Quicksilver Passion (174 page)

He needed time to think. Cherokee forced himself to stare blankly past her shoulder.
If you have to, run along. Keso will come after a while to help me.”

She got up, dressed, and put her hair in a bun while he watched her, pretending that he saw nothing at all.

Silver said,
Your stolen gold is in the Duchess’s safe. I’ll try to think of a way to get it for you.” She paused as she put on her cloak and reached in the pocket for her spectacles.
As for Jake himself, give up the idea of justice. In your condition, there’s nothing you can really do.”

Not without letting you find out I’m not blind,
he thought.
I reckon not,” he said, torn with indecision.

Silver kissed him again and went out. After he heard her footsteps fading down the hall, he got up and dressed. His sight was still a long way from perfect, but it was much improved. He began to hope the doctor had been right and that, finally, it might get back to normal.

Which meant he could deal with Jake. But not without Silver realizing he could see. His honor demanded he mete out justice to his old partners’ killer. But if he did so, he would certainly lose the woman he loved because of her vain fears. Honor versus love. By damn! What was the right choice?

Cherokee poured some water in the wash bowl and stared at himself in the little cracked mirror hanging on the faded wall. He decided then he would do anything to keep Silver—anything. Even if it meant that Jake got off scot-free and Cherokee had to pretend to be blind for the rest of his life. That didn’t sound too practical, and besides, what would he and Silver live on? He wanted to get her out of the Palace, no matter what she was doing there.

A rap at the door. He hesitated a long moment. Everyone in town thought he was blind. There might be an advantage in keeping the masquerade up—besides his fear that Silver would find out.
Come in.”

Keso entered.
Boss, it’s me.” Even though his sight was far from perfect, Cherokee was struck at how thin and ragged the Indian boy looked. Evidently he needed the money Cherokee had been giving him more than Cherokee realized. That aided him in making his decision to keep his secret, at least temporarily.

Keso, tell me about some of the other people around the Palace.”

The boy shrugged.
You mean the whores and card sharps?”

Surely Silver wasn’t working as a whore.
Is there anyone else there?”

Sure, there’s a governess.”

A governess?”

Sure, boss. She looks after the Duchess’s kid. Wouldn’t be bad lookin’ if she did something about her hair and clothes. She’s got a few little scars on her face.”