Authors: Stolen Ecstasy
Hannah Howell (14 page)
“Exactly.”
“And you can make sure I won’t be forced to give him the prize I use as a lure?”
“I swear to you, Leanne, you won’t have to give him anything. Trust me.”
Sighing, she shook her head, very inclined to do as he wished yet still uncertain. “You keep saying that, yet you give me so little reason to trust you.”
“I know. I promise it’ll all be clear after tonight.”
“And this game you wish me to play is really necessary?”
“I need to get the man alone, away from his loyal hounds. Until today, when I saw his interest in you, I hadn’t come up with a way to do that. You won’t have to be alone with him for long.”
“I’d better not be, Hunter, or you’ll sorely regret it.”
He smiled faintly, understanding her cross words for the agreement they were. Drawing her into his arms he gave her a slow, deep kiss. By the time the kiss ended, he was very reluctant to let her go, but she stepped free of his hold. He frowned when she walked to the mirror and tugged the pins from her hair.
“What’re you doing?”
Watching him in the mirror as she quickly brushed out her hair, Leanne replied, “You said he liked it down.”
“Yeah, so I did.”
The grumpy tone to his voice nearly made her smile as she hastily braided the two front sections of her hair then looped them towards the back and pinned them there. It was the first indication that he did not like Watkins’s interest in her. The last of her qualms eased. She would trust him.
“There. How does that look?” She turned around, allowing him a good look at her total appearance.
“I’m beginning to think twice about this plan of mine.”
“You said you needed to get the man alone, away from his guards.”
“I do.”
“You also feel I can accomplish that.”
“I don’t feet it—I know it.”
“And—this is guessing on my part—I think you are pressed for time to accomplish whatever it is you intend to accomplish.”
“You guess right.”
“Well, then, it seems you’re stuck with the plan you’ve got.”
“It seems so, but I’m liking it less and less. You’re really not going to press for reasons, are you?” He was both pleased and slightly astonished at this sign of trust in him.
“You said you couldn’t explain now but will later. I’ll accept that. However, you can bet your life that I’ll hold you to that promise once you’ve gotten whatever it is you seek.”
“You’ll get your explanations.” He gave her a long look.
“Leanne, don’t underestimate Watkins. He’s dangerous. Play the game, but be on your guard.”
“I intend to be.” She frowned. “Just how dangerous is he?”
“He has no morals, obeys no laws. I know that sounds strange coming from me, but even outlaws have certain laws they stick to. Tom showed you that when he stopped Luke. Watkins seems to lack even the smallest sense of right or wrong. He cares for nothing and nobody. What he wants, he grabs. If something is in his way, he disposes of it. He’s the worst sort of man to bait, but I can’t think of any other way to get him alone,” he muttered, running his hand through his hair in a gesture of agitation.
“I will only be alone with him for a moment.”
“I don’t plan on it being any longer than that.” He shrugged. “But the best laid plans . . .”
“Oft go awry. I will keep all you’ve said in mind. I assume you will as well.”
“I have since the first day I joined up with him.” He cursed softly when there was a loud rap at the door.
“Time to go, Hunter,” bellowed one of Watkins’s men. “The boss don’t like people being late.”
“Can’t have the boss displeased, can we,” Leanne muttered as Hunter took her by the arm and started towards the door.
“His men would drag you there dripping from your bath rather than let that happen.”
Outside the bedroom door lurked two burly, heavily armed men. Both of them looked her over in a way that chilled her. That they would not dare touch her because of Watkins’s interest did not really ease her nervous reaction.
“Come on. He had a carriage sent for her.”
“Well, I suppose it would be a little difficult to ride a horse in this finery,” she murmured as she and Hunter followed the two men to where the carriage waited.
“Just wish I hadn’t picked out one so fine,” Hunter grumbled as he helped her into the carriage.
It pleased her to know Hunter had chosen the dress. She liked it far better knowing he had been the one to pick the flattering color and style.
To her annoyance, one of Watkins’s men joined them in the carriage. It was evident that Henry Watkins did not trust anyone. For all his stolen riches and criminal genius he was, she realized, little more than a prisoner in a jail of his own making. It was justice of a sort, she mused, but something told her Henry Watkins was a man long overdue for a hanging.
“And you’re riding off to play flirtatious games with him,” she reminded herself with a grimace. For all she knew Hunter planned to rob Watkins as he had robbed the bank in Clayville. But he had asked her to trust hlm, so she would. It was as simple as that. As the carriage halted, she prayed she was not making a terrible mistake.
Watkins’s hacienda was breathtaking. The man was lavish with his ill-gotten gains, she mused as Hunter escorted her into the foyer. She could not help but wonder how many innocent people had gone hungry or lost everything because Watkins had robbed them to have chandeliers and fine Oriental carpets in his hideout. It was hard to hide the distaste she felt for the man when he took her hand in his.
“Leanne,” Watkins murmured, kissing her hand, “you look lovely.”
“You are most kind, Henry.”
“Not kind. Merely truthful.” He took her by the arm. “Come, Joseph is serving drinks in the front parlor.”
She spared a brief glance for Hunter, who fell back with Jed, Charlie, and Tom. To play the game right, she would have to pay him little attention. She would have to fight her inclination to keep looking at him, to watch him move, to catch his faint rare smiles. For a little while she must fully suppress her fascination with Hunter.
Soon she was glad for all the lessons in manners and etiquette she had suffered through in school. She adequately feigned interest in all Watkins said, acting as if his conversation was the height of wit and wisdom instead of the conceited tripe or empty flattery it really was.
“An excellent meal, Henry,” she said with the first honesty she had employed all evening.
