"No? I had rather thought that they were--at heart."

"You're mistaken."

"Maybe you're mistaken. Maybe most women are hypocrites."

"Oh, you are impossiblev' Tess cried. She swung around and began to

stride angrily toward the wagon.

But before she could reach the break in the bushes, he had pulled her

back.

She started to snap something to him, but the words caught in her throat

when his smoky gaze fell upon her.

"Tess, you are different."

"Different from what?"

He smiled.

"From any other woman I have met," he said softly.

Then he stepped past her and preceded her to the camp fire Jori had

burning with a welcoming warmth and light.

Chapter Six.

The delicious aroma of cooking was already filling the air as Tess

stepped toward the fire. She inhaled deeply as she tried to dispel her

immediate memories of Lieutenant Slater. The fire had been set in the

center of the clearing. A small animal roasted on a spit atop it. Jon,

on his haunches, turned the spit. On a bed of hot rocks surrounding the

fire sat a coffeepot.

Dolly was coming from the wagon with tin plates, and with mugs for the

coffee. She smiled at Tess.

"Rabbit! A nice, plump brown rabbit. Jon caught and skinned that thing

in minutes flat. I do declare, he's a fine provider!"

"Yes, he is," Tess said, smiling at Jon. She strode past him and

daintily swept her skirts beneath her to sink upon the ground. Jamie was

coming across the clearing toward them, too. He sat beside her.

"You caught a big one," Jamie acknowledged.

"Good."

"We need some water for this coffeepot," Dolly said.

"I'll get it," Jamie and Tess volunteered simultaneously. "Fine, you get

it," Tess said.

"No, you can go."

"But, Lieutenant" -- "Jori, give me the damned pot, will you?" Jamie

said.

He started toward the brook, then paused, looking back.

"How's our supply in the barrels?" "Good," Jon said.

"Later we can fill the canteens." Jamie nodded and started toward the

water.

Tess hesitated a minute, then started after him. "Tess!" Dolly called.

"I'll be right back!" "We'll never have coffee!" Dolly said dolefully.

Tess ignored her.

She was panting and breathless, and wondering what in hell had made her

rush into the den with the lion.

She caught up with Jamie at the brook. When he wanted to, he could move

quickly.

He stared at her as he filled the coffeepot, arehing one brow.

"You want acreage," she said.

"How much?"

"Well, now, I don't know. I haven't seen the property, have I?"

"Give me an idea."

He shrugged. His eyes were hard as he stared at her. "Half. Half of what

you own."

She gasped, stunned.

"You're insane!"

"I can ride back to the fort."

"But you don't even know what I own!"

"That's right. You're the one pushing the point here."

"A quarter."

"Half."

"Never!"

"Half. And that will be it. I won't ask another thing of you, Miss.

Stuart."

"Not on your life."

"We can ride right back." He stood and walked toward her. He didn't

touch her, but he was smiling still.

"Miss. Stuart, normally I don't barter at all, not without seeing what

it is I'm willing to risk my life for."

"You're in the cavalry. You risk your life daily."

"They pay me. And you" -- "I'll pay you wages."

He shook his head slowly.

"You know what I want."

Tremors swept through her. She did know what he wanted--and he kept

saying it was property. He kept smiling, and his eyes roamed up and down

the length of her. "Like I said, I usually like to see what I'm buying

with my time and my Colt. Since I trust you so, I'm willing to take a

chance in this circumstance."

"A quarter," Tess said firmly.

"Half."

He walked by her quickly. She stumbled to keep up with him, but he moved

too fast. She was still stumbling when he walked into the clearing. She

slammed into him and he turned, lifting her chin.

"Half!" he whispered.

She pulled quickly away from him.

"We'll discuss it later. I think you're insane. I think you're just as

crooked as von Heusen. Just another Yankee carpetbagger."

He stiffened, dropped her chin and turned in harsh, military fashion,

then took the coffeepot to the fire. He sank down across from Jori.

"Well, the coffee will taste much better once we've eaten that sizzlin'

sweet rabbit all up!" Dolly said cheerfully.

