I feel like I at least managed to get under his skin a little? Left him wanting more? Even if it left me wanting more, too.
Seems only fair. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that our first interaction was so brief, but this is still…something. And after all this time, ifsomethingis all I get, then I’ll take it.
I rotate the pocket watch in my palm as I watch him from another concealed spot. Following the way he storms around the stable while muttering obscenities, and I really would prefer it if he’d be a bit louder so I could tell if he’s more angry with me or with himself.
After all, by his own admission, he knew me to be a thief and I still lifted his watch from his pocket with minimal effort. Not exactly how I imagined getting my hands on him, but I’d been unable to resist provoking a little of the temper I’d seensimmering beneath the surface.
Likelynotmy best judgment, since he could very easily go back and tell his colleagues that I’m not to be trusted. Ruin a perfectly good town for me as well as a full night’s worth of work. But I am almost certain he won’t.
Wounded pride aside, he doesn’t seem the type to ask for assistance based on the way he’d tracked me into that alley alone. Nor does he seem the type to admit a misstep to the company he’s riding with.
He’s very clearly the outsider of the bunch. The only one that does not appear to want to lead or be led. A lone wolf in every sense of the word.
At last.Aftersolong waiting, I’d almost given up hope, and how lucky that I didn’t, because while our moment in the alley was disappointingly brief,heis anythingbutdisappointing. Handsome to the point of indecency. Hot-tempered to the point of recklessness. Perceptive to the point of being able toseeme—which is arguably even more attractive than his looks. Plus, he’s so damnbroody, wound so tight that all I want to do is unravel him.
In truth, he is bigger than I thought he’d be. But it can never be said that I don’t appreciate a challenge.
For now though, he’s still rustling around, searching his belongings as if his lost possession will suddenly appear anywhere but in my hand, yanking at the ends of his hair every few minutes in what I suspect must be a sign that he’s upset.
I frown and glance down at the pocket watch, already having noticed that it’s more than a little… Well, it doesn’t work, which seems like it would be a problem. He must be attached to it for other reasons, since its ability to accurately tell time certainly isn’t the culprit.
Maybe it was a mistake to take it from him. Until tonight, it had actually been quite some time since I’d trulystolenanything. Years, by my recollection, although some might disagree with that view of things. Semantics and all that.
But there he was calling me a thief, and in the moment, I was willing to be just about anything he wanted.
Icouldwalk over there right now and give it back. But I’m not sure I want to give him a chance to kill me twice in one day.
Why rush things?
I tuck the watch safely back in my pocket, catching a different pair of eyes on me as I do.
“What?” I whisper, looking back at Cerberus, the black Andalusian stallion who has served as one of my few constants ever since I won him in a game some years ago as a yearling. His past caretaker one of those who would arguesemanticson that victory.
In what I can only assume to be an answer to my question, Cerberus continues to stare at me before letting out an extended exhale.You know what.
I chuckle quietly, reaching up to scratch behind his ear. “Come on now, we’re overdue for a little excitement. Been a while since we’ve needed to really make a run for it. Besides, wouldn’t you like a friend?”
Cerberus opts to change the subject, not so subtly nudging my pockets for treats before I acquiesce to his demands by giving him an apple from my coat, an offering he happily chews while I think about how I need to be getting back to the hotel.
If I don’t go soon, I’ll be missing out on my chance to take a quick peek inside the other rented but currently unoccupied rooms, therefore also missing an opportunity to take inventory of anything they might have of value, whether object or information. And I really do need—
I need to know abouthim,my thoughts argue, immediately reverting back to the surly cowboy in the stall at the other end of the aisle.And he’snotthere.
I had noticed the way he’d practically refused to come inside when he first arrived. Same way I’d noticed his name.Aiden.
A good name. Astrongname. I think I’ll really enjoy saying it. In all sorts of contexts. And I’ll bet I can make him enjoy hearing it, too, far more than he does when that feckless man he has for an employer says it.
When I’d entered the hotel earlier, I’d purposefully lingered to overhear the conversation between the two of them once Aiden had undeniably and immediately drawn my interest, even going so far as to pretend to check my pocketbook just on the other side of the door of the front parlor. A dual-purpose activity, since it not only allowed me to continue to eavesdrop but also toaccidentallylet the men inside see how much money I had with me.
How fortunate it wasrightwhen they were discussing their plans for the poker table, too…and how nice of them to then nearly fall over themselves to make introductions once they were sure I was more than capable of buying in.
It’s soeasysometimes. Barely worth my effort to conceal anything. Not when they are so quick to show me everything and anything I need to make them wish they’d never seen me at all.
I’d actually started to get bored.
But I’m not bored now.
This is going to be fun.