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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Low voices murmured from around the side of the house, gaining volume as the
speakers approached. Collette glanced past John. Ethan and Mickey, who had worked
the ranch as long as she could remember, both paused.
Something wrong? Ethan asked.
Collette shook her head but Ethan was watching John.
Go back inside, Ethan said to her. It s late.
John stiffened. Tension vibrated between them. Collette hugged herself tighter,
pushed back her instinct to look to John for leave to protest Ethan s dismissal.
Mickey cleared his throat. If you two are ready to take over, I m going to get some
sleep.
We are, John answered.
75
Emily Ryan-Davis
Ethan grunted and broke eye contact.
Unsure whether she read the undercurrents correctly, Collette murmured a
reluctant goodnight and withdrew. Only after she returned to her room did she realize
she still had the bank letter and she hadn t convinced John to commit to a timely return.
* * * * *
Where did you find her? Ethan asked.
John scanned the dark army of pine trees that backed the house. In Pueblo.
Where in Pueblo?
At a faro table.
She was just there and you walked up to her.
Since lack of elaboration wasn t a lie, John left Ethan s assessment at that and
nodded. I walked up to her.
Why didn t she wire me herself?
Maybe you should ask her.
Ethan grunted. John rolled his shoulders, shrugging at the tension that stretched
across his upper back. Patrolling in the middle of the night with Ethan was low on the
list of things he wanted to be doing. His body was tired. He wanted his woman in his
arms, wanted to alleviate her fears. The grounds near the house still showed no sign of
trespass. Two sheep dogs curled in repose against an outbuilding, only lifting their
heads when he and Ethan passed. Their lack of excitement reinforced Mickey s
assessment that all was quiet.
I don t like this, John said. You re sure only three people are out at the storm
cabin?
I counted them, Ethan said drily.
John rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe we re mistaken. Could be they split up
along the way, before they got here.
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All the Women in Pearl
I ll talk to them in the morning, see what I can find out.
John nodded. As they turned and changed direction, light flickered from one of the
windows at the house. A quick count added up to C.C. s window. Her shadow passed
the lit rectangle, indistinct behind the curtains. While he watched, she crossed the
window a second time. Her arms lifted, elbows pointing toward the ceiling. He
imagined she was unwinding her hair, readying herself for sleep, and the itch to hold
her returned.
When are you coming back? Ethan asked.
An edge underscored his question. John looked away from the window. After
business is squared away.
That the same answer you gave my sister?
You d rather I gave her a different answer? John stopped walking and faced
Ethan. I don t know what the situation is. It could be resolved the day I arrive. It could
take months.
Months would be acceptable, Ethan said, if I hadn t heard the two of you
together. Now that you ve made that choice, you might not have months. What if she s
with child?
John s breath left him in a rush. He was unsurprised that Ethan knew of his
indiscretion but the lack of confrontation unsettled him. He turned away from Ethan
and regarded the pines silently. The possibility of a child had not entered his mind.
Hell. What if she did conceive?
Ethan broke the silence. You don t need anything in Trinidad. The northwest
valley
Is hers, not mine.
It s yours. Your name is on the deed now. Are you going to take her away from
here to some dirt farm without the means to earn a livelihood?
77
Emily Ryan-Davis
I was thinking, John said tightly, of assessing the situation before deciding it s
worth time and effort. Instead of dismissing an opportunity due to inconvenience.
My sister
My woman. John faced Ethan, interjecting the words with force, finally allowing
himself to push the line of relationships and possession. You can t have it both ways.
Either she s yours or she s mine. Only one of us gets to decide how to take care of her.
Push harder and I won t have any choice except to protect my authority in my
household.
Ethan snarled but turned away. If she ever has to come to mine for shelter, your
claim is forfeit. You have a week to deal with your business before I start taking steps to
protect my sister s future.
The sound of a hammer being drawn cut John off before his mouth got the better of
him. He and Ethan turned at the same time. John s hand fell to his revolver. Ethan
dropped into a crouch.
A man s voice came from the tree line. Don t move. In the interest of my sister s
future, I believe the three of us ought to have a talk.
Show yourself, Ethan demanded.
Show your hands.
John flexed his fists but reluctantly did as told. Glowering, he glanced at Ethan and
muttered, Did anybody get names from the three you apprehended?
Ethan answered him with a curse. He straightened to his full height and showed his
palms.
Lewis, John said, your sister s safe where she is.
Safety and security are different matters. Lewis form separated from the dark
tree line. He approached slowly, the barrel of his weapon shifting back and forth, as if
he couldn t decide whether to focus on Ethan or John. You reneged on our deal. One
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All the Women in Pearl
might even say you cheated. My cousin named a price. You paid. You can t reclaim the
payment and keep the goods.
If you want to take the matter to the law, we can discuss your trade in human
flesh, Ethan said. Which, in case you ve missed events of the last decade, is not legal.
Lewis snorted. Keep the land and the bitch. I don t want either. I do want the
money she stole from my family. Call for her.
She won t hear this far away, Ethan replied.
Money? John s brow creased. C.C. had been after him to withdraw funds on her
behalf. Had she stolen it?
Maybe she ll hear if I shoot one of you. Lewis swung his weapon toward Ethan.
John shouted and Ethan dropped to the ground. The bullet exploded from the chamber
with a thunderous crack that echoed off the nearby mountains.
Answering shouts sounded from the vicinity of the house. John lunged for Lewis,
who fired a second shot. Pain tore through his side. He gritted his teeth, grabbed Lewis
forearm and twisted until something snapped and Lewis screamed. The shorter man s
knees gave out. John shoved him to the ground and covered him, pinning Lewis arm
between their bodies.
Nearby, Ethan grunted. John?
I have him. Get some rope. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
