“We will save the poor souls of Ca-Cross from misery if we remain unattached.”
“It’s settled, then,” Quin proclaimed. “We’ll do the world a favor. No marriages for the likes of us.”
“Agreed…”
Her voice trailed off when Preston Van Slyck swaggered toward them with a full glass of spiked punch in each hand.
“Who is that dandy?” Boston asked distastefully.
“Preston Van Slyck. He’s a few years older than you,” Quin murmured. “I don’t care for the banker’s son. He lacks ambition and takes advantage of his father’s position in the community. He is a ladies’ man of the worst sort, which is why Bowie, Chance and I escorted him off the ranch when he tried to pay Leanna a visit. He disliked being rejected.”
Boston nodded in understanding. “He reminds me of the dime-a-dozen dandies in Boston who live on the laurels of their parents and hope to seduce heiresses who can afford to pay their gambling debts and provide residences for their mistresses. Handsome to look at but brimming with false charm as insincere as the day is long.”
“You’ve just described Preston to a T.”
“Ah, so here you are, my dear,” Preston purred as he halted in front of Boston. His devouring gaze swept over her alluring figure not once but twice. “I’m here to say that you are as bewitching and lovely as I’ve heard tell.”
Boston inclined her head in a regal manner that was as standoffish as it could get. Quin could envision her in a ballroom, surrounded by panting fortune hunters like Preston. No doubt, she could spot pretentious scoundrels at a glance.
“Adrianna McKnight, this is Preston Van Slyck,” Quin introduced reluctantly.
“I hope you are enjoying our party,” she said with stiff politeness.
Preston struck a haughty pose. “I’d enjoy it more if there was more spike in the punch, but I can overlook that if you dance with me.”
Possessive jealousy stabbed at Quin—at least, that’s what he thought it was. He’d never experienced the feeling before and he told himself he shouldn’t be feeling it now because he had no hold on Boston. She made it clear she was her own woman and would do as she pleased in this new life she had created for herself and for her family of devoted employees. She didn’t need a keeper and didn’t want a man’s protection.
“No, thank you, Preston,” she declined. “Mr. Cahill and I have business to discuss.”
Preston smirked as he turned his attention from Boston to Quin. “What business is that? Charming you out of your ranch and anything else he can get away with? Perhaps you should know the Cahills aren’t the pillars of society they want everyone to think they are. In fact, I recently returned from Deadwood, South Dakota, where I renewed a former acquaintance. Someone you know well, I believe, Cahill.”
Quin frowned warily when Preston smiled like a hungry shark, then swirled his drinks in his glasses.
“In case you didn’t know, your sister works at a saloon in Deadwood. I’m sure, as one man to another, we can guess how she makes extra money. She claims she pays room and board dealing cards, but with her lovely face and enticing body, we both know how she moonlights, don’t we?”
Fury consumed Quin so quickly that he didn’t realize he’d doubled his fist, anxious to cram Preston’s teeth down his throat. If Adrianna hadn’t jerked on his arm, he would have clocked that annoying bastard.
“Are you unusually drunk, Van Slyck?” Boston asked, keeping a stranglehold on Quin’s arm. “Or are you always such an ass?”
The clean-shaven, dark-haired rake shrugged off the insult. His blue eyes gleamed with wicked delight. “Oh, did I forget to mention Leanna’s illegitimate child? Thought you’d want to know you have a nephew, Cahill.”
When Quin tried to go for Preston’s throat, Boston clamped him in a bear hug. “Don’t spoil Rosa’s party because of this pathetic excuse of a man,” she gritted out while she glared at Preston with contempt. “He isn’t worth the trouble, no matter what lies spew out of him.”
Preston took another sip of punch, then looked down his nose at Boston. “I was hoping we could be friends, but if you prefer to consort with the brother of a card-dealing prostitute, then so be it, my dear Adrianna.”
He turned an about-face, then swayed slightly to regain his balance. He downed both drinks, then wobbled off to refill his glasses.
“Are you all right, Cahill?” Adrianna asked as she peered into his murderous expression. Clearly, he’d had no idea where his