Scarlet Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

are you? I think you’re going to have to prove it. Play me one last hand as you suggested before, final bet, double or nothing.”
    Katie moistened her lips. Here it was—what she wanted—as Carson would say, the whole enchilada. Was Montana telling the truth? Had he let her win? No, she didn’t believe that. She’d beaten him, fair and square.
    “Let me make sure I understand. If I win, you’ll double whatever is in the pot?”
    He nodded. “And if I win?”
    She hadn’t thought about that possibility. “That isn’t going to happen.” She closed her eyes and said a desperate prayer. If she lost, she’d lose all the money she’d won, and then there’d be no way she could keep playing.
    Would it matter? If she didn’t find the money to settle Carson’s IOUs, Rhett Butler Montana would own half of Carithers’ Chance. If she couldn’t make up for her loss, he’d end up winning the other half. She had no choice; she’d tried every way she could find to raise the money—without success. Carithers’ Chance was too big a gamble for anybody except Montana to risk.
    “You won’t win,” she said, and reached for her purse. “But this time we play with my cards and I deal.”
    “Don’t you know you aren’t allowed to bring your own cards into a casino?”
    “What’s the matter? Are you scared?”
    “Scared? No. But why should I take that kind of chance?”
    “Because, Mr. Montana, those are my terms.”
    He conceded with a laugh. “Why not? What’s the game?”
    She peeled the cellophane from her deck and shuffled the cards while she was considering the odds. “One hand, right?”
    “One hand.” If he agreed to more, they’d be back at the dock by then, and he wanted this settled while she was still on his turf.
    “Stud poker.”
    “Fine.” His penetrating gaze held hers and she didn’t think he’d even blinked. Intimidation, she decided. He figured he could spook her into making a mistake. Well, he was wrong. She could be just as cool.
    “Would you like to cut the cards?” she asked.
    He shook his head, stood, and moved toward the bed. Another intimidating ploy, she thought. Just like his uniform. Obviously, the gambler played his part to the hilt. All he needed was a brass chandelier and gold pull cords to open the curtains behind. Everything about the
Scarlet Lady
was larger than life, including the oversized portholes.
    Katie forced her expression to remain unemotional as Montana reached into a drawer in the bedside table and casually pulled out several packets of bills.
    As he took his seat at the table, Katie leaned forward, for the first time intentionally using her revealing neckline to distract her opponent.
    He studied the view she presented, leaned back, and smiled. “Deal.”
    “About the bet. One hand, right?”
    “One hand.”
    She dealt him his first card, facedown. Then one to herself. The bets started small. The next card was faceup. A queen of spades to Montana, a king of hearts to herself. Montana made no attempt to examine his hole card; instead, he peeled off ten thousand dollars, pushed it forward, and waited.
    “Is that all?” Katie asked airily, saying a silent prayer that he was the one who’d have to double the bet. “I like a man who takes a risk.”
    “I like a woman who matches it.”
    Katie silently fretted and considered her king of hearts. She would rather not have had to risk so much of her purse, but she couldn’t stop now. She covered his bet and added more. His third card—faceup—was a four of diamonds; hers a jack of hearts.
    “Possible royal flush for the dealer,” she observed calmly. “Will you bet?”
    “You know it, mystery lady.” Another stack of bills was added to the pile.
    She matched it and dealt each of them another card. Montana drew a second four—of hearts this time. “One pair showing.” Her card was the ace of hearts. Without ever touching the cards, Montana shoved more money into the pot. With a lump in her throat,