“She was pretty all right, but he'd had prettier. She was proud and brave,too, but she was also outrageous and outspoken. And, yes, she had the body of a goddess, but she dressed it like a man. She entranced him, she irritated the hell out of him. She was forbidden fruit!”

“Well, ma'am, as I said, I found Willow lying ill down on the riverbank.""What was she doing there?"Rider swallowed. "Ah,well, she, ah, was kind of taking a bath.""A bath!" The landlady looked like she was going to be sick.They now had Bartel's full attention. A grin wrinkled the corner of this mouth."Oh,she was all done,of course," Rider rushed to explain. "Dressed,too," he lied. "Poor girl said she had a severe headache."Rider was sweating bullets. He'd rather face the whole Clanton gang than his formidable landlady. She had the uncanny ability to make him feel like a ten-year-old boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And it didn't take much to figure out what her reaction would be to his "headache treatment." Since there were definitely no benefits to be won for total honesty, he reasoned that what she didn't know woulnd't hurt him.”

“What are you doing?" she asked, staring across the table at him."It's late and you're as tired as the rest of us. I thought I'd give you a hand with these.""I'll be blamed," she exclaimed in bewilderment, "if you ain't the darnedest man I've ever had the misfortune to meet.""Guess you're just lucky then." The corner of his mouth quirked in an irritatingly attractive grin."You're also the most aggravating!" she fired back with a grin of her own. "There just ain't no figuring you."She picked up the heavy tray, but Rider came around the table and took it from her. "Lead the way,madame."Shaking her head, she headed down the hall to the back door then out to the cookhouse.Willow filled two basins with warm water from the stove. "You still insist on helping?""I do.”

“Damn his lying kises and magic fingers, too! He'd strummed her like the sweetest guitar, and, fool that she was, she'd followed his Pied Piper's tune!”

“And thank you for bringing me.""A pleasure." Bartel returned politely, and stole one last look at the incredible smiling Hairy.Rider stood. Though he was relieved to hear that she planned on staying for a while, he was glad for an excuse to escape his landlady's inquisition. "I'll give you a hand, Bartel." Just short of grabbing the older man's arm, he hustled him out the door.Once outside, bartel chortled jovially. "Ease up,son. She isn't coming after us."Rider exhaled deeply and grinned. "Who put the burr under the lady's saddle?" he asked as they approached the carriage."Don't know, but she came flying into my store saying she had to get out here and get out here now! I tried to tell her I was too busy to be gallivanting all over hell's half acre, but do you think she'd listen? Uh-uh. Kept ranting and raving something 'bout Miss Willow's welfare. The woman was in a real dither all the way here."Rider groaned.Bartel slapped his back. "I can commiserate with you,son. There isn't anything scarier than a virtuous woman on a crusade.”

“Couldn't I come along with you? I've been trapped inside for days now and I need some sunshine and exercise. If you're really busy today, maybe I could hhelp. It's not as if I'm a greenhorn who'd get in your way.""This isn't a good idea, Freckles, and you know it."The feisty redhead grinned. "I admit I'm somewhat ignorant on the subject, but I've never heard of doing "it" on the back of a horse."A roguish grin dangled from the corner of his mouth. "Sweetheart, you'd be surprised where...Never mind."Though he'd tried to sound gruff, Willow detected a slight wavering in his determination. "I'll promise not to attack your body, if that's what you're worried about." She started laughing.Moving closer, she backed him against the door. Then tilting her head, she hit him full force with her big blue-green sparklers. Her lips parted in a very seductive, very naughty smile. "Please, just a short ride?" She toyed with the edge of his black leather vest, the backs of her fingers sliding up and down his chest.Rider sucked in a gulp of air. "Dammit, woman,what's Mrs. Brigham been teaching you? Stop that!" He batted her hand away, laughing despite himself. He was beaten and he knew it."Well?" She smiled slyly.He grasped her arms and set her away to a safer distance. "All right, all right. I give up. I'll take you for a ride." When her face lit up,he raised a cautioning finger and hastened to add, "On one condition. You have to keep yours hands to yourself. No touching!""Yes! I promise!" Willow threw herself into his arms and pulled his face close for a brisk buss on the cheek. Then she sprang free and skipped past him to the door. "I kow, no touching. That was just a thank you. Hurry up, I'm all ready to go."Following in her wake, Rider groaned, "Yeah,so am I-in more ways than one.""What did you say?" she called back."I said you were a little flirt!"She gave him an innocent smile over her shoulder and sprinted off to saddle Sugar.”

“The bottle was almost empty when Miriam slid to the floor in a boneless heap. Startled,she pushed herself up and leaned back against the oven door. "You done mind If I shit, do you?" she asked.Willow blinked, then giggled. "Course not.""Oh,go-o-od." Miriam stretched her legs out in front of her, paying scant attention to the cotton twill skirts hiked up to her knees."Are you all right, Miriam?""Course,dear. Never felt so so-o-o good. It's just a little warm in here, that's all. Perhaps anudder cup of tha' cool wine 'll help."Willow, who was also feeling a bit too warm, agreed and divided what was left of the wine between them. "I think we've had nuff practice, Miri, Miri..." She belched and giggled.Miriam took another drink, slapped her thigh, and shook her finger at the girl. "It snaut nice to belch," she slurred. "Not ladylike 'tall.""Know what I think, Miri-um?""No,wha'?""Nothing's ladylike.""Thas right!" Miriam agreed, slapping her thigh again. "And thas why I always say, don't cuss. Nobody really gives a tinker's damn but it zounds like hell!”