Read Online The Gambler by Lois Greiman - Free Book Online Page A

forest-deep eyes there were tears.
    Raven stared at her, temporarily forgetting his concussion, his throbbing groin, his aching back. God, she was beautiful.
    "No heart at all?" she whispered.
    Raven brought himself back to reality with a painful lash of his memory. "No," he said evenly. "None. And I believe we've played this game before. It was amusing, but once is enough."
    "Can't you see he's terribly ill?"
    "What I see is that you think me terribly stupid."
    She pursed her lips. Anger darted in the kaleidoscope recesses of her eyes. "Then you're not completely blind."
    Raven gave her a cold smile. "All you need do is tell me the truth about Grady."
    "I told you before." Her voice wavered, and her gaze flickered to the trio of men who shuffled about not far away. "I don't know any Grady."
    Raven canted his head at her. "Then maybe your father can tell me what happened to the girl. Hey! Old man," he said, shaking the limp shoulder. "That was a good try, but it's time to talk now."
    "What are you doing?" Charm demanded, jerking to her feet. "Are you crazy? He needs his rest." She yanked at Raven's arm, but he caught her hand in a carefully controlled grip, pulling it near his chest.
    "I've had just about enough of your entertaining lies. Now I'll have the truth."
    "I told you the truth."
    "The devil you did!"
    "This fella botherin' you, miss?" asked a voice from behind.
    Charm's wide gaze was trapped on Raven's. "Let me go," she ordered.
    "Over your dead body," he said, managing a smile.
    "He bothering you?" asked a second man. The first one stepped closer, his movements agitated.
    Charm's gaze held on Raven's.
    "Yes," she whispered. "He is."
    "Let the lady go, mister," said yet another rough voice. Raven knew better than to turn his back to Charm when he spoke to the grizzly men. Despite the damage they could do him, Charm Fergusson could, no doubt, do worse.
    "She may be a lot of things, friend," said Raven quietly, still holding her gaze, "but a lady, she's not."
    Three large bodies shuffled closer. "You'll be 'pologizing to the lady now, mister, or you'll be sayin' adieu to your teeth."
    It dawned on Raven, rather belatedly, it seemed, that Charm had found herself not one but three large and well-fermented champions. He scowled mentally and turned while still holding her arm. "My apologies to one and all," he said. If he'd learned anything from Clancy, it was to know when to back away with his hands in the air. The problem was, he only had one hand to lift at this particular moment, for he would not let go of the girl and risk her escape. "But I have a matter of some importance to discuss with Miss Charm."
    "We said t'let go of the lady."
    Raven tried another smile. Things looked grim. Sober men he could reason with. Intelligent men he could bargain with. These men were neither. But lying he could do with anyone. "The truth is, boys..." he began with a single shake of his head. "She's my sister."
    For a moment the three men looked baffled.
    "The hell!" exclaimed the closest of them in dubious disbelief.
    "God's truth!" Raven swore, simultaneously reviewing the locations of the doors. Good Lord, he'd just regained a modicum of his strength. Now was not the time to be wrestling grizzlies. "She run off with that fellow there," he said, nodding toward Jude. "It broke our mama's heart."
    "You lie!" exclaimed grizzly number two, stepping nearer. "That's her pa."
    Raven retreated, pulling Charm along and raising an inoffensive palm toward the bulky trio. "Now, think on it a spell. What kind of man would take his own girl into a place like this? And dress her like..."He allowed himself one quick glance at Charm's half-bared bosom then shook his head sadly. "I'm shamed of you, Mary Beth. Plum ashamed."
    Her body was stiff, her lips slightly parted, and her eyes very wide. "You're insane," she whispered.
    "P'raps Mama shouldn't of married her Uncle Bill after all," Raven reasoned and allowed an honest smile for his own wit and the