Quicksilver Passion

Book 7: Panorama of the Old West

by Georgina Gentry

Genres: Historical Fiction; Sagas; Historical Romance

Synopsis

SHE MEANT WHAT SHE SAID Beautiful Silver Jones had been called every name in the book. But now that she owned her own tavern in Buckskin Joe, Colorado, she didn't care what the self-righteous citizens thought of her. She never let a man touch her and she earned her money fair and square. Then one night, handsome Cherokee Evans swaggered up to her bar and completely destroyed the peace she'd made with her life—for the irresistible miner made her yearn for the melting kisses and fiery caresses that Silver had sworn she'd do without forever. HE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED It had been Cherokee's experience that every woman had her price, and that curvaceous Silver Jones couldn't be any exception. Ready to trade all his savings for a night in the vixen's arms, Cherokee invited himself into her bed. That was when he discovered that Silver meant what she said. . . and realized he had lost his heart to the luscious temptress. He wanted to take her that very second, but Cherokee made himself bide his time, certain that soon he'd stroke her satiny limbs and taste her honeyed lips, forever earning the priceless joy of her shimmering QUICKSILVER PASSION

Release date: May 16, 2014

Publisher: Splendor

Print pages: 448

Sample

There were only two kinds of women in the W est: the kind men married and the other kind. Not that it mattered because Silver hated men . . . and she had good reason.

Just like that big bruiser standing in the street below, gawking up at her in the growing twilight. Men. She leaned against the windowsill, toying with her expensive jewelry, and listened to the laughter and music drifting up the stairs. Now that she owned this big saloon, she was safe and would never again be at any man’s mercy.

She watched the wide-shouldered hombre while readjusting the scarlet plume in her pale blond hair. Dark and too rugged to be handsome; a ’breed, maybe, because he wore his hair cut like a white man. There he stood with his pack burro in the hustle and bustle of the muddy street. Another poor fool looking to get rich in the Rockies.

Come in and spend that gold dust at my bar, fella, she thought with cold contempt, but you can’t buy me. I recognize that hunger in your eyes. No man will ever hurt me or put his hands on me again.

It was almost time for her act and it pleased her to do it. Silver went to her dressing table to dab on a light scent of wild flowers, then turned toward a mirror to admire the tight, revealing scarlet dress and all the glittering gold and gems she wore.

Her ornate room sparkled with mirrors. The walls were covered with them. She checked the heavy eye makeup around her pale aqua eyes and her lip rouge again. A flawless face, Ma had said. Your face will make your fortune, but your beauty won’t last forever.

The thought troubled her and she looked twice to make sure there were no wrinkles, no lines. But then she was not yet twenty and already rich. She still had her beauty and owned the biggest saloon in town. What else could a woman want?

Cherokee paused with a weary sigh in the middle of the muddy street, unsure where to find the livery stable to leave his burro. After the trip from Mosquito Gulch, he felt much older than his thirty years tonight. Cherokee felt someone watching him and looked up. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen stood looking down at him. The light behind her silhouetted the ripe body and the hair pale as newly minted silver dollars.

By damn! He wanted her. Without thinking, he ran his tongue over his lower lip, watching her full breasts swell in the top of the low-cut red dress when she breathed. Yep, he wanted her. But the pleasure of a woman would have to wait until he saw to the comfort of his animal, even though Cherokee ached with weariness himself.

After months up on the claim, snowed in with his two partners, Cherokee needed a woman bad. Tomorrow he’d get the burro shod, buy his supplies, and get back to work. But tonight he’d buy that girl . . . if she’d take a ’breed. If she turned him down, he’d offer a little extra. All white women were whores, even the ones who pretended to be high-class ladies. The memory made him wince.

He looked down the street, saw the livery stable sign, and glanced back up. The girl had disappeared from the window. Had he only imagined her? What was a beauty like that doing out here in the wilderness anyhow?

Many saloons and bordellos lined the bustling streets of this boom town. He made a mental note of this place so he could find it again; Silver’s Nugget Saloon. With his mind still on the mysterious pale blonde, Cherokee Evans hurried toward the livery stable.

Fifteen minutes later, he pushed through the swinging doors, elbowing his way through the noisy crowd of men. The place swirled with music and laughter. Cherokee took a deep breath of smoke and cheap perfume, then made his way to the ornate bar. Coffee. With cream, if you’ve got any.”

The short bartender had a face like five miles of bad road and gorilla-like shoulders and arms, unusual for a man with gray in his hair. He paused in wiping a glass and stared back at Cherokee. I must not have heard you right, sport. This ain’t no cafe. And cream? You must have been eatin’ loco weed.”

