Quicksilver Passion (26 page)

He shrugged.
Nugget seems to be doing fine to me. What’d you have in mind?”

She tried to look casual.
Maybe a gold claim.”

A gold claim?” His mouth dropped open and he slammed his cup down so that coffee sloshed into the saucer.
Silver, if you want to invest in gold, do it the way Haw Tabor’s doin’. He grubstakes miners for a share of their profits. Mark my word, he’ll be a rich man someday.”

Drat! She might have to do a lot of explaining and she wasn’t sure herself why the idea had come to her.
I—I thought I might just buy a claim, you know, hold it for an investment.” She sipped her coffee.

This doesn’t sound like you, Silver. You’ve always been a shrewd businesswoman. Drop this wild idea!” He reached out and patted the back of her hand.

Automatically she jerked away from the touch.

Sorry, Silver, sometimes I forget and let my feelings for you—”

I know, Al,” she whispered,
it’s all right.” She owed him everything, but all he wanted was to have her love him as men and women loved each other, and that she was unable to do. She could never love a man like that. She owed Al more than she could ever repay. He had killed a man to rescue her from the Velvet Kitten.

Where is this claim you want?”

Oh, I don’t know of any in particular.” Silver tried to sound casual.
I heard there might be some good diggings up in Mosquito Gulch. Thought I might ride out and take a look.”

Al shrugged.
It’s the most loco idea I ever heard, Silver, but if you insist, I’ll hire a rig and we’ll drive up there and—”