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Lee followed her and put Sam on the bed. Then he turned to look at the woman again. She was once a beauty he was sure of that, but age had caught up to her and hadn’t been as kind as she probably deserved. “I appreciate this, ma’am.”
He pulled out some cash from his pocket and took her hand. He folded the money up and leaned to kiss her lips. She responded with a soft sigh. “Why honey, sure you don’t want to stick around?”
“Can’t. But thanks.” Lee moved to go back into the saloon where he’d left Hattie standing.
A customer had come in and seen her and grabbed her and had her on his knee.
Without a thought, Lee whirled her by the hand on the other side of him protectively and looked at the stranger. “Sorry, but she’s not for sale.”
He felt the sweat between their hands, and the tremble that rumbled through Hattie as he held her protectively away from the man. She was scared to death and he was glad of it.
“Well hell, why not, she’s younger and prettier than most these girls in here.” The man laughed. “I like ‘em young. Less of course she’s your property.”
“She’s a human being…that’s all she is. She’s no one’s property.” Lee guided her back to the room where Sam was. He closed the door once she was inside. He had to calm down, he’d gotten angry too fast. He glanced over at her and saw her staring at him.
“Look. I can’t do much else for you. I paid the lady some money to take care of you. I’ve got to get to the army. I can’t stay here. You’ll be alright, just do what little she asks of you and try to get along. Understand?”
The girl’s lip pouched out and Lee was sure tears were close to falling.
“You’re leaving?” Her eyes took on an innocent look of surprise.
Lee nodded.
“Thank you for what you done.” She came closer, and looked up at him.
“You’re welcome…” Lee’s eye lingered on her longer than they should have. He cleared his throat. He hadn’t expected a thank you from her.
“You going to war?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
“Yeah,” he answered, staring at her through the dim light of the room.
Without another word, she flung herself into his arms. Lee felt the warmth of her as her young body fit against him naturally. He felt himself react and again he scolded himself. But nothing prepared him for the shocking kiss she placed on his lips as she tiptoed to reach him. Her soft lips moved against his, insinuating her tongue into his mouth, as they instantly mated. Just like his lips had explored hers last night, today, she boldly imitated his actions. Soft as a buttercup, her lips touched his, lingered, and then moved away slowly. Their eyes met with a storm of emotion clouding them.
Deliberately, he put distance between them. An old woman’s kiss was nothing like this one. He’d felt it to his toes and his body reacted quite naturally. She’d pressed her young body up against him so tightly she was bound to have felt his reaction. She was just a child, he quickly reminded himself. He would not let anything happen between them. It was naturally up to him to see that it didn’t. But by all that was holy, she brought out the man in him like no other.
“I really am sixteen, and I really want you to come back…safe…to us,” she said lowly. “You get shot up, I’ll take care of you. I know how, did it for my Pa many times.” She moved a little closer, her eyes wide with expectations.
He cleared his throat again, and he felt his own heartbeat quicken. “You shouldn’t have done that.” He touched a finger to his lips.
“Don’t other girls kiss you goodbye…” She suddenly looked as though she’d said too much.
“There are no other girls…”
“You mean I’m…the only one…” She almost smiled.
“Yeah…the only one…” he answered, backing away from her.
Her mouth formed a perfect ‘O,’ but nothing came out. She seemed out of breath suddenly, her chest rising and falling quickly, he noted.
She smil
ed at him now. “Good. And I’m glad I kissed you. Mama said you had to try a boy out to see if he was the right one…”
“Right one for what?” He frowned at her.
“Right one to be with…”
Lee’s frown grew, although her words confused him mightily almost as much as her kissing him had.