He owed the man no explanation of why he no longer drank. Coffee,” Cherokee drawled in a louder voice. I know you got some; I smell it.”

The men on each side of him turned and looked him up and down. The bartender hesitated. I keep a pot on all the time for the boss, who don’t drink neither.”

Then I’ll have some out of the owner’s pot.”

The bartender looked as if he might argue, then shrugged and got out a dainty china cup and saucer, set it before Cherokee, and poured the coffee. There you go, sport. No cream, though. Never let it be said that Silver wouldn’t give a customer what he wanted.”

Does that include women?” Cherokee sipped the drink, ignoring the curious looks and nudgings up and down the bar as other men noticed. He must not let himself get pulled into a fight. That wasn’t his top priority tonight.

Sure, we got women,” the bartender nodded, even though the boss would just as soon not deal in that. Pick you out one from what’s available.”

I already know which one I want,” Cherokee drawled, but the bartender had moved on down the line to serve the rowdy crowd.

Cherokee reached for his tobacco, ignoring the grinning, whiskered man next to him. Looky here, boys, coffee in a bar! Next thing you know, Al’ll be servin’ lemonade and sugar cookies!”

The men up and down the bar laughed and nudged each other.

He must not lose his temper. A brawl would interfere with his primary purpose—bedding that blonde. Besides, his Cherokee grandmother had taught him restraint. With the saloon full of white men who might relish any excuse to gang up on him, he’d be a fool to start a fight. He should have listened to Grandmother’s warning about whiskey before it caused him to betray a friend.

Might not be a bad idea.” Cherokee finished rolling a cigarette and grinned. Most of us like sugar cookies.”

The burly man looked disappointed. You’d let a man say something like that without sluggin’ him?”

He must not be baited into a fight. The fact that he could kill the man who taunted him would prove nothing. Cherokee took a deep breath to restrain himself and stuck the cigarette between his lips. No offense meant, none taken.”

One of the others, obviously made bold by Cherokee’s lack of temper, sneered at him. In a saloon, grown men drink whiskey, cracker!”

Georgia cracker. By damn! How many times had he been called that? He could never get the drawl out of his deep voice, no matter how hard he tried. Well, it was better than Injun,” or ’breed.”

Cherokee forced himself to grin back. Don’t I look big enough to be a grown man?”

The others looked him up and down, seeming to be suddenly aware of his size, and drew back.

First time I been in here,” Cherokee drawled, hoping to distract his tormentors. I’ve been snowed in all winter and was out in Nevada before that.”

The Nugget’s the best there is, stranger,” a rumpled, mustached man at his elbow said, purtiest girls and honest card tables. Silver won’t allow it no other way. I’m Doc Johnson, the town sawbones.” He held out his hand, genuine friendliness in his old face.

They shook hands. Here was a yu-ne-ga, a white man who seemed open and friendly. Cherokee said, Honest card games?”

There was a murmur of assent up and down the bar. Whoever this Silver fella was, the miners in the area really thought a lot of him, Cherokee realized.

Cherokee blew smoke and looked around. I been a long time up on the claim. I want a pretty girl tonight, but I don’t see one I fancy.”

He watched the painted, laughing girls moving through the crowd and thought of the blonde in the upstairs window.

Then you must be blind,” his original tormentor said, laughing. Blind as a bat!”

He ignored the insult. Getting into a brawl would deter him from his purpose of finding and bedding that girl. The girl I want has hair the color of a silver dollar and the most beautiful face a man could dream of.”

The bearded one stared back at him a long moment, mouth open. Then he nudged the other man. Didja hear him, Doc? Didja hear who he’s talkin’ about?”

Oh, hush, Zeke, before you start something you can’t finish.” Doc pulled at his mustache thoughtfully. Stranger, you can put that one out of your mind. That one—”

Is the best in bed you could want,” the tormentor interrupted, digging the other in the ribs with his elbow. Isn’t that right, Doc? All he’s got to do is ask her when she comes downstairs to sing. Yep, cracker, you just offer that girl money and she’ll rush you right up the stairs. Ain’t that right, boys?”

Doc frowned but the others grinned. Some of them nodded. Yeah, that’s right.”

Somehow, Cherokee had a feeling there was a joke here and he’d been left out of it. But then he’d been raised up in the hills by his grandmother and he’d never understood white people very well. He ought to go to the Indian Territory and get himself a virtuous Cherokee wife. But in his heart, he had a weakness for the white ones with light hair. That made him think of his friend’s wife. There was no way to make amends for what he’d done. Guilt haunted him.

