Page 4 of Too Hot To Handle

Billy’s feet flew up and he sat down so hard that his hat jumped off his head. As soon as he had caught his breath, he struggled to his feet. Blackjack surged backward, yanking Billy flat again. With a light touch on the reins, Reever spun Blackjack and trotted toward Tory. Billy bumped along behind like an oversize sack of potatoes.

„You all right?“ Reever asked, stopping near Tory.

She looked up into the pale blaze of his eyes and felt almost sorry for the overgrown boy on the end of the rope. She nodded, knowing that her voice would shake if she tried to answer.

The buckskin spun on its heels and backed suddenly, yanking Billy flat once more. Reever dismounted in an easy, flowing motion and went to stand over the big teenager. He waited until Billy met his eyes.

„It’s a good thing your daddy’s dead, boy,“ said Reever flatly. „He’d have peeled you clean as a willow switch for a stunt like this. I’ve got a mind to do it myself.“

Billy couldn’t meet Reever’s eyes any longer. The boy’s glance fell on Tory. He saw her pale, dirt-streaked face and the hints of blood where barbwire had ripped through her T-shirt. He looked away quickly.

„What were you planning to do after you caught her?“ continued Reever, his voice low, deadly.

Billy shrugged.

Reever bent, fastened his hand on the boy’s shirt and hauled him to his feet and then beyond, dangling the raw-boned teenager from his fist and braced arm like a dirty, struggling fish.

„What were you going to do?“

„Not a damn thing! I swear it! I was just havin’ some fun with the snotty little – ow! That hurts!“

„Fun.“ Reever’s lip curled in disdain beneath the black slash of his mustache. „Then you must have enjoyed being dumped and dragged behind Blackjack, huh? Wasn’t that fun?“

Billy looked away from Reever’s pale, narrowed eyes.

„Answer me.“ Reever’s voice was like a lash.

Billy shivered and said, „N-no.“

With a single, vicious word Reever opened his hand and let Billy fall to the ground.

„Listen up, boy,“ said Reever, his tone conversational and his eyes like steel. „You’ve just hurrahed your last little girl. I kept hoping you’d grow up before I lost my patience, but – “ Reever smiled and Billy went as pale as Tory. Reever nodded his head as he saw real fear dawning on Billy.

„You’re man-sized and snake mean,“ Reever said matter-of-factiy. „I’ve had a gutful of your dirty mouth and cruel games. If I hear about any more of it, I’ll give you the kind of lesson you’ll spend a lifetime trying to forget. Hear me, boy?“

Billy nodded sullenly.

„I sure as hell hope you’re smarter than you look,“ said Reever. „That’s the only warning you’ll get Stand up.“

Billy scrambled awkwardly to his feet. He was almost as tall as Reever but hadn’t nearly the hard muscle of the older man. Nor the hard experience.

„I’d have you apologize to the lady,“ continued Reever, his voice still casual and his eyes utterly savage, „but you wouldn’t mean it, and she doesn’t want to hear any more of your filth. Now get out of here before I forget how much I liked your daddy and drag you behind old Blackjack until there’s nothing left but rope.“

With a flick of his wrist, Reever removed the lasso from Billy’s shoulders. Reever waited until the teenager was about ten feet away and said, „Pick up her luggage and take it to the Sunup Cafe. And Billy – “

The big teenager turned around.

„Show me how bright you are,“ Reever said, coiling the rope again as he spoke. „Make sure that everything of hers is just the way she left it.“

Reever watched Billy walk stiffly back to the fence, stopping only long enough to pick up Tory’s luggage. While the car speeded away toward town, Reever fastened the lasso to the saddle again and turned to help Tory to her feet. It wasn’t necessary. She was already up and walking toward the fence, favoring her right leg slightly.

„What do you think you’re doing?“ demanded Reever.

Tory wiped her forehead on her dusty arm. „About two miles an hour,“ she said, smiling crookedly, hoping that he wouldn’t hear the faint quaver in her voice. She was over the worst of it now. She simply felt as if she’d spent an afternoon diving in front of hypercritical judges – tired, used up, unsure of herself, determined not to show any of it. She paused and looked over her shoulder. „Thanks. Those kids really had me going.“

Reever watched in disbelief as Tory turned away again. He caught up with her in five long strides.

„Where did your car break down?“