“you’re the first.”
It was so damned embarrassing to be here, so damned awkward to have to ask for money. “I don’t want you to think I go around doing things like—”
“Miss Jordan,” Hazard interrupted gently, “let me assure you, no one is making any judgments. I don’t know how long you’ve been in Montana, but social etiquette out here only requires that you give your first name. Beyond that, you need offer no further enlightenment. There are no questions west of the Red River.” 3
He really was a wonderfully understanding man, with some of the same gentleness she’d seen in Trey. Her gaze was direct, her voice only marginally nervous when she spoke. “I wouldn’t even have to ask you about the money, but you see, I have certain responsibilities”—she paused—“back where I come from, and well … I don’t know exactly how fast Trey will mend, and just in case it takes longer than … ah … thetime I’ve allowed myself to be gone”—she finished in a rush—“I’d rather have the money now.”
Without hesitation, without inquisition, with only the blandest expression, Hazard said mildly, “How much do you want?”
“Only what Trey owes me, sir,” Empress replied quickly, reaching in her shirt pocket for the bank draft and handing it to him. “It’s more than enough. Actually, it’s terribly generous, and if my circumstances allowed, sir, I’d not expect you to honor anything near that high, but—” She ran out of breath and boldness and suddenly felt very much alone in this strange house, importuning this virtual stranger for a staggering amount of money. The tears started welling up in the back of her throat, and clenching her hands together until the pain distracted her thoughts, she managed to avoid embarrassing herself by weeping before this powerful, influential man who owned a great deal of Montana.
Glancing at the scrap of paper, Hazard sequentially thought it was a high price to pay for this pretty thing’s time and a low price to pay for his son’s life. “I offered you considerably more than this, Miss Jordan. Don’t be bashful.” And he waited for her answer. A man of his word, he was also curious about Miss Jordan’s motives.
There was relief apparent in her abruptly altered posture; her hands unclenched, the stiffness of her spine relaxed, and her nervous expression melted away. “That will be more than sufficient, Mr. Black,” she responded with a noticeable exhalation of breath. “And just as soon as Trey’s better,” she went on with a politeness that reminded him of a young child recalling the required courtesies, “I’ll be out of your way.”
“Nonsense”, Hazard replied with both politeness and sincerity. “My wife and I both extend the hospitality of our home for as long as you like.” For a brief moment his gaze dropped to his own hands, clasped in front of him on the highly polished desk, and when his dark glance lifted again, his eyes were bright with unshed tears. “We are forever in your debt.” His deep voice was low and level with self-control. “If there’s anything we can ever do for you, Miss Jordan,” he said very softly, “you need only ask. To us Trey’s life is beyond price.”
Empress understood all that was in his heart, for in only thefleeting time she’d known Trey, she, too, had fallen under his spell.
Hazard cleared his throat and went on in a more normal tone. “I’ll have the gold packed for you immediately and brought to your room. Are saddlebags suitable?”
Empress nodded. “Yes, thank you.” And she thought of the new boots she’d bring home for everyone, and the food. There’d even be enough for Christmas presents for the children, for the Christmases past, celebrated so frugally that it had tugged at her heartstrings. They had all been so brave and understanding, it had made her cry. She smiled suddenly at her new wealth and at the large, dark-haired man who was as kind as his son.
It was so damned embarrassing to be here, so damned awkward to have to ask for money. “I don’t want you to think I go around doing things like—”
“Miss Jordan,” Hazard interrupted gently, “let me assure you, no one is making any judgments. I don’t know how long you’ve been in Montana, but social etiquette out here only requires that you give your first name. Beyond that, you need offer no further enlightenment. There are no questions west of the Red River.” 3
He really was a wonderfully understanding man, with some of the same gentleness she’d seen in Trey. Her gaze was direct, her voice only marginally nervous when she spoke. “I wouldn’t even have to ask you about the money, but you see, I have certain responsibilities”—she paused—“back where I come from, and well … I don’t know exactly how fast Trey will mend, and just in case it takes longer than … ah … thetime I’ve allowed myself to be gone”—she finished in a rush—“I’d rather have the money now.”
Without hesitation, without inquisition, with only the blandest expression, Hazard said mildly, “How much do you want?”
“Only what Trey owes me, sir,” Empress replied quickly, reaching in her shirt pocket for the bank draft and handing it to him. “It’s more than enough. Actually, it’s terribly generous, and if my circumstances allowed, sir, I’d not expect you to honor anything near that high, but—” She ran out of breath and boldness and suddenly felt very much alone in this strange house, importuning this virtual stranger for a staggering amount of money. The tears started welling up in the back of her throat, and clenching her hands together until the pain distracted her thoughts, she managed to avoid embarrassing herself by weeping before this powerful, influential man who owned a great deal of Montana.
Glancing at the scrap of paper, Hazard sequentially thought it was a high price to pay for this pretty thing’s time and a low price to pay for his son’s life. “I offered you considerably more than this, Miss Jordan. Don’t be bashful.” And he waited for her answer. A man of his word, he was also curious about Miss Jordan’s motives.
There was relief apparent in her abruptly altered posture; her hands unclenched, the stiffness of her spine relaxed, and her nervous expression melted away. “That will be more than sufficient, Mr. Black,” she responded with a noticeable exhalation of breath. “And just as soon as Trey’s better,” she went on with a politeness that reminded him of a young child recalling the required courtesies, “I’ll be out of your way.”
“Nonsense”, Hazard replied with both politeness and sincerity. “My wife and I both extend the hospitality of our home for as long as you like.” For a brief moment his gaze dropped to his own hands, clasped in front of him on the highly polished desk, and when his dark glance lifted again, his eyes were bright with unshed tears. “We are forever in your debt.” His deep voice was low and level with self-control. “If there’s anything we can ever do for you, Miss Jordan,” he said very softly, “you need only ask. To us Trey’s life is beyond price.”
Empress understood all that was in his heart, for in only thefleeting time she’d known Trey, she, too, had fallen under his spell.
Hazard cleared his throat and went on in a more normal tone. “I’ll have the gold packed for you immediately and brought to your room. Are saddlebags suitable?”
Empress nodded. “Yes, thank you.” And she thought of the new boots she’d bring home for everyone, and the food. There’d even be enough for Christmas presents for the children, for the Christmases past, celebrated so frugally that it had tugged at her heartstrings. They had all been so brave and understanding, it had made her cry. She smiled suddenly at her new wealth and at the large, dark-haired man who was as kind as his son.
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