Outlaw Hearts(36)

Jake grinned. “You’ve got me there.”

Miranda thought how he looked even more handsome now in the morning light. It was the best he had looked since the first day she saw him in the supply store, bearded and mean-looking, then so sick after that. He had a fine, square jaw and dark, wide-set eyes that were perfectly outlined with dark eyelashes. Even his nose seemed perfectly matched to the rest of his face, and when he smiled, his teeth were straight and clean. She surmised that in spite of his cruelty, Jake’s father must have been as handsome as his mother was beautiful, for they had produced a son that was the best of both. How sad that they had never given that son a decent home.

A faint scar on Jake’s left jaw and another tiny one on his upper lip only seemed to make him even more handsome, lending a ruggedness to his looks that was accented by his tall frame and broad shoulders. She found herself wondering how his full, firm lips would feel on her mouth, how a man like Jake Harkner kissed a woman, made love to a woman. She could only guess where the scars had come from—a barroom fight, some man’s knife, maybe his father.

Jake reached into a saddlebag and took out the pouchful of money. He opened it and took out fifty dollars, handing it to her. “I don’t want it,” she told him. “I guess helping you was the least I can do after shooting you.”

Jake’s gaze raked over her in a way that should have made her angry, but she only felt a rush of desire. “Well, you have your hands full there,” he told her, noticing a gunnysack in each hand. Miranda gasped then when he shoved the money into the moderate neckline of her dress. She felt her cheeks going crimson at the touch of his hand between her breasts, knew she should berate him for such a daring move, but she could not take her eyes from his; nor could she ignore the tingle of fire his touch had brought to her blood.

“Keep it,” he said. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

Miranda swallowed, handing him the sacks. “I…packed some food for you,” she said, suddenly flustered, bewildered by her feelings. “There are some potatoes here, some fresh bread, dried apples, a little flour and sugar and salt—some crackers and carrots. There are even some muffins.” He took the sacks from her, their eyes still locked on each other. Miranda felt almost faint. “You should eat the muffins and bread first,” she added, her voice softer. “They’ll go stale more quickly than the other things.”

Jake nodded, his smile fading. Miranda wondered if he hated this as much as she did. “Thanks,” he said, turning to tie the sacks onto Outlaw. He adjusted his hat then, took hold of the reins. “I guess that’s about it. Far as I know, I’ve got everything.” He met her eyes once more.

Miranda nodded. “Yes.” Everything but me, she wanted to tell him.

Jake adjusted his hat again, suddenly looking nervous and uncomfortable. “Look, Randy, I’m sorry about not taking you to Nevada. I hope you understand.” I think I could love you, if I even know what love is.

Miranda forced a smile. “Sure. I understand.” I think I’m falling in love with you, Jake Harkner. “I’ll make it just fine.”

He smiled again. “You remember what I said about keeping that Winchester handy.”

“I will.” Do you know how utterly handsome you are when you smile, Jake? “You should smile more often, you know,” she continued aloud. “I’m sure with that beard gone and a smile on your face, no one would connect you to the way you probably look on those posters.”

Jake laughed lightly. “Now there’s a thought. Change my appearance.”

Miranda glanced at the two gun belts worn crossed at his middle, the revolvers that hung in their holsters at either side of his hips. “It’s those guns that give you away, you know.”

He sighed. “I know. But I can’t afford to be without them.”

Miranda folded her arms and stepped back, a light morning breeze blowing her honey-blond hair in little strands across her face. She shook her head slightly to get them out of the way. “Bye, Jake.”

He just stared at her a moment before stepping closer and grasping hold of her arm gently. He bent down and kissed her cheek, and Miranda wondered why she didn’t stop him, why she wished he would have kissed her mouth instead. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing. He turned and mounted Outlaw.

“This whole thing has been the strangest experience of my life,” he told her, wincing once again as he settled himself into his saddle. He turned Outlaw and faced her. “I don’t know what to think of it, being shot by a woman, then helped by her. You’re easy to talk to, Randy, a good woman and a beautiful one. I have to say I envy the man you finally pick when you remarry. He’ll be a real lucky man.”