on hoarsely. "Before I do some- thing crazy, and forget who and what I really am.”

""

"Sure." Rip was alarmed but trying not to show it. "We'll de- finitely end it as soon as we can.' "Take the buggy on," said Lily, desperation in her voice. "Let's just keep right on going to South Bend. You can keep the money. Just let me go."

"All right," Rip was too shak- en to argue. All he could think about was this . . . this man and his longings. He tried not to look at Lily's round, feminine figure as he helped her back up on the buckboard. He tried not to listen to the soft rustle of petticoats about her silkened legs, but each glance, each touch as the buck- board rocked, each feminine sound, filled him with apprehen- sion. This thing was out of con- trol and he didn't know what might happen next.

Jim Douglas was waiting for them at the turn off to his ranch, blocking the way to South Bend. "Didn't want you to miss the road," he said pointedly to Rip, noting and misinterpreting the strain on the man's face.

"It was really nice of you, Mr. Douglas." Lily gave him a de- mure smile and the big man nod- ded, before cantering ahead on his large chestnut gelding.

The 'picnic' was a torture for Rip, as Lily insisted that he ac- company her and Jim, much to Jim's disgust. She was overly feminine and helpless throughout the lunch by the creek, encourag- ing and flirting with Jim Douglas outrageously while the older man bragged about his spread, his only child, Leah, and about his great wealth.

Lily even bestowed a gentle kiss on the rancher's cheek at their parting, a move totally at odds with her earlier requests of Rip. When the buggy reached the South Bend-Cottonwood trail on

their return, Rip turned to her and said simply, "Well?"

"Well what?" asked Lily, slip- ping her arm through his. "Oh, you mean running off to South Bend. You can forget that," she cuddled close to him, a wicked grin at her lips. "I wouldn't dream of letting you down, Rip. After all, what would the Good Times be without Lily Dupree, the darling of Cottonwood?"

Even though she wasn't sup- posed to, Lily gave a perform- ance again that evening, doing an extraordinarily

provocative

dance in a Chinese costume, the skirt slit up to her waist, showing off her long, slim legs to the be- musement of the crowd, who'd turned in just on the off chance that she might appear. It was the same through the next few days. Rip was affronted by the way in which she flaunted her- self in front of the miners, who didn't object at all. Big Jim Douglas was in again on Friday and caught not only the Chin- ese girl act but also the Muslim dance in which a veiled Lily, backed by Ben Grimes sensu- ous piano, stirred as much in Rip as she stirred in the mob. For the first time, Rip began to wonder what it was that he had loosed on the men of Cotton- wood.

"I didn't like that last dance," said Big Jim to Rip as he was leaving for the ranch. "Nor that Chinese one either."

"Why not?" said Rip, sound- ing as disgruntled as he felt. "She is the entertainer. She has to keep the men interested."

"No," said Big Jim, his eyes hooded again. "She doesn't have to keep men interested. I might have known it was your idea to have her dress like that."

The unfairness of it made Rip angry. "If you don't like the way Lily dresses," he said hotly, "you can just stay away. She can't

30

stand you anyway."

The moment the words were out, Rip knew they should never have been spoken. Douglas' fist crashed against his temple and Rip was only dimly aware of the room, the bright colors, and the loss of feeling in his legs even while men scattered out away from him. Then Lily came run- ning, leaning over him, her hair now blonde, in the red and black dance hall costume she had worn for her very first routine in the Good Times. When the roaring in his ears stopped, Rip was able to hear Jim Douglas' hollering even as the big man was being restrain- ed by two of his of his cowboys.

"My apologies, Jim," said Rip. "There was no call for me to say that."

The incensed rancher strained at the arms of Ross Connors and the other two ranch hands. "I'll kill you," he was shouting.

"What happened?" It was Lily her face white even beneath her makeup. Afraid I told the old guy the secret and ruined her chances with him, thought Rip sardonically.

She turned right away to Douglas. "Take it easy, Jim," she said, the color returning to her cheeks. "Come on," she pushed Connors away, slipping Douglas' arm about her. "Come into my room and have a drink with me."

Douglas' arm closed about her, his hand hand caressing her soft shoulder. The look he gave Rip as Lily guided him off to the side door was one of pure triumph.

Lily slept late on Saturday, and, in the mood he was in, Rip Hassell didn't want to face her until it was absolutely necessary. He'd decided now to end the charade they'd been playing. He didn't know what Lily would do,