Maria sat down beside him, her pulse racing. She wanted to ask him where he’d gotten the pendant. Instead she offered him milk and an apple from her bag. He accepted both. She watched his strong white teeth pierce the skin of the apple. Perhaps it was inappropriate to feel lust and concern at the same time, but she couldn’t prevent her body’s response to him. He was an exciting man.
“I asked the passengers if they’d seen my brother,” she said. “They haven’t. No one has seen a girl like Sarai, either. But I have an idea.”
“Of course you do.”
“I think she is in disguise, as a boy.”
He arched a brow at her triumphant assertion. Instead of sharing her optimism, he finished the apple and tossed the core into a nearby bush.
“We should get on the train again, and keep looking.”
“Wearen’t doing anything.”
She wondered if he meant to go without her. Why else would he be here, at the cargo station? “You can’t ride the train alone.”
He swallowed some water and wiped his mouth. “Why not?”
“You are a rich American. You’ll get robbed.”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You have me.”
He laughed at this. An ugly laugh, mocking her. “You think you can protect me? You’re a fucking beacon for men. They’ll tear me apart just to get to you.”
She didn’t like his tone. Or his words, for that matter. She wasn’t sure she understood his meaning. He sounded dismissive and sort of accusatory, as if she was responsible for the attacks she’d suffered. “What is abee-kin?”
“Nothing. Forget it.”
“You are saying that I ask for rape? I deserve this because of my looks?”
“No,” he said flatly. “I’m saying that traveling together puts us both in danger. This route is patrolled by bandits. You know what they do to women.”
“They do it to men too.”
He didn’t deny the possibility. “I’m a federal agent, trained for combat and paid to take risks. You’re not.”
She fought down a wave of frustration. They were stronger together, not weaker. Two sets of eyes were better than one. She didn’t care what he was trained for. She knew the language, customs, and territory better than he did. He’d also been shot last week, and he’d run into some kind of trouble today. She was certain that he needed a partner. He neededher.
“You are injured. I will go with you.”
His eyes darkened. “No, you won’t.”
“You can’t stop me.”
A hint of danger flashed across his features. “Actually, I can.”
She rose to her feet, irritated with his high-handed attitude.
He stood with her. “I’d kill any man who tried to hurt you. I’d take on an army for you. But I don’t want to be put in that position. Do you understand?”
She understood that he was too stubborn to accept help, and too independent for his own good. “We were fine last night.”
“We were lucky last night.”
“I can disguise myself as a man.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Only a fool would believe you’re a man.”
