have skinny red lashes and freckles. She ought to dye her hair black if she was going to look like that. Tyler tried to unclench his teeth before he made a scene.
"Did it ever occur to you, Miss Peyton, that you could already be carrying my child? Aside from protecting her reputation, that is the reason a gentleman marries a lady if he dishonors her. If we should have to get married, 1 don't want a wife who flirts with every damned man between the ages of fourteen and ninety."
Evie went pale, then gathered up her skirt and hurried toward the boardwalk. "You have nothing to worry about, Mr. Monteigne. I have no intention of being your wife under any circumstances. And you're a fine one to talk about flirting. Haven't you found the local bar girl yet? I'm sure there must be one. Why don't you go ply your charms on her and leave me alone?"
He had her hand trapped on his arm, but she was practically dragging him. Tyler had the uncomfortable feeling she had been dragging him around since the day they met. He didn't know himself anymore. He had never forced a woman in his life. He certainly never had any intention of even seducing a woman like Evie. And marriage was the last thing on his mind. So why in hell was he behaving like a jealous lover?
Shaking his head to clear it from whatever webs she had woven in it, Tyler released her hand when they reached the boardwalk. "Fine, I'll do just that. At least bar girls manage to be honest about what they want."
He stalked off, leaving Evie to dart into the hotel without him. She hoped the men from the school board hadn't been watching all of that. She didn't know what they would make of it. She didn't know what to make of it. She would never understand Tyler Monteigne if she lived a million years.
Daniel was waiting for her when she came in. She would have to find something for him to do besides sitting in his room and reading all day. Nanny had forced him to accompany her on all her rounds, but Evie wouldn't be in a position to do that if she spent her time in a schoolroom. But for now, it was good to have a friendly face to come back to.
"What happened? Did you get the job? What did they say?" Daniel threw his book aside and waited eagerly for her response.
"I've got the job. Don't crow yet. I was the only applicant." Evie threw off her hat and glanced out the window. Tyler was heading into the saloon. Tightening her lips, she turned her back on the window. "And I inquired about a law clerk position for you, so when Mr. Hale returns you can apply without anyone thinking anything of it. And I met the nicest man, a Mr. Jason Harding. He's on the school board. He would have taken me to meet some of the ladies, but Tyler interfered. I thought he was supposed to be riding a posse or something."
"Ben came by and said the posse caught up with the thieves. They're down in the jail now. He says they're part of a notorious gang the sheriff's been trying to stop for some time now. Pecos apparently killed two of them, and one they brought in is raging mad because one of them was his brother. This is just like reading a novel, Evie. Do you think they've got a father out there who will ride in to save his son and get revenge?"
Evie sighed and pulled off a glove. "Tyler isn't Pecos Martin anymore than I am, Daniel. He's just a Natchez gambler with time on his hands. He's probably over at the saloon fleecing some poor farmer right now. I'm sorry I ever let you think he was anything else."
Daniel looked momentarily deflated, then threw Evie a shrewd look. "You wouldn't be saying that just because you're mad at him, would you? I know he doesn't look like the description in the book, but you've got to admit he's awful handy with his guns. Did you find him at the Green Door like I said?"
"I found him at the Green Door, yes, but I suspect he was just looking for an excuse to get out of a card game before the other players caught on to what he was doing."
"Tyler doesn't cheat, Evie." Daniel swung his legs over