Hope blinked. Margaret.Margaret was still here. Keeping her gaze on Jake, she said, “Thankyou, Margaret. No need to return today.”
From the corner of hereye, she saw Margaret nod sharply. Jake barely waited for the doorto close behind her before he demanded, “Why are you tauntingCallihan?”
“I wouldn’tterm it a taunt.”
“Iwould.Miss Hope McElroy has offered a reward for anyinformation leading to the capture of Josiah Callihan,” he readaloud.“‘The man is a coward and a cur,’ Miss McElroy said. ‘Theworld would be better without him in it.’ Direction for MissMcElroy can be found at the Ironwood Hotel.What the hell isthat but an invitation for him to come for you? You’re puttingyourself in danger, Hope, and for no good reason I cansee.”
She lifted her chin. “Nomore than you.”
“I’musedto danger. It’s my goddamn job. Just as it’s my goddamnjob toguardyou. You don’t know what the hell you’redoing.”
Her spine snappedstraight. “I have managed to know what I’m doing for thirty-threeyears, all without your guidance. I’ll thank you to watch yourtongue.”
“Goddamn it,Hope, don’t hide behind manners and niceties. This is goddamnsuicide.”
“It is notsuicide!” Smoothing her hands over her stomach, she took a breath.“It isn’t suicide,” she said more calmly. “It’s a plan.”
“What plan?You ain’t never said nothing about a plan. Last I heard, we were tothe printers, and next I find you’ve not only given them direction,but they’re aiding and abetting in your goddamn suicideattempt.”
“It. Is not.Suicide.”
“I don’t carewhat you call it, it’s goddamn foolish, is what it is. You don’tknow this man.”
“I know him.”She couldn’t stop herself from raising her fingers to herscar.
Her move drew his gazeand for the first time he appeared uncertain. “I know emotiondrives you, and a powerful need for revenge, but there are betterways to do this. We discussed it.”
“He wastaking too long.” And in the meantime, had sent a boy that couldhave harmed Jake. She swallowed.Say it plain, Hope. Couldhavekilledhim. “I’ll take your opinion underadvisement.”
“Goddamn it,Hope! I forbid it!”
Her temper broke. “You,sir, can forbid me nothing. You are merely an employee.” As soon asthe words left her mouth, she wished she’d bitten her unrulytongue.
He looked as if she hadslapped him—which, in a way, she had. Muscle ticking in his jaw, hestared at her.
She didn’t know what tosay, how she could take the words back, so she lifted her chin andstared back.
His eyes went flat. “Asyour employee, I advise against this,” he ground out.
“Your opinionis noted.” She wanted to scream she hadn’t meant it, but the wordswouldn’t come. All she could do was meet that flat dark stare andstand her ground.
She knew what wouldhappen next. She knew him. He would leave. He would turn and walkout the door, salvaging his pride and his reputation by abandoningwhat appeared to be a fool’s game. She would be alone, as she’dalways intended. Well, as she’d intended before she met him. Knewhim. Loved…
She lifted her chin.Better he leave and remain amongst the living than to stay andnumber amongst the dead.
Stiffly, he nodded. “Ifthat’s the way of it, Miss McElroy, I’ll be on my way.”
She wanted to call afterhim, to tell him she was wrong, to explain her reasoning. That boywith his gun could have killed him. She wanted this over and doneso he wouldn’t be shouldering the risk that should be hers. Shewantedhimsafe.
Instead, she let himleave, and by letting him leave, she kept him safe.
ChapterTwenty
HOPE STARED AT THE small square of paper before herwavered, the stub of the pencil biting into her fingers.
“MissMcElroy?” The postmaster wore a smile, but irritation formed thecreases around his eyes. “You’ve been staring at the paper a while,Miss McElroy. Did you want to send something?”
“Yes, ofcourse.” Bending her head, she forced herself to focus. Damn Jake.Damn him to hell for consuming her thoughts so completely. Itshouldn’t matter that she hadn’t seen him for three days, that hehadn’t spoken to her for longer. He disagreed with her methods andit shouldn’t bite at her that he was disapproving, that he was madat her. It shouldn’t hurt her heart that she didn’t have his goodopinion, that she hadn’t seen the wicked smile he saved for her indays, that she hadn’t heard a husky ‘darlin’ whispered against herear.
