Cowboys 08 - Luke Read Online Free Page B

one cared what she thought.
    The man dropped the cigarette, and ground it out beneath his boot. Then he stepped out into the moonlight. Luke Attmore !
    What was he doing? Watching her window? If so, why? Instinctively she drew back, her hand at her throat. She told herself not to be foolish. The man was outside. She was inside. She had no reason to believe he wanted to harm her, but he'd found his way into her room without anyone knowing how. He'd caused the drunken miners to fall silent.
    What kind of man could do that?
    He looked up at her window. There was no doubt about it. He was watching her room. Otto had paid him to go away. Why was he still here? Then he did something very surprising. He took off his hat and made a sweeping bow, flashed a brilliant smile, returned his hat to his head, and retreated to the shadows once more.
    Valeria felt exposed, defenseless. She wanted to jump back into the shadows, to crawl back into the safety of her bed. Luke Attmore had seen her at the window. He knew she'd watched him, and it pleased him.
    As much as it unsettled her, she admired his boldness. She had dispensed with his services, so he had apparently decided to show her exactly what she'd thrown away. He intrigued her, she admitted that, but she wouldn't change her mind. She didn't like Mr. Attmore, and she didn't want him anywhere near her.
    A light flared. Another cigarette. He obviously didn't intend to leave his position for a while yet. She didn't know whether to feel safe or pursued. She knew nothing about him. He could be the man Hans feared wanted to kill her. What better plan than to hire on as her guide and kill her in the desert where no one would ever find her body.
    The pinpoint of light at the end of his cigarette glowed brightly, then faded.
    Why was he watching her? Did he know the noise in the street had kept her awake? Why should he care? He had called her shallow, spoiled, and overdressed. Anger at his remarks swept through her. No one had ever dared to say such things to her. No one! But he hadn't hesitated.
    The cigarette glowed again.
    Valeria turned away from the window and back toward her bed. She prided herself on knowing men, understanding them. It was the only way a woman could achieve any degree of happiness. But she didn't understand Luke Attmore. He didn't behave like any man she'd ever known.
    That probably came from living in this strange country. He intrigued her. She almost wished he were going with her. She even considered sending Otto to ask him to be her guide after all.
    She lay back down on the bed. She refused to do anything so foolish just to satisfy her curiosity. She closed her eyes. But rather than her fiance, the image of Luke Attmore, standing in the middle of the street, smiling up at her, filled her thoughts.
    "What do you mean, no one will take the job?" Valeria asked. Both Hans and Otto stood before her, Otto looking irritated, Hans nervous and fidgety.
    "It seems he's a famous gunfighter," Otto said. "Everybody is afraid of him."
    They had interrupted her breakfast. She was already irritated because her chef had not been given free rein to use the kitchen. A reprimand sent through her maid had resulted in a sharply worded reply stating that the princess wasn't the only person in Bonner in need of breakfast. It wasn't so much the lack of respect or the late breakfast. It was more that everything familiar, safe, and comforting had been taken from her, leaving her feeling very much alone, vulnerable, and adrift. But she couldn't confess that to anyone. A princess never admitted weakness. She was hemmed in, held defenseless by the very status which should have protected her.
    "They also say he's the best," Hans said, wringing his hands in a fashion that made Valeria want to slap him. He was a good man-honest, dependable, hardworkingbut she wished he would act like a man instead of a mouse.
    "Thank you for trying to make sure I'm safe," she said, smiling at Hans. "I'm sure dealing