«Don’t try that again,» he said harshly. «I know all about wide-eyed little hussies who slap a man when he suggests they’re anything less than a lady. The next time you lift a hand to me, I won’t be a gentleman about it.»

Eve made a sound that could have been a laugh or a sob. «Gentleman? You? No gentleman would force himself on a lady!»

«But then, you’re not a lady,» Reno said. «You’re something that was bought off an orphan train and sold whenever a man was interested enough to hand over a dollar.»

«No man, ever, paid for anything from me.»

«You just gave your, uh, favors away?» Reno suggested ironically. «And the men were so grateful, they left a little present on the bedside table, is that it?»

«No man ever got under my skirt, with or without paying,» Eve said icily.

Reno rolled aside, freeing Eve. Before she could move away, his hand settled at the apex of her thighs, where a bronze thicket guarded her sultry core.

«Not true, gata. I’ve been under your skirt, and I’m a man.»

«Go to hell, gunfighter,» Eve said through clenched teeth, her voice steady despite the tears of shame and rage in her eyes.

Reno saw only the rage. It occurred to him that he would be wise not to turn his back on his little saloon girl until she cooled off. Eve was quick, very quick, and at the moment she looked fully capable of picking up the shotgun and emptying both barrels into him.

«Mad enough to kill, aren’t you?» he asked sardonically. «Well, don’t worry. Nobody ever died of it. Now, talk.»

Eve watched Reno through glittering golden slits. He lifted one black eyebrow.

«If you don’t feel like talking,» he said, «I can find something else for that quick little tongue of yours to do.»

4

«Sosa found gold,» Eve said, her voice vibrating with anger. «He paid the King’s Quinto and bribed the other officials and kept the truth about the mines to himself.»