Idaho Gold Fever by Jon Sharpe Read Free Book Online

wondered.
    Gore wheeled on him. “And you, sir. Do I have your word as well? Will you behave yourself?”
    It galled Fargo to be treated like a ten-year-old. “I won’t cause trouble if your men don’t.”
    “Very well. Mr. Slag, to give you time to cool down, you will ride night herd the first two hours. Mr. Perkins will relieve you. The rest of you, go about your chores. And Mrs. Winston, I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty of inviting Mr. Fargo to dine with us. Is that all right?”
    “It’s fine,” the farmer’s wife said, but she sounded dubious.
    Fargo tied the Ovaro to a rear wheel of their wagon. As he did, a hint of lilac tingled his nose. He asked without turning, “Are you upset with me, too?”
    “Not at all,” Rachel said, stepping to one side. She had her hands clasped behind her back, which accented the swell of her bosom. “I thought you were magnificent.”
    Fargo chuckled. “I’ve been called a lot of things but never that.” Leaning against the wheel, he let his gaze rove from her toes to her nose. “But now that you mention it, you’re pretty magnificent yourself.”
    Predictably, Rachel blushed. “No, I’m not. I’m ordinary. And please don’t look at me that way. You look as if you want to eat me alive.”
    “I do.”
    Rachel gasped and turned away, but turned right back again. “You make my ears burn.”
    “Just your ears?”
    “Mr. Fargo, for a gentleman you are positively scandalous. My parents wouldn’t approve.”
    “When did I ever claim to be a gentleman?” Fargo rejoined. “I’m a man and I like women. That’s all there is to it.”
    “Oh, my. Surely you’re not—” Rachel glanced about them, then lowered her voice. “Surely you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
    “That I’d like to go for a walk with you tonight? That’s exactly what is on my mind.”
    “You’re too bold, sir.”
    “Are you going to stand there and tell me you haven’t been with a man before? How old are you?”
    “I’m twenty-two,” Rachel said stiffly. “And whether I have or I haven’t is none of your business.”
    “Which means you have. Do your folks know?”
    Rachel’s mouth dropped, but she quickly recovered her composure and leaned in so near she practically brushed him. “You might not be a gentleman, but I’m a lady and ladies don’t discuss such things.”
    “I’m surprised you’re not married yet, as good-looking as you are,” Fargo said. Most women found themselves at the altar before they were twenty. Any later than that, and people started to whisper about spinsters and strange desires.
    “Do you really think so?” Rachel touched her hair, then frowned and said, “Quit doing that.”
    “What?”
    “Complimenting me. I’m trying to be mad at you and you make it very hard.”
    “Then we’re even.”
    “How so?”
    “When I look at you, part of me starts to feel hard, too.”
    Again Rachel gasped. Her eyes darted down, below his belt, and then up again. “That was crude.”
    Fargo laughed. “You looked, didn’t you?”
    “I don’t know what to make of you. I honestly don’t.”
    “I’ll help you out,” Fargo said. “I want to go for a walk and do things to you that will curl your toes. Was that gentlemanly enough?”
    “You presume too much,” Rachel said, but she didn’t look away or blush, or leave.
    “If I’m wrong, then don’t go for a walk with me. But if I’m right, I’ll meet you at the back of your wagon, say, about ten. It will be dark enough by then that we can slip away.”
    “Amazing,” Rachel said. “You’re too sure of yourself, by half. Women can’t wait to rip your clothes off—is that how it goes?” She sniffed, and turned. “I need to help my mother. Don’t expect to see me at ten.”
    Fargo watched her hips sway in exaggerated anger. “Things are looking up,” he said to the Ovaro.
    From under the covered wagon came a scraping noise.
    Squatting, Fargo found Billy about