couldn’t figure why in blue blazes Kane had given up his quarters to that ol’ teacher. Officers didn’t do that for nobody. They always took the best for themselves, otherwise what was the good of outrankin’ someone else?
Didn’t make any sense at all. And why in tarnation was he visiting her? Something terrible crossed his mind and his eyes widened as that empty feeling in his stomach got bigger. Was Kane courtin’ Miss Tanner?R. J. cautiously leaned around the corner and stared at the captain. Even from this side view, he could tell Kane wasn’t smilin’. Not by a long shot. And he had a funny look on his face like he was mad as all get out.
His sweaty palms caused the checkerboard to slip, and R. J. slid his hand down his wool trousers. Then he settled the game more firmly against his side. He wasn’t sweatin’ because he was nervous after sneakin’ out and all. It was from writin’ all those dang standards she’d given him. Not to mention the blisters he had from choppin’ wood. No wonder he couldn’t even hang on to the gosh-darn board.
Worst of all, he missed Prince somethin’ fierce. He missed racin’ Bart Grimes across the parade ground. He missed the feelin’ he got when he and Prince beat the tar outa everyone. He stuck his head out and peeked carefully around the corner of the building, just in time to see Kane go inside. It appeared he was gonna miss his weekly checkers game, too.
And it was all
her
fault.
R. J. was tempted to tell her to go to blazes, only Kane would wallop him good if he did. The way the captain had looked while she was holding her face, R. J. had been sure he was gonna get whacked for blacking her eye, even though he hadn’t meant to.
He waited for a long time, hoping Kane would come out. But he never did. Didn’t he remember they always played checkers on Sunday night?
Why in tarnation would Kane rather see that ol’ Miss Tanner than play checkers? She must be holding something over his head or Kane wouldn’t be caught dead that close to her.
“Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! Maybe he’s tryin’ to get her to let up on the standards.” R. J. grinned. Yeah, that must be it.
He waited, staying until the sun went down, but Kane didn’t come out. He would’ve watched all night, but he had to go to the necessary. He turned away, shaking his head.
The captain wasn’t like his pa; he always kept his word. He
never
missed a checkers night, unless he was away on patrol. So it had to be that ol’ schoolmarm’s fault. It was just one more in the long list of gripes R. J. had against her. The list was getting longer all the time. He’d pay her back someday, too.
“Just see if I don’t,” he grumbled.
Kane glanced around his former quarters while Cady put his hat on the dresser. Everything looked different, definitely smelled different—better. Feminine articles were scattered around the room. A silver brush and mirror rested on the dresser with ribbons beside them, dresses hung on hooks on the wall to his right, pages from a ladies’ magazine were tacked up on the wall to the left of the fireplace.
This room felt more like a home after a few days of Cady’s presence than it ever had while he’d lived there. In fact, she’d put his hat on the dresser because her beat-up floppy black one was already on the peg by the door where he used to keep his.
“I see you’ve made yourself at home,” he said, taking a deep breath.
She looked around, then up at him. The smooth skin between her brows puckered slightly. “I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course.”
Her scent was womanly and soft and tempting. He shut his eyes for a second. He couldn’t let his feelings loose. If he did, he’d never be in control again.
He should never have come. If he had the sense the good Lord gave a rock, he’d turn right around and walk out that door.
“I’m glad you approve. I thought pictures would brighten the walls up a bit,” she said. Her shoes scraped on the
Didn’t make any sense at all. And why in tarnation was he visiting her? Something terrible crossed his mind and his eyes widened as that empty feeling in his stomach got bigger. Was Kane courtin’ Miss Tanner?R. J. cautiously leaned around the corner and stared at the captain. Even from this side view, he could tell Kane wasn’t smilin’. Not by a long shot. And he had a funny look on his face like he was mad as all get out.
His sweaty palms caused the checkerboard to slip, and R. J. slid his hand down his wool trousers. Then he settled the game more firmly against his side. He wasn’t sweatin’ because he was nervous after sneakin’ out and all. It was from writin’ all those dang standards she’d given him. Not to mention the blisters he had from choppin’ wood. No wonder he couldn’t even hang on to the gosh-darn board.
Worst of all, he missed Prince somethin’ fierce. He missed racin’ Bart Grimes across the parade ground. He missed the feelin’ he got when he and Prince beat the tar outa everyone. He stuck his head out and peeked carefully around the corner of the building, just in time to see Kane go inside. It appeared he was gonna miss his weekly checkers game, too.
And it was all
her
fault.
R. J. was tempted to tell her to go to blazes, only Kane would wallop him good if he did. The way the captain had looked while she was holding her face, R. J. had been sure he was gonna get whacked for blacking her eye, even though he hadn’t meant to.
He waited for a long time, hoping Kane would come out. But he never did. Didn’t he remember they always played checkers on Sunday night?
Why in tarnation would Kane rather see that ol’ Miss Tanner than play checkers? She must be holding something over his head or Kane wouldn’t be caught dead that close to her.
“Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! Maybe he’s tryin’ to get her to let up on the standards.” R. J. grinned. Yeah, that must be it.
He waited, staying until the sun went down, but Kane didn’t come out. He would’ve watched all night, but he had to go to the necessary. He turned away, shaking his head.
The captain wasn’t like his pa; he always kept his word. He
never
missed a checkers night, unless he was away on patrol. So it had to be that ol’ schoolmarm’s fault. It was just one more in the long list of gripes R. J. had against her. The list was getting longer all the time. He’d pay her back someday, too.
“Just see if I don’t,” he grumbled.
Kane glanced around his former quarters while Cady put his hat on the dresser. Everything looked different, definitely smelled different—better. Feminine articles were scattered around the room. A silver brush and mirror rested on the dresser with ribbons beside them, dresses hung on hooks on the wall to his right, pages from a ladies’ magazine were tacked up on the wall to the left of the fireplace.
This room felt more like a home after a few days of Cady’s presence than it ever had while he’d lived there. In fact, she’d put his hat on the dresser because her beat-up floppy black one was already on the peg by the door where he used to keep his.
“I see you’ve made yourself at home,” he said, taking a deep breath.
She looked around, then up at him. The smooth skin between her brows puckered slightly. “I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course.”
Her scent was womanly and soft and tempting. He shut his eyes for a second. He couldn’t let his feelings loose. If he did, he’d never be in control again.
He should never have come. If he had the sense the good Lord gave a rock, he’d turn right around and walk out that door.
“I’m glad you approve. I thought pictures would brighten the walls up a bit,” she said. Her shoes scraped on the
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