LITMIR.BIZ

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the cook, Lizzy, Tucker’s wife, and Molly Dee, another helper, were starting campfires for cooking. Some of the men were already unloading Madam Alexander’s furniture, while the others were setting up camp. Cole looked up at the sky, trying to keep a lid on his temper.

      “Come, come, my friend,” Howard said as he walked from the carriage to where Cole stood. “You must learn to relax. Over the past ten years I have been on many trips with madam, and they are always the same. One eventually grows used to it.”

      Cole’s temper had won the battle. “Maybe you, but not me.” He dropped the reins to the ground and started forward. He’d had enough of this foolishness.

      After he had forced his way between the thick shrubbery, it quickly became apparent that neither Esther nor Mrs. Alexander had heard him approaching. Instead of harsh words, he was greeted with a titillating view of the “countess’s” slender bare back as she bent over on her knees, allowing Esther to rinse the soap from her hair. On any other occasion it would have been a pleasing sight, but Cole wasn’t feeling hospitable.

      “What the hell is all this about? We’re supposed to be on a journey, not a social!”

      “How dare you invade my toilette!” Beth stormed.

      Cole received a considerable sense of pleasure at seeing the lady grovel for her blouse, then snatch it up to cover her breasts. “How dare you leave me standing while you pamper yourself? I wasn’t aware I’d be expected to wait over a half hour to finish what I had started to say! So I’ll spill it out now. If you plan to accomplish anything on this so-called journey, we sure as hell can’t be stopping every few minutes because of your whims. At the pace we’re going, it’ll take a month just to reach the area where you can rob your train! Believe me, that isn’t going to be easy with an entire caravan behind you!” He started to walk away, then turned back. “What do you think happens on wagon trains? They don’t stop, madam, except to water the stock.”

      Still clutching her blouse in front of her, Beth climbed to her feet, her wet mane falling into her face. “Who do you think you are?” she asked while trying to shove her hair from her eyes. With the beard covering his face, it was impossible to see his expression. “I do not take orders from anyone, no matter who he may be!”

      “It was you who caused this confrontation, not me.”

      “Furthermore, I cannot tolerate a man who ignores gentlemanly manners,” Beth hissed.

      “Then, lady, you had no business hiring an outlaw! But just to clear the air, my manners are unquestionable when there is a lady about, not some spoiled, thoughtless female who wants to lord it over everyone.”

      A deep, guttural sound rolled from Beth’s throat. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that!”

      “You pull another stunt like this, and I’m gone,” Cole warned.

      “Fine. Go. Leave. I don’t need the likes of you.” With unwavering eyes Beth watched him turn on his heel and head back toward the wagons. As soon as he was out of sight, she shook her blouse and held it out for Esther. The water from her body and dripping hair had soaked it.

      Esther hurried forward with a dry cloth. “He should never have talked to you like that. It’s good you got rid of him. He’s too brash.”

      Beth bent over at the waist and began toweling her hair. “He can rant and carry on all he wants,” she said between clenched teeth, “but I know he isn’t going anywhere. He’s not about to leave without the money we agreed on, and I’m not about to give it to him until he shows me something I want to see!” Her hands paused. “Maybe it was a good thing we had this confrontation. He apparently needed to be reminded that I give the orders. Once he accepts that, he’ll settle down. I can’t really let him go. We need him to get to a town, then I’ll replace him.” She straightened. After her hair had been combed, she would let the afternoon sun finish drying it. “I think I’ll wear my hair in a braid from now on. It will prevent tangles. And while I’m thinking about it—”

      “We don’t even know if the man owns a pistol,” Esther persisted. “So far all he’s done is prove he can stay on top of a horse.”

      “Mmm. I have been thinking the same thing. When Decker and Wilber went to get him at the jail, Wagner told them he was quite harmless and the only reason he’d robbed a bank was to get money. His family needed food. A worthy cause, but certainly not the type of man I had hoped to hire.”

      “His family? Is he married?”

      Beth thought a minute. “I don’t know. I was told he was a wanted man, so I assumed he wouldn’t have a wife. Oh! The nerve of the man to speak to me like that!” Beth suddenly became very still. “Did I hear a horse gallop away?”

      “I think so. You don’t supposed...”

      Beth snatched her wet blouse from the grass and shoved her arms into the sleeves.

      “You can’t go like that,” Esther said. “Wait until I at least get your corset.” But Beth was already on the run. Esther didn’t hurry after her. She knew that nothing distracted Bethany when she was in such a mood.

      As soon as Beth cleared the bushes, she came to a halt. Her fingers were still working at the buttons on her blouse as she scanned the area around the wagons. Neither Cole nor his bedroll was anywhere in sight. “Howard!” she called as she raced forward.

      Howard appeared from behind one of the supply wagons. There was little doubt in Beth’s mind that he had been imbibing the liquor she always carried on trips. “Where is Wagner?”

      “He rode off. Would you like me to go after him?”

      “No, I’ll take care of this myself. Get my gun and holster!” She continued on to where the big roan was tethered to a line rope.

      By the time Beth had untied the lead, made a loop and placed it around the gelding’s muzzle, Howard had returned. He handed her the gun belt which she quickly buckled around her waist. The big .45 was shoved into the holster. He gave her a boost up onto the horse. After a few tugs at her skirt so her legs could hang down evenly, she looked back down at Howard.

      “Which way did he go?”

      The moment he pointed north, Beth sank her heels into the powerful roan’s sides.

      As the horse sprang forward, Beth was considering the head start Cole had on her. It couldn’t be more than five minutes. If she pushed the gelding hard, she should be able to catch up with him. There had to be other criminals available who were agreeable and of a more gentlemanly nature. They would probably be even more familiar with the West than the man she had foolishly hired. Surely if the caravan continued on in the same direction they had been going, they would come upon the town Cole had mentioned. Or at least they would meet someone who could give them directions. But that wasn’t the issue. She had made an agreement with Cole Wagner and she’d be damned if she’d let him run out on her. She was the one to do the dismissing, not the other way around!

      Cole leaned against the thick tree trunk, enjoying the shade. There was no doubt in his mind that his nemesis would be coming after him. Mrs. Alexander was not a woman who delegated such matters to others. Cole smiled. He didn’t want to make it too difficult for her to find him. Once she realized they were stranded and vulnerable without him, he’d have the leverage he wanted. Stopping every thirty minutes was going to come to a halt

      Cole had sung only a couple of bars of “She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain” when he heard the cadence of hooves pounding against the earth. The rider was in one hell of a hurry. He jumped to his feet. It took but a minute to move his horse behind the tree and cup his hand over the buckskin’s muzzle to prevent him from nickering. He had to be sure the rider wasn’t some sheriff. Cole had no desire to be looking down a lawman’s gun barrel. He should probably shave off his beard so he’d look less like the poster.

      When Bethany Alexander rode by, Cole chuckled softly. Yes, indeed. The big boss was going to handle him all by herself. Her copper

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