ally
himself with just any woman. I must choose a woman—for my wife, you
understand—who will be an asset to me in every way, someone of
style, wit, and intelligence—and, of course, beauty.”
He was staring down at her intently, and as
the moonlight touched his lean face, Juliana saw a flush of
excitement darken his cheeks. “You know, Juliana”—and the way he
said her given name for the first time was almost a physical
caress—“there ought to be a law against women being quite as
beautiful as you.”
“You’re very kind, Mr. Breen ...”
“Kind?” He chuckled as she edged farther away
from him, and he advanced upon her with deliberate slowness. “I’m
not being kind, Juliana. I’m being honest. Surely you know just how
ravishing you are.” He grinned down at her and reaching out,
clasped both her slender wrists in his hands. His strength was
surprising. He stepped so close, she could smell both the pomade on
his smoothly brushed fair hair, and the pungent tobacco scent of
the cigar bulging from his shirt pocket. Queasiness washed over
her. “After all, I saw all those boys pursuing you in St. Louis
that night, making damned fools out of themselves. You can’t
bamboozle me into thinking you’re unaware of your charms.”
“You obviously are not unaware of them, Mr.
Breen,” she said breathlessly as she tried unsuccessfully to
extricate herself from his grasp. “And I must tell you that I’m not
accustomed to such advances from a man I scarcely know. So I insist
that you let me go at once. If my uncle only knew ...
“He would do what? Challenge me to a showdown
at high noon? Horsewhip me? Pack his bags and head east without
signing the contracts he came here for?” Breen threw back his head
and laughed. “Your innocence is as delightful as your beauty. Ah,
Juliana, I see I’ve frightened you. Now come on, honey, don’t be
scared.” To her relief, he released her suddenly and stepped back
with a gallant bow. “I’m sorry if I stepped over the line—but
you’re so darned pretty—and I like seeing that angry sparkle that
comes into your eyes whenever you think I’m getting presumptuous.
Now I promise to take things nice and slow. But just the same, you
and I are going to get acquainted during this little visit.”
“I suppose we shall,” she retorted, dodging
past him and starting back toward the house. “As well acquainted as
anyone can become in two weeks. My uncle’s stay here will not be
lengthy—which in my opinion is a very good thing. Good evening, Mr.
Breen!”
She plunged through the doors into the
brightness of the parlour like a fleeing deer, certain he would try
to seize her and draw her back. But Breen merely watched her go,
delighted with her display of spirit. Leisurely, as the doors
slammed shut behind her, he reached into his pocket and removed his
cigar.
“Your uncle will stay put right here in
Denver until I say otherwise, honey,” he mused as he lit up,
inhaling with great satisfaction.
Juliana Montgomery didn’t understand that
yet. She didn’t recognize one tenth of the power he wielded. But
she would, Breen knew, and very soon. She’d take a bit of taming,
but there was nothing he liked better than to exercise the power of
his own will. He had no doubt of the outcome. His reward would be
the loveliest woman this side of the ocean, presiding over his
home, raising his son, reaping the benefits of his empire. Not bad
for a man who started out fifteen years ago with little more than a
horse and saddle to his name. He’d had a fancy education and a
bushel of charm, but his purse back then had been as empty as his
soul. Now he could have anything he wanted—including Juliana
Montgomery.
Especially Juliana Montgomery. The more he
saw of her, the more Breen knew that she must be his next
acquisition. Nothing and no one—including that greedy uncle of hers
or that upstart cowhand Gil Keedy—had better get in his way.
Breen blew a smoke ring and watched
himself with just any woman. I must choose a woman—for my wife, you
understand—who will be an asset to me in every way, someone of
style, wit, and intelligence—and, of course, beauty.”
He was staring down at her intently, and as
the moonlight touched his lean face, Juliana saw a flush of
excitement darken his cheeks. “You know, Juliana”—and the way he
said her given name for the first time was almost a physical
caress—“there ought to be a law against women being quite as
beautiful as you.”
“You’re very kind, Mr. Breen ...”
“Kind?” He chuckled as she edged farther away
from him, and he advanced upon her with deliberate slowness. “I’m
not being kind, Juliana. I’m being honest. Surely you know just how
ravishing you are.” He grinned down at her and reaching out,
clasped both her slender wrists in his hands. His strength was
surprising. He stepped so close, she could smell both the pomade on
his smoothly brushed fair hair, and the pungent tobacco scent of
the cigar bulging from his shirt pocket. Queasiness washed over
her. “After all, I saw all those boys pursuing you in St. Louis
that night, making damned fools out of themselves. You can’t
bamboozle me into thinking you’re unaware of your charms.”
“You obviously are not unaware of them, Mr.
Breen,” she said breathlessly as she tried unsuccessfully to
extricate herself from his grasp. “And I must tell you that I’m not
accustomed to such advances from a man I scarcely know. So I insist
that you let me go at once. If my uncle only knew ...
“He would do what? Challenge me to a showdown
at high noon? Horsewhip me? Pack his bags and head east without
signing the contracts he came here for?” Breen threw back his head
and laughed. “Your innocence is as delightful as your beauty. Ah,
Juliana, I see I’ve frightened you. Now come on, honey, don’t be
scared.” To her relief, he released her suddenly and stepped back
with a gallant bow. “I’m sorry if I stepped over the line—but
you’re so darned pretty—and I like seeing that angry sparkle that
comes into your eyes whenever you think I’m getting presumptuous.
Now I promise to take things nice and slow. But just the same, you
and I are going to get acquainted during this little visit.”
“I suppose we shall,” she retorted, dodging
past him and starting back toward the house. “As well acquainted as
anyone can become in two weeks. My uncle’s stay here will not be
lengthy—which in my opinion is a very good thing. Good evening, Mr.
Breen!”
She plunged through the doors into the
brightness of the parlour like a fleeing deer, certain he would try
to seize her and draw her back. But Breen merely watched her go,
delighted with her display of spirit. Leisurely, as the doors
slammed shut behind her, he reached into his pocket and removed his
cigar.
“Your uncle will stay put right here in
Denver until I say otherwise, honey,” he mused as he lit up,
inhaling with great satisfaction.
Juliana Montgomery didn’t understand that
yet. She didn’t recognize one tenth of the power he wielded. But
she would, Breen knew, and very soon. She’d take a bit of taming,
but there was nothing he liked better than to exercise the power of
his own will. He had no doubt of the outcome. His reward would be
the loveliest woman this side of the ocean, presiding over his
home, raising his son, reaping the benefits of his empire. Not bad
for a man who started out fifteen years ago with little more than a
horse and saddle to his name. He’d had a fancy education and a
bushel of charm, but his purse back then had been as empty as his
soul. Now he could have anything he wanted—including Juliana
Montgomery.
Especially Juliana Montgomery. The more he
saw of her, the more Breen knew that she must be his next
acquisition. Nothing and no one—including that greedy uncle of hers
or that upstart cowhand Gil Keedy—had better get in his way.
Breen blew a smoke ring and watched
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