innocently wide.
'What about you, Lieutenant?
Did you manage to have any sleep at all?' He studied her eyes, then
smiled slowly.
'Yes, I slept.'
He didn't elaborate and Tess was infuriated. She wanted some kind of an
answer on this subject, and he was determined not to give her one.
'You seem to have been having a darned nice morning,' he commented.
'Have I?'
'I've known Jon Red Feather a long time now. I've never known him to
talk so much.'
'He's charming.'
Jamie grunted. He flashed her a quick gaze and gave his attention to the
road once again.
'And I'm not?'
'No. You're impudent, insolent and a royal pain, Lieutenant Slater.'
'Oh, is that so? Then why were you so anxious for my company?'
She inhaled sharply, staring at him.
'Because you can shoot,' she said flatly.
'Why, thank you, Miss. Stuart! Thank you kindly. And you threw yourself
right into my arms the other morning, half naked and all, just because I
shoot.'
'Right. Wrong! I was not half naked' -- 'You felt as if you were.'
'Lieutenant, you are a scurvy, low-down, no-good rodent-'
'But a no-good rodent who can shoot, right?'
'Precisely, Lieutenant,' she said with a touch of silk. He nodded,
looking ahead.
'You are awfully determined to stay in Wiltshire, Miss. Stuart.
Couldn't you run a newspaper somewhere else?'
'I could. But I wouldn't own the good cattle land that Joe' -- She
paused.
'Well, it's all mine now.'
'Is your life worth the land?'
'You don't understand. It's not just the land. Somebody needs to stand
against this man.'
'You do want it desperately.'
He was watching her curiously, the hint of a curve to his lips. She
frowned, wondering what he was up to.
'Yes. I do want it desperately. He killed Joe. He might not have ridden
with the men, but he killed Joe. And I'm going to bring him down.'
'With the help of a scurvy rodent who can shoot.'
'With whatever help I can get. And you do believe me about the attack, I
know you do.'
He shrugged.
'Maybe. I've still got my reservations, but I do intend to go into
Wiltshire with you.'
'And that's all?' she asked, horrified.
He smiled.
'Just what, Miss. Stuart, do you want out of me? Spell it out. We might
