Quicksilver Passion (68 page)

Al frowned.
But if she’s there alone, she’ll be afraid—”

She’s not alone,” Doc said.
The third partner is there with her.”

Al took a sip of his bitters.
Partner? Who’s that?”

You met him,” Doc said, lighting a cigar,
you know, that big half-breed who was in here the other night—Cherokee Evans.”

The images that came to Al’s mind were even more horrible than Silver being lost in the snow.
You mean to tell me Miss Silver’s trapped in a cabin with that big ’breed . . . alone? No one else there?”

Doc looked at him, then looked away.
That’s about the size of it, Al.”

Silver thought it was the longest afternoon she’d ever spent. Most of the time, she kept her face to the wall and pretended to be asleep when the big half-breed bent over her. But she felt him pull the blankets up gently around her shoulders, tuck them in, and brush her hair from her eyes. Each time, her mouth went so dry from fear, it was all she could do to keep from protesting. She was certain that he meant to crawl into bed with her, but he didn’t. When she sneaked a look at him, he sat before the fire, staring into the flames, a lonely and solitary figure.

At dark, he brought her some broth he’d made, apologizing that it wasn’t too good. Then as he prepared to go to bed, he paused at the window.
Looks like it’s quit snowing, but the drifts are bad. We may be here alone for several days before a rescue team can make it this far.”

You don’t need to sound so damned happy about it,” she snapped at him.

Look, lady, my old partners are out in that somewhere, maybe even frozen to death because you were foolish enough to be up here trespassing on our claim.”

That gave them the right to shoot me?”

Okay, so it didn’t,” he conceded,
but you might give some thought to poor old Willie and Bill.”