The Gambler by Lily Graison Page B

humor left his face and Emmaline noticed
how tired he looked. She wasn’t sure of his age but he didn’t look
old enough to look so haggard. Something in his eyes made him
appear older than her by years but she wasn’t sure that he was.
When he turned to look back at the sidewalk, Emmaline saw his
brother, the marshal. Her throat closed and she found it difficult
to breathe. Would Tristan have her arrested for trying to rob him
again? Would he check the bag to see if she'd taken the deed or
not?
     
    “Morgan said the hotel burned.” Tristan
turned back to face her and pointed to a spot behind her. She
turned and looked, seeing a burnt area just beyond the trees. “He’s
offered to let you stay with him and Abigail.”
     
    Emmaline’s eyes widened and she whipped
around. She glanced to the marshal before shaking her head. “No. I
don’t know him and I’ll not impose.” I'm not even staying, she
thought to herself.
     
    “You’re not imposing. Abigail said she’d love
to have you.”
     
    “No.” She shook her head, pursing her lips.
“I’m not staying with complete strangers, Tristan, even if he is
your brother. Forget it.” She dropped his bag to the ground and
crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “See… I knew
this was a mistake before we even left my cabin. You’ve dragged me
clear across the territory only to leave me homeless, again.”
     
    He opened his mouth as if to speak but closed
it and stared at her until she looked away from him. The street was
once again filled with people going about their day. The sidewalks
busy with people walking the town and visiting the stores. Emmaline
noticed the Mercantile across the street had new construction on
one side. A look further down the road showed a new building being
erected. The town looked to be busy with growth but she wasn’t
staying. She just needed enough money to get home.
     
    She bent and retrieved her bag. “Get me a
ticket for the stagecoach.” She held her hand out and dared him to
refuse. “I appreciate all you've done but it wasn't necessary.”
     
    He stared at her for long moments before
laughing. He picked his bag up and left her standing there. He
rounded the stagecoach and Emmaline huffed out a breath before
running to catch him. “Tristan, don’t walk away from me!”
     
    His laughter echoed across the street. He
entered the stagecoach station, Emmaline hot on his heels. She
stopped once inside the building. The light was a soft trickle from
the door and one window and it took a moment for her eyes to
adjust.
     
    Tristan was talking to a heavyset woman who
was smiling and nodding her head at him. When she suddenly frowned,
Tristan raised his arm, laying his hand on her shoulder. The
woman's smile returned before she nodded her head again.
     
    The moment he turned to look at her, Emmaline
knew she wasn't going to like what he said. He motioned her over
but she refused to budge.
     
    He sighed and crossed the room. "Ellie has an
empty room in the back of the station. She said you could hole up
there until I can find a more permanent place for you."
     
    The look on his face gave nothing away.
Emmaline couldn't tell if he was happy to be rid of her or sorry he
was dumping her on someone else. She stared up at him and knew
she'd made a major mistake. She shouldn't have let her pesky
emotions get in the way and just shot his worthless hide and taken
her land deed back before she let him drag her across the
territory. Now she'd wasted his time and hers. "And where will you
be?"
     
    "My family has a ranch a few miles outside
town."
     
    She brightened at the thought of him not
being close enough to watch her. She just had to get a ticket for
the stagecoach and lord knew she'd done just about everything known
to man to get what she wanted. She turned away, walking across the
room to the lady Tristan had been talking to and asked her to see
the room.
     
    Calling the room small would have been an
understatement.