at night. But her trunk was already in here, the warm water was tempting, and her stomach demanded satisfaction. She washed and changed and answered the door when Tyler knocked.
She could feel his eyes assessing the ecru crepe de chine skirt with the lace sacque she had chosen to wear. It was the coolest thing she could find in her trunk, and the lace didn't wrinkle as much as some of her other bodices. As long as she had to wear long sleeves in this weather, she might as well look cool and comfortable. Besides, she liked the blue rosette at the waist and the blue sash that went with it. She gave him a haughty smile when he said nothing.
"Have you no insult to offer over my attire, Mr. Monteigne? Or would you care to throw in a few threats and curses first before we eat? Or perhaps what you need is a good game of cards and a bottle of whiskey. Shall we go in search of them?"
Since they were indoors, Tyler had been politely holding his hat in his hands. Now he jammed it on his head and offered his arm. "It's good to see you again, too, Miss Peyton. Shall we dine?"
Her hand trembled as she took his arm, and with a sigh, he relented. "I'm not wearing my gun Evie. If you so much as smile at a man while wearing that outfit, they're going to be all over you. You don' really want my blood on that pretty lace, do you?"
Evie sent him an uncertain look, but when she saw the laughter in his eyes, she relaxed. Tyler the Charmer was back. She knew how to handle charmers. It was the man behind the charm who terrified her. As long as she didn't have to deal with him, she would do all right.
"Red with blue is vulgar, sir. I'll thank you to keep your fists to yourself, if you would. And I'll more than thank you if you would just feed me. I'm about to expire of hunger."
"More than thank me? I like the sound of that. Let's go."
Laughing, chatting as if they were truly a courting couple, they made their way down the stairs and out into the hot sun. No one looking at them would realize that he was a gambler with an itchy trigger finger and a reputation for winning and that she was a liar and a bastard that no one wanted. They appeared a gentleman and a lady made for each other.
Evie realized her fashionable gown was altogether too elegant for the bare cafe where Tyler led her. A pane of flyspecked glass gave the room light. A glass pitcher of warm beer on the counter added a touch of hospitality. They took seats in wooden chairs at a bare table and were waited on by a youngster in dirty apron and bare feet. The food, however, when it came, was steaming hot and plentiful.
Sometime later, with appetites nearly satiated, they negotiated the uneasy path of conversation.
"You promised explanations," Evie reminded Tyler as he refilled his glass with warm beer.
Tyler sipped the liquid and contemplated the persistent woman seated across from him. He knew she couldn't be much more than twenty, but at that age he had been a man grown. The war did that to people. He wondered what it was that had turned this beautiful child into a woman so young. He'd certainly had a hand in it, but he had only stolen the last vestige of innocence. Evie Peyton hadn't been a true innocent for a long time.
"I have a foul temper," he answered casually.
"I noticed." Evie waited.
Tyler set the glass down and frowned. "What do you want me to say? Ben's my best and only friend. We grew up together. He taught me to fish and ride. He was supposed to be my slave, but he was closer to me than my brothers. They were a lot older and always about their own business. Ben's only business was me."
"So you yell at him when he gets shot?"
Tyler moved uncomfortably in his chair. "He had no business risking his life for anyone. He doesn't even want to be here. He has family back in Natchez."
The door opened and shut behind them, but neither noticed until someone kicked the chair between them. Daniel stumbled over a loose floorboard as Ben draped his long form into the chair.