Give Me Tonight(97)

"I apologize for that. But with all due respect, not for the result."

Sensing the grudging apology was all she was going to get from him, May switched her glare from Ben to Russell. "You haven't said one word during all of this."

Russell assumed an authoritative glower, standing up and motioning to Ben. "I'm gonna have a man-to­-man talk with him. Just because he's gonna marry my daughter doesn't mean he c'n get out of a good dressin’-­down when he deserves one. C'mon, Ben—into my office. "

"Yes, for a drink and cigar and a good slap on the back," May said acidly.

Addie couldn't help snickering.               

There was a definite tinge of whiskey on Ben's breath when he came out of Russell's office. He smiled at Addie as he saw her outside the door, and followed her silently as she pulled him out to the front porch for a few minutes of privacy. His color was high from strong drink and a sense of well-being.

"Poor thing," she said. "I can tell he ran rough­shod over you."

Ben smiled, settling his worn felt hat on the porch rail. "He said it was the happiest day of his life."

"I'm glad someone feels that way," she said pertly.

"I would've stayed in bed this morning if I'd known what today was going to be like."

He flexed his shoulders and winced. "I feel like I've been through a cattle stampede."

"How dare you complain? You're to blame for everything that happened. First the fight, then the kiss—"

"Please, darlin', I listened to a good hour of that from your mother."

"Than what should I say? You took your punish­ment like a man. Bravo."

"You're pretty feisty tonight," he observed, walk­ing leisurely to the edge of the porch and bracing his hand on the railing. "Hey, Watts," he called into the darkness, and the cowboy who was patrolling the area answered softly.

"Yeah, Ben?"

"Why don't you do a little checking around back for a couple of minutes?"

There was the sound of a smothered chuckle. "I was just plannin' on doin' that."

"Get a move on."

Addie squinted through the shadows, her head turn­ing to follow Watts's movement around the side of the house. She caught only a glimpse of his stocky shape. When the sound of his feet had died away, she looked at Ben with a mild frown, remembering the night when Watts had cried drunkenly on Ben's shoulder after finding out his sister was a prostitute.

"Is his sister still working in that dance hall?" she asked, and Ben shrugged.

"Far as I know."

"You were going to offer him money to get her out of there."

"I couldn't get him to take it."

"Too proud?" she mused out loud. "What about offering him more work and paying him extra—"

"I've already tried that, and no, he doesn't want to work more. I think everyone's reconciled to what his sister is, honey. Now, stop trying to fix everyone else's problems and start worrying about me for a change. "

"Worrying about you is all I've been doing lately!"

Addie put her hands on her h*ps as Ben sauntered over to her. She'd been through a terrible day, all because of him, and a little accounting was in order. "Stop right there." He paused a few feet away, his eyebrow arched in inquiry. "I have no intention of letting you near me, Ben Hunter. You've been awful to me all week. Rude, bad-tempered . . . you've ignored and insulted me—"

"I've gone through hell. I've wanted you so damn badly I couldn't see straight, and I've had enough work and worry to make a saint cuss."

"And you think I've had it easier? How do you think I felt when I saw you and Jeff fighting in the middle of the street like a bear and a bull? It didn't accomplish anything except to make matters worse between us and the Johnsons."

Ben scowled, his playful mood vanishing. "I couldn't help it. When I saw him looking down at you like that—Jesus, you'd think you were the only woman in Texas, the way he looked at you—and when he touched you—"

"For heaven's sake, he wasn't exactly going to ravish me in the street! The whole town was there."

"He was acting as if he owned you," Ben said moodily, folding his arms across his chest and shifting his weight to one leg, the other propped out in a mas­culine stance. "He damn sure seems to feel he has a claim on you, Addie. Why is that?" There was a flicker of jealousy in his eyes.

"What are you asking?"

"Just how far did you go with him?"

She was amazed at his bluntness. "When he and I were courting?"

"Yes."

"Oh, for heaven's . . . you don't really expect me to answer that."

No reply. He stared at her obstinately.

"You do," she said slowly. "After all you and I . . . Oh, I'd never have expected this from you! How far do you think I went with him? You know you're the first and only man I've ever made love with. Isn't that enough to satisfy your precious ego? It's just too bad if it isn't, because I'm not about to tell you the inti­mate details of my relationships with any other men­ not unless you're prepared to tell me what you've done with other women!"