Angel In The Rain (Western Historical Romance) by Matthews Devon

Author:Matthews, Devon [Matthews, Devon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-04-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Rane hunkered on his heels and picked up a handful of powdery dead ash, letting it sift through his fingers to blow away on the fitful wind. The acrid stench of it clogged his nostrils. He clenched his jaw, trying to will away the cold rage that quickened his heart.

Fire had blackened the four thick adobe walls surrounding him. Only they and the fire pit remained.

As he looked around the gutted room, memories assailed him. Angel standing at the door. Angel seated at his table, reviling him for ruining her life. Angel in his bed... All so recent. He squeezed his eyes closed, saddened to realize nothing more had ever occurred within these walls that warranted remembering. Had his life truly been that empty?

Leaves rattling in the restless breeze sounded like rushing water. He opened his eyes and lifted them, seeing open sky where once the thatched roof had been. The new growth on a sheltering cottonwood that had been green only days ago hung limp and black.

Nothing worth salvaging remained here. Lundy’s men had done a thorough job. Thank God they hadn’t blundered across his mother’s grave. Hidden in the grove, her stone had gone undisturbed.

Resigned, Rane stood and brushed the ash from his fingers. He stepped through the opening where the stout door had once hung and walked into the yard beyond. He paused, facing the barren southern terrain, the faint trail leading through the desolate Mexican landscape, straight to Clayton Station. His jaw clenched with determination so fierce a shudder ran through him.

The road to his destiny lay before him; he had only to travel it. Angel was being held prisoner at the Hacienda, and Horace Lundy still prevailed, but not for much longer, he vowed. Lundy thought he was dead, and Rane knew when the man found out otherwise, he would stop at nothing now to kill him.

“An eye for an eye, viejo.”

Pago waited in the yard and whickered softly at Rane’s approach. He took the horse’s reins in hand and climbed into the saddle. With a touch against the stallion’s neck, they turned southward and eased into a slow lope. While the wind blew warm against his face, cold purpose lay like a heavy weight in Rane’s heart.

****

The sun was setting, and Angel’s spirits sank right along with it. Each approaching night filled her with dread. During the day, light filtered in through the inch-wide gaps between the boards nailed over the bedroom window. If she sat next to it, she could catch a breath of fresh air. If she peered through the cracks, she could watch the activity around the ranch compound. But when the sun sank below the horizon, complete darkness settled around her, as thick and suffocating as a tomb.

The crystal lamp she’d broken hadn’t been replaced. In fact, every breakable object in the room had been removed. Lundy could have given her a silver branch of candles, but he hadn’t. Was he afraid she’d set the room ablaze?

As night pressed down on the compound, light flared just on the other side of the boards.

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