"It's cooked enough for me," Jon said, leaning over and ripping off a

leg.

He winced as the meat burned his fingers, then he smiled.

"Dig in!"

They all ate hungrily, and in silence. Jamie rose and brought a loaf of

hard bread from the supply pack. It didn't matter that it was hard--it

was delicious. And when they were finished eating, the coffee was done.

It did taste wonderful after all the food, just as Dolly had so

cheerfully suggested.

It grew dark as they sipped it. Velvet dark. The moon was a bare sliver

in the sky, but there were hundreds of stars out, dotting the heavens.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Dolly said.

"Very nice," Tess agreed. She yawned.

"We should take the dishes to the water and wash them now."

"Don't be absurd. It's dark as Hades," Jamie said harshly. His eyes were

smoke when they touched her. He was furious, she realized. And it wasn't

their arguing over the payment in acreage, it couldn't be. He liked to

taunt her and anger her, the silver light of challenge was always in his

eyes then.

But he wasn't feeling fondly toward her at all at the moment, she was

certain. Her heart beat too-hard as his eyes touched her, and she

thought she saw something lethal in him, something that made her shiver,

something that made her think she did not want him to be her enemy. He

was coming to fight her battle, she reminded herself.

But then why did he look as if he wanted to strangle her? "I--I can

bring a lantern," she heard herself saying.

"Dammit, you can just wait until morning!" Jamie said irritably. He

stood, tossing the last of his coffee into a bush.

Then he strode away, disappearing into the darkness. Tess cast a quick

glance toward Jori.

"What's the matter with him?"

Jon shrugged.

"I don't know. You'll have to find out yourself." He stood and

stretched.

"Ladies, I suggest an early night."

"He's gone off on his own!" Tess said indignantly. "He's taking first

guard," Jon said softly.

"I'm going to bed," Dolly announced.

"Tess, now you come, too."

Jori was dragging his saddle and blanket to the fire. He stretched out

and closed his eyes, setting his hat over his face. Dolly headed for the

wagon.

Tess hesitated, then decided to go after Jamie.

She heard Jon rise as she moved into the bushes, and she swore softly,

certain that he would follow her. He did. But before he could reach her,

a hand snaked out for her, catching her arm, swinging her around. She

tossed back her head and met Jamie's angry eyes. She wrenched free from

his grasp.

For safety's sake, she took a step backward.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Looking for you."

"I told you not to run around in the dark!"

"But you" -- "Miss. Stuart, from now on, you're taking orders from me.

And from now on, you listen. And if I hear one more crack out of you

about my being a Yank just like von Heusen, I'll tan your backside until

it's the color of a Comanche. Are we understood?"

"No!" she snapped indignantly.

He took a single step toward her. In the near darkness, his eyes seemed

to glitter with a menacing light.

She decided that she wasn't going to tempt fate any further that

evening.

She didn't think he made idle threats.

She turned and fled.

Jon was standing not far from the camp fire. He had seen her reach

Jamie.

She slowed her pace as she saw him. She smiled pleasantly and wished him

good night. "Good night, Tess," he told her.

She crawled into the wagon. Dolly was already softly snoring. Tess

unhooked her shoes. Closing the cover of the wagon, she stripped down to

her chemise and pantalets. She crawled into her bunk, closed her eyes

and made every effort to sleep. Her heart was still pounding, and she

didn't know if it was with vexation or excitement. He wanted her

property, not her person, she reminded herself. Then how could he seem

to insinuate so much that seemed sensual when they talked about dry

land? And then, of course, he could change so quickly. Lose his temper

over simple words when he could tease so long himself. She didn't

understand, but he was occupying more and more of her mind. And more and

more of her heart.

It was light when she awoke. Dolly was already up. Tess quickly slipped

into her dusty brown dress for the second day on the trail. She tied her

shoes and slipped from 115 the wagon. She could smell coffee brewing

already, and something was cooking in a frying pan.

She could hear voices by the fire. Jori and Dolly, she determined. She

started around the wagon then held Still.