She tried to keep her voice from shaking. What was she supposed to say, that she thought she might lie down and die if anything happened to him? “We were married because you thought we had to be. I was nearly unconscious. I wanted to end the marriage but you refused to oblige me, so legally we’re still attached and because of that and because it was my brother who shot you, I joined Revis’s gang in order to protect you. After all this is over I think my duty to you is finished.”
“Duty?” he said. “And what about this?” His eyes roamed down her nude body.
She gave him a lusty grin. “We Simmons women enjoy a tussle with a handsome man. I wouldn’t bed Revis because I think he may be a man who likes pain.”
He moved away from her. “God, but you’re a cold-blooded woman, Leah. I guess I should feel privileged that you didn’t leave me to bleed to death after your brother shot me.”
She wouldn’t answer him because all her concentration was on not crying. How much she wanted to tell him she loved him and have him tell her the same thing. But if she told him, he’d probably only laugh at her and say that of course someone of her class would love someone of his high station in life. No, it was better to keep her pride, if not her heart.
“I have to go now,” she said, turning and beginning to pull on her clothes.
“Yes, do go,” he said as he walked away from her.
Leah gave way to silent tears then. The fragile bond between them had been broken.
Chapter 22
Leah didn’t sleep much that night, but she cried some, hugged Verity some, and was generally miserable. She wished with all her might that she’d never even met Wesley Stanford. If she’d only listened to her sister and not walked out after him that night at the tavern and leaped on him like a starved animal, she wouldn’t now be in the midst of a den of thieves. Or be walking off the end of tree branches without any clothes on and making a fool of herself. Or spending hours in the strong arms of the man she loved.
“Damn!” she said aloud as she tossed the blanket off and rolled away from Verity.
“It’s time to get up,” she said. “And today you’re going to help me cook,” she said on impulse. Perhaps work could give Verity a little of her self-respect back.
While she was cooking breakfast Wesley entered the cabin, but he didn’t speak to her. In fact he was so cool there was a definite chill in the air.
“Would you like some breakfast, Mr. Armstrong?” she asked.
“Not from you,” Wesley snapped just as Revis entered the cabin.
Leah saw the scowl on Revis’s dark face and knew he was considering Wes’s attitude. “This one’s not as smart as you, Revis,” Leah said smoothly, setting a platter of bacon on the table. “He thought he could have me for the asking and he doesn’t take kindly to being told no. Breakfast is ready.”
Twice during the meal Leah saw Revis watching Wesley, and to distract him she leaned over his shoulder as she set dishes on the table. Revis must hate someone else coming into his territory and he would hate Wes more if he thought the newcomer was succeeding where he’d failed.
“When is this job of yours, Armstrong?” Revis asked.
“Tomorrow morning. They’ll be four miles down the mountain by then.”
“And what makes you so sure about how fast they’re traveling?”
“I have my ways,” was all Wesley would answer.
It was later, as Leah and Verity were clearing the table, that Abe came to his sister.
“You two have a lovers’ quarrel?” he hissed into her ear.
“Revis and me?” she asked, pretending not to understand.
“You and that Stanford fella. You two was lookin’ sparks at each other all mornin’.”
“I never looked at him,” she protested.
“Not when he was lookin’ at you. And he watched you ever’ minute. Leah, you two lovebirds is gonna ruin ever’thin’. I ain’t never gonna be respectable if you two get killed. And Revis’ll kill you both when he finds out you’re playin’ him for a fool.”
“What did Wesley promise you if you helped him?”
“None of your business. Me and him got a business deal goin’. As soon as he finds out about the Dancer we’re leavin’. All of us. That is, if he’ll still have you. You oughta watch yourself, Leah. You ain’t never gonna get a hu
sband like that again.”