Free Dorothy Garlock - [Wyoming Frontier] by Nightrose Page B

mates several times down through the centuries.”
    “That’s certainly a farfetched but interesting assumption.” Her lips began to twitch, and then her musical laughter came suddenly as she began to see the humor in the situation. “I can see you as Claudius, Emperor of Rome, or Henry the Eighth, lopping off the heads of your wives.” Katy made some slashing movements as if she had a sword in her hand. “On the other hand, you may have been Genghis Khan, Captain Cook, or Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa Indians.” She stopped play-acting and stared into his dark eyes that had suddenly gone serious.
    “You may have been Helen of Troy, Cleopatra or Lady Godiva. All were very beautiful.”
    “Not my style. I’m not foolish enough to let a snake bite me, or to ride naked through the streets of Coventry I’m more the Lucrezia Borgia type.”
    “You’ll not poison me, Katy. Does the name
Nightrose
mean anything to you?”
    “Nightrose? Oh, sure. It tells me that you’ve been in these mountains too long,” she snorted and turned away.
    “Don’t go! I’m not up to chasing after you just yet.” The commanding tone in his voice cracked across her pride like a whip.
    “Don’t order me around,
King Richard.
This isn’t the Middle Ages.” She whirled to face him, flung the thick rope of hair over her shoulder and rested her fists on her hips. “Women are no longer chattels,” she spat at him. “We even vote now!” Her eyes burned at him resentfully, and her voice rose in spite of her wish to stay calm.
    He looked searchingly into her eyes, and, ignoring her anger, spoke calmly.
    “Katy, haven’t you ever felt for an instant that you’ve done something before?”
    “Of course, hasn’t everyone? It’s a phenomenon. To attach any significance to it is just ridiculous!”
    “I don’t think it is. I think that feeling opens a window into our past and offers a glimpse into our future. You and I will be continuing our relationship in this life, and we should start off on the right foot.”
    “What relationship, Mr. Rowe? We’ll have no relationship because I’ll not be here, and that’s my final word on it.” She felt shaken and a little out of breath. She wrapped her arm about the porch post and leaned against it.
    “Katy, I hadn’t planned to have this conversation with you just yet, but I think it best that I lay my cards on the table so that you’ll know where I stand. I don’t want you to leave Trinity, therefore you will stay until I’ve completed my business here. Then I will take you to where we will establish a home.” His face had a harshness that made her shiver. His voice was so even that it took her a moment to hear the positive note in it.
    “You’re crazy!”
    “
Omnis amans amens,
” he said with a shake of his head.
    “What gibberish is that?” she demanded.
    “Latin. Every lover is demented.”
    As Katy’s startled eyes met his, an icy hand squeezed her heart. “We’re leaving as soon as we can, and you’ll have nothing to say about it.”
    “But I will, Katy. You’ll stay and help me build a town,” he said confidently.
    “And you’ll fly to the moon on a broomstick!”
    “You and your sister will not be alone again,” he said, ignoring her outburst. “I’ll provide for you and protect you while we get to know each other better.”
    It was the wrong thing to say, and Rowe realized it the instant Katy’s face turned a dull red, her eyes blazing angrily. He had trampled upon that damnable Southern pride that Southern ladies carried like a shield.
    “You’ll provide for us! And what do
you
expect in return? We’re not beggars! We’ve not asked you for a damn thing. You volunteered your protection when the outlaws rode in. You demanded that we accept it. We don’t want your charity, and as far as getting to know you—bullfoot! I know you as well right now as I ever will.”
    “You’re wrong, but I realize I can’t convince you of that just yet. I didn’t