bleeding to death on a mountain. Your son, the hero, dove down to get her.”
Thomas turned back to the stallion. “Standard ten percent fee.”
Uttering a curse under his breath, Spencer agreed. Just once it would be nice for people to do favors without skinning him in return. “Send Zeke back to the ship when he’s finished with his ride. I want to be airborne again by nightfall.”
“If he comes back by then.”
Spencer sighed. “I’ll be sure to check the saloon.”
He turned from the corral and stalked off, calculating how much the ten percent was going to hurt. By the time he made it back to the Dark Hawk , the sun beat down from high overhead, burning through his thin shirt. At least he’d managed to figure out ways to trim his costs without anyone taking a pay hit. Though, if they got into trouble on the journey, it’d be bad.
“Simple solution, Spence,” he muttered, “just avoid any damned trouble for once.”
He strode onto the ship and to the mess, intent on eating before taking Ever out for some proper clothes.
So much for no trouble.
Ever squared off with Henri across the table. Her face was calm, but a storm brewed in her eyes and the veins stood out on her neck, like it was all she could do not to launch herself over the table at the woman trying desperately not to cower in front of her.
Spencer cleared his throat. “What’d I miss?”
Ever’s furious gaze turned to him; the storm dissipated and color rose in her cheeks. She sat down and picked up a discarded apple. Without a word, she bit into it with a loud crunch. Silent, Henri swept from the room, her face ashen. Another political fiasco he’d have to deal with. He didn’t expect the women to be friends, but couldn’t they at least try to get along?
“Anyone?”
Noah muttered something about checking on their repairs while they were on the ground and ducked out of the mess.
Mahala just laughed. She’d tell him if he ordered her to, but he didn’t want to go down that road. Reminding her of being forced to answer to a master wasn’t something he intended on doing.
“Ever?”
She raised her eyes again. Now they blazed with defiance. “We were discussing the meaning of my markings and what my duties entailed back home.” Her expression dared him to challenge her.
“And I’m certain the conversation was enough to give Henri fits for days, but as a general rule, it’s probably best to stay away from her unless you need medical attention.” He slid a hunk of cheese into his mouth and polished an apple on his sleeve.
Ever clenched her hands, one nearly crushing her own apple, before answering. “That would indeed be ideal. However, your Henri insists on finding me.”
Spencer cringed but didn’t correct her this time. “Then I’m sure you won’t mind getting away from her for a while.”
Later, as they made their way through the streets of Austin, Ever remained tense, her eyes darting from side to side, looking for trouble. He laid a hand on her arm, happy for an excuse to touch her again. “Don’t be so jumpy. We’re as safe here as anywhere.”
“The men here. They look at me like a challenge. It reminds me too much of the borders at home.”
With a fairly good idea what she meant, Spencer glanced around them. Men leered, pointed, some practically salivated. Then he noticed the way the sun shone through the remnants of Ever’s skirt and cursed his stupidity, even as the sight made his blood race. The weapons she carried didn’t make a difference—from the waist down she might as well have been naked. “Will you trust me when I say none of them are looking to kill you?”
The wind blew her hair back, exposing her tight jaw. “Few of them do, at least initially.”
He fought the urge to comfort her. She wouldn’t appreciate it. Instead he steered her toward a building on their right. Inside the door, he yelled, “Brigid, I’m here to collect that favor!”
A redhead in a utilitarian skirt and
Thomas turned back to the stallion. “Standard ten percent fee.”
Uttering a curse under his breath, Spencer agreed. Just once it would be nice for people to do favors without skinning him in return. “Send Zeke back to the ship when he’s finished with his ride. I want to be airborne again by nightfall.”
“If he comes back by then.”
Spencer sighed. “I’ll be sure to check the saloon.”
He turned from the corral and stalked off, calculating how much the ten percent was going to hurt. By the time he made it back to the Dark Hawk , the sun beat down from high overhead, burning through his thin shirt. At least he’d managed to figure out ways to trim his costs without anyone taking a pay hit. Though, if they got into trouble on the journey, it’d be bad.
“Simple solution, Spence,” he muttered, “just avoid any damned trouble for once.”
He strode onto the ship and to the mess, intent on eating before taking Ever out for some proper clothes.
So much for no trouble.
Ever squared off with Henri across the table. Her face was calm, but a storm brewed in her eyes and the veins stood out on her neck, like it was all she could do not to launch herself over the table at the woman trying desperately not to cower in front of her.
Spencer cleared his throat. “What’d I miss?”
Ever’s furious gaze turned to him; the storm dissipated and color rose in her cheeks. She sat down and picked up a discarded apple. Without a word, she bit into it with a loud crunch. Silent, Henri swept from the room, her face ashen. Another political fiasco he’d have to deal with. He didn’t expect the women to be friends, but couldn’t they at least try to get along?
“Anyone?”
Noah muttered something about checking on their repairs while they were on the ground and ducked out of the mess.
Mahala just laughed. She’d tell him if he ordered her to, but he didn’t want to go down that road. Reminding her of being forced to answer to a master wasn’t something he intended on doing.
“Ever?”
She raised her eyes again. Now they blazed with defiance. “We were discussing the meaning of my markings and what my duties entailed back home.” Her expression dared him to challenge her.
“And I’m certain the conversation was enough to give Henri fits for days, but as a general rule, it’s probably best to stay away from her unless you need medical attention.” He slid a hunk of cheese into his mouth and polished an apple on his sleeve.
Ever clenched her hands, one nearly crushing her own apple, before answering. “That would indeed be ideal. However, your Henri insists on finding me.”
Spencer cringed but didn’t correct her this time. “Then I’m sure you won’t mind getting away from her for a while.”
Later, as they made their way through the streets of Austin, Ever remained tense, her eyes darting from side to side, looking for trouble. He laid a hand on her arm, happy for an excuse to touch her again. “Don’t be so jumpy. We’re as safe here as anywhere.”
“The men here. They look at me like a challenge. It reminds me too much of the borders at home.”
With a fairly good idea what she meant, Spencer glanced around them. Men leered, pointed, some practically salivated. Then he noticed the way the sun shone through the remnants of Ever’s skirt and cursed his stupidity, even as the sight made his blood race. The weapons she carried didn’t make a difference—from the waist down she might as well have been naked. “Will you trust me when I say none of them are looking to kill you?”
The wind blew her hair back, exposing her tight jaw. “Few of them do, at least initially.”
He fought the urge to comfort her. She wouldn’t appreciate it. Instead he steered her toward a building on their right. Inside the door, he yelled, “Brigid, I’m here to collect that favor!”
A redhead in a utilitarian skirt and
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