Cowboys 08 - Luke Read Online Free PDF Page B

like a cat with a cornered mouse.
    "When are you going to leave?" she asked.
    "Why is it so important to you?"
    She bridled at the inference. "It isn't. I just wanted you to know you're free to go about your usual activities." "Thank you." His smile was faint and ironic.
    "Hans said you refused to keep the money Otto offered you. Why did you do that?"
    "I hadn't done any work. It seemed unreasonable to keep the money."
    "But you took it at first." "Yes."
    "Then you gave it back." "Yes."
    "Stop answering me in monosyllables!" "WRY?"
    She'd never liked the idea of firing squads, but right now she'd have given half her dowery to see him standing before one. "Because it's rude."
    "Why?"
    Luke clearly had no respect for position in society, her status as a woman, or her as a person.
    "I just came to let you know you were free to take other employment," she said, getting to her feet.
    "I'm not sure I feel like working just now." She turned to leave.
    "Bonner seems like a nice little town. I think I'll stay for a while."
    She turned back. "I would prefer that you leave." "Give me a good reason why I should care what you prefer."
    She saw traces of that ironic smile. She reminded herself this wasn't Belgravia, that he wasn't one of her subjects. Probably not one person in this entire, huge, endless country cared what she thought or what happened to her.
    That terrified her. Only the loyalty of her servants separated her from complete and helpless isolation. And what reason did they have to be loyal? Could money ensure the kind of loyalty she'd always taken for granted?
    If she could only get to Rudolf's ranch. All her life she'd been protected by her prestige, her rank, the circle of people who orbited around the court. It had seemed so deep, so endless, so permanent, she'd never considered the possibility it might be taken away.
    But it had been. Now she stood perched on the edge of a trackless wilderness with two old men who knew no more than she how to provide guidance and protection. She needed to get to Rudolf. Once she reached his ranch, everything would be all right again.
    "Since you are no longer in my employ," she said, "I suppose there is no reason for you to care what I want. However, whether you stay or go, I would like you to remove your prohibition against anyone else serving as my guide."
    His expression didn't change one iota. "I haven't prohibited anyone from accepting your offer."
    "But Hans and Otto say they've been unable to hire anyone to take your place."
    His look might as well have said, No one can take my place.
    "I've offered a great deal of money," Otto said. "Offer more," he said.
    "I have, and they still won't take the job."
    "Then I guess you'll have to find your own way," he said.
    "None of my servants know anything about your country," Valeria said.
    Mr. Attmore looked from Otto to Hans. "Do you consider yourselves servants?"
    Otto sputtered.
    "I consider myself in the service of the princess," Hans said.
    "But not a servant?"
    "I'm employed to advise her highness."
    "So am I," Otto said.
    Luke Attmore turned to Valeria. "Looks like you don't have any servants, ma'am, just advisers."
    Valeria had known immediately she'd said something to upset this man. Now she knew what. She'd always referred to the people who worked for her as servants. The term didn't suggest anything demeaning. Apparently it meant something quite different in this country, something she would have to try to understand.
    "My advisers know nothing about your country," she said, trying hard to remain pleasant in the face of his continued provocation.
    Luke motioned to the man behind the counter to come over. "Sandoval," Luke said when the man reached him, "do you think Bob Wilson could guide the princess to a ranch above the Mogollon Rim?"
    "Bob's tied up working for the stage company just now," Sandoval said. "Just took the job yesterday. He won't be done with that for I don't know how long."
    "How about Abe Custis?"
    "His cousin