Chapter 20
“I
ndian Territory looks a mite more hospitable than Tombstone.” Rafe kept his voice firm but friendly. He couldn’t show weakness, or aggression either. He walked a narrow ledge. One he’d trod before.
“Come from there?” Crowdy broke the standoff, but kept his aim.
Rafe smiled down at Lady, put his left arm around her waist, and tugged her close. “Got nothing like Lady Gone Bad out there.”
“’Course not.” She gave him a surprised look, but then patted his chest and gazed adoringly up at him, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.
“They’ve got some lookers, some talent, but nothing like this little lady.” Rafe covered her soft hand with his right one, felt her heat caught between his chest and his fingers, and wished their act was for real.
“Not much on sharing.” Crowdy glanced around at the outlaws.
“Don’t blame you, not one bit,” Rafe agreed. “But Lady here put the bit in my mouth and took to leading me around. Isn’t that right, darlin’?”
“Fast John is a difficult man to resist.” She snuggled closer, plastering her body down his length.
“Got to know how to treat a filly right.” Rafe felt the tension in the room ease down a notch, so he knew the outlaws were buying their story.
“Looks like you know a thing or two,” Crowdy said, setting down his shotgun.
“A man don’t like to brag—”
“Sweetie here keeps me happy.” Lady tapped Rafe’s chest with the tip of her forefinger.
Rafe raised her hand and planted a kiss against her soft palm, lingering to let her feel his warmth and his mustache. He could get used to this game real fast. He pressed her palm to his cheek. When he heard her soft intake of breath, he smiled. Maybe she could get used to it, too.
“Heard they’re filling up their Boot Hill,” Burt Hayes interrupted. “That true?”
Rafe pressed Lady’s hand back to his chest. He nodded. “Helped them out a little my own self.”
Every eye in the place checked Rafe’s Colt .45, obviously trying to count the notches.
“Ever cash in your six-shooter?” Bob Hayes asked.
“Not my kinda odds.” Rafe looked down at Lady. “I like to play another game.”
Lady gave a coquettish giggle. “Fast John does like his games.” She glanced up at him, arching an eyebrow. “And he knows how to play them.”
“Just doing the best I can, darlin’.” Rafe smiled down at her.
“You hire out?” Burt interrupted again.
“Depends.” Rafe glanced at the man, figuring if he had trouble it’d come from the brawny Hayes Brothers. Jealousy could eat at a man, causing him to act stupid and dangerous.
“Acknowledge the corn,” Bob said. “You fast?”
“Fast enough, so far.” Rafe shrugged as if he didn’t care one way or another. He looked at Lady again, but kept his senses alert for any sudden movement from the outlaws. “I’ve been told on occasion I can be too slow.”
“Or just right.” Lady giggled again and managed to blush a pretty shade of pink.
Rafe watched her in amazement. She was a better actress than any he’d ever seen on stage. If he hadn’t known the truth, he’d believe she was enjoying flirting with him just as much as he was enjoying holding her close.
“Think I did hear of a Fast John out Tombstone way,” one of the poker players said. “You that John?”
Rafe shook his head. “Not me. We called him Slow Johnny after he got planted on Boot Hill.”
Everybody laughed.
“If that ain’t the beatingest,” Burt said, shaking his shaggy head. “Stand you a drink.”
“Thanks.” Acceptance didn’t come easy, but he’d gotten a measure of it. He glanced at Crowdy. “First, I’ll buy everybody a round.”
Lady led him over to the bar where Crowdy pulled out a bottle of amber liquid and started to pour.
“Sing us an all-fired good song.” Burt put huge hands completely around Lady’s waist, lifted her up to the bar, and set her down.
Lady smiled and patted Burt’s whiskers.
Rafe saw red, bit his tongue, and refrained from throwing a punch. The outlaw was testing him, but he wouldn’t be drawn into a power play for Lady or a position in the pack. That was a losing game.
“Burt, if you and Bob just can’t wait, I’ll give you that song.” Lady slanted a glance at Rafe, raising a brow to let him know she realized the Hayes Brothers were trying to get under his skin.
Rafe relaxed, patted her hand, and smiled. “Go ahead, darlin’, shake the rafters.”
“I know all of you can relate to lost love.” Lady glanced around at the men. “A Choctaw maiden wrote this song after her father and brothers were killed in a raid. I’d like to share it.”
