“You mean...”
“Knowing you have the best girls in the county,” Cole continued, ignoring his young friend, “I knew you would pick him out someone special.”
Doolan licked his lips. Was he honestly going to get to be with a woman — naked and everything?
“I got just the one,” Dahlia crooned. “Bill,” she called to the bartender, “call down Credence.”
Doolan was feeling as skittish as a turpentined cat. “Can I talk with you a minute in private?” he asked Cole.
“Sure thing.” Cole winked at Dahlia and moved several feet away. “What is it, Doolan?”
“What if I...I mean, you know... can’t do it.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Well, you know I’ve never... Don’t you need me to help get supplies?”
“Are you telling me you don’t want to go through with this?”
“I just don’t want...” Doolan forgot what he was about to say. His eyes were fastened on the tall blonde coming down the stairs. The only thing she had on was a girdle that pushed her creamy white breasts up, and a gossamer thing that reached the floor and hid nothing. He’d never seen anything so beautiful.
Cole laughed. “You’ll do just fine, Doolan. I’m sure you haven’t a thing to worry about.” Cole doubted that the boy had even heard what he’d said. He saw Dahlia’s slight nod, indicating to Credence which man was her customer.
Credence walked up to Doolan, who looked as if he were frozen in ice. “Oh,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair, “you’re a handsome one.”
Doolan grinned like a sick puppy.
Credence took his hand. “Why don’t you come upstairs with me?”
Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. “It will be a while before I return,” he stated as he handed Dahlia the money. “See that the boy has a good time.”
“I can’t take your money, Cole. Hell, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have this business.”
Cole gave it to her, anyway. “Tell me, has Sheriff Biggs been in these parts lately?”
“No, he tried shootin’ it out with some young kid. They buried him nearly a year ago. The new sheriff never comes here ’cause nothin’ ever happens. You’re free to go where you please.”
Cole grinned. “I’ll see you later.”
As Cole drove out of town, Frank Doolan couldn’t stop talking about how well Credence had said he’d performed. “She told me she’d never had anyone who could keep doing it time after time. Damn! I sure do feel good!”
“I hope she showed you how to please a woman, because you’ll come to learn that it’s a lot better when a woman is enjoying it as much as you are.”
“Credence showed me what women like.”
“All women aren’t the same.”
“Why, once I went a whole ten minutes before I... Well, you know what I mean,” he said proudly.
Cole chuckled. “Is that so? Then I guess the next thing you have to learn is not to go around bragging about how good you are, because, I assure you, there is always someone better.”
“Maybe you can teach me more,” Doolan said, still unable to contain his excitement.
“No, you’re on your own.”
Doolan shook his head. “I never knew it could feel so good. If I had, I’d of done it a long time ago. You have to be the best friend a man could ever have to go and do something like this for me.” He slapped his leg. “Damned if I don’t feel like bowling.”
“Then by all means, go right ahead.”
It was a good two miles before Doolan’s voice gave out and the howling ceased. It seemed as if the boy now had a permanent smile plastered on his face. Cole welcomed the blessed silence. He was remembering a long time ago when a woman had taken him to her bed for the first time. Like Doolan, he’d thought he had just been handed the world.
Chapter Five
Large drops of rain were already striking the ground when Cole raised his hand for the caravan to come to a halt. It had been a dreary day, but at least they had arrived at their destination before the storm broke. The dark clouds rolling overhead left no doubt that they were in for a downpour. He guided his horse beneath a tall tree, then swung from the saddle.
“Is this it?” Beth asked as she came alongside him.
“Yep. This is where the caravan will remain camped while you play train robber.” He reached down and loosened the saddle girth. “You might want to tell the men you picked to go with us that we’ll be taking off first thing in the morning.”
“Where is the railroad?”
“About a day and a half ride due north. We’ll be camping overnight on the way there and on the way back, so we’ll need provisions.”
Beth reined the feisty mare around until she was again facing Cole. “Aren’t you going to help me down?”
Cole pulled on his duster. “That’s not my job. However, I can be bribed.”
Beth laughed. “With what?”
Cole was sorely tempted to tell her that for a night in bed together she could have just about anything she wanted. “One of those pasta suppers tonight?”
Beth’s face lit up with pleasure. “You have a deal. But maybe I should have Magda fix –”
“Please, the pasta will be fine.” Cole stepped to her black mare’s side and reached up. His hands easily spanned Beth’s tiny waist as he lifted her from the sidesaddle. Common sense told him not to play with fire, but it amused him to see the smug look on her face disappear as he slowly lowered her down the length of him.
Realizing the outlaw was showing interest in her, Beth’s heart leapt. There was something about this man that definitely attracted her. When their faces were only inches apart he held her still, her body molded against his. She was staring into a pair of fathomless dark eyes. Passionate eyes that...“Are you thinking about kissing me?” Allowing her curiosity full rein, Beth closed her eyes and waited.
Cole smiled. Tempting. Very tempting, but it would only lead to trouble. “I was inhaling your perfume.”
Beth’s eyes flew open.
“I’ve never smelled anything like it.” Cole stood her on her feet. “It’s pleasing to the nostrils.”
“I gave you an invitation!”
“An invitation to what?”
“To
