"Things are beginning to make sense now. You chose The Red Petticoat because the odds of your running into the man who shot your father are higher here. Quite the little gambler, aren't you?"
"I chose this place because it's the one place I can make enough money to hire a lawyer. I want my claim back and I mean to have it," she snapped. "If I happen to run into the murdering bastard, well that's just an added bonus."
"I don't think so, Clementine McKay. I don't think so at all. In fact, your stay at The Red Petticoat will be very short indeed. You're coming home with me. Tonight!"
"I most certainly am not," she said firmly. "I'm staying right here and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. I thought you wanted to help me?" she yelled.
"Help you what? Get yourself killed? No thanks. I tell you I won't have it, Clementine," he growled, his nose nearly pressed to hers. "First of all, you don't even know what this man looks like. What if you accidentally bring him upstairs and then realize who he is?"
"Then I'll shoot him, like he shot my father, right between the eyes," she sobbed as she struggled to get away.
"That weapon you own isn't one easily concealed, not to mention you can't kill a man in cold blood," he stated.
"Why not, he did?" she spat back.
"Yes and apparently got away with it. You won't be so lucky. While at the moment I'd have no problem trussing you up and carting you out of here, I don't fancy watching you swing from the end of a rope!"
"Then don't watch," she snarled, managing to get around the bench.
Jasper swung her up in his arms and sat, holding her struggling body on his lap.
"Settle down or you'll soon be facing the other way," he warned tightening his grip.
"It'll cost you," she sneered.
Jasper snorted.
"Let me get this straight. You expect me to sit downstairs and watch you bring man after man up to your room while you fill your purse and wait for some unknown assailant who has 'a voice you'll never forget' at which point you intend to lure him upstairs and kill him?" he demanded, unable to keep the touch of awe at her audacity out of his voice.
"More or less, yes," she replied.
Shaking his head at the absurdity of her plan, he tossed her over his shoulder and smacked her bottom hard several times before planting her back on his lap.
"I said stop wiggling," he intoned absently, holding her tighter.
Clem puffed the hair out of her eyes and squinted. Those swats hurt. Jasper seemed to be thinking things over. Whether that was a good sign or not, she couldn't be sure. Finally, he spoke.
"Even if I could sit downstairs and watch you sell what's rightfully mine night after night, and I'm not at all sure I can do that, I can't let you put yourself at risk for being recognized."
"He thinks I'm a boy," she drawled sarcastically.
Over his shoulder she went again for another impromptu spanking that was particularly stinging.
"Ow, ow, ow," she cried. "Sorry."
"As you should be," he informed her plopping her down once again and noting her yelp with satisfaction. "Your sassy mouth is not solving anything."
"All right, all right," she agreed with a pout. "Will you rub it?" she asked hopefully, wiggling her bottom.
"No."
"You did last night," she accused.
"That was different. Now be quiet while I consider other options," he warned.
Clem sighed and forced herself to relax in his arms. Before she realized it, her hand crept up around his shoulder and she toyed with the dark hair at the back of his neck. His glower as he rose had her clenching her bottom cheeks, but he briskly set her on her feet.
"I can't think straight with you in my arms," he said gruffly before his head came swooping down to claim her lips with his in a kiss that was somehow both passionate and angry. "I'll be back tonight and we'll talk."
In three strides he was out the door, closing it none too gently behind him. So, he couldn't think clearly while holding her close? Clem liked that and smiled as she began to dress until it dawned on her she wasn't exactly rational when he had his hands on her body. Even when he was smacking her bottom, hard, she couldn't seem to help responding to him. It was as annoying as hell.
She went down for supper in a navy blue skirt and white shirtwaist, her hair pulled back with a bow. Nodding to Jewel she took her seat at the long table.
"How are you feeling, Crystal?" Jewel asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
"And how did your meeting with Mr. Montgomery go? He seemed quite determined to see you," Jewel remarked, laying a napkin in her lap.
"Um, yes he was," Crystal replied, feeling the stares directed her way as she kept her head down.
"Will you be leaving The Red Petticoat?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Crystal gasped, her head snapping up as she looked around the table at the curious expressions.
"Jasper implied you two had an 'understanding'," Jewel continued. "I assumed he had a plan to whisk you away from this life of ill repute," she sighed, unable to stop the giggle that escaped.