Quicksilver Passion (94 page)

Reckon not. Colorado Territory will probably stay with the Union, which means I would be looked on as an enemy soldier.” The idea of being parted from her even one night tore his heart out. If he weren’t careful, all his resolve would melt in his love for her. He had a duty to the South and to Shawn O’Bannion, whom he’d betrayed. A real man must put his duty before his own selfish desires. He caught her hand, kissed the palm, and folded her fingers over it.
Here’s a treasure to remember me by.”

She jerked her hand away and stood up.
Well, it really doesn’t matter,” she said.
I don’t want you to go thinking you meant anything special to me. What’s one damned Rebel more or less? If you ever get back in the area, you might look me up—if I’m still around and haven’t taken up with someone new by then.” She started to turn away and he reached out and caught her arm.
Silver, was last night nothing to you?”

She shrugged and gave him a tight-lipped smile.
An enjoyable romp, as it was to you. That’s why I’m such a good whore; I can make any man feel he’s special. Now go off to your damned, noble war. It’ll send the price of gold and silver zooming;—great for business. I wasted enough time; I’ve got a saloon to run!”

He felt furious and betrayed. So she was only a skilled whore. He had been right after all.
With that act you put on, sweet, you could convince any man of anything. You even had me fooled!” He pulled her to him, hurt that last night had meant nothing to her. “Let me give you something else to remember me by!”

Before she could protest, he dragged her to him and kissed her deeply. For a split second, she melted against him, returning his kiss with heated ardor, and then she pulled away.
Consider last night payment for the bracelet!” she sneered.
But next time, it’ll cost more than a poor half-breed like you can pay!”

She flounced away and up the stairs.

He stood staring after her, crushed and humiliated. What a fool she had made of him. How she would have laughed if he had told her of his love, had asked her to marry him. And to think he had been about to ask her to wait for him until he returned from the war!

Cherokee didn’t look back as he turned on his heel and left. He got the needed supplies, loaded them on the burro, and went back to the claim. There he told his partners what had happened and what he felt he had to do. They sympathized with him, told him they would keep working the claim and save his share until he returned. With a heavy heart, Cherokee returned to town, took some of his money from the bank, and bought a good horse.

He thought about trying to see Silver again, but decided he had had as much hurt as he could stand. His grandmother had been right about white women, he thought bitterly as he rode slowly past the Nugget Saloon and on out of town.

Silver watched him ride past from her upstairs window. She struggled with her feelings, wanting to run after him, not wanting it to end like this. Then she remembered that she was nothing but another pretty conquest to him, that he really cared nothing for her. He was like the others after all.

But while she struggled with the decision, he rode on down the street and the moment was lost. She watched his figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance and she kept looking long after he was lost to sight. Then she threw herself down on her bed and wept until she could weep no more.

When she got up and looked in one of her many mirrors, she was horrified to see her eyes red and swollen. She must not let her grief destroy her beauty; it was really all she could count on. As long as she possessed a flawless face, she had security that no man would offer her. In the meantime, she had a saloon to run. Silver stared at her hand.
A treasure to keep
. Without thinking, she put her palm against her heart, and the bracelet he had given her tinkled as she did so. She changed into a gaudy silver-spangled dress as night came on, splashed cold water on her face, put on the silver shoes, and went downstairs to the only life she knew.

Cherokee made his trip south with a heavy heart. Already the states were gearing up for the coming fight, but he had no stomach for it. He was going because it was his duty and because he owed this to the friend he had betrayed.

He avoided riding out to Shannon Place plantation because he didn’t want to face Shawn’s beautiful but faithless wife. Instead, he went to the nearby village, asked around, and was sent to a camp where Captain Shawn O’Bannion was helping train raw recruits.

He dismounted and handed his reins over to a big, redheaded private.
Is Shawn here?”