“Jesus, Wade, show some respect,” Kitty said, and then looked away and downed the rest of her whiskey when the captain glanced at her. “Sounds like Otis needs an undertaker, not a doctor.” He’d moved his hand from her elbow to the small of her back, which should have helped her feel protected, but only made her more nervous.
“Any idea when Doc Davis will return?” Jake asked, leaning against the bar. He reminded her of a snake that waited patiently and struck when a person least expected it. He had the most unreadable face of any creature she’d ever met, even when he drank, though she’d never seen him drunk like some of the other Rangers. Rebecca wanted to change direction, run for the safety of her room, but Jake walked beside her, his hand cupping her elbow as he steered them toward Kitty and the captain.Īlmost as if her fear had willed him to seek her out, Captain Wade turned his head and watched them approach. She spotted Kitty sitting at the bar drinking a glass of whiskey, and felt a measure of relief, until she noticed that Captain Wade sat beside her friend. Particularly when he kept befuddling her with his acts of nobility. Even if she denied it aloud, she knew in her heart that she held onto a small hope that Jake would help her escape. How had she ended up in Diablo Flats? Why wouldn’t she leave this horrible place? But even Kitty agreed that Jake was different and unexpected, and heaven only knew how many men Kitty had known in her life. Jake Malone surely was the most unusual man she’d ever met, not that she’d met many. One minute he was cozying up to Captain Wade, and the next he was defending her at the cost of angering the captain. She was so confused about Jake at this point, she couldn’t imagine how he would react to her admission. The idea that she had to form the words and let them spill from her lips made her queasy again. All of it, the slaying of her family, the five years she’d lived with the Comanche, she’d even tell him about her husband. Tonight she would tell Jake about her past. She’d made a difficult decision a few minutes ago. That helped her shame some.īut there was more than a senseless death eating at her. But she was glad Jake and Kitty didn’t, and that Jake had pointed out that there was nothing she could’ve done against a killer. If folks blamed her, she wouldn’t fault them. She didn’t know the rancher, and still she felt a wretchedness in the pit of her belly that wouldn’t ease. It was a strange night, though not unexpected, on account of Mr. Rebecca didn’t think that was even allowed. Trixie and Ruby stood at the end of the bar with dour expressions, drinking together. Shots of whiskey and glasses of beer crowded the tables, but only one group of men played cards near the stairs, and no one was cursing or fighting. The men weren’t laughing loudly or joking with each other like they usually did this time of night. The piano music seemed somber, not the lively tunes that often hurt her ears. WITH JAKE BESIDE HER, Rebecca walked through the doors of the saloon, each step she took more frightening than the last. And God only knew what she’d think of him then. He quickly shoved his hands into his pockets. His heart constricted, and he suddenly didn’t know what to think, or what to say. She smiled shyly, a hint of hero worship in her doe eyes.
#LOANSTAR SALOON CORBIN FREE#
Jake lifted the thick mass of curls free and let the silky locks sift through his fingers as they tumbled down her back. She drew it around her shoulders, trapping her hair. “You don’t have to accompany me inside,” she added quickly, picking up the brown wool wrap that she’d left on the stool. Her startled gaze flickered toward the door, and she backed away. “But not here,” he continued, not having expected a response. Was she used to men who simply took what they wanted? Her eyes widened slightly, in obvious surprise. “I want to kiss you some more, if you’ll let me.” “I like kissing you,” he whispered, touching her warm cheeks and then watching a strand of hair curl around his finger. She blinked at him, and then quickly looked away as her face turned pink. In a minute he’d have to discreetly adjust his fly. When he flicked his tongue over her earlobe, she giggled. With his teeth, he grazed her chin, her jawline, and finally the shell of her ear. He swooped back down to kiss the tip of her nose, and then nibble the corner of her mouth. She stiffened slightly, her arms going slack around his neck, before she pulled back to gaze at him with confused eyes. It took about everything he had, but he slowed down, gentled the kiss, and brought his hands to either side of her waist. The small expression of trust pleased him, emphasized how much his next move mattered. No way she didn’t know how turned on he was, yet she wasn’t afraid of him.
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