Patrons of the saloon grew quiet in anticipation, cards laid down and drinks set aside.
Lady gave a mournful smile, ducked her head, and then looked back up as she sang.
All men must surely die,
Though no one knows how soon.
Yet when the time shall come,
The event may still be joyful.
Rafe watched the outlaws lean toward Lady, faces rapt, breath still, nodding in understanding that their own lives might be cut short. She’d picked the right song for these outlaws living life on the edge in Indian Territory.
He realized he’d been here before, back at the Red River Saloon. Lady had captured hearts, maybe even minds and souls there, too. She had that kind of power when she sang. Difference was that then she’d simply been a name on an arrest warrant and a pretty face on a stage. Now she meant much more. Seemed like a lifetime ago, but it wasn’t long at all. Somehow she’d wormed her way in close to his heart, set his body to aching for her, and turned his life upside down.
She wasn’t called Lady Gone Bad for nothing. A man would be a fool to think he could trust her, depend on her, even love her. Rafe was skirting that fence a little too close for comfort.
Yet they were bound to each other on a lot of levels, circumstances, goals, lust, and maybe more he didn’t realize at the moment. He felt as if she had spun a web of danger and deceit, and he’d been caught in her beautiful but deadly silk strands. Fanciful. He didn’t know why his mind had turned that way, but her voice woke men in ways that led them down paths they might not otherwise follow. And that power made her one dangerous lady.
He picked up his shot glass, tossed back the whiskey, felt it burn all the way down, and knew a little relief. Lady had a way of putting a man on edge, but he mustn’t go there. He had to be smart. Gather information to clear his name and find Crystabelle. Nothing else mattered.
As Lady began another song, he glanced around the room. He wasn’t popular, not by a long shot. The outlaws thought he was a poacher, at the very least. Burt and Bob gave him narrow-eyed stares. He might even have to fight somebody to prove Lady belonged to him. But till then, he’d be happy to watch them turn green as grass with envy.
Chapter 21
S
o far so good. Lady felt relief for a lot of reasons. Rafe was carrying off his role as a gunslinger and the outlaws, for the most part, were accepting him. Word would spread, and next time they would get less of a challenge. At least she hoped so.
She’d been surprised when Rafe had played up his part as her lover. She wished she’d been more surprised when she’d responded so quickly, easily, and naturally. But that sensual song of theirs had been building toward a crescendo from the first moment they’d met. She just needed to keep it under control. Life was already too complicated, too hard, too dangerous. She had no room for a heartbreaker.
For now, first things first. She must deal with the Hayes Brothers, and she didn’t want Rafe to interfere. He needed a distraction, something to do, while she got her job done.
She finished another song, and then picked up a shot glass of whiskey, indicating that she was through singing.
When the outlaws broke out in clapping and catcalls, she smiled, bowing her head. “Go on back to your games. I’ll sing again in a bit.”
After a lot of grumbling, the men turned back to their cards.
“Thank you,” Crowdy said.
Lady raised her glass to him, and took a tiny sip. She pretended to drink more than ever went down her throat. She didn’t like the taste and she had to keep her wits about her.
Rafe smiled at her. “Beautiful voice.”
“Thank you.”
“Nobody sings better’n you,” Burt said. “Like to hear you warble in the Bend. Bob, too.”
“Thanks.” She put a hand on Rafe’s shoulder.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
She held out her hands. “Help me off the bar.”
“Any time.” He put hands around her waist and lifted her down, letting his hands linger for a moment, holding her close.
“Appreciate it.” She could feel his heat and her body responded with a fire of its own. When he placed a kiss on her cheek, then trailed his lips to her ear, she shivered.
“How long before we go?” he whispered.
“Now, Fast John,” she said, pushing at his shoulders playfully. “I know you want to play a few hands of poker.”
He gave her a searching look. “I do. If you don’t mind?”
“Of course I do, but go ahead.”
He winked at her.
She watched him walk toward a table, pleased he’d understood. He’d marked her for everyone to see. Her ear still felt hot, as if burned by his touch. She felt vitally aware of him, too aware, and couldn’t seem to stop watching as he pulled out a chair and sat down at a table with the grace of a panther.
