Wild Star Read Free

his beautiful bay stallion, Espada, and dismounted gracefully. Gabriel was twenty-one, not much taller than Byrony, his hair and eyes as black as a moonless night. His even teeth glistened white against his tanned face.
    Like other rich Californios, Gabriel was dressed flamboyantly, his black pants belted at his waist by a colorful red silk sash, his black vest sewn with gold buttons. His black boots were of the finest leather, and his white shirt embroidered with gold threads.
    “Como está?” he asked lazily, grinning at her. He saw a flicker of pain in her fine green eyes, but didn’t understand it. It was gone before he could question it.
    “I am fine, Gabriel,” she said. “I haven’t seen you for a week. What have you been doing?”
    Gabriel flexed his sore arms. “Working the new horses,” he said. “Tough brutes. And you, Byrony, what have you been doing?”
    Gabriel’s father didn’t realize that his son spoke perfect English, a fact that would have enraged him. Nor did his father know that he was seeing a gringa , the daughter of a man he considered a fool and a loudmouthed bully. But Gabriel couldn’t stay away from her. She was fresh, sweet, and so lovely it made him ache. He was so busy gazing at her, wondering how her flesh would feel beneath his fingers, that he scarce heard her reply.
    Actually, Byrony uttered something inane and shrugged. Gabriel had followed her here to her private refuge some months ago, and now he seemed to know when she would ride out here. She didn’t really mind, for she liked him. He seemed kind and he loved to jest and laugh. He was a relief from the oppressive atmosphere in her home.
    “You are quiet today, niña ,” he said as he looped his stallion’s reins over the saddle pommel. He took a step toward her and was appalled when she shrank back. “What is the matter, Byrony? You act as though I were a bull ready to attack you.”
    It was so apt that she nearly laughed. “Forgive me, Gabriel. I guess I’m just a bit nervous today.”
    He frowned, wondering as he had many times before what was in her mind. She turned away to gaze out over the desolate landscape, and his eyes were drawn to her breeches. How his mother would screech at the sight of a girl so garbed. Her loose white shirt was momentarily flattened against her breasts by a gust of wind, and he swallowed. After the last time he had seen her, he’d been so filled with a man’s physical ache that he’d gone to a whore in San Diego. But it wasn’t the same thing.
    He’ll guess something’s wrong if I don’t say something normal, Byrony thought. “Tell me about the new horses, Gabriel,” she said.
    And he did.
    The afternoon passed in pleasant conversation. Gabriel spoke of his family, and Byrony found she hungered to hear how pleasant life could be. Had it really been only six months since she’d left Aunt Ida’s house, her dear, fussy aunt who’d given her a home and love? And kept her away from men of all ages. She wondered briefly if Aunt Ida, spinster, had believed all men to be like her sister’s husband. Not that she’d ever said anything against Madison DeWitt, or any other man for that matter. But she’d never said anything positive either. Byrony brought her wandering attention back to Gabriel who was speaking of his own mother. Doña Carlota, Gabriel’s mother, was a laughing, gay woman, plump and loving, who adored playing tricks on Gabriel’s father. His brothers were fun-loving and hard workers at the rancho Los Pinos, and his youngest sister, Blanca, was silly, petted, and beautiful.
    Gabriel was telling her about the festivities of the past Christmas when Byrony suddenly jumped to her feet. “Oh, my God. It will be dark very soon. My father—I must go, Gabriel.”
    “I will accompany you home, Byrony,” he said as he gave her a foot up.
    “No.”
    She was clammy with fear, and felt sweat begin to trickle down her sides.
    “Of course I will,” he said calmly, and turned