The Gambler Read Online Free PDF Page A

diverting Clancy's attention from Charm. Air rushed back into her lungs, and her fingers loosened slightly.
    "You're so suspicious, Joseph. If I was the one sitting across from a lady like that, I'd be on my best behavior."
    Raven shifted slightly in his chair, stretching his legs out under the table. Although she tried, Charm found she could neither read his emotions nor guess his thoughts. It was a disconcerting feeling, as if she were groping about in the dark.
    "Your best behavior," Raven said. "And how would I differentiate that from your worst?"
    "Ooo." Clancy groaned. "That hurt. You've developed a sharp tongue, Joseph," he complained, turning to look at Charm. "Doesn't he have a sharp tongue?" He paused. "Damn, she's pretty! Where did you say you met her?"
    Bodine was looking at her again, but more intently now, making the hairs on the back of Charm's neck stand upright.
    "What in blazes happened to my chair?" The proprietor had arrived, carrying two platters of food. He sported a dangerous scowl but blessedly drew the men's attention from Charm.
    "Joseph here has a hell of a right hook. But," Clancy said with a shrug, "I guess I can't blame 'im. Put the damages on my bill."
    The plates were set on the table with a grunt, and in a moment the server was gone, grumbling back toward the kitchen.
    Raven cut up his steak, seeming to ignore his companions, but Clancy was not easily disregarded.
    "Don't worry about the cost of the chair, Joseph," said he magnanimously. Raven's left brow again dipped almost imperceptibly over those dark, deep-set eyes, Charm noticed. "I've had me some luck tonight," Clancy continued happily. "Course, not so much as you." He turned his gaze on Charm again. "Where did you say you met her?"
    "Bodine," Raven said, his voice low.
    "Yeah?"
    "Get lost."
    Clancy grinned. "Thought you said you didn't hold no grudges, boy," he argued mildly.
    "I don't." Raven's knife was poised over his plate. "I just don't like to eat with snakes. It turns my stomach."
    "Now that one really hurt," Clancy said with a dramatic wince. "And after all I've done for you. You wouldn't know it to listen to 'im, Miss Charm, but Joseph and me is really very close. Like brothers. Matter of fact, for all we know, we could be brothers," he said, and he laughed.
    For a fraction of a moment Charm thought Raven would strike. She saw the tendons in his wrists tighten, felt the tension, but again she misjudged him.
    "Oh, come on, boy, loosen up. You always did take things too damn serious."
    "And you always thought a lynch mob was too funny, but only if they're after my neck," said Raven.
    "Hey, they didn't catch you, did they?" Clancy asked then waited momentarily for an answer. "No. 'Course they didn't or you wouldn't be here with this stunnin' lady. Where did you say you met her?"
    "I should kill you, Bodine." Raven said the words very casually and sat back, causing Clancy to laugh again.
    "But you won't, cause I'm so damned charmin'. Not as charmin' as her." He nodded toward Charm. "But charmin' nonetheless."
    "What did you do with the money?" asked Raven finally, watching Bodine as one might watch a coiled rattler.
    "For that Georgia deal? Oh, I didn't get paid. You think I got paid for that job?" questioned Clancy, looking shocked as his tone rose slightly. There was not, Charm noticed, a shred of honesty in his expression. "I didn't get a penny. The boy got away." He canted his head, studying Raven. "I thought you might've knowed that. Thought it might've been you who helped him escape, once you'd learned the truth."
    Raven said nothing. He kept his gaze level.
    "Hey. Don't go looking at me like that. I was as surprised as you. Thought they just wanted us to find young Josh so's he'd return some stolen goods. Thirty days in the jug and all that. How'd I know they planned to string him up?" He shook his head. "Guess Southern gents don't like their gals messed with."
    Raven's expression remained unchanged. "So you're saying you had