“We are?”
“Of course. You are Carolina’s beloved and an intelligent, brave, and practical young man. You understand that you could never fend for yourself or your sister out here and have come to me for help.”
In light of their heartfelt conversation, he’d receive that as a compliment.
“You two will stay with us,” Señor Fuentes ordered. “At leastuntil we hunt down the bastards that took my men. We will speak more of your engagement as well and where you might move after you wed.”
Lalo’s heart did a strange sort of flip inside his rib cage.
Señor Fuentes clapped his hands together, the sound like thunder rolling through Lalo’s skull. “It is settled. Pack your things. This is my nephew Jorge, you met his sister, Antonina, the night we were first introduced. He will follow your carriage on horseback. I have some other matters to attend to, meanwhile.”
With that, he marched out the door.
Jorge was a slender young man with dark brown skin and a knowing smirk. He chuckled. “I’m sorry for you, man.”
“For me?” Lalo pointed to himself. “¿Por qué?”
“I’m used to my outrageous family. But you? You’re marrying into it. You’ve got a lot to learn.”
Lalo stood there, arms slack at his sides, as Jorge sauntered off. This hadn’t been how he thought his day would go, but it was much better than dying at the hands of sedientos.
He eyed the doorway that el señor and Jorge had left through. He turned to his sister. “Does this mean I have his blessing?”
“I think you have bigger issues.” She jerked her chin toward the golden sunlight streaming in from the front door.
Lalo grimaced. His skin would blister and boil in moments. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Fernanda smirked. “Of course not, you were too busy trying to weasel your way into Carolina’s house.”
“I am doing this for you.”
Fernanda rolled her eyes. “Come on, Don Juan,” she said as she started to stroll away. “We need to figure something out. Fast.”
CHAPTER 26
Carolina
A single rider pounded upthe road as Carolina climbed on top of the saddle. She could see his broad shoulders and smirk through the dust storm his horse’s hooves created. Carolina groaned.
Rafa brought his horse to a halt.
“Thank the stars you are safe,” Rafa panted.
“What are you doing out here? Didn’t a bull horn stab you in the ass?”
His lips flattened. “The horn grazed my side. And I am fighting through the pain to search for you.”
“I appreciate you joining in the effort. As you can see, I am alive and well.”
Rafa pulled off his sombrero and wiped the sweat out of his eyes. “Why do you look as if you’ve been tumbling in the dirt? You weren’twithsomeone, were you?” He raised a brow.
She gripped her reins harder. “I am engaged, Rafa. I may do whatever I please.”
“Your father has given his approval then?”
“Lalo has my approval, and that’s what you should care about.”
“There’s something peculiar about that man, if that’s what one would even call him. He’s more of a boy, with those scrawny arms of his.” He flexed his own. “Do you know what I find strange?”