Forcing her mind to business, she turned back to the bar and glanced over at the Hayes Brothers. They watched her. She toyed with a lock of hair, letting a smile play about her lips.
“How you boys been doing?” she asked.
“Better now,” Burt said.
“Full chisel,” Bob added.
“I’ve wanted to talk with you two.”
Burt grinned, revealing strong white teeth. “All you had to do was whistle.”
“Seen anybody ride by here on a copper-colored stallion?”
“Nope,” Burt said. “You lookin’ for one?”
“I like that color,” she said.
“You’d look good on any horse,” Bob added.
“Thanks.” Lady smiled and leaned forward. “A little bird told me you two recently had a hankering for apple pie.”
Burt and Bob glanced at each other, appearing sheepish.
“That true?” she asked.
“Not likely,” Burt said.
“A lady’s reticule went along with the pies. Know anything about that?”
“Don’t sound like nothing an outlaw worth his salt would turn his hand to,” Burt said.
“But apple pies are plum tasty,” Bob added.
Lady had to keep from smiling. The Hayes Brothers were notorious for their antics, but didn’t have a mean bone in their bodies. “Little bird’ll pay a half eagle for a golden bird pin in that reticule. Funeral jewelry.”
Bob whistled, a short burst of approval. “Looks like dang grass.”
“Shut up!” Burt hissed.
“Tell you what.” Lady pulled a half eagle out of her pocket, twirled it on the bar top, and then covered it with her hand. “Little bird already paid me, so suits me fine if I get both ends of the deal.”
“Let’s see that gold,” Bob said.
Lady held the coin out between her thumb and forefinger, and then folded it into her palm again. “I’m willing to make an even exchange, one for the other.”
“Shucks,” Burt said. “Mighta picked up somethin’ like it on the road.”
“That’d be a lucky break.” Lady smiled. “Want to check to see if you’ve got it in a saddlebag?”
Burt glanced around the room, then at Bob. “Go see if the horses didn’t eat that thing.”
Bob grinned. “Outhouse calling me anyway.”
Lady watched the big outlaw walk out of the saloon, and turned back to his brother. “How long since you’ve been in the Bend?”
“Couple days. Didn’t see you there.”
“I was a little occupied.”
Burt frowned. “Stranger give you trouble, let me know.”
“You’re so kind. Anything new going on in the Bend?”
“Place is hopping mad about that lawman, the one who tried to arrest you. He got clean away.”
“Are they looking for him?”
“Like a duck on a june bug. They lay eyes on him again, they’ll settle his hash.”
“They get his name?”
“Nope. Did you?”
“No.”
“Dash!”
“Yeah.” She glanced back at the doorway and saw Bob step inside.
He made the floor shake as he hurried over and dropped the pin on the bar. “That it?”
Lady picked up the piece of jewelry, knowing an untold number of hours had been spent weaving hair to make the beautiful pin. Ma Engle would be so happy to have this remembrance of her daughter back. “Far as I can tell.”
“Pony up,” Bob said.
Lady set the half eagle between the brothers, knowing she’d never charge Ma Engle a dime for retrieving the pin. “Now don’t you boys spend that all at once.”
“You’re considerable of a woman,” Burt said, smiling. “You lay eyes on me like you do Fast John, and I’ll drop every dime I’ve got on you.”
“You’re sure a sweet-talking man.” She slipped the pin into her pocket.
“I’m not talkin’ malarkey.” Burt leaned toward her, heat in his dark eyes.
“You flatter me.” She stepped back from the bar, needing to get away from them before things got out of hand. She glanced over her shoulder.
Rafe glared at her, and then looked down at his cards.
“I’m no seven by nine,” Burt said. “That gunslinger don’t treat you right, you skedaddle to me and I’ll see he gets what for.”
Lady felt her smile freeze on her face. Last thing she needed was for Burt Hayes to think she found him of personal interest. But she couldn’t make him mad either, or do anything to set him against Rafe. She had Ma Engle’s pin. Now she needed to find a way to ease out of the saloon.
She smiled at Burt. “I bet you’d like to hear another song.”
“You want me to put you back on the bar?” he asked hopefully.
“Thanks, but no,” Lady said. “I’ll just walk around.”
As she moved away from the Hayes Brothers, she felt their gazes hot on her back. She just might have stirred up a hornet’s nest.