“Well.” He cleared his throat. “Looks like you aren’t going to need me much longer then.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know about that…I mean…even if they straighten it out legally, I have to tell you Sam I’m scared to go back there alone. Just because they say it’s all still legal doesn’t mean they will leave me alone, and if they arrest them, and they get out it will be worse. Maybe I should consider a gunman now.”
Sam let himself slide down to the bed to sit. “I hadn’t thought about that. I hadn’t thought about anything past you getting this tied up with the lawyers. But you always think the worst. Look at some point you are gonna have to handle this yourself.”
“I guess you were hopin’ to get back to Mavis pretty quick.” She bowed her head.
“Yeah…well, I don’t know about that either, but like I told you I was headed toward Arizona,” Sam said quietly.
“Oh…yeah. I forgot.” She sat down on the bed beside him. “I never even thought about maybe there being a lady somewhere waiting for you, Sam. I never asked. Is there?”
“There isn’t, and I gotta find a way to sneak out of here so no one sees me comin’ out of your room,” Sam informed her as he glanced about the place.
“It’ll be dark soon, you could wait ‘til then to leave…”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Wish we could have dinner together…” she whispered. “I hate eating alone…did a lot of it after dad died.”
“Nah, they’d think you were havin’ someone here, that wouldn’t be very lady-like.”
“If I ordered up a plate, we could share it,” she suggested.
A whiff of perfume floated in the air.
“Got you some of that high falootin’ perfume I guess.” He sniffed.
“No, it’s bubble bath. I found it in the room with the tub. I had to hide under it in case someone came in on me while I was bathing. I slipped out the back when I finished so no one would know. The only thing is my hair. It looks so boyish. And the man at the general store acted as though he recognized me.”
He touched her hair and she gasped.
“I’m sorry I had to chop it off…” He looked at her now. “You sure look nice in that dress.”
She smiled warmly at him, not flirty like Mavis, but just as though she enjoyed the compliment.
“Look…I better go now. I’ll come see ya tomorrow,” he said.
“Wait.” She stood up and went to his side. “Take this, you’ll need some money.”
She put her hands over his and they both seemed shocked at the action.
He looked down at her hand full of money. “I don’t like takin’ money from a woman. It don’t seem right somehow.”
“Nonsense, you’re helping me, aren’t you?” She didn’t realize her voice lowered as they seemed to come closer.
She looked at him and her eyes went misty. “Aren’t you gonna kiss me goodnight, Sam?”
“That’s not very wise…” he breathed heavily.
“I didn’t say it was wise, Sam…” she barely breathed at all.
Then suddenly he was kissing her, with all his might, all his heart, and she returned his kisses, moaning when he pulled at her bottom lip and his tongue shot out to delve into her mouth. He clutched her tighter, pulling her hard against him.
“Stay with me, Sam…” she murmured against his ear when they came up for air.
“I can’t…I gotta go now…or…goodnight, Riley…” he called as he opened the door a bit and glanced down the hallway. No one was about and he didn’t take the money.
“Goodnight, Sam…” she called breathlessly.