Tyler looked up sharply.

"If it's any consolation, she's just as miserable as you are."

"Then why in heaven's name--"

"Because of the way her father treated her and her mother. She's afraid all marriages are like that. She loves you and wants to be with you, but having gotten her freedom, she's afraid to give it up."

"Doesn't she know I would never treat her like that?"

"I don't think she's sure yet. Apparently her father swore he loved her and her mother. It's certain her mother loved him. She probably thinks it's natural for men to tyrannize women."

"If she's afraid of tyranny, she'd better stay away from that uncle of hers. He's got a nice gilded cage in mind for her."

"What do you mean?"

"He means for her to marry to his advantage, social and financial."

"Daisy is too smart for that."

"Not if she's too busy looking over her shoulder to see if I'm pursuing her."

"Then give her room."

"I can't. She thinks she's knows what's happening, but she doesn't."

"How do you intend to fix that?"

"Keep her from going to New York first."

"How?"

"I don't know, kidnap her if I have to."

A furious pounding at the door kept Tyler from noticing Laurel's troubled frown. He opened it to find Adora Cochrane standing there, her face white, her expression molded by fear.

"He's kidnaped Daisy. He's going to make her marry him, and it's all my fault." With that she burst into tears.

Chapter Twenty-eight.

"Who's kidnaped Daisy?" Tyler asked.

"Guy."

"Where has he taken her?" Tyler demanded. "When did he leave? Tell me!" he thundered when Adora could do no more than stare up at him with tears running down her face. "I've got to go after her."

"I . . . He . . . " Adora seemed on the verge of hysterics.

"Come in and sit down," Laurel said, stepping between the frightened, distraught girl and Tyler. "You've been through a terrible ordeal." She led Adora to a small sofa, sat down next to her, and patted her hand. "Now try and calm yourself." Laurel looked straight at Tyler. "n.o.body's going to rush you."

Adora hiccupped a few times. When Tyler didn't seem to be ready to growl at her, she was able to stop crying.

"Now tell us what happened," Laurel said. "Take as long as you need." A look of angry impatience stopped Tyler from interrupting.

"Daisy had asked Guy to look after her ranch. I talked her into riding out there with him. He wanted one last chance to see if he could talk her into marrying him. Naturally, I was hoping he would be successful. Daisy's been my best friend for years. I would like nothing better than for her to be my sister-in-law."

"Naturally," Laurel agreed.

"After they had gone, Papa came home. I overheard him telling Mama she was to get Daisy's room ready. When Mama asked why, Papa told her Guy was going to force Daisy to marry him. Mama said it wasn't right, but Papa shouted at her to get the room ready and shut up. That's when I came here. She loves Tyler, not Guy."

"How long ago did they leave?" Tyler asked making every effort to keep his voice calm.

"I don't really know. I lost track of time."

"We arrived at your house at half past nine," Tyler said, exasperated with Adora's inability to remember the events of just a few hours ago. "How long did she stay?"

"Less than half an hour."

"Then they left about ten o'clock. That gives them a two-hour head start." Tyler muttered a curse. "They could be in Bernalillo by now."

"They took the carriage," Adora said. "They can hardly have reached the ranch by yet."

"Are you sure Daisy said she loved me?" Tyler asked.

"She's loved you ever since you brought her down that mountain," Adora said.

Tyler headed for the door. "I'll be back tonight, and I'll have Daisy with me. Guy Cochrane will be lucky if I don't bury him alongside the road."

"Don't hurt Guy," Adora pleaded. "He's so afraid of Papa he'll do anything he wants, but he truly loves Daisy."

At least they had one thing in common, Tyler thought, as he ran down the hotel stairs two at a time and headed for the livery stable. But this time he intended to convince Daisy to marry him, and Guy Cochrane, d.a.m.n his cowardly soul to h.e.l.l, just might have given him the means.

"Daisy, you can't leave me like this. You've got to let me up."

"Why? You intended to tie me up even more securely."

Daisy led her horse out of the corral and tied him to the rail. Guy lay on the ground at her ranch campsite, tied hand and foot like Tyler had taught Daisy to tie a calf she was about to brand.

"I can't breathe."

Daisy went back to the shed for her saddle. "You should have thought of that before you tried to compromise me." She dropped the saddle on the ground and picked up the saddle blanket. "You should have realized it was useless. I was on that mountain with Tyler for more than a week. Spending a night here with you is nothing compared to that." She smoothed the saddle cloth on the horse's back.

