Cassidy picked up the gun Adam gave him and tested the weight.The guns were loaded with paintballs, so Jayce had no reason to fear for his life.
But he wasn’t wearing a vest and paintballs hurt.
Tilly arrived just as the air began to get tense.
She carried a clipboard, and wore a pretty dress, which was another cause for concern.
“Hey, Tilly,” Jayce said, because he was grateful not to have to hang out with Cassidy alone.“What brings you here?”
She waved the clipboard.“Beautification committee.I’m seeking donations.”
Because women wandering into outlaw encampments collecting donations was an everyday occurrence in the Wild West.If he was about to be the target of an honor killing, at least he’d have a witness.
“Have a seat.Let me get you a coffee.”
“I would love a coffee,” Tilly said.
There were three logs surrounding the campfire that they were using for chairs.Cassidy had one.Jayce sat on another.Rather than take the unoccupied third log, Tilly sat next to Cassidy.
“Mr.Robert Parker, I presume,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.“I’ve heard so much about you and how handsome you are.”
Jayce winced inside.Malika had sent reinforcements.
“Thank you,” Cassidy said warily, inching away, because he’d learned to be cautious around Burning Scrub’s women.Near-death experiences tended to do that to people.
Jayce poured a cup of coffee from the pot on the tripod over the fire and passed it to Tilly.It was the color of pitch, and as thick as molasses, but she managed to swallow a bite without changing expression.
“What are you collecting donations for?”Jayce asked, trying to uncover her real purpose for being here, because Cassidy didn’t need any more shocks.
“Tombstones for the churchyard.You never know when you might need one.Conditions are harsh in the West.”She launched into her spiel about beautification and how proper tombstones would lend aesthetic appeal to church picnics.She tapped her clipboard, then detached her pen.“How much can I put you gentlemen down for?”
“How much for one tombstone?”Cassidy asked, and Jayce longed to confirm that his gun contained paintballs.
Tilly’s fluttering eyelashes paused.She hadn’t expected anyone to question the cost of the product.She had no idea what a nineteenth century tombstone was worth.
“Put me down for a thousand dollars for both of us,” Jayce said, helping her out.“I’m coming into some money real soon and beautifying the church is a right worthy cause.”
“That is very generous of you.”Tilly jotted the number down on her clipboard.“Malika will be happy to hear about this.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask.“Why will my donation make Malika happy?”
“I’m not one to gossip,” Tilly began, which was a lie.She lived for it.“But Malika has been so worried about her brother’s return.The last time she became involved with a beautiful but poor lover such as yourself, her brother killed him.Now that you’re rich, her brother will be happy to allow you to marry.”She sighed happily.“I love weddings.”
Another lie.He’d heard Tilly say she’d build her own bonfire and tie herself to the stake before she tied herself to a man.
“One thousand dollars hardly makes a man rich,” Cassidy said.
“It will buy at least five marble tombstones, including the engraving.A man who can give away that kind of money must be rich,” Tilly said.
Jayce should have given her more credit.She did know what a nineteenth century tombstone was worth.She was trying to fleece them and he’d fallen for it.
Cassidy refused to be out fleeced by Jayce.
His lips thinned.“I will donate one hundred thousand dollars toward this worthy cause.”Hard eyes settled on Jayce.“I’d hate to see anyone go without a proper grave marking.”
Again, Jayce itched to get hold of Cassidy’s gun to make sure it had paintballs in it.They might hurt but were unlikely to earn him a marble tombstone with his name engraved on it.
“Thank you for your generosity.I’m sure the town can put your donation to good use.”Tilly chewed on another mouthful of coffee, then set her cup on the ground next to the log.“I’ll let you gentlemen get back to whatever it was you were doing.”
