Examining her hand, she inhaled sharply when she spotted a streak of ruby red across her forefinger. She gave a startled little cry and her gaze flew up to meet Cutter’s, but she said nothing because she could tell by his expression that he’d spotted it, too, and his black look told her that she didn’t want to hear any of what he had to say.
Standing over her, thumb hooked into his waistband, he shook his head at her, as though she were dim witted.
“What the hell were you trying to do? Kill us both?”
“Me?” She snorted inelegantly, squinting her eyes to ward away the pain that shot through her head. Her hand trembled as it moved to her temple in an effort to still the hazy picture her eyes were presenting.
“You!” she accused. “What wereyoutrying to do? And where do you think you are taking me?” She glared up at him again, still slightly disoriented.
In the light of day, he seemed different somehow, more Indian maybe. Ominous, definitely. His clothes were the same ones he’d worn last night, except for the wide blue and white bandanna that was bound about his forehead. It seemed to accentuate the length of his hair, the swarthy tone of his skin. Beads of sweat dotted his brow above it.
That was the difference, she thought dimly. That, and the fact that he was bareheaded besides. It was amazing how that small variation in his apparel changed his entire presence. His hat, his one token of civilization, had obviously tumbled from his head during the fall, because it lay upon the ground not more than three feet from her toes. She eyed it malevolently as she wiggled her foot, then bent her knees cautiously, repeating the ritual for the other foot. Satisfied that nothing was broken below the waist, she tested her arms under his watchful eye, grimacing as a dull pang shot through her shoulder.
Belatedly her gaze slid across the grassland, taking in the wide open space, the fact that there were no buildings, nothing but early morning skies and open land. The landscape looked a little eerie with the dew still hanging heavily in the air. “Where the hell are we?”
“Easy, bright eyes, I’m only trying to help.”
Delving into a pocket, Cutter removed from it a clean bandanna, using it to gently pat the fleck of blood from her lip. She recoiled at his touch, and he gave her a frown for the effort. “We’re on our way to St. Louis,” he informed her, giving her a worried glance. “Don’t you recall anythin’ a’tall?”
“St. Louis!”
Forgetting her aches, Elizabeth sprang from the ground, resisting the urge to rub her bruised fanny, because that infuriating little smile tugged at Cutter’s lips, and she had the notion he’d read her thoughts. Nettled, she dropped her hands at her sides.
Her mind raced, trying to piece together the events that would have brought her to this ungodly predicament, but try as she might, she couldn’t remember anything. She eyed him suspiciously. “St Louis?”
Like a stubborn weed, his annoying amusement returned and his grin swept into his dark eyes, though he said nothing, only nodded, and Elizabeth bristled.
Forcing a calming breath, she peered down at the filth that clung to her skirts, taking in the torn hem and her once white blouse, groaning inwardly at the thought of presenting herself in St. Louis this way. She tried again, her nerves fast reaching a breaking point, and said, “I don’t remember.” Her gaze challenged him. “That is to say... Idorecall your offer, Mr. McKenzie... but I also recall telling you no thank you. But all right... let’s say I did request your services... It was quitegracious—” she spoke the word with barely contained fury”—of you to accept, but I find I do not need you escorting me, after all. You can take me home now.” His smile deepened, and her anger escalated. “Don’t you understand plain English? I don’t want you taking me to St. Louis! I want you to carry me home this very instant!”
Cutter shook his head. “We’ve come too far to turn back. Besides, I was countin’ on the dinero,” he said.
Walking over to pick up his hat, he tapped it against his leg to rid it of the dust and grass seed that clung to it along with the dew.
Her eyes widened incredulously. “No?”
“No.”
“I can’t believe this! Youhaveto take me back!”
He placed his hat upon his head, adjusting it until it sat comfortably, then made his way toward his horse, which was waiting patiently, nibbling at the high grass only a few feet away. “Izzatso?” he offered without turning.
Lifting her skirts, Elizabeth marched after him, stopping just before plowing into his back. “Yes, it is!” she declared.
“And why is that?” He still didn’t bother to turn toward her. Instead, he busied himself with straightening the saddle, tightening the cinches.
Flustered, she said, “Just because!” She didn’t quite know how to say it.Because you’re a half-breed, Mr. McKenzie? Because there is no way I’ll get my sister’s child with you posing as my husband?Because I feel uncomfortable in your presence? Because you’re an infuriating mule’s ass! Because you’re much too good-looking for my peace of mind?No, that would never do.
She looked at him crossly, frustrated, not really wishing to hurt his feelings—he was Jo’s brother, after all—but she wasn’t about to let him take her to St. Louis either. How in blue blazes had she managed to get herself so liquored up that she wouldn’t remember hiring him? “Just because,” she snapped again, much more irritated with herself suddenly than she was with him.
He made some strangled sound. “You’re going to have to come up with a better reason.”
“Well! I-I don’t have any money to pay you!” she said quickly. “How’s that for a reason?”
He finally turned to face her. “You don’t plan on reneging on me, do you?” One brow rose in censure.
“No! Yes—I mean... That is to say, I don’t have any moneywithme.”
“Uh-huh.” He returned his attention to the saddle. “You know what Johnny Law does to double-dealers, don’t you?”
