Page 41 of The Promise of Jenny Jones
“Listen. Just because we got a mutual hankering, doesn’t mean we have to act on it.” Her chin came up on a mulish angle. “Aside from the hankering, there isn’t much about you that I like. So far, you’ve been a pain in the behind. And I might as well tell you, I’ve followed through on one hankering and getting shot was more of an enjoyable experience. I didn’t like it.”
That was disappointing news. The minute she’d admitted sharing his hankering, wild images had exploded through his mind like fireworks. Since she didn’t seem to do things halfway, he’d figured her for a robust and enthusiastic partner. But somewhere along her trail, a man had treated her badly. That was a damned shame. Women were like fillies. Break ’em right, and they’d give a man pleasure every time he climbed in the saddle; break ’em harsh or carelessly, and they were nothing but trouble forever after.
He’d have to think about this.
Taking the supplies from the bartender, he curved the pork rind on both sides of her wound and bound them in place by wrapping strips of cloth around her arm. Her skin was warm and taut, and she had good muscle definition. If she hadn’t been wearing the shapeless poncho, he could have treated himself to a stolen glance at her magnificent breasts.
“I didn’t say we had to act on the hankering,” he commented casually. He wasn’t positive that she’d stated an outright rejection, but in case she leaned in that direction, he wanted her to know he hadn’t made any firm offer.
Standing, she touched her fingertips to the wrapped arm. Her eyes were clear and her step as steady as his. Looking at her, no one would guess that the two of them had just topped half a bottle of tequila. Ty hadn’t considered it until now, but holding her liquor was a good quality in a woman.
“How come you’re blathering about hankering,” she demanded, striding to the front of the cantina, “instead of planning how we get your niece back? Don’t you care about her? Or is she just some Mexican brat to you?”
His gaze snapped down hard. “How I feel about the kid is none of your business.”
“Right now, Graciela is myonlybusiness.”
“Where’s your gear?” When she talked about Graciela, her face changed. A fierce determination tightened her expression. She truly believed she was responsible for his niece.
“Down a couple of blocks.” When she turned, her face was half in shadow, half in sunshine. “I’m not going anywhere with you until I know how you feel about Graciela. If you aren’t committed to getting her back, I need to know it right now.”
Ty moved past her into the street, then stopped, forcing a man on a burro to ride around them.
“Here’s how it is. I’m no happier about having a Barrancas in the family than my father was,” he said, speaking between his teeth. “But Graciela is my brother’s daughter, and I promised Robert that I’d bring her home to him. I also promised my brother that I’d take care of his wife and child if anything ever happens to him. I gave my word. You told me that you never lie, so you’ll understand what that promise means. Graciela is part of my family, she’s part of me, and she’s my responsibility. I’m not leaving Mexico without her.”
Jenny adjusted the sling he’d fashioned over her arm, then leaned toward him, her expression combative. “I have good news for you, mister. If something happens to Robert, you’re off the hook because Marguarita askedmeto raise Graciela and I gave her my word that I would. And I will.”
“No stranger is going to raise my niece. Not you, not anyone else. She has my mother and she has me. She has family.”
“She also has Don Antonio, and Marguarita didn’t wanthimraising her daughter either. She pickedme.”
They stood close enough that he felt the heat rolling off of her, felt the power of her splendid body.
“The only reason you care what happens to Graciela is because you made a promise to Marguarita,” he stated flatly, staring at her mouth.
Her eyes blazed and her body tensed. “And I mean to keep that promise if it kills me. Or if I have to kill you. You arenotgoing to raise Graciela. Iam.”
Never in his life had he wanted to punch someone as much as he wanted to punch the woman staring a challenge into his eyes. But if he raised a hand against her, she’d come right back at him, regardless of her wounded arm, and they’d be fighting and rolling in the dirt street of this tiny village whose curious population stood in doorways staring at them.
He had no idea how he could want to bed a woman and want to knock her senseless at the same time. It was a mystery to ponder some other time.
“The fact is,” he snarled, opening and closing his fists, “neither of us has to raise Graciela. Robert will do that. As I’ve said before, your job is finished. Over. You’d do us both a favor if you’d ride out of here and forget about my niece.”
Her lip curled away from straight white teeth. “Did the odds change when I wasn’t looking? Did a few of the Barrancas cousins shoot themselves? Or do you plan to go up against four men all by your stupid self? You aren’t that good, Sanders.”
He flushed, remembering how she’d left him hog-tied in the dirt. His fists closed hard. She didn’t know just how good he was, but his time would come, damn it. “You and I can’t keep stealing Graciela back and forth. We have to work this out.”
“There’s nothing to work out,” she said, spinning away from him and walking forward. “I’m taking the kid to Robert. Me, not you. I gave my promise, and that’s the end of it.” She threw the words back at him. “If you want to tag along… well, I agree that’s better than what we’ve been doing. It’s up to you. I don’t give a piss what you decide.”
He didn’t talk to her while she collected her gear and watched him saddle her horse; he didn’t talk until they were a mile east of the village, following a clear trail left by the cousins.
“Your wound isn’t bad,” he commented stiffly, coming up alongside her mare. “You should be able to use your arm in a couple of days.”
“I could use it now if I had to,” she snapped.
Crimson shadows stretched before them, cast by a bloodred sunset. Ty judged they could ride another thirty minutes, then they’d have to set up camp for the night. “We can’t make plans until we find out where the cousins are going and what they intend to do.”
“They’re heading toward the railroad, and they plan to kill Graciela. The only questions are when and how.”
