The Gambler by Lois Greiman Page B

become close to each other?" He glared, wishing he could throttle her. "Like sisters."
    "We did."
    "Think of a better one, Charm," he warned, leaning closer still. "Or I'll have you hauled off to jail."
    "You can't do that."
    He nodded once, playing his last card. "Suspicion of murder, darlin'. Who shot Chantilly Grady if it wasn't you?"
    Her lips moved again, but no sound came. He wondered curiously if she were praying, chanting something to save her soul.
    "I'm tired," he said finally. "But I'm giving you one more chance."
    She opened her mouth. He stopped her words with an upraised finger. "Just one."
    No sound was forthcoming. He waited. Perhaps now she was beyond speech, he thought, for she looked shocked enough to die.
    He shook his head, causing increased pain to shoot along his neck and down to his stiffening body. "I can't disprove the third lie," he said, feeling anger pierce him again. "But I sure as hell can disprove the first," he growled and, reaching down, yanked her skirt above her knees.
    Her scream was piercing, and when the lamp hit his head, it was hard and unyielding, sending him into oblivion with a curse for his own carelessness.
    Jude Fergusson, it seemed, had not been quite so inebriated as Raven had thought.
     

Chapter 5
    It took Raven four days to walk with a semblance of ease, and exactly two minutes and thirty-six seconds for him to swear revenge.
    He knew, because an aging miner with a weakness for liquor had clocked the time span between the Fergussons' clandestine departure and Raven's vow for vengeance.
    Unfortunately the miner had failed to note in what direction the villains had fled. But it mattered little, for despite the difficulties, Raven had found her.
    He remained motionless now, watching from a shadowy corner of the saloon. Since New Eden boasted only a half dozen wooden structures, the Red Eye was generally well occupied. But it was not yet dusk, and the miners who frequented the place would flock in later.
    For now there were fewer than a dozen patrons in the room, five of whom occupied the same table. It was there that Raven's attention was held. Three of the men were large burly fellows who appeared to have been drinking since making enough ore to buy the booze. Or perhaps they were trappers, for they wore hides of uncertain origins draped upon their massive shoulders like trophies of war.
    Raven shifted his gaze to the fourth man. Jude Fergusson sat with his brows pulled low, impatiently tapping the table with two blunt fingers. During his search, Raven had been afforded time to craft several possible scenarios concerning that man. None of them was complimentary, but all of them were interesting, and should assure a rise from the old man if properly stated. At the moment, however, Jude's past transgressions seemed insignificant, for Charm was there, too.
    Raven filled his lungs with a deep waft of smoky air and waited, savoring the anticipation of approaching her. Gone was the girl's stained traveling suit. In its place was a shimmering gown of scarlet hue. It hugged her bosom with lusty intimacy before sweeping over her hips to fall to the floor in ruffled layers. Raven took another deep breath, knowing he'd forgotten her effect on him. But it wasn't just on him, he realized grimly. On all men. Not one of Jude's opponents was looking at his cards, for Charm took that precise moment to bend over her father's shoulder.
    Damn her conniving, luscious, mouth-watering little body.
    "You in or out, Henri?"
    Raven could just barely hear the giant's husky question. A grumbling response followed as cards were tossed to the table. None of the gamblers, however, took his eyes from the girl. It wasn't long before the game was completed, for, indeed, who could concentrate with Charm looming softly curved and smiling at her father's side?
    Anger diffused Raven in hot waves. He stood with slow, well-controlled impatience, quietly pushing himself from the table to cross the dim room. "Mind if