Cactus Flower (Gone-to-Texas Trilogy) by Henke Shirl

Author:Henke, Shirl [Henke, Shirl]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Shirl Henke
Published: 2011-09-09T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Tomasina came to a halt just inside the door, her eyes narrowing as she took in the intimate tableau. Slade sat bare-chested, reclining against the headboard of the bed with that hateful cat perched next to him. Charlee was much too close, sitting in a chair beside the bed.

“Diego, I just returned from the ranch this morning and heard you had been shot! I came immediately.” Ignoring Charlee, she swished her chocolate taffeta skirts dramatically and swept over to the opposite side of the bed. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she kissed him on the lips in assertion of her position. Let the little tart be warned. After all, Charlee was only a scullery maid!

Slade had never seen Tomasina act so forward, and he was certain of what had prompted her boldness. Smiling rather cynically, he carefully freed himself and prepared for a difficult confrontation.

As Charlee rose and gathered up the tray, her eyes met his once more. “I’ll take these things to the kitchen, Jim. Just yell if you need help.”

Watching the unspoken interplay between them, Tomasina suddenly knew they were lovers. There was a certain intangible tension between a man and woman who had lain together. A murderous fury seized her as she watched the mere slip of a girl vanish out the door.

Slade observed the quick flashes of jealousy and calculation play across her beautiful face, realizing for the first time how little he knew her. What a blind spot for a man who prided himself on being such a shrewd judge of people!

Quickly, regaining control of her emotions, she turned to confront her fiancé, remembering that she had to walk a tightrope carefully between Jim and Ashley Markham. She sat on the bed and placed one hand, now minus its glove, over his own, which rested limply on the covers. “Diego, are you badly hurt? I feel so guilty that I was not here, but those tiresome men at Jake's ranch got into a fight. I will be so relieved to have you assume the burden of running the place for me, querido”

Ignoring her question about his injury, he said, “A Comanchero named Rufus Brady, an errand boy for Ashley Markham, tried to kidnap Charlee.” His cougar's eyes skewered her, looking for a reaction to either name.

“Why would anyone want to bother with a kitchen maid? Really, Diego, I do not understand.” With her black eyes limpid and her forehead creased in a frown of puzzlement, she looked as guileless as a newborn foal.

“I wonder, Sina. You see, Brady didn't get away. I killed him and searched his body. He was carrying a bundle of gold and some very interesting information on ranger and militia movements.” He paused for effect, then continued, “Charlee told me everything, Sina. She overheard you and Markham in the alley yesterday morning.”

She put one small beringed hand to her throat in outrage. “That's absurd! She's either lying or she saw another woman and mistook her for me!”

“Give it up, Sina.

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