within her was something that had never happened before. It was special,
unique, precious.
But then again, she couldn't allow the brunette to win the game. Not
this way. She didn't deserve to win anything this way.
'Damn you, Tess, will you listen to me?'
'I don't see what difference it makes, but go ahead.' He stared at her
hard.
'That was a setup.'
She didn't reply. He caught her shoulders again, pulling her against
him.
'I'm telling you, it was a setup!'
She still didn't reply, and he looked into his eyes and swore suddenly.
'Why the hell am I explaining this to you?
Think what you want, Miss. Stuart. To hell with you.' He left her
standing in the street. She heard his angry stride as he started away.
'Lieutenant!' she called. She didn't turn around until she sensed that
he had stopped. Then she turned to meet his eyes.
'I'm very aware that what I just saw was a setup. I'm sorry for Miss.
Worthingham, that she felt it necessary to put 87 on such a show.
Perhaps you might want to provide her with a bit more tenderness or
care.'
He swore and walked away.
Tess smiled and started to her room. But then her smile faded. It had
been a setup, but she had sent him right back to the enemy's arms.
When she went to bed that night she lay awake in torture, wondering what
had happened next. She had advised him to offer tenderness.
Had he done so? Had he slept with the bewitching brunette in his arms,
against his heart?
She tossed and turned in wretched anxiety and she very nearly overslept.
If it wasn't for the timely arrival of Dolly Simmons, she would have
done so.
'Up, up, now, Tess, dear! This is the cavalry, you know! Things are done
by the dawn here. Lieutenant Slater will want to be on his way!'
Dolly had brought coffee. She slipped a tin mug into Tess's hands, then,
chatting, picked up things in the room.
'What are you wearing, dear, this nice brown cotton? Perfect choice for
a hot day on the trail. And just one petticoat-no corset, of course.
You'll be much more comfortable that way.
Come on, now, Lieutenant Siitter and Jon Red Feather are already out by
the wagon.' Tess gulped down the coffee and was grateful When Dolly
helped her slip into the brown traveling dress she had chosen. Then she
frowned, realizing that Dolly was dressed for travel in a mauve suit
with a huge, wide-brimmed hat on her head.
'Dolly?'
'I'm coming with you, my dear.'
' 'You are?'
'Yes. You don't mind, do you?'
'No, no, I don't mind. It's just that ...' She paused. In the outpost,
it had almost been possible to forget that yon Heusen offered death.
'Dolly, no one wants to believe me, but it could be very dangerous for
