Part 12 (1/2)
”With the help of a scurvy rodent who can shoot.”
”With whatever help I can get. And you do believe me about the attack, I know you do.”
He shrugged.
”Maybe. I've still got my reservations, but I do intend to go into Wilts.h.i.+re with you.”
”And that's all?” she asked, horrified.
He smiled.
”Just what, Miss. Stuart, do you want out of me? Spell it out. We might need to come to a few terms here.”
”But, but” -- she sputtered.
”But you said you'd find out the truth!
You told Clara”--” I told Clara I'd find out the truth. I didn't tell her that I'd go to war on your behalf.”
”b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” Tess spat out the epithet.
”Calm down, Miss. Stuart! Such language from a very proper and genteel young Southern woman! I told you, say what you want, and we'll take it from there.”
”What I want? Well, I ... I want you to stay! Then when he sends his guns, I'll have my guns!”
”Jon Red Feather and I against a horde of hired gunmen. Mm. I should stand tall and let this man pump me full of bullets for the benefit of having you call me a scurvy rodent?”
Tess caught her breath and tried to control her temper. She lowered her lashes and counted to ten, then kept going to twenty, then started all over again because he was laughing at her.
She moved suddenly, and he must have thought that she meant to strike him because he cast an imprisoning 97 arm around her. She stiffened in his hold.
”Lieutenant, this is completely unnecessary.”
”Is it? I can't help but feel cautious around you, Miss. Stuart.”
She swore softly.
He laughed.
”Go ahead! Laugh!” she said angrily.
”And just run like a cur with its tail between its legs-when we get to Wilts.h.i.+re.”
”A cur? I thought I was a rodent.”
”I can't find words for what you are, Lieutenant.”
”Pity,” he drawled. His eyes were on her, smoke and fire.
His arm was warm and strong around her. The heat of the sun bore down on them, and she felt as if it touched her and brought a liquid rush throughout her. She could not draw her eyes from his, nor could she dispel the sudden, brilliant memory of his lips upon hers.
”We could bargain, Miss. Stuart.”
”Bargain?”
”Yes. If I'm going to die, I'd like it to be for a little more than a smile.”
She stared at him. She felt a heat like that of the sun suffuse throughout her body, bringing a rampant beat to her heart, a flood of burning red to her cheeks and a tremor deep inside her. He could only mean one thing, she was certain. If he was going to stay, he wanted her.
She should have been outraged. She should have been able to say that he could be d.a.m.ned, that her honor was worth far more than her life.
Except that. There was something that washed over the outrage 'like the deep, rich waves of the ocean. It was the same thing that caused the pulse to beat ever more fervently in the column of her throat, the thing that held her speechless. He watched her, that wry smile twisted so tauntingly into his features. He was horrid. He was awful.
He was exciting, sensual, masculine. The scent of him beguiled her, just as his arms beckoned and just as his kiss evoked feelings inside that she would never be able to forget.
She couldn't just stare at him. She moistened her lips and swallowed quickly, vowing that she would never let him know just how deeply he did affect her. ”Did you bargain with Miss. Eliza, Lieutenant?”
”Is she still on your mind?”
”Is she on yours?”
He cast back his head and laughed.
”The situation is not at all amusing, Lieutenant.”
”Oh, but it is, Miss. Stuart, it's very rich. As you might have noticed, I didn't really need to bargain with Miss. Worthingham.
If that's what you were inferring. And yet, I didn't happen to mention yet what our bargain should be. Alas, I could see it in those huge, innocent, violet eyes! He wants to sully my honor, this cavalry man. For the price of a pair of spitting Colts! Her heart beats, and she wonders-my cause! This is my cause! Shouldn't I lay down my honor and my pride, and give all to this wretched rodent-all for my cause?”
”Someone should shoot you,” Tess warned him. ”Well, you're trying to make me into a target, aren't you?
Ah, but then maybe, just maybe, I could die with the exquisite Miss.
Stuart's kiss still damp upon my lips.”
She squirmed. She did intend to slap him. ”Whoa, Miss. Stuart!” He laughed, and his arm wound even tighter against her. They were sitting like newlyweds, she thought disgustedly. She was halfway atop his lap and she could barely move.
”Lieutenant, you're squas.h.i.+ng me!”
”I'm trying to save my jaw, Miss. Stuart! Now calm down. You are desperate, aren't you?” His eyes looked into hers, and a hard note crept into his voice.
”You would do anything--anything at all that I asked. How very intriguing.”
”Jamie Slater” -- ”Jamie!”
A sharp call from Jon caught their attention. Jamie's arm fell from around her shoulder, and he leaned forward, reining in. Jon was riding hard toward them. ”What is it?” ”Company,” Jon said.
”Comanche?”
”Yep.”