"But you can't leave me here. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Rio and Jesus will be in by nightfall. They'll let you go."

"You can't let them find me like this. I'll be the laughing stock of Albuquerque."

"I'm not letting you up. You'll only try to keep me here until your man gets back with that priest."

Daisy picked up the saddle and dropped it on the sorrel's back.

"I swear--"

"Save your breath. I won't ever believe another word you say." Daisy put the strap through the buckle and tightened the cinch. But rather than mount up, she turned to Guy. "Why did you want to marry me? And don't try to convince me it had anything to do with love. You'd never kidnap the woman you loved."

"Yes, I would."

"That's not love. That's possession. What did you want?"

"Nothing but you."

"You're lying."

"No, I'm not. I swear."

But Daisy didn't hear his answer. She had heard the faint sound of a horse along the trail up from the Rio Grande. Her heartbeat skittered then started beating at a faster rate. It could be the killer after her again! Her heartbeat jumped another notch when she recognized the huge black horse with an even larger rider coming her way at a furious gallop.

Tyler!

The surge of happiness that shot through her put to rest once and for all any idea she had about not wanting to marry Tyler. She didn't care about his gold or her freedom. At this moment she knew the most important thing in the world was that she be able to spend the rest of her life with this man. They'd have to work something out. It wouldn't be easy, but nothing could be worse than the torture she had endured these last weeks.

"You'd better be glad I let you stay right where you are," Daisy said to Guy. "It's probably the only thing that'll keep you alive."

"What do you mean?"

"Tyler Randolph is coming, and unless I miss my guess, he's mad enough to kill you."

She tried not to be glad Guy's life was in danger, but she failed. She needed Tyler to be so furious at Guy for trying to kidnap her he would be in a fever to kill him. She yearned for him to be so frightened he might lose her he would forget all the foolish things she'd said in the past.

She decided the time for any show of reluctance was past. She left her horse and walked forward until she reached the point where the trail turned into the yard. There she waited, alone and immobile, her back straight, her head erect.

Tyler rode Nightshade straight at her, but Daisy never flinched. She was ready when he leapt from the saddle and swept her up in his arms. She was ready when he kissed her. She was ready when he lifted her off her feet. She wasn't ready when he gave her a swat on the behind. "That's for thinking I would ever treat you like your father did, even if you are the most provoking woman in the territory."

For a moment Daisy didn't know what he was talking about, then she remembered what she had told Laurel. "I never did, not really."

Tyler responded by kissing her again until she felt quite unable to stand without a.s.sistance.

"Where's Cochrane?" Tyler finally asked. "I saw the carriage track turn in and turn out again. He didn't leave you here, did he?"

Daisy wrapped her arms firmly around Tyler's neck. "The driver took the carriage to Bernalillo to fetch the priest." She nodded without looking around. "Guy's over there."

Tyler looked over Daisy's shoulder. His expression changed from fury to shocked surprise. Then he broke out laughing, the first time Daisy had ever heard him do that. "Want to brand him? I think it would be appropriate. On his back, I think. Discreet but permanent."

Guy looked horrified.

"It's best to use a cinch iron. Without hair, the brand won't have to be so large."

"Let me up," Guy shouted. "Face me like a man."

"Be glad I don't let you up," Tyler said, his humor fading. "If you are on your feet, I'd kill you."

"You wouldn't," Guy protested, not at all certain of his ground. "No sane man would."

"I'm in love with Daisy. I've been insane for weeks. I'm desperate enough to do anything."

Guy swallowed, but didn't say any more.

"Are you ready to go back?" Tyler asked.

"Yes," Daisy replied.

"What about me?" Guy asked when they mounted up.

"I'm sure your carriage will be back before long," Daisy said. "You can ask the padre to say some prayers for your soul. That way his trip won't have been entirely wasted."

"Now about this trip to New York," Tyler began.

"I'm not going," Daisy said. "I've got too much to do."

"Like what?"

"Well I've got to get my house built. I really can't go on sleeping in a tent. Then I ought to see about a bunkhouse. I don't suppose Rio and Jesus are any fonder of tents than I am."

"And after that?"

"I remember you saying something about needing to brand the new calves. Then there are dams to build, trees to plant, wells to dig--"

"Anything else?" Tyler asked, a brittle glitter in his eye.

"It seems there was some talk of a wedding."

Hen was waiting for them at the livery stable.

"You didn't think I could bring her back by myself?" Tyler asked, a tug of irritation clouding his happiness.

"This from a man who looked over my shoulder for more than a month."