'I thought you liked the property.
And the house, and the horses. And I thought you wanted half of
everything.
If you want it, you have to earn it.'
He swung around. A smile curled his lip as he leaned against the door.
'You just can't say please, can you?'
'It isn't that! My God, this isn't fair! You want thousands of dollars
worth of property' -- 'If yon Heusen has his way, there won't be any
property.'
'But you're unfair!'
'Because I went to the saloon?'
'Because you weren't here!'
'But I was here. I was here exactly when you needed me.' He walked
toward her. She took a step back and tripped over the pile of half
burned hay. He kept coming, and she reached out a hand, expecting he
would help her up. He didn't.
He dropped down, half on top of her and half beside her, his arms braced
over her chest so that she couldn't move.
Gray eyes looked into hers. He'd had a shave in town, she thought.
HIS cheeks were clean, and he smelled slightly of a cologne. He smelled
good all over, like good clean soap and like a man. He'd had a bath,
too, she realized, and her temper soared again. He had stayed at the
saloon. He'd had a drink and a bath and maybe a meal and. Maybe a woman.
'Get off of me, Yank!' she said angrily. The smoke left his eyes. He
stared at her with a gaze of cold steel. He leaned closer. So close that
their faces nearly touched. The heat of his body was all around her, and
she forgot everything, afraid, excited, wanting to ere ape him and run.
And wanting to know more of him.
'You're hurting me,' she began.
'No, I'm not,' he corrected her flatly.
'And I'm not moving a hair, because I really want your attention. Now
listen. I can go, or I can stay. The choice is yours. But if I stay, we
do things my way. I'll try to explain. I'm not desperate for land,
cattle, a house or money. I've done all right myself, thanks, despite
the war, despite everything. But tomorrow, you're going to turn over
half of this place to me on legal papers.
That way you may have a chance of keeping it. Pay attention. You're a
smart girl, Tess. Von Heusen thought that all he had to do was kill you
and your uncle and he could have this place. You have no next of kin.
But dadin', I've got plenty. I've got brothers, nieces and nephews.
It would take yon Heusen years to find them all if he did manage to kill
both of us. That might give him some serious pause. Do you understand?'
Staring at him, Tess simply nodded. He was right, and every word he was
saying made such perfect sense. And she wanted to be sensible. She
wanted to be dignified, grateful, strong.
She wanted to be able to fight her battles, but she could not fight
alone.
If only she didn't want him as a man, if only she didn't grow jealous
and angry so quickly. And yet. he still had that haunting aroma. His
