Quicksilver Passion (79 page)

Sure,” he said.
The mirrored walls and the lamps on at midnight tell me how happy you are.”

My life is none of your damned business!” She whirled on him.
I don’t need you! I don’t need anyone, especially not some half-breed who is trying to talk his way into my bed!”

He looked as if she’d struck him and she was immediately sorry, but she couldn’t take back her words.

His face turned grim and hard.
I should have taken you when I had the chance,” he said.
That’s what you expect from a savage like me, and darlin’, you’re so tempting!”

He turned and went out to the shed, slamming the door so hard behind him, it rattled the windows.

At least now he’d keep his hands off her, now that she’d made it clear she didn’t want anything he had to offer. She should feel relieved, but strangely, she felt a little regretful and disappointed. She must be loco.

Silver got dressed and waited for the big ’breed to return. Maybe she should apologize. After all, he had saved her life twice.

But when he came back inside, he ignored her, staring out the window and smoking cigarettes. She had never been through such a long day.

It was a relief when, in the afternoon, he went to the window again, turned, and said,
I think I see a sleigh in the distance. Looks like you’ll be leaving. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you by making you spend another night in mortal fear of me.”

She started to say something, then wasn’t sure exactly what to say. She bit her lip, struggling for the right words, but Cherokee was already opening the door.
I’ll get your things together,” he said, and he sounded relieved to be rid of her. The way he looked at her told her that he never intended to see her again.

It appeared to Silver that half the town’s male population had come along with the sleigh.

Al looked both frantic and furious as he stomped the snow off his boots.
Are you all right, Silver? Is there anything you want to tell me?” He glared at Cherokee.

Silver feigned wide-eyed innocence.
Why, no. I can’t imagine what you’re talking about.”

Cherokee, drat his ornery hide, only grinned like a big tomcat caught with canary feathers on his mouth.

Willie and Bill had come along and she was as relieved as Cherokee to see them, reassuring them over and over that she held no grudge and was grateful that they had risked their lives to bring help. She noticed Cherokee avoided her gaze while Al and the boys fussed over her, She told the story of how she’d ended up here while out looking for a claim to buy.

Al looked from her to the big ’breed.
Find anything you liked?” he asked pointedly.

Not a thing!” She glared at Cherokee. ”I think I’d do better to invest my time and money in the Nugget from now on.

With the men jubilant, Doc declared her shoulder healing. She let Al help her into the sleigh and they all went off to town, leaving Willie, Bill, and Cherokee behind. Silver couldn’t resist craning her head one last time to look back, but the man she searched for had already turned and gone into the cabin.

So what the hell? She didn’t owe him anything except a nice reward next time he came to town. Of course, as angry as he looked, he might avoid Buckskin Joe and go for supplies to one of the other little camps in the area. Drat it all! Why should she care?

Life returned to normal for Silver. Most of the men in the Rockies seemed to drop in to make sure she was all right, and business boomed at the Nugget. Every evening she sang and danced and reveled in the adoration of the crowd. Silver shoes. Expensive gems. There was nothing else a girl could want, she told herself. But late at night, she paced in front of her mirrors, slept with the lamp on, and dreamed that a certain big man held her safely in his arms and kissed her. Gentle kisses. Passionate kisses.

Out in Mosquito Gulch, Cherokee worked like a driven man to keep from thinking about her as spring came to the Rockies. But April brought the first wild flowers that reminded him of her perfume. The brooks thawed and sang as they rushed through the mountains, and when he stopped to listen, he thought he heard her singing.

He tried not to think of her at all and lost himself in hard work on the claim. There was no future in wanting the girl who was the toast of the Rockies. All that interested her was the reassurance she got from mirrors and the reflections in men’s eyes that she was a great beauty. Whatever drove her to such vanity, he knew lay in her hidden past. He cursed himself for lusting after such a cold, hard treasure. Yes, she deserved to be called Silver.

The trio found more and more rich ore and they dared dream of becoming wealthy. Willie and Bill talked of retiring to some exotic island with native girls bringing tropical drinks while Cherokee hoped for a snug cabin hidden deep in the mountains. The old men continued to hide their pokes in the woodpile, but Cherokee argued that the dust would be safer in town.

One day, Bill winked at Willie and said,
Phash, boy, why don’t you go on into town and bank your stash? We could use a few supplies.”

Cherokee pretended not to see the wink.
If I do,” he said stiffly,
I may go over to Fairplay. I think maybe the store’s better there than the one in Buckskin Joe.”

Suit yourself,” Bill answered,
but I shorely like the stick candy Haw Tabor carries.”

If you insist, that’s where I’ll go. You two sure you don’t want me to bank your dust? Sooner or later, word may get around and you’ll get robbed.”

What’s that again?” Bill put his hand behind his ear and Cherokee repeated the comment.