Lem shook his head. “No chance of that, either. He knows he has us cowed. Why take a chance on a new herd?”
Fargo didn’t have any answer for that one. He said, “Angel has to leave anyway. I’ll go tell her.”
He pushed his chair back from the kitchen table where they were sitting and went in to talk to Angel.
She didn’t appear entirely unhappy to see him. For the last day or so, there had been something like interest in her eyes every time Fargo entered the room. He wasn’t quite sure why, but he had a feeling that she wasn’t used to having a man treat her as a woman instead of just another member of the gang.
From what Fargo knew of him, Murray didn’t seem to be the kind of man who’d take it kindly if one of his hirelings showed any interest in Angel, so it might be that she didn’t often have a man paying any attention to her at all, for fear that Murray might cut off his ears, or some other vital part of his anatomy. Fargo thought that maybe Jed was the last man who’d had anything to do with her. Jed wouldn’t have been afraid of Murray.
“I think it’s about time you were going back to your father,” Fargo said, standing in the doorway and looking at Angel, who was sitting up in the soft bed with several pillows at her back.
The light came in through the window and shone on her hair, which seemed even blacker because of it. Her blue eyes glowed. She was wearing one of Abby’s cotton gowns, which was much too small for her and failed to do much to conceal the bounty of her breasts. Fargo could see the firm nipples pressing against the tight fabric. He didn’t look away, and Angel didn’t seem to mind.
“Are you sure you want me to leave?” she asked him.
Fargo raised his eyes to hers, and he could see that she was amused. There wasn’t much doubt she knew the effect her appearance was having on him.
I think it would be best for everybody around here,” Fargo said. “Your father wants you back, and I told him we’d let you leave when you were ready. You are ready, aren’t you?”
“I’m always ready,” Angel said.
Fargo wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, though he was almost certain she didn’t exactly mean she was ready to go back to Murray.
Angel smoothed the front of the gown with her hands, running them over her breasts and tightening the fabric even more. Fargo thought that her breasts would burst right on through if she wasn’t careful. But maybe that was what she wanted. He knew damn well he wouldn’t mind.
“What about you, Fargo?” she said. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as any man you’ll ever meet,” Fargo said, deciding to join in the game.
Angel looked directly at his crotch, where he could feel his manhood thickening and stirring around.
“I can see you’re not lying to me,” she said. “I like a man who’s not afraid to tell the truth.”
“Well, then, I’ll tell you some more. The truth is that you can’t stay here anymore. Lem can’t afford to keep feeding you, and I’m tired of sleeping in the barn.”
“I’d think somebody in the house might offer to share a bed with you.”
In fact, Abby had made the offer, but Fargo had turned her down. It was too risky to fool around with Lem in the house, and sober to boot. Fargo had considered paying Molly a visit at Talley’s place, but that hadn’t seemed like such a good idea, either.
“Lem offered, but I think he snores,” Fargo said. “I can’t tolerate a man who snores.”
“Do you snore, Fargo?”
“Not that I know of, but then I’m a sound sleeper. You’ll have to find out about the snoring for yourself.”
“I might do that one of these days. But not right now. Right now, I guess you want me to get dressed.”
“That’s the idea. But first I thought you might want to show your gratitude for being taken care of so well.”
“How did you think I’d go about doing that?”
“You could thank Lem and Abby for giving you a bed and for changing your bandages. And for feeding you.”
Angel stopped smiling. “I’m not thanking anybody. I wouldn’t have to be taken care of if you hadn’t shot me.”
“I only did that because I had to,” Fargo said. “You would have done the same if you found yourself in that situation.”
“I don’t think so. I’d have fought it out.”
“And gotten killed? I don’t think so. There’s a time and a season for everything, a time for fighting and a time for saving your life.”
“That sounds like something from the Bible.”
“That’s not from the Bible. It’s from the Book of Fargo, chapter three, verse four.”
“No matter where it’s from, I have to admit, I’m kind of glad you didn’t get killed.”
“Why do you say that?”
“If you’re lucky, you might find out someday.” Angel shoved the covers off. “Now if you’ll get out of here, I’ll put my clothes on.”
“I might as well stay,” Fargo said. “I don’t want you to escape.”
“You’re letting me go, remember? You just want to get a look at something you’re not going to see. You’re not that lucky, Fargo. Not today. Now get out of here before I raise a ruckus.”
Fargo didn’t want that, so he moved out of the doorway.
“And close the door,” Angel said.
Fargo did, but he was sorry he had to.
