Magnificent Passage by Kat Martin

you abducted me, leaving him powerless to help because of some silly paper!”
    â€œYou catch the door, Hawk. I’ll take her bag.” The man in black picked up the small tapestry satchel, which was all they’d allowed her to bring, and headed for the door. Travis
Langley grumbled beneath his breath and tugged her along behind.
    Mandy wondered fleetingly why Langley’s friend called him Hawk, but as she looked at his slightly Indian appearance, she decided it was a fitting name for the big bully. She was surprised he wasn’t named Bear!
    As they crossed the porch she snapped into character. “I hope I’m not supposed to ride behind one of you all the way to California.”
    â€œWe were hoping Lady Ann might meet with your approval,” James Long told her congenially. “Your father sent her to you as a gift.”
    Mandy’s gaze traveled to a dainty sorrel mare with four white-stockinged feet. The horse pranced nervously beneath its saddle, awaiting her arrival. Moving toward the mare, Mandy ran her hand down the horse’s sleek neck. She’d never owned anything so beautiful. Being a governor’s daughter, it appeared, did have some advantages.
    With James’s assistance, Mandy climbed aboard somewhat awkwardly. “Why can’t I ride sidesaddle?” she inquired, tucking her skirts up so she could ride astride as she secretly preferred.
    â€œBecause the country’s too rough,” Hawk answered. “We’re supposed to get you to California in one piece.”
    Mandy sat rigidly in the saddle. With little confidence, she was ready to begin her journey.
    From where Hawk sat, he could see a bit of well-turned calf above the girl’s booted ankle, but his face remained a mask of stone. Showing no emotion was a way of life among the Cheyenne. He was even able to control the twinge he
suddenly felt in his breeches as he continued to admire the attractive bit of baggage he would be transporting. Inwardly he groaned, wondering if the money would be worth it.

    Watching from behind lace curtains in Jason’s quarters some distance away, Julia sighed with relief. She watched the threesome ride out of the fort with no further mishaps. Jason had left to fetch the wagon and complete the final preparations for their trip. Soon they would be setting out in the opposite direction, and both were eager to put their part of the plan in motion.
    Julia shuddered with a momentary pang of guilt. The men who’d taken her cousin looked even more ominous than she’d expected. But she knew her father must have great confidence in them or he would never have entrusted her to their care. He might be angry, but she knew he loved her, though he never showed it. She breathed a little easier. It would do Mandy good to get away from her father and her life at the fort, if only for a while. Smiling, she decided it would all work out for the best in the long run, and headed back to finish her last-minute preparations.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T ravis Langley pushed relentlessly till just before dark, trying to get as far from the fort as possible. Sparsely covered rolling plains followed the broad, shallow Platte. They’d passed a number of trading posts just outside the fort, but had seen no sign of life, save a few wild pigs, for the past hour. Leaving the main trail, they headed for the rendezvous point: a grove of trees near a tributary stream the men had passed on the way to the fort.
    By the time they halted their exhausted animals, well past sundown, Mandy was ready to collapse. Her nerves were taut and her muscles ached from hours in the saddle without pause. Only the cool breeze whistling through the pines revived her lagging spirits as she sat atop her mount, her riding habit covered with a fine layer of dust.
    She sighed wearily, trying to gather her strength. She grabbed the horn and was just about to heave herself down when she felt two strong hands around her