Quicksilver Passion (55 page)

She lay there, watching him, very aware that if he decided to make use of her body, there was no one to stop him. If she could keep him occupied and talking about something else . . .

Cherokee, those two—are they relatives?”

Nope. Friends of my old man’s. Just three old geezers always off looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. All my old man found was six feet of dirt near a mine in Nevada, after the white whore he left my mother for deserted him.”

She didn’t say anything else, afraid now that he would ask about her own past.

May I have some water?” She licked her dry lips.

I’ll have to help you hold your head up,” he said uncertainly, bringing over a dipper.
I don’t think you’ve got the strength to do it alone.”

She tried to make a liar out of him, but as she struggled, his big arm went under her head and she felt the strength of him lifting her.
Take it easy, Silver, I’ll help you.”

She couldn’t do anything but let him although the heat of his body, the sound of his heart beating against her ear, frightened her. She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look up into his and drank deeply of the cold water. It tasted good, like melted snow.
Did you ever eat snow ice cream?” she asked without thinking.

He didn’t lay her back down, just kept his arm under her shoulders.
Snow ice cream? What brought that up?”

It was more than the cold taste, it was the security of his big arm around her. And yet his face told her his feelings toward her were anything but fatherly.
Nothing.”

Who’s Elmer Neeley and Bart Brett?” he asked.

Her eyes blinked open and she stared up at him.
I—I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” She managed to pull away from him and sank back down on her pillow.

His face grew serious.
Silver, you’re safe. Whoever these bastards are, I won’t let them hurt you. No one’s going to hurt you when I’m around.”

Except you?” she blurted.