Now he smoked his cigarette and sipped his coffee, watching the stairs. Cherokee had a real hunger burning his groin and that blonde had sparked a fire like he had never felt before. He thought of her breasts, imagined burying his face between them. Her nipples would be pale pink, her skin the color of cream beneath his bronze body. He imagined her silky long hair tangled in his callused hands, her small body writhing beneath him. No matter what she charged, he had to have her tonight.

A hush fell across the crowd suddenly, even though the off-key piano over by the small stage still banged away. Cherokee looked up from his erotic thoughts and glanced around at the faces turning now toward the stairs. He had never seen such longing and awe in men’s eyes before.

Slowly he, too, turned toward the stairs. The girl he had seen in the upstairs window stood halfway down, looking around at the crowd. She was even more beautiful and desirable than he remembered, the dress hiding yet revealing her curves, expensive jewelry on her body, the light playing on the fine features. What a perfect face!

Cherokee tossed the cigarette into the spittoon and pushed his cup away. He must ask her before some other man got to her first.

But before he could move, she came down the stairs, moving gracefully through the crowd toward the stage while the burly miners applauded and shouted, lifting their glasses in a toast: Silver! Silver! Silver!”

She acknowledged their homage with a slight nod as she went up the steps and the bald piano player paused, waiting. A hush fell over the crowd and every man seemed to hold his breath as she moved gracefully to the center of the stage.

Silver. U-ne-ga. He translated it automatically into his native language. Good name for a blond dance hall girl. Was she related to the owner? Cherokee realized that he, too, was holding his breath. He felt suddenly very possessive of her, and resented the other men even looking at her, much less paying money to share her bed. He realized that he’d clenched his fists in anger.

The piano began to play softly and she leaned against it, looking around the room with pale, aquamarine eyes. Eyes the color of cold Arctic glaciers, Cherokee thought, hard eyes; eyes that had seen too much of life. But her mouth looked full and soft beneath the heavy lip rouge.

Cherokee watched the light reflect on her pale hair, wanting her more than he had ever wanted a woman before. Even more than he had wanted his white friend’s wife . . .

For a long moment, the piano played softly and then Silver began to sing:

I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair, borne like a vapor on the summer air ...”

Cherokee felt the men around him sigh with sadness and nostalgia, perhaps remembering an old love, maybe thinking of a new one. But Cherokee had eyes only for the singer. Her voice came light and high as a brook tinkling down through the mountains:

. . . I see her tripping where the bright breezes play . . .”

Her gaze moved from man to man as she sang, and the hardness seemed to melt from her features, revealing a soft, defenseless vulnerability. Her gaze moved to Cherokee’s face.

He sent her a silent message with his eyes. Sweet darlin’, I want you. I intend to possess your body tonight.

For a split second, her voice faltered as she stared at him, then looked quickly away. She had gotten his message. Why was she so shaken? Didn’t she take money for letting men have her every night? The image the thought brought him made him grind his teeth with a fury that surprised him. What did it matter if other men had her tomorrow night as long as he could relieve this ache in his groin tonight?

... Many were the blithe notes her merry voice would pour, many were the song birds that warbled them o’er. O, I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair . . .”

Her voice reminded him of a mountain breeze whispering through the blue spruce and the aspen trees. Yes, she was special, all right; a girl with hard eyes and a soft lips; a whore with a fragile beauty. She finished her song and took a bow. Though her painted mouth smiled as she acknowledged the thunderous applause, her hard eyes looked sad and haunted.

She left the stage and came toward the bar. Men made way for her, backing up as if careful not to touch the beauty.

He would ask her now. Cherokee took a deep breath, hesitating, his stoic shyness making him hold back.

The other men had returned to their cards and roulette, the piano broke into a loud rendition of Oh! Susanna,” and the whores moved once again among the crowds of men.

A girl with dyed blond hair and a gaudy green dress looked up at Cherokee and smiled. Hello, sugar, buy me a drink?”

Hell, Nellie,” boomed his tormentor, the cracker don’t even drink his own self! He drinks coffee and wants cream in it yet. For what you got in mind, you need a real man!”

The crowd laughed and Cherokee forced himself to smile good-naturedly, loath to tear his gaze away from the flawless beauty coming toward the bar. He must not take offense and get into a fight. Nothing must interfere with him getting that silver-haired girl tonight.