“I can see you are a woman of breeding.”
She smiled sweetly. “How kind.” When he reached out to pat her hand, she fought the urge to pull away.
“Living in this cultural wasteland must be difficult for such a refined woman.”
Lowering her lashes in what she hoped was an appropriately coy gesture, she murmured, “It
has
been difficult at times.”
has
been difficult at times.”
“Well, I believe I might have just the thing to alleviate the boredom.”
“Really?”
“Some very fine paintings. True masterpieces.”
“You’re a collector?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“Oh, I should love to see them.”
“And I will be proud to show them to you.” Still holding her hand, he helped her to her feet.
“They are in your library?”
“No, my bedroom.”
She hesitated. “Oh, Henry, I’m not sure . . .”
“Come, my dear, you can trust me.”
Heartily doubting that, she let Watkins lead her away. She fought the urge to look at Hunter, to beseech him with a glance not to forget his promise. A moment alone with Watkins would be all she could abide. She chanced one glance behind her. Her questions about how Hunter could reach her in such a short time were answered. The guards Watkins waved away interpreted his gesture as complete dismissal and slipped out of the house.
“What the hell are you doing?” Charlie snapped the minute Watkins and his men were gone.
“Rolling a cigarette,” Hunter drawled even as he tucked the makings back into his pocket.
“You’ve just let Watkins slip up them fancy steps of his with Leanne. They ain’t headed up there to play checkers, y’know.”
“I know.” He lit his cigarette, fighting the urge to race right after the pair.
“You’re up to something, ain’t you? Planning something.”
Jed’s sudden insight was ill-timed, Hunter thought. “Sometimes a person’s smartest when he doesn’t know much and doesn’t try too hard to find out anything.”
That silenced Jed and Charlie. It was not for his own benefit that he wanted them ignorant, but for theirs. Ignorance of his plans could save their lives. He had come to see that they were outlaws mostly by accident. Though he had no time to save them from their ill-chosen path, as he increasingly wished to do, he wanted to be sure they were not dragged into the danger he was courting.
Grinding out the stub of his cigarette in the ornate ashtray by his seat, Hunter decided it was time to make his move. The guards had had time to wander far enough away and Watkins would be thoroughly occupied in cornering Leanne. He wanted to be sure to get to Leanne before Watkins frightened her.
“Where you going?” Charlie demanded when Hunter stood and started to leave the room.
“Best you don’t ask.”
After the door shut behind Hunter, Charlie and Jed frowned at each other. Their puzzlement grew when, a moment after Hunter left, Tom silently slipped from the room. For a minute they both scowled at the door.
“What d’you think, Jed?”
“Don’t like it, Charlie. Something’s going on.”
“And Leanne’s smack dab in the middle of it, poor kid. Reckon we oughta do something to be sure she ain’t hurt.”
“Reckon—but what? Who’s doing what and who’re they doing it to? Do we watch Hunter, Tom, or Watkins’s men?”
Charlie shook his head. “Watkins’s men. I got me a feeling that’s where the real trouble’ll come.”
Leanne barely suppressed a shudder of revulsion when Watkins slipped his arm around her waist as they stood before his prized painting. It was obvious the man felt she should be awed by his ill-gotten gain, awed by him. What distressed her was the realization that Hunter had aided this man. How many other men like Watkins did Hunter deal with? She hated seeing this aspect of Hunter’s life, hated thinking she might have to see more like Watkins if she stayed with Hunter.
“I can see you are an educated woman, one who appreciates the finer things in life,” Watkins murmured after she expressed her delight in the painting. “You need a man who can give you those things.”
“Hunter . . .” she began, sure it would not be too risky to defend her lover.
“Will never be more than a common thief.”
And you are so much better
, she thought. “I did notice he seems to have gained little from his efforts.”
, she thought. “I did notice he seems to have gained little from his efforts.”
“He hasn’t the intelligence or the experience to plan these little excursions. He is a follower, not a leader.”
“I had begun to realize that he was little more than a lackey.”
“And you deserve so much more, Leanne.” He turned her towards him, tugging her into his arms.
She shaded her eyes with half-closed lids, feigning demureness while hiding her nearly violent distaste as he touched his cold, dry lips to her cheek. “You flatter me, Henry.”
“Not at all. Your sweetness, your refinement, is wasted on that ill-bred drifter.” He cupped her chin in his hand and turned her face up to his. “But say the word and I will make sure that he never draws near you again.”
God help me, he’s going to kiss me
, she thought as he lowered his mouth to hers. She knew she was going to have to endure it. Oh, where in the world was Hunter?
, she thought as he lowered his mouth to hers. She knew she was going to have to endure it. Oh, where in the world was Hunter?
Watkins suddenly tensed and broke off the kiss. Leanne slowly opened her eyes, then sighed with intense relief. Hunter stood behind Watkins, his Colt pressed steadily against the base of the other man’s skull. She quickly stepped out of Watkins’s hold, unthinkingly but vigorously wiping the touch of his lips from her mouth.
“That was the longest moment I have ever had to suffer through. I began to think you weren’t coming.”
“I told you I would. Don’t you have any faith in me, darlin’?” Hunter mistrusted the ease of his success but, smiling at Leanne, he was determined to hide his qualms from her.
“It was wavering.”
“Glad I was in time to shore it back up. Get the curtain ties. We’ll truss this bastard up.”
“You won’t get ten feet from this place,” Watkins hissed.
“I feel lucky today. Tie his wrists together, Leanne,” Hunter ordered when she returned to his side, the ornate but strong curtain ties in her hands. “Hands behind your back, Watkins.”
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