FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123  
124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   >>   >|  
which had immediate effect upon the man. "You don't understand us women. We're sure unreasonable where our love is concerned." Then a flush spread itself slowly over her handsome face, and passion lit her eyes. "But I must have my children," she broke out suddenly. "One of them, anyhow--little Vada. You--you can't understand all it means to be away from them. They are mine. They are part of me. I--I feel I could kill anyone who keeps them from me. You promised, Jim, you sure did. Get her for me. My little girl--my little Vada." The man had risen from his chair and moved to the window. He sat on the rough sill facing her. His eyes were hot with passion, too, but it was passion of a very different sort. "And if I do?" he questioned subtly. "If you do?" Jessie's eyes widened with a world of cunning simplicity. "Yes, if I do?" The man's face was nearer. "You'll have fulfilled your promise." Jessie had turned again to the window, and her eyes were cold. The man's brows drew together sharply, and his dark eyes watched the perfect outline of her oval cheek. Then he drew a sharp breath, and biting words leapt to his lips. But he held them back with a sudden grip that was perilously near breaking. Jessie's power was still enormous with him. But this very power was maddening to a man of his nature, and the two must not come into too frequent conflict. He suddenly laughed, and the woman turned in alarm at the note that sounded in it. "Yes," he said tensely. "I'll fulfill my promise. It'll amuse me, sure, getting back at that Sufferin' Creek lay-out. I owe them something for keepin' back the gold-stages. You shall have Vada, sure." He broke off for an instant and drew nearer. He leant forward, and one arm reached out to encircle her waist. But with an almost imperceptible movement the woman stood beyond his reach. "And--and after?" he questioned, his arm still outstretched to embrace her. The woman made no answer. "And after?" There was a hot glow in his tone. He waited. Then he went on. "Then I'll have done everything," he said--"all that a man can do to make you happy. I'll have fulfilled all my promises. I'll--And you?" he went on, coming close up to her. This time she did not repulse him. Instinct told her that she must not. Before all things she wanted Vada. So his arms closed about her, and a shower of hot, passionate kisses fell upon her face, her hair, her lips. At last she push
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123  
124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

passion

 

Jessie

 

window

 

nearer

 

questioned

 

promise

 

turned

 

fulfilled

 

suddenly

 

understand


forward

 

frequent

 
conflict
 

instant

 

effect

 
imperceptible
 

movement

 

reached

 

encircle

 
laughed

fulfill

 

tensely

 

sounded

 

Sufferin

 
keepin
 

stages

 

embrace

 
things
 

wanted

 

Before


repulse

 

Instinct

 
closed
 

shower

 

passionate

 

kisses

 

answer

 
outstretched
 
waited
 

promises


coming

 

nature

 

children

 

subtly

 

cunning

 

simplicity

 

slowly

 
widened
 

handsome

 

facing