but his hand shakes a bit. How about I go in with you while Sumner and the girl cover us? The old man will do best with the horses. She can cover us from the rise. That will keep her out of the fight as much as possible, and with luck she won’t have to fire a shot.”
“Sounds good. You tell Em.”
“Not on your life. You’re the one who can cuddle up to her. She gives me looks like she’d shoot me if I burped.”
Lewt knew it was a waste of time to argue. He moved over to Em and put his hands around her waist to help her up, but he didn’t lift. “Em,” he whispered just behind her ear. “I want you to stay close to Sumner.” He could feel her stiffen, preparing to argue with him, so he hurried on. “If it comes to a shoot-out, I need to know you’re close to him and can take care of you both. I’ll get Duncan. If he’s hurt I may have to carry him, and I don’t think you could do that. Wyatt’s a fighter. He’ll blast away and be fine if we’re attacked. I won’t worry about Sumner if I know you’re keeping an eye on him.”
He could feel her debating and knew she’d as soon fire up at him as go along. She’d come to save Duncan, not hold the horses or provide cover if something went wrong.
He kissed the spot just below her ear, hoping a change of subject might settle her. “When this is over, I’m coming for that kiss. It may be the only one you give me, so I plan to make it last.”
Moving his hand around her, he brushed the side of her breast, hoping to distract her. She felt so soft beneath her shirt that he almost forgot his own name, and he realized his plan was backfiring.
“I’ll watch Sumner,” she whispered as she shot into the saddle without his help. “I’ll also be close enough to cover your lying, no-good hide. Now, Mr. Gambler, I’ll thank you to keep your hands off me.”
Her words were so cold they shocked him. He fought down an oath and climbed on his horse. As they rode through the night he tried to figure out how a woman could run so hot one minute and so cold the next. She could cut him to the bone with her words and make him feel on fire with her kiss. He didn’t know if she was crazy, or if she’d driven him over the edge.
By the time they were within sight of Three Forks, Lewt decided he should marry her and keep some other poor soul from going mad. Any man who married her would need armor to survive a year.
CHAPTER 28
DUNCAN DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS, BUT THE candle had burned low, telling him Ramon would unlock the door soon. The guard would send Anna out to the kitchen to start the fires and stare at Duncan for a while.
They no longer talked. Duncan couldn’t pretend not to hate the huge man with his ugly face and worthless arm that swung at his side when he constantly shifted, like some huge animal looking for footing.
Standing slowly, Duncan tried not to make a sound. He dressed, watching Anna sleep in the candle’s glow. He had to get her out of here. It meant more to him than his own life. He’d watched her carefully. Though she never spoke, there was an intelligence about her that surprised him. Everyone treated her like a slow-minded child, but he noticed method to her actions.
He stepped away from her, faced the door, and began practicing pulling his Colt from leather. He wanted to shoot Ramon the moment he opened the door, but that would draw too much attention. If he could somehow get the big man down, dead or unconscious, maybe he’d have a few minutes of time to slip out before anyone noticed. He also had to keep Anna near, for there would be no time to look for her.
When he moved the chair behind the door, he glanced at the bed and saw her staring at him. Fear danced in her dark eyes along with the firelight.
“It’s time,” he whispered.
She nodded once, understanding.
He motioned toward her clothes, but she didn’t move. Crossing the room, he held out his hand and waited.
Slowly, she laid her hand in his and let him tug her toward her stack of