Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] by Angel's Cause

to escape unharmed, and I told her about you.” Angeline paused and shook her head. “Willa would never hire someone to harm you. She’d have no reason.”
    “Why not, Angel?”
    “Like I said, she’d have no reason.”
    “What did you tell her about me? Think hard,” Gavin said softly.
    Angeline’s brows knitted together as she tried to remember. “I told her you were a friend of the family. She asked me if you were in support of the cause.”
    “What did you tell her?” Gavin’s eyes were intent.
    “I told her. . .” Angeline paused, remembering her words with some embarrassment.
    “Tell me.”
    “I told her that your cause was getting me to marry you.”
    “So she’d have no reason to feel threatened. No reason to suspect that I might take you away from her cause?”
    Angeline jumped to her feet, mindless of the way she pulled at Gavin’s arm and shoulder as she did. She released his hand indignantly. “I can’t believe that Willa would hire hoodlums to come beat you.”
    “Calm down, Angel. As far as I could learn, your friend Douglas Baker is the one who did the hiring.” Gavin got to his feet slowly, and Angeline took a step back.
    “I don’t believe you. You’re just jealous, that’s all.”
    “Jealous of Baker? Is there something there that merits my jealousy?” Gavin questioned seriously.
    “Douglas is a wonderful man, and he isn’t at all the type that needs to resort to illegal activities. He has powerful friends and plenty of money. I don’t think you would threaten him in the least. As for whether he merits your jealousy, well that simply isn’t for me to say.” Angeline moved away, unable to look Gavin in the eye. She knew full well that Douglas was more than a little interested in her as a woman.
    “Angel, I overheard one of the men say that Baker expected to get his money’s worth. The others agreed, and that’s when the man behind me stuck his knife into me.”
    Angeline turned, a look of shock on her face. Her hand went to her head. “I can’t believe Douglas would be capable of such a thing. It’s monstrous.”
    “If I can give you proof it was Baker, will you realize just how much danger you’re in and come home with me?” Gavin questioned, moving forward to take hold of her shoulders. The effort caused him to grimace, and Angeline stood very still to keep from further irritating his wounds.
    “What kind of proof can you give?” Angeline asked softly.
    “What if he admits it himself?” Gavin’s fingers played with the wisps of hair at her neck.
    “Well of course, that would prove. . . But how in the world are you ever going to get him to just come out and say. . .” Angeline refused to finish. She shook her head. “He couldn’t have been a part of it.”
    Gavin’s finger traveled up Angeline’s neck to her jaw. “Angel, you are such a good-hearted woman. So good-hearted, in fact, that it’s difficult for you to believe anyone capable of the kind of evil that lurks in the world.”
    Angeline relished his warm touch against her skin. She felt her breathing quicken and wondered if Gavin knew how he affected her. How could he? She was only learning about it herself.
    “Angel, I’ll get the proof, but you didn’t answer me. Will you come home with me when I do?”
    Angeline was so confident of Douglas’s innocence that she saw no reason to withhold her agreement. “If you can show me, beyond any doubt, that Douglas was responsible for your injuries, I’ll go home with you.” She was lost in his touch and the look in his eyes, but somehow she found the strength to add, “But, if you can’t get your proof, will you agree to go home without me?”
    Gavin grinned, his eyes twinkling as though he’d already won. “Of course. If I can’t prove what I said is true, then I’ll leave you to traipse all over the world, and I’ll even explain to your parents why you didn’t return.”
    “Deal,” Angeline said softly.
    “Deal.”
    The clock chimed