My Darling Gunslinger Read Online Free PDF Page A

eaten mutton stew but imagined he could taste it upon his tongue, rich and meaty with just the right touch of salt.
    “Zere’s just one catch.”
    Ty’s eyes shot from the land deed to the old man’s face to find him staring hard across the table, his blue eyes fierce in his pale, wrinkled face.
    “There always is,” Ty muttered.
    “You can’t seriously be thinking to allow the old kike to wager a piece of worthless land and a few mangy cows against our cold, hard coin.”
    Ty and Jasper ignored the dandy Easterner. This had nothing to do with him. His cold, hard coin was disappearing, the pile before him dwindled to a few wrinkled notes and stacked coins. He could either fold and take what remained or bluff and lose it all.
    “I’ve a partner, goes by zee name of Charlie Green,” Jasper said with a grin. “I gave Charlie a quarter interest in the ranch. I thought to leave the Zeppelin Ranch to Charlie when I go, but, hell, what Charlie knows about running a ranch would fit on the head of a pin.”
    Ty made no reply. He didn’t give a shit about Jasper’s partner or his quarter interest in the ranch. He’d have the other three quarters, the majority.
    “Charlie’s family crossed the ocean to keep an old man company in his dotage,” Jasper continued, and Ty realized his Prussian accent had fallen away entirely. He sounded just like any other Montana man.
    Before Ty could decide what it meant, the old man was speaking again.
    “I’d want your word Charlie and the family would always have a place at The Zeppelin.”
    Ty would have promised to allow a band of blood-thirsty Indians to sleep across the hall from him if it meant he might win the Zeppelin Ranch for himself.
    Ty gave a sharp nod and pulled his hat low over his forehead lest the old man see the yearning in his eyes.
    Jasper waited until Ty realized he’d have to speak the words, his gesture of assent would not do.
    “You’ve my word.” His voice sounded breathless to his ears. Desperate.
    “Now, see here, old man, you can’t bet your ranch, not against a cardsharp!” Eastern Boy jumped to his feet, his chair flying out behind him and clattering across the rough wood floors.
    Ty pinned him with his eyes, his right hand caressing the butt of his gun.
    The man’s gaze followed the movement and he sucked in a stuttering breath, his pale eyes filling with fear.
    “You want to be careful what you call a man.” Ty’s words were a rough whisper. “Now sit down and play or fold your cards and walk away.”
    Eastern Boy fumbled behind him and brought his chair forward. He fell into it with a grunt, his eyes flitting about the room.
    The pretty whore had been watching the exchange. Now she started across the room, her hips gently swaying in a way that ensured all eyes were upon her. She weaved around the next table when she could have come straight at them. Her movement placed her directly over Jasper’s shoulder.
    If Ty had blinked he would have missed the way her eyes dropped unerringly to the old man’s cards held loosely above the scarred table. She turned the look into a flirtatious flutter of her lashes as she peered up and met Ty’s gaze.
    Drifting one slim hand over Jasper’s shoulder, she sidled around the table. Her hip nudged the empty chair to Ty’s right as she continued her lazy meander toward him.
    Her tongue came out to lick her bottom lip in a gesture so blatant he almost smiled.
    As she rounded the table she trailed one long, slender finger along the edge of her low bodice. Ty hated to disappoint her, so he allowed his gaze to drop, to follow the provocative movement of her finger coasting over the tattered lace and dipping down to swirl around her nipple.
    “Seems you gentlemen have the hottest game going tonight,” she purred between ruby-red lips.
    “Oh, I don’t know about that, honey,” Eastern Boy replied with a leer. “I’d wager you are the hottest game going tonight.”
    The smile she tossed across the table at