Read Online Bella's Vineyard by Sally Quilford - Free Book Online Page B

her.
    “I hate her,”
said Bella. She could not speak anymore because his lips found hers again. He
caressed her mouth with the tip of his tongue, sending an electric flame
shooting through her body. Bella’s only previous experience of kissing had
involved a chaste kiss on the cheek by one of her beaus in England, and that
was after six months of discussing the weather in the parlour. Nothing had
prepared her a man as experienced as Vance. He knew how to kiss her and exactly
how and where to touch her. She was both terrified and exhilarated by the
feelings he aroused in her.
    It was probably
just as well that her fear was stronger than she was at that time. “No,” she
said, pulling away. “We can’t.”
    Vance leaned
back and took a deep breath, leaving Bella feeling more than a little disappointed.
If truth be known, she wanted him to go on kissing her. But he was an
honourable man, and despite her disappointment, she loved him even more for
behaving as an honourable man should. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t
have done that.” He got off the horse and walked a few feet away, looking up at
the diamond-strewn sky, as if seeking some advice from above.  Bella sat in
silence, whilst he stared into the distance, seeming to be bringing his
emotions and his customary stillness back in check. “I promise it won’t happen
again, Miss Tennyson.”
    He walked
alongside the horse the rest of the way, leaving Bella to sit in the saddle.
She felt cold and alone. More than once she fought the compulsion to lean
forward and stroke his hair.
    She told herself
it was probably for the best. She knew that if he kissed her again she would
not be able to say no. Vance was a man who kept his promises. Had he not said
so? It was with sinking heart that Bella realised he would probably be true to
his word.
    When they were
just half a mile from the vineyard a shot rang out in the night.

Chapter Six
     
    Vance pulled her
from the horse, and threw her to the ground, covering her body with his, whilst
his one hand struggled to get his gun out of its holster. Another two or three
shots hit the area around them. The horse bolted, turning and running off
towards Milton.
    Vance fired in
the direction of one of the shots, but whether it found its target, it was hard
to tell. He hauled Bella up roughly and pulled her behind a large rock.
    “What’s
happening?” she whispered, suppressing the urge to cry out.
    “We’re being
shot at.”
    “Yes, I worked
that out, but why?”
    “I think it’s
likely that I’m being shot at. Obviously Milton is already tired of its new
marshal.”
    The reality of
their situation hit Bella like one of the rocks on the ground. She began to
shiver, and this time it was not a result of Vance’s proximity.
    “The vineyard is
less than half a mile away,” he said. “I want you to run there…”
    “I’m not leaving
you.”
    “Bella, they
don’t want you, they want me. So I think you’ll be safe. Just keep to this side
of the canyon, using the rocks for cover. Then fetch help.”
    “Help? Who?
There’s only May.”
    “Yes, and she’s
pretty good with a gun, and I’m gonna run out of bullets soon. So will you please
go fetch her?”
    “I don’t want to
leave you,” said Bella, torn between wanting to fetch help and wanting to stay
at his side. “What if they kill you while I’m gone?”
    “What if they
kill us both when you stay?”
    “I’d rather that
than you die out here alone.”
    Another shot
rang through the air, close enough to suggest that whoever was firing had
worked out their position. Bella and Vance ducked further down behind the rock,
but it afforded them scant protection.
    “Bella, you’re
no help to me here. In fact, I’d say you were a hindrance the way you keep
talking all the time. So please will you just get gone? Crawl to that next
rock, then the next one…”
    Even though it
hurt her to admit it, Bella knew he was right. Her being there only made