When a Texan Gambles by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Large Type Books, Historical, Texas, Women Pioneers
ISBN: 9780515136296
Publisher: Wheeler Pub.
Published: 2002-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

SARAH HELD HER HEAD HIGH AND FORCED HERSELF to climb the steps. She'd sent Norma across the street to buy thread so they could mend the barmaid's blouse, assuring the woman that there was not anything to worry about. She had nothing to fear from her husband, Sarah reminded herself. She only wanted a moment alone with him to explain what he'd seen on the street.

In truth, Sarah swallowed down panic as she reached the door. She had never seen Sam so angry.

She'd heard people say that they knew someone who would get angry enough to spit nails, but until today she'd never thought the expression might be true.

Opening the door as quietly as possible, Sarah half expected him to start shouting at her before she could get into the room.

Only silence greeted her.

She closed the door behind her and waited. Nothing. Maybe he hadn't been as mad as she thought. Maybe he'd had time to think it over, and he realized that she wasn't doing anything improper.

Before she made up her mind, he stormed from the bedroom, his hands filled with shaving gear and the clothes he'd worn the day before. "Get packed," he ordered. "We're leaving." He tossed his clothes into the trunk he'd left in the drawing room for days and crammed his shaving supplies into his saddlebags.

"Sam, what is it?" Any joy she felt at knowing Zeb Whitaker was in jail vanished when she realized Reed was still out there looking for Sam. What if Reed knew they were in Dallas? Were they running?

Hiding? Or going after Reed?

She reached out and touched his sleeve as he passed. "What's wrong?" Her imagination was quickly coming up with all that might have happened.

He jerked away, making her stumble forward with his sudden action.

She watched him walk away. He hadn't even noticed she'd tripped. He simply continued his packing. She moved closer. "Sam?"

He turned so quickly, she stepped back, feeling almost as if she'd been hit by a blow. "What's wrong? What's wrong?" His voice grew in volume as he closed the distance between them. "I see my wife hugging a man on the street, and you ask me what's wrong?"

She stood her ground. "Sam, let me—"

"No! I know what I saw."

"But... "

He wasn't listening. "Tell me, Sarah, did you ask him to hold you, too? Did you melt against him like warm butter so he could feel—"

Her slap hit his face with all the force she could muster. "How dare you?'

He didn't move as the side of his jaw turned red with the imprint of her hand. "How dare I what? How dare I pretend I'm your husband when we both know I'm not?"

"You are my husband."

"In name only, Sarah."

"So that's what you're so mad about. The fact that I won't sleep with you."

"No, I'm mad as hell about you standing on the street wrapped up in another man arms."

Sarah raised her hand.

"You hit me again, woman, and I swear you'll regret it."

"Then hit me, Sam!" she yelled. "I always knew you were a wife-beater.

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