Cowboys 08 - Luke Read Online Free PDF

right here."
    "That's a saloon," Otto said.
    "Americans stay at saloons, too," Hans said. "Some of them have rooms just like hotels."
    Valeria doubted she would ever accustom herself to the strange and unaccountable things Americans did.
    "They're not very different from inns in our country," Hans added.
    Valeria had never stayed at an inn. But the moment she entered the Crystal Palace, she decided there couldn't possibly be anything like it in her country. Except for a bar of about a dozen feet, tables and chairs filled every inch of space in the long, narrow room. The walls were bare except for a mirror and two racks of glasses behind the bar. The tables looked clean and the floor had obviously been swept recently, but the odor of whiskey and tobacco vied for prominence with the aroma of coffee and the smell of bacon grease.
    Valeria expected to be disgusted. She was only surprised.
    But not as surprised as the men seated at the tables. Their stares when she entered made it plain women weren't frequent visitors. Even though she'd come to put him in his place, she felt greatly relieved when Mr. Attmore stood up at one of the tables in the back of the room.
    "I didn't expect her to change her mind so quickly," he said to Hans when they reached the table.
    "Change my mind about what?" she asked Hans.
    "My being your guide."
    "I didn't." It disturbed Valeria that she was more aware of the attraction between them than the feeling of outrage that had brought her here.
    "Whatever you came to do, it'll attract less attention if you sit down," Mr. Attmore said.
    Valeria wanted to refuse to be seated in such a place, but she knew she would probably have to do many things she would never have considered only a few months ago. When Hans held a chair for her, she sat down. The infuriating Mr. Attmore held a chair for her maid.
    But taking a seat didn't remove her from the glare of attention. It seemed no one in the room had anything to do but stare at her.
    "Could I offer you some coffee?" Mr. Attmore asked. "No, but I would accept a cup of cocoa."
    The look he gave her reminded her forcibly of the one he had given her when she had been foolish enough to ask what he thought of her.
    "I'm afraid Sandoval doesn't get many requests for cocoa," Mr. Attmore said. "All he has is coffee. Unless you'd prefer a beer."
    She supposed he'd said that intentionally, just to rile her. Well, she could play this game just as well as he.
    "I'd love a Blauenstaff," she replied, then tried not to laugh at the shocked looks on the faces around her. "It's the favorite beer in my country."
    The faint crinkling of the skin at the corners of his eyes told her Luke knew exactly what she was doing. "I'm afraid Sandoval's shipment of Blauenstaff was stolen last week. It's a favorite of so many of the miners, they can't wait for it to reach the saloon."
    He wanted to joke. She didn't care as long as he realized she wasn't a silly little fool he could insult at will. "In that case I'll have to decline your offer." "We have other beers."
    "I couldn't think of drinking anything but Blauenstaff. I came here to tell you, Mr. Attmore-"
    "Call me Luke."
    "-that I have no intention of asking you to escort me to Rudolf's ranch. I wouldn't accept your services if you volunteered them."
    Chapter Three
     
    "I never volunteer my services," Luke said, without the slightest change of expression. "I charge an exorbitant price. That makes me even more valuable to my clientele."
    "Not to me."
    "So you've made clear."
    "You're free to leave Bonner."
    "So I am."
    "I'm sure someone else is anxious to retain your services."
    "I've had several requests."
    "Then by all means take one of them." "I'm considering it."
    This interview hadn't proceeded as she'd anticipated. No man had ever sat across a table from her, regarding her with expressionless eyes, returning minimal responses to her questions or statements. She'd all but ordered him to leave town, and he just sat there watching her