“Jay-sus,” one Irishman exclaimed, “you could prob’ly sell that over at Lola’s for a thousand dollars.”
Rafe sat in front of her, barely stifling a snicker. She cuffed him on the shoulder.
Finally, Lamoyne grumbled, “It’s a bet.”
And fifteen minutes later, Rafe and Helen left the tent posthaste with their belongings, as well as $520 in gold nuggets and dust.
“Let’s get away from here,” Rafe said, pulling on her hand. “I don’t trust Lamoyne. He’ll be after us in a flash.”
“I know.” She rushed to keep up with him.
Rafe looked at her and groaned.
“What?”
“Your breasts are jiggling in that T-shirt. I think I’m about to co — ”
“Don’t say it,” she snapped. “I’ll put my blouse on as soon as it’s safe to stop.”
He mumbled something about never stopping.
But he did stop soon after that in front of the City Hotel. “Did you say something earlier about being willing to sell your soul for a bath and a bed?”
“Oooh, yes!” she said on a long sigh. “I can’t wait.”
“Me neither, baby. Me neither,” he agreed, taking her hand and leading her through the front door.
Something in Rafe’s smooth-as-butter voice set off alarm bells in Helen’s head, and she halted, pulling him back sharply. “I’m not selling anything here, Rafe. Especially not a corkscrew.”
A warm laugh escaped his lips before he wagged a finger chidingly. “Tsk, tsk. Prissy. That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh.” She felt heat rise from her chest to her hairline.
“Although I do think I deserve a reward for being a winner.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Like what?”
“Oh, well, I don’t know. Let’s see.” He tapped the edge of his bristled jaw with a forefinger consideringly, then brightened. “How about a kiss?”
“A kiss? That’s what you want? That’s all?”
“Yup.”
“Just one?”
He hesitated. “For now.”
“Oh, all right.”
He dazzled her with a wicked look of triumph then, and the promise in his pale eyes nearly scorched her already hot skin.
She almost reneged on the deal, especially when he added, “But I’ll take my reward later, after we bathe, because…”
He was already pulling her along into the hotel when she prompted, “Because?”
“Because when I collect my kiss, I want it to last a real long time.”
Chapter Ten
Helen sat cross-legged on the homemade, three-quarter-sized bed that took up most of the small room they’d rented in the City Hotel for the night. The two-story building with its projecting balcony was a former sawmill built by the famous Captain Sutter — primitive by modern standards — but they were lucky to get a separate room. The majority of the guests slept dorm-style in tiny cubicles or in double-decker bunks, snaring a bathtub and even — God forbid! — a communal toothbrush and razor.
The only other furniture in the second-floor room was an oak washstand, hardly visible in the shadowy light thrown by a lone lantern. Wooden pegs on the wall held their meager supply of clothing. Crimson calico lined the walls.
Despite the crude accommodations, Helen felt gloriously clean, though slightly sunburned. She’d just bathed and donned a scratchy cotton nightgown, which Rafe had purchased while she was in the tub. His consideration in paying extra cash from their small hoard for clean water and a locked door to the “bathroom” would endear him to her forever.
He was down there now, taking his own bath, but he’d made her promise not only to bar the door from the inside but to brace a slat under the handle for extra insurance, and to keep one of the pistols handy. The gambler Lamoyne might still come after them, or the sheriff could have second thoughts.
Combing her wet hair, Helen felt hopeful for the first time in days. A bright moon shone through the one grimy window, and Helen figured it must be well past midnight.
“Helen, open up.” Rafe’s whispered voice came from the hallway, accompanied by a sharp knock. “Hurry! I just saw Lamoyne out on the street, and he didn’t look like he was coming over to say ‘Howdy.'”
Briskly, she removed the wooden slat and slid the bar. Rafe walked in, barefooted, carrying his dirty clothing and boots in one arm, and a raised revolver in the other. Without even glancing at her, he dropped everything to the floor and locked the door, double-checking the strength of the bar and wooden brace. Next, he examined the open window to make sure no one could enter that way, either. Luckily, there was no roof or balcony nearby to give access to their room.