didn't wait to hear just what it was that I wanted.'
'What?' she gasped.
'I said' -- 'But, but ...'
She stared at him. He was still seated so comfortably on the ground,
casual now, idly chewing upon a long blade of grass.
'But, but, but, Miss. Stuart! Where is your mind, dear lady, but deep,
deep down in the gutter?'
He stood. Warily she backed away from him.
'Listen, Lieutenant, I'm not sure that you do shoot well enough for all
this!
What do you want now?'
She backed straight into a tree. He was right in front of her, smiling.
He stroked her cheek lightly with his knuckle and laughed softly as she
indignantly twisted her face to the side.
'Still waters do run deep, eh, Miss. Stuart? You ready to listen?'
'What' -- 'Land.'
'What?' she repeated, dazed.
'Land. I want some acreage. Some of your prime acreage, and maybe a few
cattle. If I'm going to go out and die for this land, I'd like to have a
bit of it in my own name.'
'That's--that's what you want?'
' 'That's it .'
'Land?
'Land, Miss. Stuart. I know you've heard the word.' She pressed against
the tree, slipping her hands behind her to hold furtively to keep
herself from falling. Then a crimson blush surged to her cheeks again,
and she raged out in a tempest.
'You! You made me think that--oh, God! You are the lowest, most horrid,
most terrible' -- 'Disappointed?' he interrupted pleasantly. She
shrieked something unintelligible and swung at him.
He caught her hand before she could strike him, but she continued to pit
herself against him. He pulled her against him, lacing his arms around
her.
'Don't be angry' -- 'Angry! I could gouge out your eyes' -- 'Ouch! It
would be hard as hell for me to aim at this yon Heusen of yours if you
did that.'
'I could shoot off both your knee caps!'
'Then how could I get places to find out the truth?'
'All right! All right! You fight yon Heusen, then I'll gouge out your
eyes and shoot your knee caps. Now let go of me!'
'No, not yet, I'd be risking my eyesight, I'm afraid. Or my--ouch!' he
said as she stamped on his foot. Her feet were dangerous. And her knees.
'Don't even think about it!' be warned her, pressing her so close
against the tree trunk that she could barely breath.
Nor could she kick him--his thigh was pressed close to hers. Her breasts
heaved with agitation; her heart was thundering.
His lips were close. So close to hers. He was going to kiss her again,
she thought. And if he did, she'd probably let him get away with it,
despite all he had done to her. 'Did you know that you have a really
beautiful mouth, Miss. Stuart?' he asked, his own nearly touching it.
