Quicksilver Passion by Georgina Gentry - Colorado 01 - Quicksilver Passion Page A

another troubled night for Silver, although she kept her lamp burning brightly. Every time she dozed off, she dreamed of the rugged half-breed. In her dream, she looked into his face and saw her own reflection in his adoring eyes. Then he reached for her, pulling her into his embrace. She woke up shaking. Why had she dreamed of him? Why couldn’t she forget him? She hated men. She need never let one hurt and humiliate her ever again.
    It was her insecurity, that was all. She was so afraid of losing both her beauty and her money. What would happen to her then? Maybe she needed to buy into something besides a saloon. That way if the Nugget caught fire or business went down, she’d still have something for her old age. Maybe she ought to invest in a claim of her own.
    That morning Silver had coffee in the empty saloon with Al and brought it up as casually as she could.I been thinking, maybe putting all my eggs in one basket isn’t such a good idea. Everyone says there’s bound to be a civil war. Maybe all the men will go off to fight and no one will come in the Nugget anymore.”
    Al looked at her a long moment, then poured a big slug of his medicine into his coffee. He stirred it and sipped, not saying anything.
    Al, you oughta lay off that stuff, it’ll kill you.”
    He laughed and winked at her.I promised my mama I wouldn’t touch liquor, Silver, I told you that before. But these bitters have enough alcohol to suit me. Mama didn’t say nothin’ about taking medicine.”
    There was no point in pressing the matter further. She never drank anything but coffee herself, wanting to be cold sober at all times—completely in control. At the Velvet Kitten, Brett had forced whiskey down her throat every night before he took her, so she’d be easier to handle.
    Al must have read her thoughts.Forget Chicago. Don’t think anything but good thoughts, Silver. You look like you haven’t slept a wink.”
    Silver started to comment that Al didn’t look so good either. His face seemed a little gray this morning, then she decided it might be her imagination.I don’t know what I’d do without you, Al.”
    Oh, maybe some nice man will come along and take over for me sometime.” He said it a little too brightly.
    She shook her head, revolted at the thought.The others aren’t like you, Al. You know what a husband would want, don’t you?”
    Don’t think about it, Silver. I’m here for you as long as you need me. I just keep thinking about the future . . .”
    That was something she didn’t want to think about. The future meant time passing. Time passing meant aging. Maybe even Al wouldn’t love her when she was a wrinkled old lady. That brought her back to her original thought.I’ve been considering making some investments so I wouldn’t have all my eggs in one basket.”
    He shrugged.Nugget seems to be doing fine to me. What’d you have in mind?”
    She tried to look casual.Maybe a gold claim.”
    A gold claim?” His mouth dropped open and he slammed his cup down so that coffee sloshed into the saucer.Silver, if you want to invest in gold, do it the way Haw Tabor’s doin’. He grubstakes miners for a share of their profits. Mark my word, he’ll be a rich man someday.”
    Drat! She might have to do a lot of explaining and she wasn’t sure herself why the idea had come to her.I—I thought I might just buy a claim, you know, hold it for an investment.” She sipped her coffee.
    This doesn’t sound like you, Silver. You’ve always been a shrewd businesswoman. Drop this wild idea!” He reached out and patted the back of her hand.
    Automatically she jerked away from the touch.
    Sorry, Silver, sometimes I forget and let my feelings for you—”
    I know, Al,” she whispered,it’s all right.” She owed him everything, but all he wanted was to have her love him as men and women loved each other, and that she was unable to do. She could never love a man like that. She owed Al more than she could ever repay. He had killed a