Page 68 of Native Hawk
Still, he was fairly certain the sheriff’s confidence came not from his hand, but from the whiskey—that and his desire to buy a dream house for his Maggie Ellen.
If Drew was wrong, if he lost, he wouldn’t have enough to buy Cat or the ring. If he won, he’d have enough for Cat, the ring, and a decent supper to boot.
With a calm expression that revealed none of the turmoil he was feeling, he met the bet.
The sheriff gleefully laid out his cards. “Who’s the gamblin’ fool now, Maggie Ellen?” he crowed.
It was a full house—three queens and two tens.
The sheriff rubbed his hands together, ready to gather up his winnings.
If Drew hadn’t needed that cash so badly, he would have made the wise choice of laying his cards face down and letting the man with the silver star take home the pot. He didn’t need a sheriff mad at him.
But he couldn’t go another day without Cat. Just leaving her this morning—with her eyes full of passion, her hair full of feathers, and her camisole full of temptation—had been painful. Half his brain was riled up with delicious thoughts of what he’d like to do to her, and the other half was tormented by the fear that someone else might get there before him.
So instead of taking the easy way out, Drew fanned his cards on the table.
Ed gave a surprised whoop.
Greg shook his head.
Sheriff Campbell sat stunned.
Drew knew how to win gracefully. He didn’t immediately collect his winnings. Instead, he gave a low whistle. “Damn, Sheriff, you almost had me. Well played.”
“That can’t be,” the sheriff said, crestfallen.
Drew placed one hand on his holstered Colt. He wouldn’t draw it, not on a lawman. But it gave him some comfort to know it was there in case things got dangerous.
Ed and Greg exchanged a look that said they were done playing poker. As they scraped their chairs back, the sheriff frowned down at his cards.
“I’m gonna lose her,” he mumbled. “I’m gonna lose my Maggie Ellen.” He compressed his lips and picked up his whiskey glass, putting it back down when he saw it was empty. Drew could see he was trying not to blubber. “She said she’s got no use for a man who’s up to his eyeballs in gamblin’ debt.”
Drew quietly gathered his winnings. “Listen, Sheriff, I don’t want you to go nary cent, especially ’cause o’ your Maggie Ellen.” He pushed a couple of silver dollars to the man’s side of the table.
The sheriff stood up, knocking his chair on its hind legs and weaving a bit. “Dammit! I don’t need your charity.”
Ed and Greg grabbed the sheriff’s arms to steady him, but he shook off their help.
The three managed to find their way out of the salon without incident, and Drew finally took his hand off of his pistol. But no sooner had they left than Miss Hattie waltzed up with her hand out.
He shook his head. She knew him too well. He dutifully handed over twenty dollars, and she tucked it into her bodice.
But instead of leaving the table, she leaned forward. “You got any idea what happened to my girl?”
“Your girl?” He started gathering up the cards.
“Jenny?”
He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even blink. “Jenny? Not sure I know which one she—”
“The hell you don’t. I saw you leavin’ the salon with her this mornin’.” She clucked her tongue. “No wonder you’re such a good gambler. You got one hell of a bluff.”
He started to explain, but she held up a hand.
“I don’t want to hear any lies, Mr. Hawk. But I want you to know one thing. You do wrong by my girls, and you’ll be out on your ass.” She jabbed a finger at his chest. “If Jenny doesn’t come home tonight, I’m gonna take it out o’ your wallet. And if I find out you’ve been playin’ false with that little Italian girl who’s sweet on you, I’m gonna take it out o’ your hide.”
He quirked up one corner of his lip. So Miss Hattie thought Cat was sweet on him? That was good news. He didn’t want to waste his money on a ring, only to have Cat turn him down.
Miss Hattie shook her head. “You won’t be smilin’ when the sheriff loses his girl ’cause o’ you.”
“Me? Why are you always blamin’mefor everything? It’s not my fault the sheriff’s a gamblin’ fool.”
Her answer was a silent glare as she picked up the whiskey glasses from the table.
Drew pocketed what was left of his coin and headed out to buy the prettiest wedding ring twenty dollars could buy.