But Silver had paused to talk to some drunken old geezer on her way over. Hank, you had anything to eat?”

The old drunk shook his head, weaving slightly. What I need, Miss Silver, is another drink. Now if you’ll just extend my credit . . .”

You’ve had too much already, Hank.” She smiled gently. I’ll have Al get you some food and then you go home.”

She came over to the bar, the men clearing a space for her. But Cherokee didn’t move. She leaned on the bar next to him. Al?”

The bartender put down the bottle of medicine he’d been swigging. His ugly face betrayed his adoration as he set a cup of coffee before her.

See that Hank gets some food and goes home.”

Al made a gesture of protest. Miss Silver, you can’t keep feeding every old bum in the Rockies—”

Drat it! Just do it, Al.” Her voice left no room for argument.

Al shrugged his gorilla-like shoulders, threw up his hands in a helpless gesture, and moved to do her bidding.

The girl sighed as she sipped her coffee, ignoring the men around her.

Cherokee watched her, not daring to breathe. Now that she stood there, his courage deserted him. She stood so close, he could almost reach out and touch her, but he didn’t. The slight scent of wild flowers drifted from her warm skin. Cherokee had to fight himself to keep from reaching out and stroking her hair. It looked like spun moonbeams reflecting the light.

His tormentor grinned at him across the top of the girl’s head. Miss Silver, this big half-breed has something he wants to ask you.”

She paused in sipping her coffee and staring at her own reflection in the big mirror behind the bar. Turning, she looked directly up at Cherokee. Oh?”

She wasn’t more than chest high on him and the light played on that flawless face. Cherokee had a sudden urge to pick her up, throw her across his wide shoulder, and carry her kicking and screaming back to his isolated cabin at Mosquito Gulch so he would have her all to himself.

He had never felt so shy, so unsure of himself as he did now with this blond whore. Can I—can I buy you a drink?”

I don’t drink, stranger. All the boys hereabouts know that.” She looked up at him, sure of herself, slightly amused at his hesitancy.

He had a feeling all the men along the bar were watching and listening. Behind her, his tormentor mouthed the silent words: Ask her. Go on and ask her.

That was a nice thing you did for the old man,” Cherokee stammered, but you girls probably can’t afford to do things like that.”

Let me worry about that.” She grinned and sipped her coffee.

You should smile more often,” Cherokee blurted without thinking. That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

A murmur ran through the crowd at his words. The girl’s expression went as cold as her eyes. That’s hardly your concern, now is it?”

I reckon not,” he drawled, feeling the flush rise up past his collar.

She seemed to sense his embarrassed discomfort and looked almost sympathetic. Where you from, plowboy?”

Georgia, but I’ve spent some time in Tennessee.” She was a Yankee, most likely, although he couldn’t place the accent.

I thought Southern men drank bourbon.”

He felt big and awkward and foolish. Used to. But . . .” He didn’t finish. The night he had awakened in Savannah’s bed, he’d sworn he’d never touch another drop. Cherokee Evans was a man of his word.

All the other men were waiting, listening. If he didn’t ask her soon, some other man would. And if another man tried to take Silver up those stairs, Cherokee wouldn’t be able to stop himself; he’d kill him with his bare hands.

The girl finished her coffee and started to turn away.

If he didn’t ask her now, the moment would be lost. It didn’t matter that the others were listening. I’d—I’d like to be your customer tonight,” he blurted.

What? What did you say?” She whirled on him, her pale aqua eyes blazing.

He heard a titter of laughter down the bar as men nudged each other and repeated what he’d said. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Al moving toward him behind the bar. You know what I mean. I’ll pay whatever you usually charge and then some—”

Her hand shot out and she slapped him so hard, he felt his head snap back. The sound might have been heard all over the saloon.

Automatically, Cherokee’s hand felt his stinging cheek while laughter rang up and down the bar.

My Gawd, did you hear what he asked Miss Silver? Must be a greenhorn!”

The girl herself stood with small feet apart, hands on her hips. Fella, the boys have made you the butt of a joke tonight. Don’t you realize I own this place?”

She whirled to leave while the laughter echoed around them. He felt rage sweep over him; he would kill all these white men for their joke. He would . . .

Silver was walking away and that fact overrode his anger. Without thinking, Cherokee reached out and caught her arm. Wait! Don’t go!”

Abruptly, he felt the distinctive outline of the barrel of a double-barreled shotgun against his back and heard Al’s low growl. Get your hands off her! No man alive puts his hands on Miss Silver!”

