All the children’s eyes grew wide. One little girl gasped. This was not the reaction Nash had expected. He assumed they knew the merciless man Lucinda had worked for.
The boy stepped closer. “What is your name?”
“Nash Burke.”
Gasps circled the group of children, and some lost coloring in their face.
Nash gulped as ice ran through his veins. Obviously, his uncle had visited already. Why else would the children give him this reaction?
“Is she here? It is most important I speak with her.”
“She does not want to talk to you,” snapped a girl who couldn’t have been much younger than the first boy.
Nash scrunched his forehead. “What do you mean? She was my friend. I loved her like a mother.”
The boy turned to the children and whispered something, then they scattered, running in all directions. Nash’s heart clenched. Something was not right.
He cleared his throat. “May I see her, please? It is most important.”
The boy shook his head. “You are not wanted here.”
Anger surged through Nash. It wasn’t in his nature to hurt a child, but he was most tempted to turn this one over his knee and show him some manners. Squaring his shoulders, Nash walked to the gate and opened it.
“Forgive me, but I insist on speaking with an adult.”
The boy ran to him and yanked on his jacket. “Please, Mr. Burke,” he whispered. “If she talks to you, she will die.”
“Why will she die?” Nash asked.
“Because that mean man will kill her.”
Nash didn’t need to ask whom the child spoke of. This had Uncle Matthew’s signature all over it. Squatting to the boy’s level, Nash lowered his voice. “Is that man watching now?”
“No, but he knows everything.”
Nash nodded. “What if you give Lucinda a message for me? Tell her I need to speak with her. Tell her I will return after dark and go to the back door.”
Tears welled in the boy’s eyes. “Will that man kill her?”
Nash tousled the boy’s hair as he stood. “No. I will not let her die. I promise.”
A weak smile crossed the lad’s mouth. “Then I will tell her what you said.”
Giving the boy a nod, Nash turned and walked away from the house with Maxey by his side.
Maxey tugged on his sleeve. “Nash? How can you protect her?”
“For those eyes watching, we will leave town, but after dark we will sneak back. I will not let my uncle’s men touch her. That kind, selfless woman has done nothing but befriend me and treat me like a son.”
He peered at Maxey, whose expression twisted as pain touched her face.
“What worries you?” Nash asked.
Maxey blinked and shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Something has.”
“I’m worried about all of this. What if you can’t find the ring?”
