Promised by Post. Katy Madison

had started about three years ago, around the time of the hearing. Was his foolhardiness just because of that hearing? Granted, he shared Rafael’s fear that the request for the land title could be denied. The treaty between Mexico and the United States was supposed to honor the established land grants, but the United States was forcing the rancheros to prove ownership.

      Two of their neighbors, men who spoke little English and whose families had been on the land for decades, had lost their claims, while an Anglo man who’d become a Mexican citizen to get his land grant and then switched his allegiance to the United States when California was ceded by Mexico had his title in a matter of months, unlike the years it was taking everyone else. It appeared that whites were much more likely to receive a patent for their land than Spanish were. But Daniel didn’t understand why Rafael was acting as though their case was hopeless. Not all the claims were denied. Besides, if it was hopeless, why bother marrying an Anglo bride to improve the odds?

      Anna watched him silently for a moment; then her chin firmed and jutted up. “I’d still like to meet him. I’d rather know what I shall have to deal with. And I’d say he’s likely to be worse in the morning.”

      With a small toss of her head, she started to step around him. Daniel caught her shoulders and pinned her against a post to the covered walkway. “You would see him at his worst, yet you don’t want him to know that you shot a man?”

      The moonlight caressed her face. His breath was sucked from his body. Her eyes glittered. She didn’t look down or away as another woman might in her place. He tried to remember he hated such boldness in a woman, but, damn, his blood thickened.

      “A thief and would-be murderer,” she corrected him firmly.

      His brother wasn’t a murderer or a thief, but Daniel struggled to keep the objection to himself. So far she hadn’t recognized him. Didn’t suspect anything beyond Rafael being a drunkard.

      “And I just think it best if he hears it from me.” Her features had a mulish cast. “When I am ready to tell him.”

      She had a point. He cocked his head, studying her. “Fair enough, but don’t wait too long or he will hear it from someone else.”

      She shuddered ever so slightly. Perhaps she had been frightened. He lightly massaged her shoulders and cursed himself for an idiot. He told himself to drop his hands, step back, but he couldn’t. Wanting to soothe her and reassure her, he stepped closer and lowered his voice. “He’s a good man—you’ll see. He won’t hold it against you that you defended yourself against a man you believed was intent on harm.”

      “He was intent on harm,” she insisted. “Someone had to stop him. The rifle fell right by Selina, and she knew that I had fired a gun before.” Another tremble ran through her. “I had to shoot.”

      No, she hadn’t needed to shoot, because in another three or four seconds he would have dragged Rafe away, but Daniel couldn’t say that.

      “He was looking right at Selina and me,” she whispered. “There were two of them and—” her pause spoke loudly of fears a lady couldn’t voice “—two of us.”

      Damn Rafael. Daniel’s stomach turned. She’d likely thought she and her friend were about to be kidnapped and then raped.

      “It’s all right,” he murmured. “Don’t think about it. You are safe here.”

      The less she thought about it, the less likely she would be to connect them to what happened.

      “This is a very lawless place,” she said.

      “No. Not usually. And I promise I will make certain those criminals will never be seen again.”

      “How?” she demanded.

      Because if Rafael had a wild idea like that ever again, Daniel would hog-tie him. But he had to reassure her in a way that made sense. “I’ll track them tomorrow. I’ll make sure they never come near here again. You’re part of our household now, and I always protect my own.”

      She turned her head sideways, and her chin quivered. Santa Maria, she wasn’t about to cry, was she? She turned back toward him and placed her hand on his chest. “Thank you, Mr. Werner.”

      His heart thudded. Could she feel it racing under her palm? His fingers tightened on her shoulders as he looked at her mouth, the slight bow of her upper lip, the cherry pink of her lower.

      He should say something, but words flitted out of his brain before they were fully formed. Then he was leaning toward her, knowing he was going to taste those lips, knowing it was wrong yet not knowing how to stop.

      “Whash all thish noishe?” slurred Rafael.

      Daniel froze. Tension screamed through his muscles as he looked over his shoulder. Rafael leaned against the door frame.

      Daniel sucked in a deep breath and then said, “It appears you will meet my brother, after all.”