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“Ah,” he said, inclining his head “Love … for you and young Scott, then, eh?” He was baiting her He would get at the truth about the two of the had preceded her intense need to run That was the question uppermost in his mind Why had she suddenly decided to run?

She ed a finger and vehemently declared, “That is a very silly notion I would have expected it from another, but not from you Anyone should be able to see that I adore Scott but only as a sister adores a brother We have been brought up in one another’s way, you see, and it was only natural that Scott should want to rescue uardian arrived to take me off”

He was intrigued in spite of the nagging and cautious ht then, that part of this very odd tale rang true Right, so her very real guardian had for some unknown reason decided to descend upon her Now he needed to knohy she felt it necessary to run

He asked, “Ah, so this night … Scott was saving you? How exactly was he going to do that? By running off without even a change of clothing?”

She shuffled in place and uncurled her legs frouardian was spending the night at a nearby inn and would arrive to takeI have friends in town, and hed sadly “We had a plan, Scott and I, but it all rong, you see We suddenly had no ti out of the house … and then the blasted highway off to rescue whoever … and get himself shot!”

Ashton sed his laugh and attempted to look serious “Indeed, but as this plan that went awry?”

“We thought to et off early enough that only the last hour or so would be in darkness” She stopped, appeared to think this over, and looked doubtful as she sighed and added, “I suppose that was our first ht be highway’s roads” She shook her head “I should have brought un and hurried after Scott … perhaps I could have shot one of them dead”

“Er … or gotten shot yourself See you under his eye” At this point he could not help the chuckle that escaped hi look He waved this last off and said, “Sorry … but tell un?”

“Well, of course I own a gun, and I kno to use it, but one cannot predict everything, can one?”

“No, that is the trouble even with plans that have been thought out well in advance and exaether at the last minute”

She eyed hiratefully “Yes, thank you, you do understand”

He repressed his amusement, for she looked so damned serious, and said, “Well, as to that, I ht should now be put into the ree?”

“Oh, yes, but we are in a bit of a muddle, and I a as though she ht cry

He reached over and touched her fingers “There, there You aren’t alone, you and your young gallant We shall come about”

“How?” she almost wailed