Cherokee loosened his grip and turned slowly. The gorilla-like man with the face like five miles of bad road had the shotgun cocked and ready to blow Cherokee in half. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes. Al adored the blonde more than enough to kill for her.

Cherokee kept his hands where the other man could see them. I never meant no harm,” he drawled softly. I didn’t know—”

If you want a girl, mister, there’s plenty here who’d take you upstairs. Every man in the Rockies knows Silver don’t allow no man to touch her!”

She made a soothing gesture. It’s all right, Al. I suspect the boys played a trick on him.” She gave Cherokee one last, searching look, then turned and went back to the stage. Cherokee couldn’t keep his gaze off her undulating hips moving in the tight red satin. Al put down the shotgun, reached for his bottle of tonic, took a big drink, and moved farther down the bar.

Zeke scratched his beard. Sorry, hombre, we play that joke on a lot of greenhorns. Hope you don’t mind.”

Mind? By damn! He’d like to kill the man for humiliating him like that. But his major emotion was sadness and loss that she wouldn’t be sleeping in his arms tonight. To Doc, he said, Does she really own this saloon?”

Yep. Silver and that bartender got off a stage a year ago and she bought the place. Paid cold, hard cash, I hear.”

Cherokee watched her talk to the bald piano player. Where’d they come from?”

Nobody knows. In the mining camps, it ain’t polite to ask too many questions.”

Cherokee rolled a cigarette and lit it. He never took his gaze off the girl as he slowly shook out the match. Does any man ... well, does she ever . . .”

Cherokee looked around at the men at the bar and knew the answer from the longing and regret on their weathered faces even before they shook their heads. Obviously Silver affected other men the same way she affected him.

Cherokee watched her. She was a fire in Cherokee’s blood now—as desirable and unattainable as any queen. The fact that he hadn’t lain between a woman’s thighs in months only added to the fire in his veins, making his groin ache with pent-up seed.

With a sinking heart, he looked around at the elegant saloon. The whore had more wealth than he did. Add to that the fact that he knew he was a rough, backwoods half-breed without a white man’s polished manners, and he realized that even if he’d had plenty of gold, she wouldn’t be interested in him anyway.

The pretty, yellow-haired whore sidled up to him again. Buy me a drink now, sugar?”

Cherokee tore his gaze away from Silver. His body ached for the release of a woman’s body. He grabbed the whore’s arm, propelling her ahead of him. Sweet darlin’, let’s the two of us go upstairs.”

A man who knows what he wants. I like that!” She pressed against him and smiled. I can take care of what ails you in a few minutes!”

A few minutes, hell! Darlin’, you better figure on me stayin’ all night! What’s your name again?”

Nellie.”

Come on, Nellie, you got your work cut out for you.”

She giggled, looking back at him over her shoulder as they pushed through the crowd. With you, sugar, it’s not gonna be work, it’ll be pure pleasure!”

They had to pass the piano to reach the stairs. As he passed Silver, he slapped Nellie on the rear and laughed loudly. Sweet darlin’, you ever take a man a dozen times in one night?”

The girl giggled again, reached out, and took his hand possessively. No, but you look like the man who could do it and make a girl die happy!”

Damned right!” he said, sneaking a look at Silver as he started up the stairs. Then he paused, and their eyes locked for a long moment, though her expression betrayed nothing. He knew she had to have heard what he’d just said. He’d meant for her to. What had he expected her to do? How ironic—going upstairs with one girl and loco to have the one standing by the piano. Cherokee hesitated, wishing he could back down. He’d rather stand here and watch Silver than go upstairs with Nellie.

Hey, sugar,” Nellie yelled from the top of the stairs, where are you? I thought you were in a hurry?”

Yeah. Here I come.” He tore his gaze away from the other girl reluctantly and went up the stairs.

He watched Nellie’s hips sway in the tight green dress ahead of him. Cherokee followed her into her room and kicked the door shut with his boot. If the boss lady is an iceberg, why does she allow you girls to work here?”

Would you believe she don’t take a cent of our money, except for room and board? Says we work too hard for it.” Nellie quickly undid her tight dress with experienced fingers and stepped out of it. She wore a lace chemise underneath, but she didn’t have the body Silver had. At least her hair was somewhat the right color.

Cherokee concentrated on the strawlike hair. Maybe he could pretend she was Silver. His manhood ached with need. She doesn’t take a cut of your money?”

Silver’d just as soon we didn’t work here. Doesn’t really approve. But the girls need the jobs and we’d just work somewhere else if she didn’t allow it.”

