Bandit Love

"Sweet señorita, what man with a heart and eyesight could resist

falling in love with so beautiful a woman?" he responded. "Perhaps I

shall fall in love with you myself and refuse to surrender you, no

matter how great a ransom is offered. For years I have been seeking my

ideal, but not one of the many women I have captured in my time pleased

me enough to make me wish to keep her. You may be different."

Before Myra could find words to reply, the car came to a sudden stop,

the door was flung open and a gruff voice growled out a question in

Spanish which Cojuelo answered in the same language.

"We will alight now, señorita, and take a little riding exercise," he

said to Myra. "I know you are an expert horsewoman, for I was near you

this morning when you were riding with Don Carlos, and I know you will

have no difficulty in sitting a mule although you are not in riding

dress. Only mules can negotiate the paths that lead to my mountain

nest. Come!"