and fought the tears swelling in her eyes. She didn’t know what bothered her most, his evident change of guilty emotion toward her, or his readiness to dispose of her the first chance he got.

* * * *

The sun had set into a tranquil sea, and a soft dusk slowly captured the day as Anton stood at the rail of the ship and gazed out on the water. Darkness intruded upon the blue-green depths of the ocean, splaying a million stars overhead on the dark velvet backdrop of a clear night sky. His thoughts carried him back to a time when he was a different man.

Until recently, he’d been satisfied with his life, not bothering to question fate. His parents had died at the hands of his merciless uncle when they were gunned down in broad daylight, but after a grieving period, Anton realized it was their turn to join
Díos
in heaven.

He had enlisted to join his fellow countrymen in fighting for what he’d believe in, and he hadn’t regretted any decision made during those seven years. Even when he left his home and inheritance, he hadn’t looked back, rather anticipated the adventures in his new life.

Things were changing again, and he was helpless to stop fate. His twenty-seventh year approached fast, and for the first time, he thought about settling down and starting a family.

The idea scared him to death.

Yet when he imagined spending his days with Vivian, holding her in his arms, his fear eased. From the very first time he had spotted her sitting in her balcony box watching him with great interest, he hadn’t been able to think straight. Like a moth to flame, her beauty lured him, and he couldn’t find the strength to pull away. But he had no other choice but to let her go. She’d be much safer in New York where the detective agency could protect her.

Agonizing pain twisted in his heart. It would be extremely hard to see her sail away without him. He released a deep sigh and
scrubbed his face. He must not falter in his determination. Thankfully, the end of the voyage was near, and although he had mixed emotions, he looked forward to seeing his homeland once more.

Heavy footsteps creaked on the deck behind him, tearing him from his dismal thoughts. He swung around to see who ventured his way. Captain
Bushwell sported a full uniform, looking very commanding in his sailor’s attire.

The older man smiled. “It’s a pleasant evening, is it not?”

“
Sí
. The warmer climate tells me I am home.”

“The voyage has passed quicker than I expected. We’ll reach land first thing in the morning.”

“Splendid.”

“Are you still planning on sending Miss
Wentworth back with me?”

“
Sí.
I have not changed my mind. I want to follow through with the plans we made earlier. I would feel much safer with her away from my uncle. I also need you to deliver that letter to Mr. Pinkerton.”

He nodded. “
I’ll prepare for a quick departure tomorrow.”

“May I ask what will be done with
Señor
Raúl Zamora? What kind of trial will he get?”

“Unfortunately, I will have to turn him over to Spain since he is one of their citizens, unless of course, they allow me to take him back to the states for the tr
ial he deserves.”

“I want justice to prevail, but I suspect Spain will protect the traitor.”

“I agree.”

Anton bunched his hands into fists and slammed them hard on the railing, holding back the vile words ready to spring from his mouth. “Then the sooner we get Miss
Wentworth home, the better.”

“Very true.”

Taking a calming breath, Anton feigned a smile. “
Gracias
. I will be forever grateful.”

Captain
Bushwell leaned against the railing, took a cheroot from the inside of his jacket, and lit it. The scent from the expensively rolled leaves drifted in the air around Anton.

“Anton? How does Miss
Wentworth feel about your arrangement?”

Anton drew his brows together. “Why do you ask?”

The captain kept his gaze focused on the sea. “Since her miraculous recovery, I’ve not seen a smile grace her lovely face, especially around you.” He glanced over his shoulder and met Anton’s stare. “Every time I have seen her, I get the impression she is upset.”

A sigh of defeat came from Anton. “
Sí,
the little vixen is not pleased with my plans. She refuses to believe how ruthless my uncle can be and believes she can be of help to me while in Spain.”

Captain
Bushwell chuckled. “I’ve seen her temper a time or two on the voyage. She is certainly a stubborn woman.”

“
Sí
, but I would not change that for anything.” Anton smiled. “Her stubbornness defines who she is, and I admire her for that.”

“You’re going to miss her, I can tell.”

Anton’s smile quickly faded. “Again, you are correct.”

“She’ll miss you, a
s well.”

“No. I think she will be happy to be away from me. The few times we have talked since her accident, we have done nothing but argue.”

“Perhaps she doesn’t want to go back?”

