Free Brighter than Gold (Western Rebels Book 1) by Cynthia Wright Page A

entire incident. It really was meaningless. Can we talk about something else?”
    “Certainly, love, certainly.” Brian, his brow knit in confusion, cast about for a new topic of conversation. “Jack, why don’t you tell us what else you did with your day?”
    He took a long drink of water, then smiled bravely over the rim. “Well... I accepted a job offer from Harold Van Hosten. I start work tomorrow morning as his new assistant.”
    With a gasp of outrage, Katie leaped to her feet and threw her napkin at him. When Jack caught it deftly, his brows flying up in half-amused surprise, her fury doubled. “That does it! I can’t bear another moment in this man’s company! And to think that I felt sorry for you, the way I might feel sorry for a starving dog! If I had had any idea what you planned to do, that you intended to work for that corrupt murderer, I would never have taken pity on you or suffered your touch for even those few moments!” Although Katie’s eyes flashed with rage, her voice trembled as if she were dangerously close to tears. “If I never see you again, it will be too soon!”
    With a strangled cry, she fled to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Jack winced, looked over at the puzzled MacKenzie, and murmured with his usual trace of irony, “It’s no use trying to deny it. She does not like me!”

Chapter 6

    June 30-July 2, 1864

    Katie cleaned the jars of brandied fruit that were lined up beneath the saloon’s huge mirror. It was late, and Brian was hanging a “Closed” sign in the window while Abby swept the floor. At the bar, Jack Adams folded his copy of the Columbia Gazette and drained his cup of tea. Abby watched him, brown eyes filled with longing as she dragged the broom over the same spot for the third time.
    “That’s quite a piece you wrote about the Griffin, Miss MacKenzie,” Jack said, handing her his empty cup. “Your store of knowledge about the man is impressive.”
    Katie ignored the teasing note in his voice. “I take pride in my work, Mr. Adams.”
    For a moment he was tempted by the challenge of making her smile, or at least look at him, but fatigue won out. All too soon five o’clock would arrive again, and he would be forced to awaken and begin another day of work in the offices of the Rush Mine. Besides, Katie’s usual barriers to communication between them had been impenetrable since the day she had learned of his employment by Van Hosten. Most of the time Jack was too busy or exhausted to make more than a halfhearted attempt to pierce her armor. Today it seemed easier to wait for her to grow tired of the game herself.
    Now he merely said amiably, “Well, I’m sure that the Griffin, wherever he may be tonight, is flattered by your interest.” Before Katie could reply, Jack crossed the bare floor to exchange a few affectionate words with Abby. Then, with a yawn and a half wave at Brian, he left the saloon.
    Abby’s eyes lingered on the swinging door. Moments later, her sweeping done, she disappeared into the back room. Katie was ready to go home to bed herself, but something in the older woman’s demeanor troubled her. After a moment’s consideration, she walked down the back hallway and met Abby coming out of the dark storage room.
    “Good heavens!” Abby gasped. “Miss MacKenzie, you startled me!”
    Katie was certain she smelled liquor on Abby’s breath. “Haven’t I asked you to call me Katie?” she said, then paused, torn between disapproval and concern. “Abby, perhaps I’ve been too busy or preoccupied to extend a proper hand of friendship to you since you came to Columbia. In any case I want to correct that oversight now. I know that you have been going through a difficult time, and I hope that you haven’t felt all alone in your new home....”
    In the shadows, Abby self-consciously raised a hand to her mouth. “You’re very kind... Katie. Thank you.” She tried to escape, but Katie touched her arm.
    “Is there something in