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ache from the tension they d been under.
He rolled over and looked down at her. He d tossed her glasses onto the bedside table when they d
ended up here. Her long blond hair was tangled around her flushed face. Her big, green eyes were
wide and curious.
He pushed the tangled hair away from her cheek and the corner of her mouth. You re improving.
She sighed heavily as she stared up at him. Her eyes were accusing.
I know. It s all my fault, he murmured. He bent and kissed her softly. I sowed my wild oats a long
time ago. I m not usually so easy to arouse.
She wanted to comment that his wild ride avoiding the police might have had a hand in his loss of
control, surging adrenaline making him vulnerable, but she didn t dare.
You could have said no, he pointed out.
No, I couldn t, she said in a conversational tone. You wouldn t stop kissing me long enough.
He shrugged his broad, darkly tanned shoulders. Muscles rippled there, where one of her hands was
resting. It s addictive.
She knew it was addictive. She couldn t refuse him. It was worrying, when she d been afraid of men
for most of her life and singularly unattracted to just about every man she d ever known. Then here
came this farm worker and she couldn t get out of her clothes fast enough. It was demeaning, in a
way.
Do I detect the sound of mental flogging? he asked.
She bit down hard on a laugh that escaped anyway. You can t expect me to be proud of the way I react
to you, she pointed out. I was happy with my life until you came along and totally uprooted it.
He traced her thin eyebrows with his forefinger. I have noticed your lack of restraint, he
commented with amusement. His eyes met hers in the dim light of the room. We ve doubled our
chances of producing a child.
I did notice.
What do you suggest that we do about it? he persisted.
It was a question she didn t want to answer. In fact, she didn t know how to answer it. Part of her
wanted the child. Another part was scared, not only of having a child but of the hidden Rodrigo, the
drug dealer who might end up in prison. Worse, she might be instrumental in helping to put him there.
She d witnessed him leave the warehouse in the company of Castillo, running from a police car.
She d have to testify.
While she was struggling with that question, the theme song from the Mexican soccer team, from the
World Cup in 2006, blared out from somewhere on the floor.
Damn! he breathed softly.
He got out of bed, gathering up his slacks. He dug into the pocket and answered it. Yes?
There was a long pause.
I know, he added.
There was another pause.
He d better hope he can outrun me on the way to the border, he replied. You can tell him I said that.
Yes. I ll talk to you later.
He closed the phone. Distracted, he dressed quickly and gathered up her clothing, dropping it onto the
coverlet which she d pulled up over her body.
He paused at the head of the bed and stood just looking at her. When things settle down around here,
we re going to have a long talk.
About what?
He sighed. I don t really know. But if there s a child, you know we have to make decisions.
That would be a very long shot, she lied. I ve had no symptoms of pregnancy.
He felt oddly disappointed, but he knew it was for the best. The last thing he wanted was to be tied to
this woman for the rest of his life by a child he wouldn t be able to deny. Even though he wanted a
child very badly, Glory was, frankly, not the sort of woman he d want for its mother. He thought of
Sarina and he felt sick all over. It was almost like commiting adultery, he reflected. He felt guilty.
That s good, he said after a minute. He hesitated. I never meant this to happen.
I know. Neither did I.
He reached down and brushed his mouth gently over her damp forehead. You were right about one
thing.
What thing? she asked.
I was jealous, he confessed.
He opened the door and pulled it shut behind him with quick finality.
Glory lay in the soft semidarkness thinking how easily she walked into traps of her own making.
9
THE NEXT DAY, GLORY was still flogging herself for the night before. She had to stop letting
Rodrigo walk up on her blind side. She was almost certainly pregnant. She needed to talk to a doctor
before she was too advanced and see just how much of a risk she would be taking if she decided to
have the baby. The longer she felt the symptoms, the more attached she became to the tiny thing
growing inside her. She wanted it with all her heart, regardless of the complications it would mean to
her physically, as well as to her job.
Meanwhile, she noticed that Consuelo was oddly nervous. She kept pulling out her cell phone and
checking to make sure it worked. In between, she worked with some distraction, once even forgetting
to put sugar in the fruit they were canning.
What s wrong? Glory asked gently. Is there something I can do to help?
The older woman looked at her oddly. She grimaced. I wish I had known someone like you many
years ago, she said enigmatically. It seemed that the whole world turned against me. I had nobody
who even offered help.
Glory smiled gently. You know I d do anything I could for you.
That, strangely, seemed to make the older woman even more uncomfortable. Her teeth clamped tight.
Thank you, she said tightly. But it s too late.
Before Glory could ask another question, Consuelo s cell phone rang. The woman almost popped it
into the boiling fruit as she fumbled to open it. ¿Sí? she said at once. She listened, winced, glanced
at Glory and winced again. ¿Lo es absolutamente necesario? ¿Estás seguro? She hesitated, listened,
and finally said, Sí, again and hung up.
It s something bad, isn t it? Glory asked quietly.
Yes, came the reply. Consuelo dried her hands and took off her apron. She wouldn t meet Glory s
eyes. I have to go out, just for a few minutes, to the store for& for more supplies. You can manage
here alone, yes?
Of course. Glory took Consuelo s place at the stove, stirring the fruit. She forced a smile that she
didn t feel. Something was very wrong, and Glory was almost certain it had to do with herself. Don t
rush. I ll be fine.
The older woman flashed her a look of utter horror. You& you be careful, okay? she stammered. I
won t belong.
Okay.
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