Quicksilver Passion (42 page)

My beauty—that’s all I’ve got. That’s all any man wants from me.” She stared at her reflection in the mirrow and her eyes were hard, expressionless.
My face is my fortune—that’s what Ma said. Then why don’t I feel rich and lucky?”

She picked up a gold-handled hair brush and crashed the mirror into a thousand silvers of glass, then collapsed in a chair and wept.

Why did he feel like such a rotten skunk?
Brett was right; this girl was different. With a sigh, Al left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

As the weeks passed, Al watched her, waiting for Brett to tire of her and put her to entertaining customers. A number of wealthy men had seen her, had asked about when Silver would be available.

When the boss gets tired of her, just like the last one,” Al answered mechanically.

What he hadn’t counted on was that Bart Brett would fall madly in love with Silver and ask her to marry him. Or that he himself would finally care so much about the fragile blonde that he would be driven to betrayal, robbery, and murder to rescue Silver from the Velvet Kitten.

Cherokee looked from the girl’s ashen face to the snow falling outside the cabin window.
U-nu-tsi.
Snow. It was damned if you do, damned if you don’t, he thought. They didn’t have a wagon, and he could hardly walk into Buckskin Joe carrying her all the way. The weather was getting worse. He had to make a decision now. Reluctantly he turned to the two old men.
Do you two think you can make it to town and bring back the doctor?”

By cracky, shore!” Willie said.
Bill, get your coat and a knapsack of food, and let’s get out of here before the afternoon gets any older.”

Cherokee helped them get their gear together.
You think you can find your way?”

Bill leaned closer to catch the words.
Phash! Ain’t we been to town a couple of dozen times? We got a compass, and besides, once we get within a mile, we’ll be able to see the lights of the town.”

He sounded more confident than he looked, Cherokee thought. Colorado Territory was the kind of country where a man got lost in a storm and his remains weren’t found until the spring thaw.

Silver moaned a little and Cherokee knelt beside her bunk.
It’s all right, Silver. You’re okay now.” Without thinking, he stroked her hair back from her face and she seemed to shrink against the pillow. He remembered again that she didn’t like to be touched.

Bill shook his head.
Our talk is disturbin’ her. I never meant to hurt her. Every man in the Rockies would die for Miss Silver.”

She must know that,” Cherokee said gently, standing up.
Neither one of you would hurt a flea.”

Bill wiped his face on his sleeve.
There’s just been so much claim jumping and gold stealin’ around these parts.”

You two could put yours in the bank in town like I did,” Cherokee said.

Nope.” Willie combed his beard with his crippled hand.
I had my money in a bank once. It went broke and took everybody’s money with it. I’ll take my chances hidin’ it in the woodpile and outsmartin’ robbers, thank you.”