Chapter Three

“Listen,” Priscilla told Jimmy once they had reached the dance. She reached up and grasped his shirtsleeve, pulling him short before they could enter the hall. Cody and Lorna went inside without so much as a backward glance, both of them eager to spend time in each other’s company.

“Let’s just make the best of this situation,” she said curtly. She ignored Jimmy’s frown. Why didn’t he get the message? She had refused to engage in the bit of small talk that he had attempted to bring up and she brought up no subjects of conversation herself. So why did he look at her like that? Like he was disappointed or something.

Deciding to make it a bit easier on him, she continued, “You go your way, dance with all the girls you see fit and I’ll go my way. Okay?”

“Priscilla,” Jimmy called out as she turned away from him, hurrying toward the hall.

But she ignored him, rushing into the building and running straight into Mike Phelps. Mike was an acquaintance from way back. His ranch was north of the Washington home.

“’Cilla,” Mike said, “I was wondering how Lorna got here without her shadow.”

Priscilla groaned inwardly. Yes, that was the only way she would be out anywhere, so Lorna could be there and everyone could enjoy her company. “Get out of my way, you oaf,” she snapped, marching away.

Mike scowled at her back. “Too good for us, as always,” he muttered to himself. A slow smile crossed his face and he stepped toward the punch bowl.

“What are you doing,” Mike’s friend, Ned, said, moving to his side.

“Adding some life to this stupid dance,” Mike replied. He removed a whiskey bottle from his coat and emptied the contents into a cup.

He grinned at Ned as he ladled out some punch into the cup. “Watch and see,” he said. He walked to where Priscilla was standing in a corner, scowling at everyone.

“Here,” Mike said generously, “a peace offering.”

Priscilla eyed him suspiciously. Her hands were still at her sides.

“I’m sorry,” Mike told her. “I was just trying to be funny.” He shrugged. “I guess it came out wrong. I should have said howdy Cill, how are you first.”

She took the cup from his hand and took a deep drink “Thanks.” It was hard fighting with everyone all the time. But she did it. Boy, did she do it.

*~*~*

Jimmy watched as Priscilla let out a loud guffaw. For someone who just wanted to be left alone, she sure was attracting a lot of attention with her loud behavior. But the strangest thing was seeing Priscilla surrounded by a bevy of suitors. Jimmy had never seen her with another man before, just her family and maybe once or twice a woman friend.

She was certainly making the most of the attention. One of the young men seemed to be bragging about something and Priscilla poked him in the arm.

“Hush up, Warren,” she said loudly. “You aren’t any good with a gun and you know it.” She pointed at Jimmy. “If you were, you would have taken him on long ago.”

She laughed again as Jimmy narrowed his eyes at her. She had better not go there again. Once again he felt a flash of bewilderment. He never would have thought Priscilla the type to shoot needless digs about his reputation at him. And he hated knowing that her obvious contempt of him cut through him like a knife.

He hated being judged and Priscilla Washington knew nothing about his life, absolutely nothing. But here she was, going on and on about who and what he was. Like she actually knew, he thought contemptuously.

Warren shrank visibly as he caught sight of who Priscilla was pointing to. He mumbled something and removed himself from the circle of men around Priscilla.

“He is the man who killed Gabe Caulder,” she cackled gleefully.

That was it, Jimmy fumed. He went to Priscilla’s side and grasped her by the arm, dragging her outside. “You don’t know what the hell you are talking about,” he said between gritted teeth.

“Let go of me, you fool,” Priscilla snapped, trying to jerk her arm free. She finally broke loose and stumbled, almost falling into a water trough behind her.

Jimmy caught her before she fell. It was then he smelled the liquor on her breath. She was drunk!