Page 73 of The Outlaw and the Heir

"Of course. A woman after my own heart."

She gave a harsh snort. “I am a taken woman, happily married and faithful. Don't get any ideas."

I glanced over at her. “If your brother thought I was even remotely a threat to your virtue, do you think he would have chosen me to be your companion in these adventures of yours?"

"It does present a few reasonable questions, doesn't it?"

"Not really. Your brother knows I am no threat to your virtue...even if you have been eyeballing my 'virtues' a few times when you think I'm not looking."

I was pleased to see some color rise to her cheeks. “You know, perhaps your mother was right. You are too curious and nosy for your own good."

"That's just observant. I can't help that when Ambrose gets flustered, I tend to pay attention to what's causing it."

She rolled her eyes. “I would say he's awfully concerned about my virtue and loyalty, but that's clearly not the case, as you rightly pointed out. To trust you with my well-being and virtue is a steep order, and yet he chose a man I wouldn't have originally guessed he would trust with a bucket of water, let alone me. You really are an interesting man."

Well, trusting me with her wellbeing was certainly a leap for him, that much I would admit. As for her virtue, he and I both knew the only bed I was going to slip into was his. It would have been an entirely different matter if he thought, even for a moment, that some women were to my taste. The man might be willing to trust me with her life and health, but I couldn't think of any brother I’d met who would trust another man with his sister's virtue, especially when they were as slick and smooth-talking as I was.

Truth be told, his sister would be dangerous around the average man.

"So, why did you choose to come out here of all places?" I wondered as the horses led us through the small trail that woundbetween the rocks. "You never expressed interest in the wild areas before."

"Haven't I?"

"No, in fact, you were adamant that you wanted to travel to Rapture and beyond. Of course, you stopped when you saw the colors Ambrose was starting to turn, but I doubt that will be the last he hears of the subject."

"And here I was told men don't pay attention to what a woman says and certainly not to what they're going to do."

"And I was told women are mysteries that have yet to be solved. I've yet to find that to be true."

"I wouldn't boast of that too much if I were you. Some women like to be seen as mysteries. They think it adds to their allure."

"Women are no more difficult to understand than men. Everyone has their little oddities, their habits, their wants, needs, dislikes, dreams and ambitions, however grand or petty. We're all just people, and people aren't that hard to figure out. Just a pain in the ass to understand."

She smiled at me. “Well, perhaps that's the case, but for what it's worth, I've been including you in my prayers."

"My dear, there are far better people than me to start praying over. Especially because I have no intention of changing a whole lot when I leave here. Just don't tell your brother I said that."

She laughed. “Well, I think plenty about you has already changed. Or maybe it's that plenty about you has been allowed to come out. Whatever the case, my prayers aren'tforyou, they're about you. I don't pray for people unless their health is bad. People don't need prayers; they need help, and the good Lord helps only those who help themselves."

"Some help from their fellow man never hurts either," I pointed out.

"True, and perhaps in some ways, being brought here by my father was a good thing for you."

"Was it now?"

"I can't imagine the life of an outlaw is a particularly safe or comfortable one."

"That is a rather mild way of putting it, but yes."

"While you may not have the freedom you had before, you have safety here. You have a temporary purpose for the work you're given. You have a bed, a home, and meals every day. And don't think I haven't seen how well you get along with the other men or how my brother has softened to you."

Softened in some ways, but definitely hardened in ways I could appreciate. “All true points."

"I imagine spending your time simply trying to survive can make you a different person than if you are here, where you're safe and able to relax. Maybe that can give you a different perspective on whether you should choose to leave when you are freed."

It was remarkably close to the thought I'd had before and had pointed out to Ambrose. Being at the ranch was against my will, and I would never have chosen it, but there still seemed to be plenty of good to find in it. Elizabeth had touched on one of the biggest things, a sense of safety. Of course, I was never completely safe, or at least never felt that way, but there were degrees of safety, and this was the safest I’d been in months.

"Again, you are full of good points," I admitted as I eyed the trail. There wasn't a lot that grew in the desert save for the hardiest plants that managed to find a foothold in the hot, hard earth. Shady spots like this outcrop were usually the most rife with plant life, shielded from the harsh elements. Except the ones along this trail looked like they hadn't been having the best time lately, considering many of them were bent or broken. "A little philosophical for someone who has spent several yearsof their life having to live the practical, but good points all the same."

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