Grace's Folly by Kathleen Lawless

Author:Kathleen Lawless
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, western, sensual
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Not another Huntfield tragedy!

All thoughts of her interlude with Dex were pushed to the back of her mind as Grace concentrated all her energies upon their return to the chateau. The horses seemed to sense their urgency. Grace had never ridden so hard and so fast in her life. As the chateau and outbuildings came into view, she listened in dread for the sound of gunfire, praying they weren’t already too late.

Ortega hadn’t come to a complete stop when, windblown and breathless, she slid from her saddle, hit the ground, and stumbled. She would have landed face first in the dirt if Dex hadn’t scooped her around the middle and righted her. She pulled away from him and started to run.

Dex caught her arm. “Let me go first.”

“He’s my father,” Grace said, jerking her arm free.

“And Marty’s my old man.”

“So we go together.”

As they rounded the corner of the barn, Grace gave an audible sigh of relief. Both men were still on their feet, circling each other warily. Off to one side stood Marietta, weeping and knotting her fingers in her apron.

“Uh-oh,” Dex said under his breath. “I get it. Damn!”

“What?” What did Dex get that she didn’t?

“Gentlemen.” Dex stepped forward, hands outstretched in a conciliatory manner.

Giordano’s agitation was revealed in his unsteady stance as, red-faced and breathing heavily, he waved a shotgun in Marty’s general direction. “A gentleman never cuckolds his host in his host’s own home, make him a fool.”

“Giordano, please. You must listen.” Marietta spoke entreatingly. “It was ever an act. I just make you jealous.”

Grace slowed to try and make sense of the tableau before her. What was going on? Had everyone taken leave of their senses?

“Marty,” Dex said. “What have you to say for yourself?”

“I didn’t know,” Marty said, shamefaced. “I never poach on another fella’s property. You know that, Dex. Tell him it’s so.”

Giordano’s gun seesawed wildly between Marty and Marietta. “Why should I believe? Him or her? I know what my eyes see.”

“Would someone please tell me what is going on here?” Grace stamped her foot for emphasis, and Giordano half turned to the sound of her voice. Dex made a lightning-fast move for the gun. Giordano jerked, and the gun discharged. Dex hit the dirt.

“Oh, my God! Papa!”

Blood bloomed bright red on the sleeve of Dex’s shirt. Grace flew across the yard to kneel at his side. He managed a lopsided grin. “Time I stopped getting between my old man and the bullets.”

“Jose, fetch my bag. Quickly. Andele!”

“Your bag, Miss Grace?”

“My medical bag, you imbecile. It’s in my room.” She ripped open Dex’s shirt, examined his arm, and breathed a sigh of relief. “You are one lucky s.o.b. The bullet barely winged you.”

“It’s a scratch. Quit your fussing.” He tried to get up.

Determinedly Grace pushed him back down. “Lie still. You could be in shock.”

“I’m telling you I’m fine. I’ve had worse scrapes shaving.”

“You’ll move when I say. And not a second sooner. That clear?”

“Aye, aye, Doc.” Dex saluted with his good hand, but he had paled beneath his tan.

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