Gambling on Forever by Becky Lower

Author:Becky Lower [Lower, Becky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Rose Publications
Published: 2018-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

He kicked himself as much as he did his horse. He dug his heels into his mount. How could he have been so stupid? Let his guard down for half-a-minute, enjoying the company of his friends, and she’d loped off with his money. She probably sweet-talked that lieutenant into doing her bidding, and even managed to take a hot bath and changed into clean clothes, while all he had to show for the visit was the after taste of some good brandy and an even better cigar.

He scratched his side as he put some distance between himself and the fort. He could have used a hot bath himself. Instead of tarrying at the fort as he’d decided to do just hours ago, he followed her trail, like a bloodhound after a tasty morsel.

He found her tracks easily enough, but dusk settled in quickly. Once the light disappeared completely, he’d have to hunker down for the night. Without her. Elise would be on her own, facing the unknown. He wondered if she’d ever been in the open alone before. Not likely, with the passel of brothers she had. She had no idea what the night had in store. Wild animals and wilder men. He spurred his mount forward.

An hour later, he spied a small fire in the woods and cautiously guided his horse forward. She’d changed her shirt and now wore a deep blue blouse that matched her eyes. But she still had on the gauchos, for ease of movement while riding astride, which is what she’d planned from the start. The glow from the fire highlighted her dusky skin tone and for a moment, he stayed atop his horse and stared at the lovely picture. She, indeed, was a tasty morsel.

The immediate furrow between her eyebrows when she spied him spoke volumes. She’d actually thought he wouldn’t be able to find her. Wouldn’t leave the comfort of the fort and come after her, despite the fact she had the rest of his money. Despite now knowing her reluctance to follow through on her attraction to him.

She rose, whip in hand, and scowled at him. “Took you long enough to figure out I’d given you the slip.”

“Ah, but you didn’t give me the slip, since here I am.” James slid down off the back of the horse in a fluid motion. “You left a trail about a mile wide for me to follow.”

“Did not.” She shook her hair back from her face and ran her fingers through the strands before she started fashioning a braid.

“I thought you’d take a bit more time toying with the affections of your wet-behind-the-ears lieutenant, but I figured you’d run if you could.” James led his horse to the stream and let him drink before tying him to a tree branch.

“Did the lieutenant make you jealous? He happened to be a very sweet young man, who came all undone when he put it together I’d be naked while bathing. He wouldn’t stay in the room with me, even with the tub behind a screen, which afforded me a perfect opportunity.

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