Free Chasing Rainbows by Victoria Lynne Page A

hungry.
    Later, with her belly full and her body warmed, Annie relaxed back into her chair and watched the game. Jake won a hand or two, then lost the next several rounds. For a man who supposedly made his living gambling, it was an unimpressive display. Jake seemed to have no strategy at all. He’d see a whopping raise to stay in a hand, then ask for four cards. He’d raise a double eagle on nothing but a pair of twos. All in all, he played like a reckless greenhorn with just a bare knowledge of the fundamentals of poker.
    The game seemed to go on endlessly, the soft slapping of the cards nearly lulling her to sleep. Annie’s attention wavered until a sudden quiet tension brought her focus back to the game. A huge pile of coins, pouches of silver dust, and federal greenbacks sat in the middle of the table. Connors, who was dealing that round, held the deck tightly in his fist. “You in or out?” he demanded of Jake.
    Jake glanced at his cards, then shoved every cent he had into the pot.
    A tight, satisfied smile slipped across Connors’ face. “’Fraid that’s not enough, mister. Looks like the stakes just got a might too high for you to match.”
    Jake studied him in silence, then tilted his head toward Annie. “What’ll you give me for her?”
    Annie’s heart leapt to her throat. “What the hell are you talking about?” she demanded, bolting up straight in her chair.
    Jake lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug, eyeing her intently. “I’m talking about one night with Connors if I lose, or you and I split the pot if I win. What do you say, darlin’? You feeling lucky tonight?”
    Connors’ lewd gaze traveled hungrily over her body. “Either way, the lady comes out a winner, don’t she?” he said, a coarse laugh accompanying his words.
    Repulsed, Annie turned back to Jake, searching his face for some sign that would help her decide. His expression, however, was completely blank, stripped of any clue as to the value of his cards. He looked, in fact, totally indifferent. He might be holding a royal flush; or the son of a bitch could just be bluffing. She glanced at his whiskey glass, wondering if he’d had one, two, or twenty. She hadn’t been keeping track, and there was no way to tell just by looking at him.
    She chewed her bottom lip, wracked with indecision. Connors was a disgusting, arrogant pig, no question about it. If she had to choose between letting him touch her and bathing in a pile of mule dung, she’d pick the mule dung any day. On the other hand, the size of that pot made it a hard bet to turn down. If they won, they would be able to buy clothes, guns and ammunition, and maybe even a horse. Then they could track down those outlaws and get then belongings back. Like Jake had said earlier, going after them on foot and unarmed would be pure crazy. Hell, she’d have a better chance trying to rock a baby to sleep during a buffalo stampede.
    She tilted her chin, looking Jake straight in the eye. “Take the bet.” A murmur of excitement shot through the crowd.
    Jake nodded. A tiny glimmer of what looked like approval glinted in his steely eyes.
    “You heard her, boys, the bet’s on,” Connors declared. The big man confidently set down his cards. “I’ve got a straight, seven high. What have you got, mister?”
    “Two pair.”
    Annie’s heart sank, then her despair turned to fury. Jake had been bluffing.
Bluffing
. He’d bet every cent he had — and let her risk her own body — on two pair. That selfish, cocky, good-for-nothing, no-account, son of a bitch!
    The other man’s face beamed with glee and disgust. “Hell, two pair don’t beat nothing,” he said, reaching for the pot.
    Jake coolly smiled. “It does if they’re two pair of queens.” He set his cards on the table. “Four ladies, gentlemen, ace high.”
    Connors’ mouth dropped open. “That can’t be,” he stuttered, staring at the cards as though they had grown horns and a tail. “That can’t be.” He