Ridge bristled. “Surely you don’t condone her deception. Damn it, Robby, she lied to me. From the very beginning. She’s dragged us on a wild goose chase, one she never had any intention of ending. You should be at home, and because of her, we’re all over here sitting on our thumbs.”
Robby nodded. “I know how much you loathe being lied to, but still, it must have been hard for her. Her father is all the family she has left isn’t he?”
“She damn well could have had me.”
The words hurt as they fell, but he couldn’t recall them. He could hear the bitterness and knew Robby heard as well.
“I’m sorry,” Robby said softly.
Ridge shook his head. “She isn’t what is important anymore.” He winced at the outright lie. “What’s important is doing what’s best for you.”
Robby inched forward until he sat on the very edge of the bed. “You were going after her, weren’t you?”
Ridge nodded.
“Then we should go together. Do you know where she’s gone? How to get to the city without her?”
Ridge smiled. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.”
“Then all is not lost yet, correct?”
“No, not if we leave at once.”
Robby stood. “I can be ready in a few minutes.”
Ridge stood beside Robby and laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Robby, are you sure? This will be an arduous journey. We’re going into the mountains. It isn’t too late for us to return to England.”
Robby grinned crookedly. “Somewhere along the way, your dream has become my dream. For the first time in my life, I have focus, a goal. I want to achieve it before I die. And since I’ve been assured I don’t have much time remaining, it would be best if we make haste.”
A hard knot swelled and throbbed in Ridge’s throat. Tears stung the corners of his eyes.
“Don’t be upset for me,” Robby said quietly. “I’ve accepted it.”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
Not like he’d already lost his father. He didn’t want to lose the last hold he had on his family. The knot grew bigger. He turned away, not wanting to burden Robby with his grief.
And suddenly it struck him how India must have felt given the prospect of losing her father.
Robby put a hand on his shoulder, and the absurdity of Robby offering comfort shamed him.
Dashing aside the moisture in his eyes, he turned back to Robby. “Well then, if that’s settled, shall we head out?”
Robby smiled. “I’ll get my bag.”
###
India yawned and stretched in the saddle, trying to uncoil her stiff muscles. She had traveled all night, following Juan Miguel closer to the mountains of Castelonia.
He glanced back at her. “Do you need to rest, Senorita?”
She hesitated a moment then nodded. What was to gain by charging ahead? A few more moments wouldn’t make any difference.
Juan Miguel halted, and she slid from her horse. Her legs protested as she put her full weight on them. She walked around in a circle, stomping and flexing in an attempt to bring back the feeling.
“There is water near here,” Juan Miguel said as he claimed the reins to her horse. “I’ll take the horses. You stay here.”
She shrugged as he led them away. He wouldn’t have led her all this way if he had any intention of deserting her. Besides, she still had the bracelet.
