Lakota Renegade by Madeline Baker Read Free Book Online Page B

reply, he realized she’d fallen asleep.
    Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to bed, removed her shoes, covered her with a blanket. He was about to leave when she caught him by the hand.
    “Stay,” she whispered.
    He looked down at her and slowly shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Please. I’m afraid to be here alone.”
    “Afraid? Of what?”
    “Of being alone in the dark.” Her hand held his tighter. “I…I had a nightmare last night, and I’m afraid to go to sleep.”
    “What kind of nightmare?”
    “I don’t remember. Only that it terrified me. I woke up crying, and there was no one here.”
    He placed his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. “Sure, honey, I’ll stay.”
    “You can sleep in Rose’s room, if you want.”
    Creed shook his head. “I’ll bed down on the sofa in the front room.” He kissed her fingertips, then let go of her hand.
    “Thank you, Creed.”
    “No thanks needed, honey. You get some sleep now.”
    “Would you kiss me good night?”
    He took a deep, steadying breath, then bent down and kissed her cheek.
    “Good night, Jassy,” he said hoarsely, and got himself out of there before he succumbed to the sweet temptation of pale pink lips and beguiling earth-brown eyes.
     

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Creed rose early the next morning, irritable after having spent a long, sleepless night on the broken-down sofa in the parlor.
    Sitting on the edge of the sofa with his head cradled in his hands, he quietly cursed his desire for the girl sleeping in the next room. What was there about Jassy McCloud that sent his blood racing and made him feel as randy as a fifteen-year-old boy who’d just discovered that girls were different?
    Hell and damnation, he should have left town weeks ago, yet here he was, playing nursemaid to a kid with big brown eyes and soft pink lips…except Jassy was no kid. She was young, there was no arguing with that, but she kissed like a woman who knew her own mind. And that was his undoing, because no other woman had ever kissed him with such guileless passion, such innocent longing.
    And it was as seductive as hell.
    He stomped his feet into his boots, grabbed his hat, and left the house, knowing he had to put some distance between the two of them. He’d check in on her later to make sure she was okay, and he’d spend the night again if she needed him, but right now he needed some time alone.
    Outside, he threw a saddle on his horse and rode to the nearest saloon. Early as it was, there were a couple of old-timers hanging over the bar.
    Creed ordered a bottle of whiskey and carried it to one of the tables in the back of the room. Sitting back, his feet propped on a chair, he poured himself a drink, then let out a sigh. No doubt Burton had found someone else to handle his problem in Black Hawk, Creed thought, and then shrugged. He was tired of hiring out his gun, tired of putting his life on the line to settle someone else’s problems.
    Hell, he was just tired.
    Taking the bottle, he left the saloon. He’d grab a quick breakfast over at the hotel, get some sleep, and then lose himself in a poker game for a couple of hours.
    * * * * *
    “Three queens.” Creed spread his cards on the table, then raked in his fifth pot of the night. There was some good-natured grumbling from the four other players, but Creed quickly dispelled it by ordering a round of drinks.
    He glanced around the saloon while the man on his left dealt them a new hand. Usually, there was nothing he liked better than a good card game in a smoke-filled saloon, but tonight…he shook his head as he picked up his cards. Tonight he’d rather be with Jassy, which was why he was staying right where he was.
    The evening might have passed quietly if the man sitting across from Creed had just kept his mouth shut. But he didn’t.
    “So,” Ray Braddock remarked, grinning. “How is she?”
    Creed’s face remained expressionless. “She?”
    “Daisy’s daughter. She as