“You saved our lives, back there."He leaned his mouth a few inches from hers. "You want to show me your gratitude?"Ellie moved closer and rested her hands on the great expanse of Chance's broad chest. His mouth twitched in what might have been an unpracticed smile that shot straight through her like a ray of sunlight. She gave him the tight smile she saved for difficult guests, then whispered to him."Not if you were the last man in Texas.”

“Dang it, Chance. You been here one day and you killed a man and split another one's skull open. I got enough to do without you adding more work."Chance kept his tone level. "He drew on me.""Why were you over in the Badlands in the first place?""You know why."Bowie glared, then lowered his voice. "Think you can get through a day without killing someone?""Don't know. It's early yet.”

“Ellen Louise, you've done the sensible thing all your life. Now's the time to follow your heart.""What if I do that and he still turns me down?""What if you don't and you never know?”

“Me? I want you to be sure." he said."You," Livia whispered. "Me." His eyes were full of intent. "Always you." Livia gave him her biggest, heartfelt smile. "Five hundred." Blake touched her face as if she might be a mirage and smiled back only when she didn't disappear.”

“Even now the wicked spirit lurked there, a glint of mischief in the darkness of heat and desire. It made her smile, and she brought her smile to his mouth and gave it to him. "Miss you," she whispered. "So much.”

“She can never tell him what she started to say: that we come to love those who save us. For although Anna does believe this is true, the word that stuck in her throat was not save but shame.”

“He stepped closer to her. "Thank you for saving me," he said softly, and wrapped the bones of his arms around her. Valkyrie smiled and hugged him back.”