Each Time We Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

hotly over her face and full bosom,
and at the hungry expression that leaped in their depths, Savanna's
mouth went dry with fear. It was with an effort that she kept her gaze
from straying betrayingly to Bodene, poised just behind the
unsuspecting Micajah.
    "What you do now," Yates said, "is very slowly put the rifle
on the counter in front of you and come out from behind it, and if you
don't—why, I'm afraid I'll just have to cut this here nigger's throat,
and you wouldn't want that, now would you?"
    Despite the tenseness of the situation, Savanna felt rage
billowing up, and her eyes flashed angrily. "And then?" she demanded
tightly.
    He stripped her with his eyes. "And then," he said bluntly,
"you tie up Sam for me and we go upstairs for a few hours." He smiled
meaningfully. "If you're
real
nice to me, I might
not kill him when I'm through with you."
    Rage got the better of her, and forgetting all about Bodene,
she suddenly swung the rifle up and into position, the long barrel
pointed at Micajah's head. Her voice thick with fear and loathing, she
snarled, "Go ahead, kill him—but be aware that before his body hits the
floor, I'll shoot you between the eyes!"
    "No," Bodene said softly from behind Yates. "I insist, little
cousin, that you allow me that pleasure!" Brutally shoving the rifle
barrel into the middle of Micajah's back, Bodene drawled dangerously,
"And now what are you going to do, my dirty friend?"
    His confident air having vanished and his expression decidedly
chagrined, Micajah laughed nervously. "Sullivan! I should have knowed
you'd be around somewhere!" Obviously hoping to escape with his hide
intact, and never one to argue when the odds were against him, Micajah
very carefully released Sam's arm and with equal caution moved the
blade away from Sam's throat. An impudent smile on his face, he
declared heartily, "Seems like you bested me again, Savanna!"
Apparently undaunted by his dangerous position, he added brazenly, "Now
how about we all put away our weapons and sit down and have a whiskey
together—just to show that there are no hard feelings."
    Sam staggered away from Micajah and sank down onto one of the
chairs, cradling the arm that had been so viciously held behind his
back. Savanna's rifle never wavered and she asked anxiously, "Sam? How
bad is it?"
    Sam grinned, albeit painfully, and murmured, "Not so bad,
missy! He surprised me when I went back into the kitchen—was all over
me before I even knew what happened. I'se be all right directly. Don't
you worry none about ole Sam."
    Savanna exchanged a look with Bodene, who grimaced and
shrugged his broad shoulders. His own rifle still shoved between
Micajah's shoulder blades, he said thoughtfully, "I've never killed a
man in cold blood before, but I suppose there's always a first time."
    "Now look here!" Micajah bit out half angrily, half fearfully.
"I've done right by you—didn't I let Sam go?"
    Bodene smiled grimly. "Only because you didn't want to get a
hole blown through you." He shoved the rifle deeper into Micajah's back
and continued acidly. "And if I hadn't been here, God knows what you
might have done… I've a good mind to shoot you anyway."
    "Now, Bodene, you know you don't want to do that," the outlaw
replied quickly. "Why, we've known each other since you were just a
boy—I didn't mean no
real
harm." An uneasy smile
crossed his face. "And Savanna's such a tempting baggage, you can't
honestly blame me for losing my head a little."
    Savanna snorted and said through gritted teeth, "Try something
like this again and you
will
lose your head—I'll
put a bullet through it!"
    "And if, just by chance, she were to miss," Bodene added with
soft menace, "you can be sure I would hunt you down like the dog you
are and I wouldn't
miss!
Do you understand?"
    "'Course I understand!" Micajah replied testily. "Think I'm a
fool? I just don't understand why you all are going on about it!
Nothing happened!"
    Disgustedly Savanna said, "Oh, shut up, Micajah!