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Guy smiled. “I would do anything to keep you safe, you must know that.”
Mr. Huxley chuckled dryly. “How noble of you,” he said. “We both know you are only interested in Miss Locke for the same reason I am. It is all about the money.”
“That is not true.”
“Phineas told me that your father was a brickmason,” Mr. Huxley said. “You aren’t truly a gentleman, and you have no right to go on acting as one.”
“My lineage is none of your concern.”
Mr. Huxley huffed. “You don’t deserve a woman like Miss Locke.”
Guy didn’t hesitate. “You are right, but you don’t deserve her, either.”
“I will ensure that Miss Locke is well taken care of.”
Guy shook his head. “Pardon me for not believing you,” he said. “After all, you are pointing a pistol at her as we speak.”
Hawthorne interjected, “I tire of this conversation. Can we just shoot him and be done with it?”
“I am not opposed to that,” Guy remarked.
Mr. Huxley moved Miss Locke in front of him with the coach at his back. “If you try to shoot me, then you will hit Miss Locke.”
Guy sighed. “You are an idiot.”
“I most assuredly am not,” Mr. Huxley declared.
“You have just challenged us to shoot you without hitting Miss Locke.”
“I did no such thing,” Mr. Huxley declared as he ducked behind Miss Locke.
Guy glanced over at Hawthorne. “How do you think this will end for Mr. Huxley?”
“Not well,” Hawthorne replied.
“I agree,” Guy said. “It might be best if we just let him go with Miss Locke and be done with it.”
Mr. Huxley perked up. “Truly?”
“No, I was just taunting you,” Guy scoffed. “I am still not sure you are going to make it out of here alive.”
Hawthorne dismounted and came to stand next to Guy. “I’m afraid I don’t have all day to stand on a dusty road,” he said. “Release the girl, or you will die.”
Mr. Huxley turned his attention towards Hawthorne. “I will pay you to shoot Mr. Stewart.”
“That is a tempting proposal,” Hawthorne responded, “but I’m afraid I am going to have to decline.”
“Why?” Mr. Huxley asked.
“Because I don’t dislike Stewart.”
Guy smiled. “Thank you,” he said. “I feel the same way about you.”
“You both are fools!” Huxley shouted.
“Perhaps, but I tire of banter,” Guy said. “Frankly, it is rather exhausting talking to you.”
Mr. Huxley brought the pistol up to Miss Locke’s forehead. “If you don’t ride away, I will kill Miss Locke,” he warned.
