Quicksilver Passion (182 page)

She looked at him for a long moment, the fear slowly replaced by confusion.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He laughed.
Gawd Almight, woman, are you blind? You may have laid both of us within a day or so, but that pup’s mine. Ain’t that a hoot? You been treasuring that brat because you thought she was Iron Knife’s, when all the time, Wannie’s mine. I knew it the moment I saw her.”

You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” Rage spread across her sultry face.
If she was yours, I wouldn’t care if she died!”

But she’s also half yours, Gray Dove. Don’t that mean nothing to ya?”

The Arapaho girl shook her head.
Waanibe cares more about her governess than she does me. You’re just trying to cause trouble. She’s not yours, I tell you!”

He might as well play his hole card now. Very slowly he came over and held his hand up in front of her face.
See that port wine stain birthmark on those fingers? It’s passed down through every generation of the Dallingers, as far back as I can remember—the mark of Cain, my Daddy called it. Now take a good look and tell me your kid don’t carry the mark of her pa?”

She stared at his hand and shook her head slowly as if to deny it herself.
She’s—she can’t be yours. She’s dark like her Cheyenne father.”

Nope.” Dallinger shook his head, enjoying the pain on her face.
She’s dark ’cause she’s got an Arapaho mama. It’s a big joke, ain’t it? You been keeping that kid because you thought she was sired by that big half-breed when I knew from the first day I seen her that she was mine. You hear? Mine!”

For a long moment, she stared from his face to his hand with the telltale birthmark. Then horror and bitterness etched her face and she swore and buried her face in her hands.
You bastard! You rotten bastard!”

Now is that any way to talk to the father of your child? It appears to me you should be grateful I’m willing to claim her.”

You don’t care about her! You don’t care about me either.”