Lawless Page 0,65
an unhealthy temper, she studied it. Surely the moon had been just as big and white in the East. But it had never seemed so. Just as the sky had never seemed so vast or so crowded with stars. Or the men as impossible.
The breathing wasn't going to work, she discovered. She'd walk off her anger instead. She'd taken no more than five steps when the shadow of a man brought her up short. She watched Jake flick away a cigarette. "It's a hot night for walking."
"Thank you for pointing that out," she said stiffly, and continued on her way.
"There's a lot of drinking going on tonight. A lot of men in town who don't get much chance to see pretty women, much less hold on to one. Walking alone's not smart."
"Your advice is noted." She stormed away, only to have her arm gripped.
"Do you have to be so ornery?"
"Yes." She yanked her arm free. "Now, if that's all you have to say, I'd like to be alone."
"I got more to say." He bit off the words, then dug into his pocket. "This belongs to you."
"Oh." She took the cameo, closing her fingers around it. "I thought it was gone. The Apache with the scar. He'd taken it. He was wearing it when-" When you killed him, she thought.
"I took it back. I've been meaning to give it to you, but it slipped my mind." That was another lie. He'd kept it because he'd wanted to have something of her, even for a little while.
"Thank you." She opened her bag and slipped the cameo inside. "It means a great deal to me." The sound of high, wild feminine laughter tightened her lips. Apparently there was a party at the Silver Star tonight, as well. She wouldn't soften toward him, not now, not ever again. "I'm surprised you're still here. I'd think a dance would be a bit tame for your tastes.
Don't let me keep you."
"Damn it, I said I don't want you walking around alone."
Sarah looked down at the hand that had returned to her arm. "I don't believe I'm obliged to take orders from you. Now let go of me."
"Go back inside."
"I'll go where I want, when I want." She jerked free a second time. "And with whom I want."
"If you're talking about Carlson, I'm going to tell you now to stay away from him."
"Are you?" The temper that had bubbled inside her when one man had warned her boiled over at the nerve of this one. "You can tell me whatever you choose, but / don't choose to listen. I'll see Samuel when it pleases me to see him."
"So he can kiss your hand?" The anger he was keeping on a short rein strained for freedom. "So you can have the town talking about you spending the day at his place?"
"You have quite a nerve," she whispered. "You, who spends your time with-that woman. Paying her for attention. How dare you insinuate that there's anything improper in my behavior?" She stepped closer to stab a finger at his chest. "If I allow Samuel to kiss my hand, that's my affair. He's asked me to marry him."
The last thing she expected was to be hauled off her feet so that her slippers dangled several inches from the ground. "What did you say?"
"I said he asked me to marry him. Put me down." He gave her a shake that sent hairpins flying. "I warn you, Duchess, you think long and hard about marrying him, because the same day you're his wife, you're his widow. That's a promise."
She had to swallow her heart, which was lodged in her throat. "Is a gun your answer for everything?" Slowly, his eyes on hers, he set her down. "Stay here."
"I don't-"
He shook her again. "By God, you'll stay here. Right here, or I'll tie you to a rail like a bad-tempered horse."
Scowling after him, she rubbed the circulation back into her arms. Of all the rude, high-handed-Then her eyes grew wide. Oh, dear Lord, she thought. He's going to kill someone. Flinging a hand to her throat, she started to run. He caught her on his way back, when she was still two feet from the tent.
"Don't you ever listen?"
"I thought-I was afraid-"
"That I was going to put a bullet in Carlson's heart?" His mouth thinned. So she cared that much, to come running to save him. "There's time for that yet." Taking a firmer grip on her arm, he pulled her with him.
"What