care of us once we reach the village of Colorado?” she asked innocently.
Ann’s eyes were still on the small, sleeping babe. His long, tiny fingers fascinated her. He was so perfect. so beautiful. “You sound as if you have someone in mind. Would that person happen to be Nate?”
“Please, just listen to what I have to say.”
“Can Richard see?”
“Not yet” She hurried on before being told to keep her thoughts to herself. “Nate knows how to get to Arizona. He also warned me that it is a dangerous place. If you offered him money, perhaps he might be persuaded to accompany us. We would at least have a guide and a degree of protection. None of His Lordship’s hirelings would be looking for such an entourage.”
“Have you forgotten the danger in such a plan? We know nothing of the man. He could easily be lying to take what money I have. No, I won’t even consider it. We’ve managed this far and we can manage the rest of the way.”
“But Nate said the territory is huge.” Hester could see she was getting nowhere. She had, however, planted the seed of thought. Tonight she would tackle the subject again.
Ann couldn’t seem to keep her hands off Richard. She placed him in the crook of her elbow and rocked him. Nate had said that Colorado was only halfway to the West Coast. Would finding Beau prove to be more of a problem than she had anticipated? The miles of never-ending land were beyond anything she had ever seen. None of it fit the descriptions she’d heard in England. Nor had she seen a single outlaw or an Indian riding a painted pony.
Thirty minutes later, Ann stood and placed Richard on her seat. Though she would have been quite content to hold her son for the rest of their journey, she had to use the gentleman’s closet. She dearly resented no longer being able to squat and hide what she was doing beneath the folds of a full skirt as proper ladies did.
Ann expelled a sigh of relief when she discovered there wasn’t a line of men waiting to use the closet. She stepped inside, but before she could close the door behind her, a hand reached out, bracing it open. Ann found herself face-to-face with Nate. She stared in disbelief as he folded his arms and leaned comfortably against the doorjamb.
“Leave here immediately,” Ann demanded.
“Why? I want to talk to you about your trip to Arizona.”
“Anything you have to say can certainly wait. I want my privacy!” She had to watch her temper. Was it her imagination, or did Nate seem to avoid looking at her?
Nate grinned. He was in just the right mood to give Albert a bad time. “Would you feel less emasculated if I turned my back? Perhaps you don’t want your lack of manliness to be seen,” he ribbed.
Ann stiffened. Did he know the truth? “What do you mean by that?”
Nate slowly shook his head. “I thought it was pretty obvious.”
Ann’s cheeks burned when she realized what he had alluded to. At least he still mistakenly took her to be a man. “Move out of my way. If you must, I shall let you go first. I will wait outside.” She tried to move back out of the way, but Nate continued to block her path.
“That won’t be necessary, Albert,” Nate said with considerable disgust. With that, he backed out of the gentlemen’s closet, shutting the door behind him.
Ann made sure it was locked. What other humiliations would she have to suffer before this trip was over?
“I’ll meet you in the saloon car when you’re finished,” Nate called through the door. “Don’t make me wait too long.”
Ann could hear his chuckle fade away as she proceeded to unbutton her trousers. How could he cause her heart to race when they were always at odds with each other?
By the time Ann entered the saloon car, she had managed to regain her composure. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the virile man seated with a drink in his hand. Just looking at the way his clothes hugged his strong body made her knees weak. But from the look on his face, Ann knew she was about to have more problems. She decided to attack first this time. “I don’t like threats,” she stated when she joined him.
“Nor do I. Here.” Nate handed Albert a partially filled glass. “It’s whiskey. Maybe it’ll put some hair on your chest, though I doubt it.”
Ann thought to refuse but held her tongue. The sooner Nate said what was on his mind, the sooner she could leave. She raised the glass to her lips, but the smell of the brew caused her to lower her hand. She preferred good Irish whiskey.
Nate shook his head. “Albert, you’re such a greenhorn it makes me almost embarrassed for you.”
“I don’t need the sarcasm. What was so important that you felt the need to converse with me?”
Nate curled his lip but somehow managed to contain his temper. “I made a decision.”.
“I am not the least interested in any of your decisions.”
“Dammit, I seriously suggest you contain that mouth of yours!” Nate stood. The easiest way to handle the duke would be to avoid him. He took a deep breath and looked down at His Lordship, who had taken the same chair he’d just vacated. “I have grown quite fond of your wife-”
Ann leaped to her feet, only to be shoved back down.
Nate placed his hands on the arms of the chair and leaned down into the duke’s face, his eyes boring into Albert’s. “Not the way you think. And,” he continued, “since I have agreed to be Richard’s godfather-”
“You what?” Ann gasped. “No! I forbid it! I was not consulted.” Not until he suddenly stood did Ann realize she had been holding her breath. Why was he looking at her so strangely?
“Have you ever shaved?”
Ann’s hand flew to her cheek. “Oh. a.well, you see, T’m rather fortunate. I have never had many facial hairs. I hope we have an understanding about you being Richard’s godfather. I have someone else picked out.”
“As I started to say, as Richard’s godfather, I have decided to accompany you to Arizona.”
Ann tried to control her panic. How could this be happening? “Listen to what I am telling you. You are not his godfather!”
“You no longer have any say in the matter.”
“Of course I have a say. I am his father. Besides, you would never find Cousin Beau’s ranch.”
“Beau?” Nate asked, startled. “Beau Falkner?”
Ann groaned. “You know him?” she asked weakly.
“I doubt there’s a man in Arizona Territory who hasn’t heard of the man. New Mexico, as well. He’s a mighty rich man.” Nate frowned. “Had I known your destination, I would have volunteered my assistance sooner.”
Nate had backed away and Ann seized the opportunity to stand. She felt as if she had been run over by a herd of stampeding cattle.
“We’ll catch a train from Denver to Pueblo, then travel to Santa Fe