Anton laughed.
“Oh, no. She wants to return to New York, I assure you.”

“How do you know?”

“She never wanted to come with me in the first place.”

Captain
Bushwell straightened and clapped his hand on Anton’s shoulder. “Anton, I must say you don’t read women very well. The way I see it, her stubborn streak intensified when she found out she was being sent back. The girl wants to stay. It’s obvious.”

The captain’s opinion bothered Anton, only because he hesitated to believe. Just thinking about the possibility that
Vivian might want to stay with him sent his heart into a frenzied beat. But he quickly stopped his whirlwind of emotions. It didn’t matter what he wanted, Vivian would be safer going home.

“
No, Captain. Vivian has to go. I do not know what I would do if my uncle got hold of her. He would not think twice about torturing her.”

Captain
Bushwell nodded and stepped away. “I understand. But will you do me a favor before you say your last good-byes?”

“What is that?”

“I’ve known since the accident that she is not your niece. Tell the poor girl you love her. Don’t send her back with a broken heart.”

Silence filled the air as the captain walked away.
Anton scratched his chin. Strange, but two people had made the same comment about this very thing. Katherine Summers had also mentioned the word
love
.

Did he love
Vivian? Perhaps that was the gripping ache inside his chest that wouldn’t leave. How could it be so obvious to others but not to him?

Yes, he finally realized love described his feelings perfectly. It wasn’t easy to confess. His life was too complicated for love and marriage right now. He struggled with this thought as he walked back to his cabin.

If he told Vivian he loved her, would it make her happy? She’d told him once that she was falling in love with him, so could her feelings be as strong? Especially now? If she did return his love, she’d not want to go back home to New York. He couldn’t have that.

Quietly, he turned the doorknob and entered the room.
Vivian wasn’t asleep as he had expected, but sitting in bed reading. Her gaze lifted for a moment when he entered, but then lowered back to the book.

He closed the door and walked to the spot on the floor where he’d slept. Without a word, he
pulled off his shirt in front of her. She raised the book to block her view, and he couldn’t stop his smile from widening.

He decided not to retire to bed just yet, and left his trousers on. He dug through one of his trunks to find a book to read that would settle his turbulent thoughts, but nothing looked interesting, nothing except the beautiful woman sitting on the bed.

He gazed over her. Knees pulled to her chest, her cute toes peeked out from underneath the nightgown she wore. Her hair was just how he liked it; unbound, cascading over her shoulders in beautiful waves. Sighing deeply, he walked back to his corner of the room and plopped on the floor.

Her gaze lifted from her book again and met his stare. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“That irritable grunt you just made sounded like something troubles your mind.”

He grinned. “All right then, there is something, but I do not think you would like to know.”

She laid the book on her lap, but kept her knees hiding her chest. “Tell me anyway.”

“The captain talked to me a few minutes ago and said that we will be docking in Spain tomorrow.”

A frown tugged at her delicate lips, turning her expression sour. “I bet that bit of information had you dancing with delight.”

“Actually, no.” He shrugged. “I will admit I am looking forward to seeing my homeland again, and yes, I cannot wait to put an end to my uncle’s tyranny, but...” He hesitated in telling her the truth.

“But what?”

“But I shall miss you when you leave.”

She lowered her head to her knees in contemplative silence, her arms wrapped around her legs. Patiently, he waited for her response, wondering if she’d verbally lash out at him again.

“Stop saying things you don’t mean,” she whispered.

He moved to the bed and sat beside her. “I do mean it,
Vivian.” He stroked her shoulder. “I will miss you terribly.”

She sucked in a ragged breath before raising her head. Tears swimming in her eyes stabbed at his heart like a knife.

“I will miss you, too. We’ve been through a lot together these past weeks.”

“I will never forget those times.”

Her slender throat contracted into a swallow before she nodded. “I shall not forget them, either.”

He slid a lock of her hair between his fingers, but his gaze stayed on hers. “Do you want me to write your employer
another letter to tell him that he needs to promote you to Class A Agent? Will that make things easier for you?”

“No. I’ll think of some way to
climb to the top by myself. I only hope Margaret isn’t too vexed with me for leaving her alone. After all, you did practically kidnap me without a word to her.”

He chuckled. “Now you will admit to the attempted kidnap, eh?”

She shrugged.