attempt?” Edward was suddenly standing across the bed from Niki, looking for an answer.
“I can’t exactly do that,” she said, meeting his look squarely.
“Why is that?”
“They’ll naturally wish to know why we weren’t robbed, and I’d rather not go into it.”
Edward nodded, but he wished there was some way to report it.
“Why is it important to you?”
“We didn’t do anything with the pistol that was left on the ground. The men are free to stop the next coach. I’d hate to see someone else go through that.”
Niki nodded. She’d had some of the same thoughts, but no solution on how to go about bringing the men to justice presented itself. At this point she didn’t feel she had a choice.
“I would be sorry for anyone put in such a position, but right now I have to think of Denley’s and my safety. All else comes second.”
Not for the first time Edward found himself asking, What is it that drives you, Niki Bettencourt? At what price have you chosen this life? He had never known anyone like her. The desperation she felt was almost tangible.
An uncomfortable silence fell between them, lasting until the doctor arrived. His command of English was poor, but the innkeeper’s young son stood by and did his best to translate. Niki found out what she’d known all along: Denley needed rest and fluids.
Paying the doctor, she took up a seat by the bed, seeming to forget that Edward was present.
“I’m going to head out and look for a room.”
Niki’s head sprang up.
“There’s nothing here?”
“No. Did you not hear him tell you this is the last room?”
Niki shook her head no, guilt swamping her for having given so little thought to this man who had helped them.
“Will you be leaving from here?” Niki suddenly asked, assuming he’d had enough of the whole situation.
“Whenever you go.”
“I won’t be out much,” Niki told him when he started toward the door. “I’ll have my meals here and keep Denley as quiet as possible. When he can rouse a bit, we’ll try to make Porto and find a ship.”
“I believe that’s the most information you’ve given me. Why the sudden trust? I could be hunting you myself.”
“You’re not,” Niki said, her head dipping as she broke eye contact.
Edward studied her bent head for a moment, the perfectly cut dark, straight hair. He thought it must be very nice when it was long.
“I shall probably be across the street. Send word if you need me.”
Niki watched him leave. He did not look back. She sat for a long time and worked to figure him out. It would have been easier if Denley had been awake and had needs that could distract her, but he was very still, leaving Niki alone with only her thoughts for company.
Edward gave Niki and Denley the rest of the day on their own. He wasn’t trying to distance himself, but she was tense with him, and the room was a little too small for comfort. Indeed there had been only one chair. They could have requested a second, but there was barely room.
Edward dined alone that evening and retired late. For that reason he slept later than he planned. After a quick shave and a bath, he made his way down to the common room but stopped short of sitting down at one of the long tables.
Standing just outside the building, a man, his clothing and looks very English, was watching the inn where Denley and Niki had their room. Edward studied him, thinking that traveling with Niki was making him paranoid, but the man never moved or altered his gaze.
Edward went ahead and sat down. He was offered strong coffee and breakfast, which he accepted. Doing nothing to hurry his meal, he took note of the fact that the man never moved from his place.
“It there a back door?” Edward asked the woman who came to refill his cup.
She didn’t understand at first but eventually smiled knowingly and showed Edward the way.
Walking ever so nonchalantly, Edward skirted the buildings around him until he’d landed himself at the
“I can’t exactly do that,” she said, meeting his look squarely.
“Why is that?”
“They’ll naturally wish to know why we weren’t robbed, and I’d rather not go into it.”
Edward nodded, but he wished there was some way to report it.
“Why is it important to you?”
“We didn’t do anything with the pistol that was left on the ground. The men are free to stop the next coach. I’d hate to see someone else go through that.”
Niki nodded. She’d had some of the same thoughts, but no solution on how to go about bringing the men to justice presented itself. At this point she didn’t feel she had a choice.
“I would be sorry for anyone put in such a position, but right now I have to think of Denley’s and my safety. All else comes second.”
Not for the first time Edward found himself asking, What is it that drives you, Niki Bettencourt? At what price have you chosen this life? He had never known anyone like her. The desperation she felt was almost tangible.
An uncomfortable silence fell between them, lasting until the doctor arrived. His command of English was poor, but the innkeeper’s young son stood by and did his best to translate. Niki found out what she’d known all along: Denley needed rest and fluids.
Paying the doctor, she took up a seat by the bed, seeming to forget that Edward was present.
“I’m going to head out and look for a room.”
Niki’s head sprang up.
“There’s nothing here?”
“No. Did you not hear him tell you this is the last room?”
Niki shook her head no, guilt swamping her for having given so little thought to this man who had helped them.
“Will you be leaving from here?” Niki suddenly asked, assuming he’d had enough of the whole situation.
“Whenever you go.”
“I won’t be out much,” Niki told him when he started toward the door. “I’ll have my meals here and keep Denley as quiet as possible. When he can rouse a bit, we’ll try to make Porto and find a ship.”
“I believe that’s the most information you’ve given me. Why the sudden trust? I could be hunting you myself.”
“You’re not,” Niki said, her head dipping as she broke eye contact.
Edward studied her bent head for a moment, the perfectly cut dark, straight hair. He thought it must be very nice when it was long.
“I shall probably be across the street. Send word if you need me.”
Niki watched him leave. He did not look back. She sat for a long time and worked to figure him out. It would have been easier if Denley had been awake and had needs that could distract her, but he was very still, leaving Niki alone with only her thoughts for company.
Edward gave Niki and Denley the rest of the day on their own. He wasn’t trying to distance himself, but she was tense with him, and the room was a little too small for comfort. Indeed there had been only one chair. They could have requested a second, but there was barely room.
Edward dined alone that evening and retired late. For that reason he slept later than he planned. After a quick shave and a bath, he made his way down to the common room but stopped short of sitting down at one of the long tables.
Standing just outside the building, a man, his clothing and looks very English, was watching the inn where Denley and Niki had their room. Edward studied him, thinking that traveling with Niki was making him paranoid, but the man never moved or altered his gaze.
Edward went ahead and sat down. He was offered strong coffee and breakfast, which he accepted. Doing nothing to hurry his meal, he took note of the fact that the man never moved from his place.
“It there a back door?” Edward asked the woman who came to refill his cup.
She didn’t understand at first but eventually smiled knowingly and showed Edward the way.
Walking ever so nonchalantly, Edward skirted the buildings around him until he’d landed himself at the
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