“Go to bed. Get some sleep. We’ll have to start early to make the arrangements you want and still give ourselves most of the day to ride into the hills.”
“Wait!” she cried, turning back to him, searching his eyes and looking for some hint that he was only teasing her. “I’d prefer to stay here?—”
“Yes, I know.”
“You’re just being cruel again.”
“I’m not in the least. I can’t leave you here. I don’t trust you.”
“There’s no reason not to trust?—”
“Skylar, my mind is made up.”
She slammed her bare foot against the floor. “This is America!” she informed him.
He laughed. “That’s debatable at the moment! Skylar, go to bed. Get some sleep. You’re going with me.”
“I refuse?—”
“Afraid of Indians?” he taunted lightly.
“Damned wary of them,” she countered.
“Umm. But you’ve already been savaged and waylaid by one. Good heaven! You’re married to one. What greater horror could befall you?”
“I’m fond of the hair on my head.”
“Actually, I rather enjoy your hair, too.”
“You—”
“I assure you. I’ll see that you keep it.”
“Are you so sure you can keep your own?” she demanded.
“I know where I am riding,” he told her. “You can ride with me, or I can bring you along the same way I did when I met your stagecoach.”
“Attacked the stagecoach.”
He shrugged, his arms crossed over his chest.
Oh, God, she thought with dread. He was serious.
“It’s going to be a very early morning,” he warned her, his eyes narrowing, “if you want to wire money east.”
“You’re bribing me!”
He shook his head. “I don’t have to bribe you. You’re going. That’s decided. How you go is up to you, and actually, it doesn’t make much difference to me.”
She gritted down very hard on her teeth. He was going to send for Sabrina. He was going to give her the hundred dollars. That was what mattered.
“Fine!” she snapped out.
“Fine?” he said skeptically.
“Fine! I just said fine, I’ll go.”
“You’re right,” he said very softly. “You will.”