She came over, put her arms around his neck, and rubbed up against him. You feel hard as stone, sugar. I’m gonna make you real happy!”

He closed his eyes, pulled the girl against him, and saw Silver’s face in his mind. His manhood was hard as stone . . . if stone could swell and throb and ache.

He didn’t open his eyes as he pushed the lace straps off her shoulders so he could cup her breasts and pull her body closer to his pulsating hardness. Her breasts felt small, and when he buried his face in her coarse hair, the strong, cheap perfume she wore almost gagged him. He longed for the fragrance of wild flowers.

Oh, sugar,” she cooed, wiggling her hips against his hardness, you really do want me bad, don’t you?”

A woman; he needed a woman bad. A vessel to spew his hot seed into; that was all he needed now.

He felt her fumbling with the buttons of his pants. Oh, sugar, I ought to charge you by the inch!” She giggled with delight as she went to her knees and kissed his manhood.

He looked down at her through half-closed eyes, pretending that it was Silver on her knees before him in a lace chemise. He tangled his fingers in the girl’s hair and pulled her mouth against him again, throbbing at the wet hotness of her lips on him. You know what I want,” he gasped. Beg me for it. Beg me to take you.”

Yes, that was what he wanted. He wanted the frigid Silver on her knees in submission, her lips caressing him, begging him to take her.

I’ll beg if you like, sugar, but let’s get on the bed where we’ll be more comfortable.” She took his hand and led him to the bed.

Cherokee sat down on the edge and reached to remove his boots.

And then the music began again and Silver’s high, sweet voice floated up the stairs and under the door. It was almost as if she sang directly to him. With horror, he felt his desire ebb, his manhood begin to soften.

By damn! He wouldn’t let her do this to him. He’d mount Nellie and satisfy his pent-up desire before Silver’s voice could affect him further. Without even taking off his boots, he grabbed Nellie and pushed her onto her back. I’m in a hurry,” he gasped. There’s no reason to pull anything off!”

If you want me that bad . . .” The silly girl had her chemise off and obediently lay on her back with her legs spread.

Silver’s voice floated faintly into the room. Damn her anyway! Even as he took the girl in his arms, he felt his body soften in protest. It didn’t want Nellie, it hungered for the other girl. He was both frustrated and angry as he sat up suddenly. I’ve changed my mind.”

Changed your mind? As hot as you were?”

He didn’t want to explain or argue with the girl. Here’s your money and then some.”

He tossed two silver dollars on her bare belly, rolled over to sit up on the edge of the bed, and took a deep, shuddering breath.

He had already lost the rigidity he needed to complete the act. Even though he had been without a woman for months, all he wanted was the girl downstairs—a woman as unattainable as the stars to a half-breed prospector like himself.

Sugar, you ain’t leavin’?”

Just watch me!” He stood up, looking down at the girl lying naked in a tangle of sheets and lace. Sorry about that, Nellie.”

But why?”

Never mind why. It isn’t your fault. I—I just changed my mind.” He started buttoning his pants.

The song floated faintly through the door and Nellie sat up, glaring at him. It’s her, ain’t it? You want her? Well, Silver don’t sleep with no one, ’specially not some lowdown ’breed! You can eat your heart out, ’breed, but you won’t ever get in her bed! You should have been happy to get me.”

Her words stung like gravel thrown against his face, but he resisted the urge to fling insults back. Cherokee could never hurt a woman, not even a whore. And didn’t he know that all white women were whores? Sorry, Nellie,” he drawled softly and strode out the door.

Maybe he could sneak out without Silver seeing him. With all the fuss he’d made about spending the whole night with Nellie, he’d just as soon Silver didn’t know he was leaving early.

He started down the stairs as the piano changed to another tune and the men began to applaud and cheer. Through the haze of smoke and smell of whiskey, he saw Silver taking the steps to the small stage.

The piano banged loudly and the men sang along:

De Camptown ladies sing dis song, doo-dah, doo-dah! De Camptown race track, five miles long—Oh! Doo-dah day!”

Silver danced across the stage, her small feet flying to the melody. She had such a natural grace and rhythm that Cherokee forgot he was trying to sneak out unnoticed; that he was furious with the girl for denying him what he wanted.

He had never seen anyone dance so well, graceful feet moving to the music while the men cheered her on. If the flawless beauty sang well, she was an even better dancer. And when she whirled, her skirts flew up, revealing long, beautiful legs.

Halfway down the stairs, Cherokee leaned against the rail, and watch