Sandoval saw two spots of color spring to Tess’s cheeks and sparks flash from her eyes. “Jefe, I think your question may be a little too personal…” he began, but Tess found her voice before he could finish his sentence.
“I’d like to ask you a question or two, Diego,” she said, biting out the words. “Such as, how did you develop an interest in thievery? Especially thievery on such a grand scale?”
Slowly, deliberately, Delgado laid down his knife and fork in turn. The color had fled from his face. “How did I become Delgado, scourge of the Rio Grande Valley, you mean? This land is rightfully Mexican, Tess Hennessy. So I don’t really feel that I am doing anything wrong—I am merely taking back those possessions which should belong to my people.”
“But people have been killed who sought to protect their property from you and your men, Señor Delgado,” she protested.
Sandoval could see the nerve jumping in Delgado’s temple and knew the outlaw was perilously close to losing his temper at her outspokenness.
“I kill no one who does not resist us,” Delgado said.
“That is your excuse?”
Sandoval knew it was time to intervene. Delgado had been so affable a host before they got on this subject that Tess had forgotten who and what he was. Beneath the table, he very gently but firmly put his booted foot down on Tess’s foot. “I think you have said enough, Miss Hennessy,” he warned. “Do not forget you are a captive here, and dependent on Delgado’s goodwill.”
Yes, that’s it, he thought, when she transferred her indignant gaze to him. Show me your anger, not Delgado. It’s much safer.
He increased the pressure on her foot, hoping she’d take the hint and not insist on having the last word.
Her eyes were disks of ice as she stared at him, her mouth a thin, tight line, but she held her peace.
“I believe you will be pleased at the pictures Miss Hennessy took today, jefe,” Sandoval said, praying Delgado was ready to let go of the conflict, too. He turned to Delores, who’d been half dozing in a corner of the room, asking the old woman to bring the photographs from Tess’s hut.
Delores was back in a few moments, and Delgado was so thrilled with the results of Tess’s first session that he was once again beaming at her, all his wrath forgotten.
“You are a true artista, Señorita Tess,” Delgado enthused, kissing his fingers at her as if the past, tense moments had never happened. “A genius of daguerreotype, isn’t she, Sandoval?”
“Indeed she is,” Sandoval said, watching Tess warily.
“And it was masterful on your part to think of bringing her to me,” Delgado went on, slapping Sandoval on the back. “Thank you, my loyal amigo!” He turned back to Tess. “And you will be ready at dawn tomorrow to take the pictures of me on horseback, just before we ride out on our raid, sí?”
Tess nodded.
“That being the case, perhaps I should escort Miss Hennessy back to her quarters so that she can get her rest,” Sandoval said, rising.
“Oh, but we have not had our dessert,” Delgado protested. “Delores makes the best flan in Mexico, perhaps in the world!”
Tess rose also, protesting that she couldn’t eat another bite, as polite as any guest could be.
“Then go and get your beauty sleep, señorita,” Delgado said, bowing. “Sandoval, after you have seen her safe inside, summon my other lieutenants and come back. We need to plan our strategy, eh?”
Tess was silent until Delgado closed the door and she was alone with Parrish on the short path to her hut.
“I’m sure I can manage the rest of the way by myself,” she told him, her voice burning with suppressed fury. “Go summon the rest of his lieutenants as you were told.” She mimicked Delgado’s accent mockingly. “You have strategy to discuss, don’t you?”
“Woman, hold your tongue,” Sandoval snapped, taking hold of her elbow so tightly she almost squeaked at the sudden, unexpected roughness. He yanked her along and pushed her roughly inside the hut, and to her alarm, followed her inside. The interior was dimly lit by a flickering tallow candle burning in a niche in the adobe wall above a pallet like the one Tess had slept on.
“Now, just a minute,” she began, beginning to realize too late she might have pushed him too far. “I didn’t invite you in—”
Chapter Seven
His dark eyes smoldered down at her, frightening her with their intensity.
“I had to come in, since apparently you have no more sense than to mock me right outside Delgado’s quarters,” he said in a low voice. “I don’t care how you feel about me,” he told her, “but don’t you think he’d be listening at the window for what you might say? You can’t take hints, evidently, so I came inside to tell you what you need to hear.”
“Oh, and what is that, pray tell?” she retorted, with all the bravado she could muster.
“Don’t think you can be insolent with Delgado, Tess. He may act the courtier at times, but don’t forget he’s an unprincipled bandit. You’re going to have to mind that redheaded temper of yours and at least pretend to respect him and his men if you hope to get out of this situation unscathed.”
“How dare you, Sandoval Parrish?” she demanded, taking a step forward and thrusting her chin out. “I wouldn’t be in this situation, as you so charmingly put it, if it weren’t for your desire to curry favor with that same unprincipled killer!” She was too angry at him to care that they were alone in this hut, and she was very much at Sandoval Parrish’s mercy.
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