Passionate Pursuit by Tina Donahue

stripped bare in his study, playing their wicked games.
    On their sixth evening together, he gave her a challenge. “I want a new fantasy. Devise one for the morrow. No work for either of us, remember? We have the whole day to ourselves.”
    “On the hillside?”
    He winked. “I intend to surprise you and expect the same in return.”
    “Surprise me how?”
    “Wait until morning and see.”
    The night passed too slowly, Beatriz eager to be in his arms again. As she dressed the next morning, Yolanda ran to her, cheeks flushed. “Hurry. You must go to the stable.”
    Of course, she must. Tomás waited there to take her to a new spot as a surprise. Perhaps to a pond on his property where they’d enjoy a meal, then each other. She stroked Yolanda’s arm. “Do you like making candles?”
    She bounced in place. “I do. Hurry.”
    Beatriz took a shorter path than she had the previous time, no longer worried about running into anyone. For the past week, no one had followed her to the study.
    She smiled at the morning sky, only a few clouds hugging the horizon. Flowers scented the air, birds called to each other, the wind tugged her locks in every direction. She hadn’t worn her cap or braided her hair today. No need. As Tomás had said, they wouldn’t toil this day.
    The stable was only a short distance but she couldn’t wait any longer. She broke into a run, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. No workers milled about, the same as the last time she and Tomás had played this game. Breathless, she dashed into the structure and considered trying each stall, coming upon him before he could do so with her.
    Liking such sport, she raced to the other end, thinking to catch him there.
    The horses neighed and whinnied.
    A door squeaked behind her. Laughing, she swung around, arms open.
    Rufio strode from the stall, shirt damp with sweat, mud and straw on his boots, his features icy.
    She cringed. “What are you doing here?”
    “Guess you thought the master would be here, instead, as he was the last time when you two rode off. Not likely.”
    What had Rufio done? “Where is he?”
    “My, how familiar you sound when you speak of the master.” Rage swept his features. “You always did think you was better than the rest of us. You had him send me here and ruined everything for me. No more. Now, you pay.”
    He pounced. Hand over her mouth, he dragged her into the stall.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    Tomás could barely keep still in his study, eager to begin his day with Beatriz. Minutes before, he’d sent for Yolanda and awaited her now. Better to have the child, rather than him, go to the servant quarters to tell Beatriz where she had to be in order to learn his newest surprise. One he’d worked on for days.
    Once she saw what he’d prepared, she’d surely come up with a delightful fantasy for them to engage in.
    Light footfalls sounded in the hall. A young girl, no doubt Yolanda, stopped in the doorway to his study, cheeks flushed, mood expectant.
    He gestured her into the room. “I have a task for you. Can I trust you to carry out what I ask?”
    “Sí, Patrón. I would never fail you.”
    He liked her eagerness and lack of guile. Nuncio could take lessons from her on how a servant should behave. “I need you to deliver a message to Beatriz. I understand the two of you are friends.”
    “We are. The only one I have left.”
    He wasn’t certain what she meant and didn’t have time to ask. “As her friend, I want you to keep this message a secret from everyone else. Can you do so?”
    “I already have twice.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Last week I told her to go to the stable as Señora Cisneros said I should. A few minutes ago, I did the same.”
    “Did the same what?”
    “Told Beatriz to go to the stable. I told none of the servants, just as you wanted.”
    “Just as I…” He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    She pulled in her shoulders. “You wanted me to give your message to Beatriz a few minutes