Sooner or Later Read Free Page B

neck,” Murphy insisted.
    “Maybe not, but you might not feel responsible for her death.”
    “I don’t accept any responsibility for whatever happens to her.”
    Jack chuckled, that know-it-all laugh of his that caused Murphy’s jaw to clench.
    “What’s so damn funny?”
    “You,” Jack returned evenly. “You’re tempted to do it.”
    “The hell I am.” It’d take a tornado to move him from his spread. He’d worked long and hard for this vacation, he deserved it, and he damn well was going to take it. He wasn’t about to let an annoying postmistress interfere with his plans. If she was hell-bent on getting herself killed, it wasn’t his problem.
    “Admit it, Murphy, you want her.”
    “It’s time we ended this conversation.”
    Murphy went to replace the telephone receiver when he heard Jack laugh and shout, “Call me when you get back from Zarcero.”
    “I’ll rot in hell first,” he muttered, satisfied.
    The restlessness that plagued Murphy the rest of that day and all of the next refused to go away. He tried all the things that normally calmed his spirit. He worked on the truck, rode his stallion across his land, and sat on the porch with a beer and a good book until the sun set. Nothing worked.
    Again and again he reminded himself that Letty Madden wasn’t his responsibility. As far as he was concerned, the woman was on her own.
    Normally Murphy wasn’t a man overly burdened by conscience. No one in his profession could be. He lived by his own rules and his own code of honor.
    He didn’t want to become involved. But if the postmistress insisted on rescuing her brother, which was laughable when he thought about it, death wouldcome as a blessing. Miss Sunday School Teacher viewed him as crude and vulgar, but he was a pussycat compared to the horror that awaited her in Zarcero.
    There had to be a way to get her to listen to reason and at the same time absolve him of any guilt.
    The idea of how to do both came to him the following afternoon.
    Murphy whistled as he drove into town, his mood greatly improved. In a manner of speaking, he decided, Jack was responsible. Murphy parked his truck outside of the post office and made his way inside.
    Letty was selling stamps to an older gentleman, but her gaze was immediately drawn to his. He noted the surprise and hope filter into her eyes as he sauntered over to his box. Her look didn’t waver as he took his own sweet time removing his mail. When the post office was empty he approached Letty.
    “May I help you?” she asked, clearly struggling to maintain a crisp, professional voice.
    “Are you still intent on traveling to Zarcero?” he asked briskly.
    “Of course. My flight into Hojancha is already booked. I leave in two days.”
    “I’ve had a change of heart,” he said, leaning indolently against the counter.
    Her relief was evident. “I thought…I hoped the money might influence you. I’ll stop off at the bank this afternoon and make the arrangements. If you want, I’ll give you half up front and half when we return.”
    “We’ll talk about the money later. There are other, more pressing concerns we should discuss first.”
    She blinked and stared at him as if unsure she’d heard him correctly. “Such as?”
    “No money will change hands until—”
    “You want it in securities? That might take some time, and I’m not sure—”
    “I said we’ll discuss the financial arrangement later,” he said impatiently, louder this time.
    “What is it you want?”
    “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?” He spoke slowly, letting his words sink into that thick, stubborn skull of hers.
    Her eyes went incredibly round, and she swallowed uncomfortably. “That’s none of your business.”
    Murphy laughed coarsely. “That tells me everything I need to know. I’ll overlook your lack of experience. Generally I prefer a woman seasoned in the art of lovemaking.”
    She bristled. “Exactly what are you suggesting, Mr. Murphy?” She took two small