Texas Hold Him Read Online Free PDF Page A

as many evenings, Lottie found herself watching the broad back of Obediah Straights as he left her
     standing alone on the deck. Maybe she was going about this all wrong. Maybe she should just take a few days to get to know
     him better before she asked him again. In that time, she might have enough money saved up to pay for her first lesson.
    She turned back toward the gambling salon to see one of the other serving girls standing in the doorway with a concerned knit
     to her brow. Sally Summerfield had taken a few minutes earlier in the day to teach Lottie what to do while serving the tables.
     Lottie wasn’t sure of Sally’s age—the henna-dyed hair and face paint did quite a bit to hide the years—but it was obvious
     she wasn’t a newcomer to the gaming salon or its patrons.
    “I didn’t mean to interfere or anything,” Sally said, stepping onto the deck. “It’s just that I saw Dyer drag you out here,
     and I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
    Lottie forced a smile. “Oh, he didn’t hurt me.” He just left her at a loss for words more than any man she’d ever met.
    Sally joined Lottie at the rail. “I knew Dyer wouldn’t hurt a woman, at least not physically. It’s just that heseemed pretty mad, and I wanted to make sure he didn’t say anything to upset you.”
    “You know Dyer well?” With any luck, Sally could give her some insight into this unusual man. All help would be appreciated.
    Sally snorted. “Nobody knows Dyer well, but I’ve known him for a while now. What is it you want out of him? If you don’t mind
     me asking.”
    “I want him to teach me how to play poker.”
    Sally shook her head, apparently shocked at Lottie’s statement. “You’re a brave lady, Lottie Mace.”
    “I don’t know why it’s such an amazing thing for a lady to play poker. If all those men can do it, I’m sure I can.”
    “I’m sure you can too. You just don’t seem like the kind of lady who would thumb her nose at genteel society and gamble on
     a riverboat.”
    Sally’s statement reinforced all the misgivings Lottie’d had from the very beginning of this undertaking. She knew very well
     a decent woman didn’t play cards or even associate with riverboat gamblers, but she had little choice. “I know it’s a sin,
     and I’ll probably go to Hell, but I need the money, and I guess I’m willing to take that chance.”
    “Honey,” Sally said. “If you get involved with Dyer, you’ll already be in Hell.”
    Lottie frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “Let’s just say that man carries his own brand of Hell with him.”
    She started to ask Sally to explain, but decided Dyer’s personal problems shouldn’t affect her anyway. Lord knew she had enough
     problems to last her, and all she needed from Dyer was poker lessons. Nothing more.
    “From the look on your face, I have the feeling he’s refused to teach you,” Sally said.
    “Actually, he brought up a good point. I don’t have any money yet to pay him.”
    “How do you plan to earn it?”
    Lottie motioned to the gaming room. “Serving the tables.”
    “Not dressed like that,” Sally said, with a shake of her head.
    Lottie smoothed her hands down her blue calico day dress. Granted it wasn’t fancy, but it fit her well enough, and it functioned
     sufficiently for serving the tables. “Mr. Craft said I didn’t have to wear a short dress if I didn’t want to. What’s wrong
     with mine? I thought it was very respectable.”
    Sally laughed. “That’s the point, honey. How much money have you made so far?”
    Lottie reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out two bits. “Not much, I’m afraid.”
    “There’s a reason for that.” Sally patted her fancy red hair and sashayed in a little circle on the deck, swishing her hips
     to make the knee-length skirt of her scarlet dress sway about her body. “The men pay more to a woman they think might give
     them a little fun later.”
    “Oh, my.” Lottie could feel her face