“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.