Adrian couldn't believe how happy he was to see the mayor's son. Even the expression on Nicolette's face let Adrian know she was happy, too.

"Eugene," she said in surprise. "What are you doing—"

"Don't try to pour sweetness on me, Miss McFarland. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Adrian heard the man just fine, but the man's girlish voice wasn't loud enough. He needed to do something to make the mayor's son angrier so that more people would hear what was going on and come running.

"I beg your pardon." Adrian moved in front of the other man, crossing his arms as he glared at the other man. "You have no business talking to Miss McFarland in that tone of voice. Apologize now."

Eugene's jaw dropped as he met Adrian's gaze. The man adjusted his Stetson on his blondish-brown hair as he straightened his shoulders.

"I have every right to speak to her like that." Eugene lifted his chin. "I was courting her, but believe me," he looked up at Colette, "I won't be making that mistake again."

Nicolette pursed her lips and batted her eyelashes quickly as if she was trying not to cry, but Adrian knew her well. She was a good actress.

"How could you say that to me?" she said loudly in a tearful voice.

"I can't believe you'd allow this man to touch you so personally." Eugene challenged Adrian with a glare of his own. "Do you not care about the spectacle you're making here in the middle of town? Don't you care that your father and her aunt will never be able to hold their heads up in public again?"

Adrian grasped Eugene by the lapels of his jacket and jerked him forward. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"That's enough." Hugh jumped down and rushed to Adrian as he tried to peel his fingers off the mayor's son's jacket. "Just leave the man to his wounded heart so that we can be on our way."

Hugh would get in the way, Adrian knew it. He needed to cause more mayhem to the already fueled heartbroken beau. He quickly stomped on the man's foot. Eugene released a girlish scream and hopped backwards. The man's face reddened and grew with anger.

"Why you..." Eugene limped back toward Adrian with fists flying.

Adrian wanted to laugh. He never knew Dickson had this kind of fight in him. However, it made for a great show. People were now coming out of their shops to watch.

Playing along, Adrian brought up his fists and swung a few times, purposely missing, of course. He didn't want to injure the poor man any more than he already was. Eugene would never forgive Nicolette for embarrassing him so badly, and in public, no less.

"Stop it!" Nicolette screamed and jumped off her horse, rushing in between Adrian and Eugene. "There is no need for fisticuffs. What's done is done." She moved and stood in front of Eugene. "I'm sorry for everything. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Eugene's lips trembled as though he was trying not to cry. "Do you honestly prefer this man over me? Don't you remember what torture he put you through as a child?"

"Eugene," she placed her palm on his chest, "it's not what you think."

"Bah! It's exactly what I think." He pointed toward Adrian. "I saw his hands on your leg." Eugene's gaze dropped to her trousers. "And why in all that's holy would you be seen dressed like this with another man?"

"Oh, Eugene. Forgive me." She threw her arms around his neck and lifted up to press her cheek against him.

Adrian figured he knew what she was doing, and when Hugh stepped toward her to pull her away, Adrian yanked on the brawny man's arm and shook his head.

"Let her say her goodbyes to him. The poor man deserves it."

The moment Eugene and Nicolette pulled away, Adrian noticed a different expression on the man's face. His eyes were wide and his face had lost a little color. Eugene's gaze jumped from her to Adrian before moving to Hugh. It was obvious the mayor's son's mind was trying to figure out what she had just told him.

"I... I..." Eugene took several steps away from Nicolette. "Don't ever talk to me again." He turned and limped quickly back toward the bank.

Nicolette sighed and turned toward Adrian. She shrugged. "I'm sorry that had to happen."

"Get back on the horse. Now!" Hugh growled before moving to his horse and mounting.

Adrian stepped behind Nicolette as they reached the horse. He assisted her up on the horse before climbing on behind her. He reached around her to take the reins, purposely leaning against her and pressing his mouth to her ear. "Did you tell him?"

Slowly, her head nodded.

Adrian shifted in the saddle and urged the horse into a trot, keeping up with Hugh. He sighed, but didn't dare get too hopeful yet. If Eugene didn't do anything with what Nicolette had just told him, nothing would get accomplished, and their small caravan would travel all the way to Saratoga Springs for no reason whatsoever. If that happened, and Hugh discovered Adrian had been lying this whole time, both he and Nicolette would die. He couldn't let that happen.

* * * *

The sun finally made its dip into the sky, bringing orange and blue colors in the horizon. They had only stopped a few times, and with each mile away from home, Nicolette's heart sank in dread. She'd whispered in Eugene's ear that she and Adrian were being kidnapped. Before pulling away from Eugene, she asked him to get the sheriff.

Yes, most of the day had passed, and nobody had come after them. That told her that Eugene didn't believe her. Either that or the sheriff didn't believe Eugene.

Now, she and Adrian needed to figure out another way to get away from these madmen. They obviously believed Adrian could take them to the buried treasure, and she knew Adrian was just leading them along to gain the upper hand. Well, soon, they wouldn't have that upper hand anymore. That thought scared her to death.

Off and on throughout the day, Adrian had rubbed her thigh or kissed her cheek, giving her encouraging words to lift her spirits, but the only thing that made her feel safe was knowing that he was with her. He had tried to get Hugh to leave her in Woodstock, and that would have probably been a good thing, yet, she hadn't wanted to leave Adrian's side. For some reason, she thought she could help him. Apparently, the caregiver inside her doesn't ever leave.

