Read Online Diamond Buckow by A. J. Arnold - Free Book Online Page B

felt seared through with consuming hatred. Only with tremendous effort did he manage to mount and ride off.

Chapter Eight
    The winter sun had slipped from the sky, and the ever-present wind of western Kansas drove the chill through to the bone. Buck’s feet were like blocks of ice, his fingers stiff on the bridle reins.
    He rode toward Dodge from the west, slumped in the saddle. Most times he could hardly wait to see Sarah, but the last two paydays had been a different story. Just how long, he wondered angrily, was he supposed to work for a man before he got some money for his time and muscle?
    After all, Buck had things he wanted to do. He would have liked to take Sarah to the Saturday square dance, and he needed warmer socks and gloves. And another thought kept bothering him as well: what if Ainsworth dragged Sarah away before he was in a position to do anything about it?
    Damn it! he swore to himself through gritted teeth. Old Man Blough just had to come across with the wages he owed. The closer Buck got to town, the more dangerous was his state of mind. By the time he tied his mare in front of Henderson’s his mood was murderous.
    Slamming through the front door of the merchandise store, he strode the length of the narrow first room and into the ladies’ section without thinking. He was aware of no one other than the slender blond girl he had come to see.
    â€œSarah,” he blurted out, with no preamble. “My tightwad boss didn’t pay me again this month, and so I reckon I can’t take you to the hoedown tonight. This is the third time in a row he’s managed not to be around when I was set to saddle up.”
    Abruptly, Buck stopped talking when it dawned on him that they were not alone. Two faces were turned earnestly toward him—Sarah’s, and Nancy Blough’s. Buck’s own features flushed at what his employer’s wife had heard him say. He hadn’t expected to find her in the millinery at just this moment. And yet, she certainly seemed to be his friend. Even now, her rich brown gaze was full of concern and kindness.
    Not the kind of woman to hide in the house and make herself scarce, Nancy was someone to talk to and depend on in the much older and harsher world of a working ranch. She felt lost in this land of limitless space, so different from the safe, close confines of her former life in Saint Louis. And Buck made her laugh.
    He in turn poured out his hopes of redeeming his family’s name, of being an honest, ambitious man. Her grave, dark eyes always upheld his dreams. Yes, they were friends, and his swift, furtive glance in her direction confirmed that he hadn’t offended Mrs. Blough.
    Sarah gulped and swallowed hard at Buck’s words. “Oh, I am sorry.”
    She flashed a sweet smile as a glint came to her bright green eyes. “But I have enough to pay our way in, if you’ll still take me.”
    â€œNo!” Nancy cut in, her low voice unusually sharp. “I’ll give him the money and it can count against his wages.”
    She searched Buck’s face, her sense of his feelings evident. “That will be better, Buck. I’ll simply ask Henry to deduct the amount when he does settle up with you.”
    He stared from Sarah to the slightly older woman in confused misery. His eyes locked with Nancy’s.
    â€œYou can’t do that, Mrs. Blough. Your man would get mad. Remember the first payday, when I told you he’d passed me by? We both thought it was an honest mistake, but when you reminded him—well, I always thought that was how you got that awful bruise on your cheek.”
    He reached out a hand toward her, but the sight of a glistening tear stopped him cold.
    â€œBuck,” Nancy all but whispered. “This is not the proper time or place to discuss such a matter.”
    He stood still a moment, then pounded a fist against the palm of his other hand as he turned to Sarah.
    â€œHow does a man let his