My Heart Stood Still (Sisters Of Mercy Flats 2) by Lori Copeland

“What do you suppose Walker’s doing with a nun? Last I heard he had joined up with the North.”
    “I cannot read the man’s mind!” Climbing back in the saddle, Cortes spat his cigar on the ground. “There’s a band of Apaches camped out not far from here. Maybe Walker’s party is holin’ up there.”
    Butch frowned. “I ain’t real crazy about the idea of snooping around a bunch of Apaches. That could be risky business. Real risky. We could get ourselves scalped poking our noses in them Injuns’ business.”
    “Are you a little girl? We no get scalped,” Cortes snapped. “We ride that direction and wait to see who comes and goes. If Walker and the woman are there, they have to leave sometime, sí ? No hole up forever.” A silver tooth glistened like armor in the sunlight when the outlaw’s lips parted in a smile. “And when they show their faces, we greet them with hot lead.”
    “What if they don’t come out?” Butch insisted.
    “Yeah, what if they ain’t even in there to begin with? We could lose time just waitin’ here like a bunch of sittin’ ducks,” Ollie said.
    Cortes exploded. “My brain! You make it pound! If they are there, they come out sometime!”
    “If Walker doesn’t, the woman will.” Rodrigo entered the fracas. “And when she does, we grab her.”
    Butch nodded. “What about the black?”
    “We don’t worry about the negro,” Cortes snarled. ‘‘We can handle him.”
    Nodding, Ollie said, “Then we take the gold. You think Walker and the woman’s still got it with ’em?”
    Wedging a cigar between his teeth, Cortes struck a match on his thumbnail. “He’s got it. He wouldn’t let it out of his sight.” He swore as sulfur flared, searing his thumbnail before he could drop the flame.
    “And if they don’t have the gold, we use the woman for bait to get the Injun to tell us where it is.” Butch shook his head. “Once we get the gold back, we leave the three for the buzzards.”
    “Leave a nun for buzzard fodder?” Rodrigo shook his head. “I’d have to give that some thought.”
    Sucking his blistered thumb, Cortes growled. “Silencio ! Find that gold!” Reining his horse hard, Cortes spurred the animal and galloped off in the direction of the Apache camp.
    Butch, Ollie, and Rodrigo exchanged resigned looks, shrugged, and then rode after him.

    Berry Woman parted the tent flap and paused to focus on Anne-Marie. “Bold Eagle inquires about your comfort.”
    “Bold Eagle?”
    “Our chief.”
    “I’m fine. Creed?” She met the young girl’s eyes. “Is he… ”
    The young woman nodded. “He lives. Walks-in-Morning will bring your food.”
    “Wait!” She reached out when the woman turned to leave. “Has…he asked about me?” She knew the question would not sit well with the young maiden, but so much of her time had been invested in his care. She’d earned the right to know if he was concerned even a tiny bit about hers.
    “He does not speak, but you need not be concerned about Storm Rider. Soon Bold Eagle will provide someone to take you away from camp.”
    Anne-Marie’s pulse thrummed. Exactly what did that mean? And where was Quincy? She should be allowed to speak with him.
    “Where is the man who came with us?”
    “He is comfortable.”
    “I want to talk to him. He… he can take me away from here.”
    Gratification showed in Berry Woman’s eyes. “Storm Rider is an honorable man. He will arrange your departure when he has healed.”
    Anne-Marie’s thought swirled. She switched subjects. “You speak English well. Both you and Creed.”
    The young girl clearly grew weary of the conversation. “Creed taught me when he and Bold Eagle became blood brothers.”
    “Blood brothers?”
    “When my brother Bold Eagle was attacked by a band of marauders, he sought refuge in the fort where Creed was living with Father Jacob. Together, Creed and Bold Eagle rode to meet my brother’s enemies.”
    So, Bold Eagle was her brother. Imagination