She moved her gaze across the wildflowers and weeds as they traveled the road toward Saratoga Springs. She recognized many of the plants and flowers, since some of them helped with her medicines for the animals. The Chamomile plant was thick through this area. She'd used that many times to put the animals under while she repair a leg or performed a minor surgery.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head, and she wanted to grin like a kid in a candy store. Instead, she bit her bottom lip, trying not to show her excitement. Slowly, she leaned back against Adrian. He kissed the side of her head.

"Are you all right, sweetheart?"

Her heart softened from his endearment. "I'm hungry," she said in a low voice. "We need to convince Hugh to camp right here and make us some food."

"Right here?"

"Yes. I think God just gave me an idea."

His arm tightened around her waist. "I'll do anything you want."

He pulled on the reins, stopping the horse. Just as Hugh glanced back at them, she clutched her stomach and moaned. Hugh narrowed his gaze and urged his horse toward them.

"What's wrong with her?"

"My stomach... is sick." She moaned louder.

"I think she needs food," Adrian said. "She hasn't eaten a decent meal since this morning."

Howell stopped his horse beside them. "Yeah, I'm kinda hungry, too."

"Me, too," Lloyd said behind Howell.

"No, we keep riding." Hugh gave a determined nod.

Nicolette faked a gag as she leaned over the horse. The other men cringed.

"I'll make us something to eat," Adrian said, "but she really needs to have food in her stomach."

"Fine." Hugh grumbled and dismounted. "I've got some canned beans and a pan."

The leader found a spot nearby and the other men gathered firewood. Adrian lifted Nicolette in his arms and carried her to where they were building the fire. She continued to act sick and weak. As Hugh opened the can and poured it in the pan, Nicolette pointed to the daisy-like plants close by.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Adrian asked.

"Pick those. They will help my tummy."

Hugh scowled and looked at the plant. He shook his head. "Flower? You think flowers are going to help you?"

"They'll help us all," she said breathless. "That plan will give us strength and keep us awake from our long journey tonight."

Lloyd stretched his arms above his head, yawning. "Yeah, I think that might be a good idea. I'm feelin' tired, m'self."

"Then go pick some," Hugh griped and returned to the can of beans.

Within the next half hour, Nicolette showed the men how to chop up the Chamomile into tiny pieces. She then sprinkled them in the beans. It didn't take long before they were all eating. Hugh purposely gave him and his men more than he gave to her and Adrian. She silently communicated with him not to eat the beans. Thankfully, he read her mind and only appeared to eat them, just as she was doing.

After the men ate their portions, she leaned against Adrian. He wrapped an arm around her to hold her up.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yes." She smiled up at him.

He winked. "Then I do, too."

The three men sat together and talked. Their voices were low as if they didn't want her and Adrian hearing. That was all right with her. She needed to keep them sitting down close to the fire in order for the herb's effect to kick in. Soon, the threesome would be snoring and in a deep sleep.

"What's that plant going to do?" Adrian whispered in her ear as he nuzzled his face against her neck.

Tingles of delight ran through her, making her sigh. "Soon, they will all drift off to dreamland."

Adrian's body shook with silent laughs. "I can't get over how incredibly smart you are."

She pulled back enough to gaze into his eyes. "I've learned a lot over the years. The books I've read to prepare me to become a Veterinarian are priceless."

"I feel worthless next to you. I should be the one rescuing you, but so far, you've thought up everything to cause problems in their plan."

She shook her head. "No, it was you who gave me the ideas."

He cupped her chin, stroking the pad of his thumb over her skin. "The more I get to know you, the better I like you."

She smiled. "And the more you like me, the more I..." She stopped herself. Was she really just about to confess what her heart had been telling her all day today?

"What?" he whispered. "The more you... love me?"

Her heartbeat quickened and raced with excitement. It seemed they had been reading each other's thoughts all day today. "Yes. The more I love you."

His grin stretched wider. "Good, because I'm falling in love with you, too."

She touched his head, moving her fingers through his hair. "Do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?"

He nodded once. "Probably just as much as I want you to."

"We really need to help them fall asleep, so that we can have a private moment together," she whispered.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Would you sing a song with me?"

He arched an eyebrow. "A lullaby?"

"Yes."

"Let's do it."

She started singing first, and he joined right in. She scooted closer to him and faced the fire as his arms wrapped around her waist. As a young girl, she couldn't remember ever hearing him sing, but as he repeated the words to the well-known song, she wanted to sigh. His voice was amazing. She could listen to him sing all the time.

Hugh and his thugs turned and watched them. Pretty soon, one of them started singing along. The man's off-key tone would have the wolves howling soon, she just knew it, but she mustn't stop him. Already she could see the Chamomile working as the men's eyelids began to droop.

She and Adrian kept singing until all three men dropped to the ground in a deep sleep. As the song ended, they both waited and watched. She felt that the men were already entering dreamland.

"Can I kiss you now?" Adrian asked.

Giggling softly, she turned in his arms and leaned into him. "Yes, but make it quick. I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Anything you wish, my love."