If You Believe

Even clean sheets wasnt worth this shit. His thumb felt like an oxcart had run over it, and his arm ached from shoulder to wrist. Yeah, he was leaving, all right.

But first he was gonna have a little fun with the schoolmarm. "Naw. Where would I go?"

"Anywhere. "

Casually he got to his feet and walked toward her. She didnt move, didnt back away, but she wanted to. He could see it in the fearful flaring of her nostrils and the way she leaned slight

ly backward.

He smelled her fear and it challenged him; it was just like when he was in the ring.

All of a sudden he felt less tired. "What if I like it here?"

"Ill . . . pay you. "

He tilted his hat back and gave her a slow, pointed once-over. His gaze started at her pale, severe face and leisurely moved down, over the curves she tried to hide beneath a baggy brown dress. But if there was one thing Mad Dog could find, it was a womans curves, and the wren wasnt built too badly. Biting back a smile, he let his gaze wander once again to her face. "With what?"

She gave him a look of pure, red-hot hatred. "Money. "

He cocked an eyebrow. "A little egg money youve saved to ward off prowlers?"

"Sixteen dollars," she said. "Cash. "

Mad Dog grinned. Now, that was an unexpected bonus. Sixteen dollars was damn good money for doing next to nothing. He could hole up for a long while on that.

She saw his interest and gave him a gloating smile. "I knew thatd get your interest. "

Ah, damn, he thought, dont do that. Dont gloat.

"A man like you couldnt last on a farm. "

He rolled his eyes. Oh, thats it. Add a challenge. "Shit. " He said the word on a sharp exhalation of breath. He wanted to leave, really wanted to. But now shed made it impossible.

There were only two things Mad Dog prided himself on: He never walked away from a fight, and no one ever told him where to go. And now Miss High and Mighty had just started a fight and told him where to go in a single breath.

"Naw," he said softly, "I think Ill just earn my keep. "

Her smile crashed. "But—"

"But nothing. Im staying. "

"Just my luck. You choose here to make an honest wage. "

"Gotta do it somewhere. "

She bent down and picked up the basket. Ramming the hammer in with the nuts, she gave him a look sour enough to curdle milk. "Suppers in one hour. Ill leave yours on the porch. "

"What? Im not invited to the table?"

She frowned at him. "Hardly. "

"Now, thats not too neighborly of you, darlin. Im beginnin to feel downright unwelcome. "

She gripped the basket and held it tight against her body. Thrusting her chin up, she marched past him and headed for the house. "And I thought you were stupid. "

Her words floated back to him in a rustle of swishing skirts. He burst out laughing.

Mariah stared down at the Knoigsberger Klops and had an almost overwhelming urge to grab the cast-iron skillet and throw the whole mess across the kitchen.