flushed. It was a compliment of sorts. "You weren't really cheating?"
"On my honor." He crossed his heart. "I've never met anyone with such high morals!" He laughed loudly and fully.
"Then you must not associate with very nice people."
"The best in the Silver Valley."
"If that is true, then perhaps I should be worried." She turned from the aisle into her seat.
"Yes, definitely. You should be worried."
"I want to play dice tomorrow."
They'd just finished making their bed for the night. Angelina sat on her side of the chumming board, next to the window, brushing out her long hair with smooth even strokes.
"You can't. It's a man's game." Tonio watched her with interest, holding down the urge to grab the brush and attend to the task himself. He wondered what was so damned enticing about her, other than the obvious.
Her eyes flashed fury. "You won ten dollars. I can win at least that much."
"If you are going to insist on relying on a man and believing that you must have one to take care of you, then you are going to have to allow us our games, unhindered with your company." He smiled at her. He liked seeing her temper up. "Besides, everyone knows that betting is highly mathematical, based on odds, and women don't understand such things." He waited, anticipating her response.
"Porco cane!"
She'd insulted him by calling him a pig dog. He probably deserved it.
"I have a head for math that puts yours to shame!" She shook her brush at him.
He believed it. He'd seen her add the prices for their meals in her head, calculating the bill ahead of time and tossing in her share before the cash register was done chiming.
"It takes nerve."
"I have nerve."
"It takes money."
He had her there. He knew she had none to waste. He saw the disappointment register. His eyes traveled down from her face to where her gold necklace lay in the pillow of her bosom. It was a good excuse to stare. Her hand flew to it immediately.
"Lend me the money. I'll pay you back with my winnings."
"No."
"You aren't being fair. Part of the money you won today is mine."
"I'm being incredibly fair. That money is for train fare."
"You're afraid I'll do better than you."
"I tell you what, to prove how fair I am, we'll play a practice game to see how it goes. If you win, I'll back you with a few dollars. If the men will let you play. If I win, I get the necklace."
"No!" She shook her head emphatically. "This necklace for a few dollars? You're crazy. Name something else."
His eyes traveled to her pouting lips. "All right. A kiss." He played a dangerous game, but he had no intention of winning. She wanted to play. He'd let her, with dignity.
Her triumphant smile was not lost on him.
"I'd as soon kiss a donkey." She paused coyly, for effect, he was certain. "But I accept your deal."
"I'll stake you two dollars. The loser is the first one to go broke." He pulled two dice from his duffel. "Shall we begin?"
The game wasn't much fun with only two playing. He had a supreme run of luck, which even he had to admit to himself. Since there were only two playing the one had to fade the shooter every time. He naturaled, against all odds, five times running, bankrupting her inside of ten minutes, even though he'd meant to lose.
"That showed no skill! That was merely luck," she complained.
"Poor loser. Luck is part of the game."
"I suppose you want your kiss now." Her tone held less disgust than it should have.
From her flushed cheeks and pursed lips he could tell the idea excited her, though she tried to feign indifference.
"No, I think not. That was for effect," he said.
Her face fell, but was quickly followed by a scowl.
"When I kiss a woman, it's because she wants it as badly as I do. I don't do it on a whim of luck."
"Then you admit you were lucky tonight!"
"Maybe."
"You'll let me play tomorrow?"
She was quick on the uptake.
"Maybe." The way she stared at him made him want that kiss after all. "We'll talk about it in the morning. Sleep tight." He lay down and turned over. He felt her fuming behind him. She wasn't going to give up. He was certain of that.
Chapter 4
Twenty five dollars in coin, including a glittering gold half eagle that sent Angelina's heart pattering every time she looked at it, towered in a pile next to Tonio, who sprawled casually