Free Lone Star Lover by Debbi Rawlins Page A

living. I imagine it’s difficult being a woman alone here.”
    Their eyes met, briefly, and then she had to look away. He could deny his disappointment but she saw it lurking in his eyes. He didn’t understand her situation, how she’d ended up in this hellhole, but to explain to him would make everything worse. If he knew where she’d been, what she’d done, he’d hate her. He’d push her as far away as he could.
    He hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
    She couldn’t speak. How could he be so kind? How could there be tenderness in his eyes when he knew what she was?
    Kitty had warned her. Men treated whores differently than other women, some men even treated their horses better than they did a whore. But not Jake…he was kind and gentle and…
    Oh, God. The sting of tears pricked the back of Rebecca’s eyes. She quickly lowered her lids, but it was too late. Jake used his thumb to wipe away the moisture that seeped from the corner.
    “Ah, Rebecca, am I making you cry?”
    She shook her head. “I’m not crying,” she whispered, her voice thin and uncertain.
    “Okay.” He smiled. And then he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. Lightly, as light as the wings of a butterfly.
    To her amazement, she leaned toward him, her entire body responding to the gentle kiss. She hadn’t even known she’d moved until she found her palms flat against his chest and the heels of her boots off the floor. He slanted his head ever so slightly, his lips parting. Rebecca strained a bit higher, her sudden eagerness sending a tingle down to her toes. She felt her own lips parting, her eyes drifting closed.
    Her boldness shocked her. Shamed her to her core. She stumbled backward, and in her haste, shoved him away harder than she’d intended. Without looking at his face, she hastened out the door. Jake was a decent man, like none she’d ever met. She’d been made a whore, and he hadn’t judged her for it. But how forgiving would he be if he learned she’d been an Indian’s whore?

    K ITTY SET the tray of whiskey and beer on the table to pass out to the three men. Impatient as always, Corbin picked up a shot off the tray, brought it to his lips and threw his head back. Some of the liquor, along with half his supper, ended up in his shaggy beard. He was a revolting pig, and she could barely stand to set eyes on him anymore.
    Bart and Moses exchanged looks of disgust, but neither man said anything. They left Corbin alone when Wade wasn’t around to keep tempers from burning too hot. He didn’t even have to try. Nobody crossed Wade, plain and simple. Even when Corbin was drunk, he had enough sense to keep his mouth shut when the boss was around.
    The other two men each nodded at Kitty as she set their beer and whiskeys in front of them. She purposely gave Corbin his beer last, and he slid her an evil look letting her know she’d pissed him off.
    She didn’t give a shit. Sure, she had a couple more lines around her eyes and her bosom wasn’t as firm as it once was, but Wade still visited her more than he did the other girls. They had a history, her and Wade, that went clear back to San Antonio. He told her things he wouldn’t tell another living soul. Mostly because he understood she knew how to keep her mouth shut. Could be he even knew that in spite of everything that was going on around Diablo Flats, she still loved him.
    “It ain’t right him staying upstairs with the whore.” Corbin picked up his mug of beer and chugged half of it down. “Bad for business. How can she make us any money?”
    Kitty picked up the tray. “Jake isn’t well enough to travel or fend for himself.”
    “You think I give a shit about that?” Corbin glared at her with such hatred she got a bit weak in the knees. “Get me more whiskey. And bring the goddamn bottle this time.”
    His voice boomed off the walls. A couple of heads turned, and then the men went back to