Read Online When a Texan Gambles by Jodi Thomas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jodi Thomas
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chest and brushed the material smooth.
The simple action dynamited his senses, shattering a hundred barriers he’d built over the years.
And she wasn’t even aware of what she’d done, for she turned and added, “Coffee’s all we have, I’m afraid. The kids must not have thought it worth stealing.”
He nodded, deciding just to watch her without talking. She wasn’t making sense, and he wouldn‘t, either, if he tried to talk.
What he really wanted was a drink, but if what she said was accurate, he’d had plenty the past few days. She’d be surprised to learn that normally he avoided alcohol. He’d learned long ago that it dulled the senses, and in his line of work that could be deadly.
In less time than he thought possible, she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. He downed half of it in one swallow. As the warmth spread through his insides, Sam leaned back against the buffalo robe and closed his eyes. He could hear her moving around him, but sleep claimed him before he had time to form words to thank her.
She didn’t have to touch him; she didn’t even have to talk to him. If felt good just knowing she was close.
Hours later, when he drifted back, he was surprised to find her still with him. A part of him hadn’t wanted to wake because he thought she might be only in a dream. But there she sat on an empty crate, his freshly washed trousers spread across her lap.
Sam shoved his hair from his face and tried to rise. The clearing came into focus and he realized where he was as he stood. When he groaned, she looked up.
“Oh, hello.” Her voice was soft when she wasn’t yelling. “Feeling better?”
He thought about asking “compared to what?” but instead just nodded.
“Good, want to show me the way to your cabin now? We really should find it and get settled in before dark.”
He closed his eyes. It would sure help if she were sane or he more sober.
“What cabin? I don’t have a cabin.”
“Of course you do. You told me you had a place, and Denver directed me this far. If she was right about the clearing, she must know about the cabin. We just didn’t have time for more directions.”
The fog in his brain cleared slightly. If she’d been talking to Denver, no wonder the woman who claimed to be his wife was confused. “I only told Denver I had a cabin because I needed her to drop off supplies. This was a great place to leave a stash, but the clearing isn’t big enough to build a cabin on.”
Sarah looked disappointed. “I thought you had a place.” He didn’t have to read her mind to know what she could have added. She’d been hoping that if he had a cabin, maybe then she’d have somewhere to stay. Could it be possible that such a lovely creature not only didn’t have any clothes but had nowhere to go? If she’d picked him to follow, her other choices must be dire indeed.
“I only told Denver about a cabin because I needed supplies delivered here. I feared she would tell everyone in the state. This place is too hard to find for most to bother with. Denver’s lips are so loose, every secret that ever went into her head drips out. You’re probably not the only one she told about this spot, so we better get moving.”
“I’m not.” Sarah frowned. “She also must have told Tennessee Malone.”
“Tennessee Malone?” The name sounded familiar, but Sam couldn’t draw a face to match.
“He’s the man who brought the children out here. You know, your children.”
Sam started to wish he was still dreaming or drunk. “What children? I don’t have any children.”
Suddenly she jumped like a fireball on the sun and headed right toward him. A few inches from his nose, she shouted, “How dare you deny those sweet kids!”
“What kids?” he yelled, figuring if she could act like he was hard of hearing, he could do the same for her. “I never even heard of Malone or any kids he might have brought.”
She poked him in the very place she’d patted him before. “They sat
The simple action dynamited his senses, shattering a hundred barriers he’d built over the years.
And she wasn’t even aware of what she’d done, for she turned and added, “Coffee’s all we have, I’m afraid. The kids must not have thought it worth stealing.”
He nodded, deciding just to watch her without talking. She wasn’t making sense, and he wouldn‘t, either, if he tried to talk.
What he really wanted was a drink, but if what she said was accurate, he’d had plenty the past few days. She’d be surprised to learn that normally he avoided alcohol. He’d learned long ago that it dulled the senses, and in his line of work that could be deadly.
In less time than he thought possible, she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. He downed half of it in one swallow. As the warmth spread through his insides, Sam leaned back against the buffalo robe and closed his eyes. He could hear her moving around him, but sleep claimed him before he had time to form words to thank her.
She didn’t have to touch him; she didn’t even have to talk to him. If felt good just knowing she was close.
Hours later, when he drifted back, he was surprised to find her still with him. A part of him hadn’t wanted to wake because he thought she might be only in a dream. But there she sat on an empty crate, his freshly washed trousers spread across her lap.
Sam shoved his hair from his face and tried to rise. The clearing came into focus and he realized where he was as he stood. When he groaned, she looked up.
“Oh, hello.” Her voice was soft when she wasn’t yelling. “Feeling better?”
He thought about asking “compared to what?” but instead just nodded.
“Good, want to show me the way to your cabin now? We really should find it and get settled in before dark.”
He closed his eyes. It would sure help if she were sane or he more sober.
“What cabin? I don’t have a cabin.”
“Of course you do. You told me you had a place, and Denver directed me this far. If she was right about the clearing, she must know about the cabin. We just didn’t have time for more directions.”
The fog in his brain cleared slightly. If she’d been talking to Denver, no wonder the woman who claimed to be his wife was confused. “I only told Denver I had a cabin because I needed her to drop off supplies. This was a great place to leave a stash, but the clearing isn’t big enough to build a cabin on.”
Sarah looked disappointed. “I thought you had a place.” He didn’t have to read her mind to know what she could have added. She’d been hoping that if he had a cabin, maybe then she’d have somewhere to stay. Could it be possible that such a lovely creature not only didn’t have any clothes but had nowhere to go? If she’d picked him to follow, her other choices must be dire indeed.
“I only told Denver about a cabin because I needed supplies delivered here. I feared she would tell everyone in the state. This place is too hard to find for most to bother with. Denver’s lips are so loose, every secret that ever went into her head drips out. You’re probably not the only one she told about this spot, so we better get moving.”
“I’m not.” Sarah frowned. “She also must have told Tennessee Malone.”
“Tennessee Malone?” The name sounded familiar, but Sam couldn’t draw a face to match.
“He’s the man who brought the children out here. You know, your children.”
Sam started to wish he was still dreaming or drunk. “What children? I don’t have any children.”
Suddenly she jumped like a fireball on the sun and headed right toward him. A few inches from his nose, she shouted, “How dare you deny those sweet kids!”
“What kids?” he yelled, figuring if she could act like he was hard of hearing, he could do the same for her. “I never even heard of Malone or any kids he might have brought.”
She poked him in the very place she’d patted him before. “They sat
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