Free The Law and Miss Penny by Sharon Ihle Page B

the shady side. Perhaps you're confusing our show with one of theirs."
    Cain really had no way of knowing what memories had prompted his distrust of Zack's medicine show, but Mariah's explanation seemed perfectly reasonable. Except for one little thing. His expression more of a smirk than anything, he touched her cheek as he said, "Don't you think smearing greasepaint all over your face and fooling the public into believing that you're a Kickapoo princess is just a little on the shady side?"
    So proud was she of her business ethics, down to and including the small deception she practiced with her identity, Mariah would have answered that question in an instant at any other time. But she found she couldn't speak, not with Cain's fingers still brushing her cheek, heating her through and through. Was this a normal reaction? How could something so insignificant, the mere touch of his fingertips—the pads a little rough, yet somehow smooth and silky, too—affect her so intensely? Mariah almost swooned as she imagined those hands dipping lower, caressing her throat, then moving lower still to—no. She had to think, to clear her suddenly muddled brain, to answer Cain's accusation.
    "Most, ah..." Mariah drew in a breath and forced herself to concentrate. "Most all medicine shows feature some kind of Indian, and of course, the Healy and Bigelow shows swear they have the only authentic Kickapoos. I've never met a real Kickapoo Indian, and I don't think Mr. Bigelow did either. He just happened to like the way the name sounded. Why, even the Indian he started us out with a few years back was a Sioux who couldn't stand reservation life."
    "But how can you call your medicine show authentic, when you're so obviously fooling the public?"
    "It's not as bad as it sounds. We're just giving the customers what they want when I dress up as Princess Tanacoa. At least half the attraction to our show is the entertainment we provide. I'm just an actor being who the people want me to be, and as long as I don't sell phony or dangerous medicines, I don't see the harm."
    Now that she'd fully explained the Penny operation, neither did Cain. Most of all, he knew for sure that he didn't really want to just pack up and leave the show. Not until he knew more about himself. And not until he knew more about her.
    He replaced the tin of corn salve on the shelf. "I only know two things right now. One, I am confused, but only about myself. And two, if you'll still have me, I'd like to stay and be of some help to the show. Trouble is, even if I believe in these medicines, I know I'm simply not cut out to hawk them. Is there anything else I can do to be of some value?"
    Mariah had been considering that very thing. She smiled. "All we really need, Cousin Cain, is for you to drive the mules and do the heavy chores that are so hard on Zack. During the show, you can mingle with the crowd and show them your muscles—you know, like a saloon bouncer."
    "A bouncer?" He turned to her, finally allowing himself to look into those beautiful eyes. They were a rich violet color this morning, complimented by her soft apricot dress, and her lovely face was beaming with enthusiasm and something he couldn't identify. He may have solved his problem about how to help the family, but if he stayed on with them, how in hell would he ever get over this insane attraction for Mariah? Could he risk being around her any longer? He didn't know. "Are you sure I'd be worth the trouble as a bouncer?"
    "Of course. We could really use someone to remove folks who put us in the same basket as the crooked medicine shows. You know, the kind that call us names and try to have us run out of town."
    The way you did the day we met, she silently added.
    Cain sighed with both resolution and defeat. He would stay and help them as long as they needed help—or as long as they'd let him stay. But he did have one other, very real concern, one he had to make Mariah aware of before anything was settled. "I'll do