A Fire in the Blood Read Online Free Page B

rushed to pull out a chair. "Please, do have a seat, Lissa," he said in a stiffly formal voice, ushering her pointedly away from the gunman and placing her at his side.
           Cy Evers cleared his throat nervously and took the chair on her other side. "And how have you been these past months?"
           "Now that winter is finally over, I'm splendid, thank you."
           Jess watched Lissa work her wiles. She was obviously used to getting her way. Surrounded by her little court of admirers, she quickly recovered her courage and delighted in baiting him. Obviously, she would never tell her father about barging in on him mother-naked in a bathtub. He smiled grimly to himself as he listened to them discuss the long northern winters and the coming of spring.
           "I've been so anxious for the snow to melt," Lissa said, sipping from her glass of sherry daintily.
           "Eager for the smell of orange blossoms?" Jess asked in a low voice.
           She choked on her wine, then quickly recovered and replied, "Why no, Mr. Robbins. There are no orange blossoms in Wyoming, but I carry the fragrance with me all year long." Her big gold eyes were fathomless as she met his gaze with an innocent expression on her face.
           Marcus watched the exchange between his daughter and the half-breed with growing unease. What the devil was going on? Then he glanced at Lemuel, and a slow smile spread across his face. The spunky little filly was making him jealous! Lissa always wanted Lem to be more exciting and attentive. Well, this was certainly putting a burr under his blanket. The idea that she would find the half-breed attractive never occurred to him.
           "The winters in Cheyenne are much more hospitable than out in the basin. I think you would find life in the city much to your liking, Lissa," Mathis put in smoothly.
           Lissa rewarded him with a wide smile. "Perhaps I would, Lemuel."
           "I've certainly missed you. It's been a long time since your birthday celebration," Mathis said.
           "That was a princely affair," MacFerson added, rolling his r's in a thick Scots burr.
           Lissa turned to Jess. "My father throws a big party every spring in honor of my birthday. He's a very generous man who gives wonderful presents. Don't you, Papa?" She turned to Marcus but watched Jess scowl from the corner of her eye.
           "Only what you deserve, my dear," Jacobson said indulgently.
           Jess coughed.
           The waiter appeared to take their orders before she could make a riposte.
           As their food was served, Lissa sipped her sherry and flirted with Mathis, who fairly fawned over her, basking in the unexpected attention.
           Jess realized that riding a sunfishing bronc would be safer than continuing these parlor games with Lissa Jacobson. Best to get down to business. "Before you tell me about the situation at your ranch, Mr. Jacobson, there is one thing I have to make clear. I'm not Tom Horn. I don't shoot nesters and I don't dynamite sheep. You have any problems with sheepmen or squatters, you'll have to settle them some other way."
           Cy Evers chortled and slapped his thigh. "Blanton said you was plain-speaking with lots of nerve."
           "We have rustler troubles, Robbins, nothing else that we can't handle ourselves," Marcus said levelly.       
           Jess nodded. "Good. Horses or cattle?"
           "Mostly beeves. Last month I lost nearly five hundred head. Cy here lost two hundred."
           "And I lost one hundred fifty," MacFerson said, chomping on his piece of apple pie as if it were going to get away from him.
           Jess whistled low. "Seems as if you're the main target, Jacobson. Any idea why?" Jess studied the tough old man's unyielding expression as he sipped his coffee.
           "I've posted as many men as either Cy or Jamie, but my herds are more