The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

Letty."

    "I take it you were expecting someone else?" Letty's expression was one of sympathetic female-to-female understanding.

    "Not exactly expecting, more like entertaining a fleeting hope. Come on in."

    Letty walked in and glanced at the open suitcases. "So you're going to leave," she said softly. "I wondered if you might be thinking of it."

    "To be honest, I haven't made up my mind."

    "Better hurry." Letty glanced at her watch. "Hank takes off in half an hour."

    "The thing is, I hate to let that arrogant, dictatorial clod run me off the island this easily." Kate started to rehang some of her clothing. "It goes against the grain."

    "Said arrogant, dictatorial clod being Jared?"

    "Yes."

    "Good." Letty settled into one of the chairs near the screened window. "Glad to hear it. The staff is taking bets, and I've got five dollars riding on your decision."

    Kate wrinkled her nose. "There's certainly not much privacy on this island, is there?"

    "Afraid not."

    "Everyone knows I'm furious with Jared?"

    "Uh-huh. Believe me, no matter which way they're betting, they're all praying you'll stay."

    "Why?"

    "Because no one wants to deal with Jared's temper after you leave. He's in one heck of a bad mood and they all figure it's going to get worse if you run off."

    "I'm supposed to do everyone a favor and soothe the savage beast?" Kate was outraged anew. "Forget it. The quarrel was one hundred percent his fault."

    "Was it?"

    "It most certainly was." Kate rehung another dress. "Furthermore, I have absolutely no intention of apologizing to the man. But you can go collect your winnings, if you like, because I've just decided for certain that I'm not going to let him chase me off this island. I came here for a vacation, by heaven. I'm going to get one. Lord knows I've paid enough for it."

    Letty grinned. "Somehow I rather thought you'd take that attitude."

    "Don't look so delighted, Letty. I'm not hanging around so that I can placate Jared. I've got better things to do on my vacation. The big affair is at an end."

    "Did you inform Jared yet?"

    "He'll find out soon enough."

    "Can't wait." Letty got up and headed for the door.

    "Where are you going?"

    "Now that I've got a little inside information, I thought I'd go double my bet."

    Kate stared as the door closed behind her friend. All in all, she did not think she was getting cured of her stress problems.

    That night Kate dressed for the evening ahead as if she were preparing to go into battle. She went through everything she had brought with her and finally selected a flame-colored gown with an artfully draped bodice and a full, flouncy, flirty skirt. A pair of red heels and a silver collar at her throat completed the effect. She surveyed herself in the mirror and decided she had the look she wanted—cool, regal and totally self-contained.

    When she walked into the crowded bar for an aperitif, she could feel the speculation, approval and open relief emanating from the staff. The colonel arched one thick brow and inclined his head in a silent salute. Kate smiled demurely and took one of the fan-backed chairs near the railing. A few minutes later a rum-and-fruit concoction materialized at her elbow. She looked up to smile at the waitress.

    "Glad you didn't leave," the woman said in a low voice.

    "Don't tell me, let me guess. You had a bet riding on my plans for the future, too?" Kate was long past the outraged stage. She had moved on to a sort of fatalistic acceptance of the inevitable.

    "I bet ten dollars you wouldn't be going back to Ruby with Hank Whitcomb," the waitress admitted, "but that's not the real reason I'm glad you stayed."

    "You think I'm going to somehow wave my magic wand and put Jared back into a good mood?"

    The waitress laughed. "You'd have the eternal gratitude of the entire staff of Crystal Cove."

    "Has it occurred to anyone that the only reason I might have hung around here is so that Jared can exert himself to put me back into a pleasant frame of mind?"

    The waitress considered that angle. She appeared to have trouble grasping the concept. "Is that why you stayed? To bring Jared to his knees?"

    "You look doubtful."

    The waitress's smile broadened. "Let's just say it should be interesting. Good luck, Ms Inskip. Oh, and I just finished your last book. It was great. Loved that part where the hero goes into the bedroom thinking the heroine is going to be meekly waiting for him in bed and she dumps the chamber pot over his head