Only 04 - Only Love

mine.”
    “Oh,” Shannon said, disappointed.
    “But I wasn’t looking all that hard,” Reno said kindly.
    “This time will be different,” Whip said.
    Reno raised his eyebrows at the certainty in Whip’s voice. A look at his brother’s pale silver eyes told Reno that questions wouldn’t be appreciated.
     
    G OLD was the subject during the quick lunch the three of them ate, and gold was discussed at every opportunity along the trail to Rifle Sight claim. Sweat gleamed on the horses and mules, for Whip was holding to a very hard pace.
    Sunlight followed them every step of the way, its blazing warmth as golden as the metal they pursued. Grizzly Meadow was hot. It brimmed with wildflowers and the songs of hidden birds. Both men examined the area carefully, but found no fresh evidence that a grizzly had been there. Relieved, they quickly set up camp.
    “Plenty of deer sign around,” Reno said. “If there’s any light left after you show me the claim, why don’t you hunt? Winters are long up here.”
    Whip heard what Reno didn’t say—Shannon would need every bit of meat she could get in order to survive the season of storm and ice.
    While Shannon began preparing supper, the two men went quickly to the claim. The sky was alreadyturning color, hinting at the glorious sunset to come.
    It didn’t take Reno long to look over the mine. There was little to look at.
    “Any other runnels?” Reno asked as he emerged from the shallow hole in the mountain, a lantern in his hand.
    “Not that I’ve found,” Whip said. “And yes, I looked carefully.”
    “I believe you. A man looking for freedom is real careful.”
    Whip’s mouth flattened, but he didn’t deny what Reno was saying.
    “The gold is for Shannon,” Whip said.
    “Uh huh. Regular little gold digger, that one.”
    “Damn it, Reno—”
    “Put your ruff down,” Reno interrupted calmly. “We both know the gold is as much for your freedom as for Shannon’s security. If you can’t stand hearing the truth, then maybe you better take a long look at what you’re doing.”
    Whip gave his brother a cold, level stare. “I know what I’m doing.”
    Reno shrugged. “I thought I did, too, last autumn. Then you dumped a saddlebag full of pure gold bars at my feet and told me I was a goddamned fool.”
    “And you’re thinking I’m the fool now, is that it?”
    “I’m thinking that’s one fine woman whose heart you’re going to break. Too bad she was a virgin. That will make it harder when—”
    “It’s none of your business,” Whip interrupted, his voice flat, dangerous.
    “The hell you say. I’m the one finding gold so you can pay off your conscience and go back to chasing sunrises.”
    Whip shifted his stance slightly, menacingly.
    Reno’s answering smile was as narrow as his eyes.
    “That’s it,” Reno goaded. “Jump me. Maybe I can pound some sense into your thick skull. Sure as hell someone should.”
    “Pound rock. It’s softer.”
    “Smarter, too.”
    Abruptly Reno turned away, cutting off whatever Whip had been about to say.
    “Three days ago I would have given you the fight you want,” Reno said over his shoulder. “But I’m slam out of patience at the moment. I’m going back to camp before I lay my revolver along your thick skull. Shannon doesn’t need a bloodied, banged-up yondering idiot to worry about. Her worry plate is plumb full as it is.”
     
    W HEN Shannon awoke, the stars were just fading from the sky. In the distance she heard the murmur of male voices. There was no crackle of campfire or smell of coffee in the crisp air.
    “Whip? Reno?” she called. “Do you want breakfast?”
    “Go back to sleep,” Whip called. “Reno and I are just talking about the claims. I’ll wake you when it’s time to start back to the cabin.”
    Sighing, Shannon rolled over and pulled the blankets up to her eyebrows. Nights were always chilly in the high country. More than once during the darkness she had wished for the warmth and comfort of Whip holding her close while she slept. It had been so easy to get used to the luxury of his presence.
    Whip had set up his bedroll across the campfire, where his brother slept. Prettyface had kept Shannoncompany, but not for long. The dog preferred not to sleep near the campfire, as though the bright flames and pungent smoke dulled his canine senses. He kept to the perimeter of the camp, well away from the people he guarded so carefully.
    When Whip walked past Prettyface on the