No Quarter Asked

by Janet Dailey

  'Carter, I don't know what to say. I don't know if I'm ready to settle down. I don't know—-'

  'Don't say anything. I know it's awfully soon after losing your father. You're bound to be confused, so I'm not asking for an answer yet. When I think you're ready, I'll ask you again properly. Until then I'm just asking you to remember that I love you and want to marry you while you're out there in that Texas refuge,' Carter said quietly, gently kissing the top of her forehead.

  He drew her once again into the circle of his arms, and they continued their dancing in silence while Stacy mulled the proposal over in her mind. She shouldn't have been surprised by it, but she was despite her earlier thoughts on the same line. Returning to their table after the song was over, they sat quietly without speaking.

  'You mentioned you were shipping Diablo to Texas. I was going to ask if you wanted to take my grey,' said Carter.' 'He's definitely more manageable than that red devil of yours.'

  'I don't expect to have much trouble with Diablo, but thanks for offering,' Stacy said, smiling at her date. 'Besides, he's already on his way to Pecos, so I'll just stick with my original arrangement.'

  'What time do you plan to leave tomorrow?' Carter asked.

  ‘I hope to get started by midday.'

  'It's rather late now. I don't want it to be said that I kept you from your beauty rest. I think you'll have plenty to think about tonight. At least I hope so,' said Carter, casually referring to his earlier proposal.

  They talked little on the way home. Stacy nestled down, in her seat and gazed out the window at the neon world before her. Pulling into the parking lot of Stacy's apartment building, Carter turned the car motor off, then instead of getting out of the car, he sat quietly in his seat looking at the brown-haired girl beside him.

  'I won't be able to come over tomorrow and tell you good-bye, so I'll wish you my good luck now,' he said, drawing her over into his arms.

  Stacy tilted her head back and awaited his kiss. His lips were firm and gentle as they pressed down upon hers. He held her body close to his as his hands caressed the tanned shoulders underneath her stole. Stacy's heart increased its tempo with the growing urgency in his kiss.

  'Take that with you, Stacy, and let it plead my cause,' he finished.

  Reluctantly Stacy stepped out of the car when he came around and opened the door for her. In silence, they walked into the building to the elevator.

  'I'll leave you here. Stacy, come home soon,' Carter whispered to her, looking down affectionately at the freckled nose and wide brown eyes. Softly he dropped a kiss on her forehead and walked away.

  Watching the slender, but muscular man leave, Stacy felt a cold emptiness chill her heart. She turned uncertainly to the yawning doors of the lift Quietly she let herself into the apartment, questioning her decision to leave the only home and friends she had.

  An hour later she had fallen asleep, once again resolved to carry through with her plans to journey to Texas.

  CHAPTER TWO

  'MCCLOUD—10 Miles' the sign read. Stacy arched her back, stretching the cramped muscles. Two and a half days of steady driving were beginning to tell. But she was almost there and the excitement of finally reaching her destination was starting to flow through her. She glanced briefly at her reflection in the rear view mirror. Only her eyes showed the weariness she felt from the long drive. The pale, lemon-yellow top that complemented her olive-green pant-suit looked as fresh as when she had put it on that morning. The matching jacket lay over the back of the passenger seat where Cajun was sleeping, his huge body contorted by the limited space.

  The two-horse trailer specially designed for the Jaguar was pulling easily. Diablo had raised quite a fuss when she loaded him in Pecos, but had since settled down nicely.

  The afternoon sun was glaring through the windshield of her car as Stacy reached for the sunglasses lying on the dash. It wouldn't be long now before she'd be in her Texas retreat. First she would stop in town to look up the Nolans, so they could direct her to the cabin and then pick up some groceries. With luck she should be cooking her supper by seven.

  Ahead she could see the growing outline of the small town. As it drew closer, Stacy lowered her speed, taking in as much of the surroundings as she could.

  She pulled into a petrol station on the outskirts of town. Stepping out of the black sports car, she snapped her fingers to the waking Shepherd to follow. Stiffly and a little sleepily, he joined his mistress on the concrete paving. Stacy glanced appreciatively around the station, noting the lack of litter and usual car parts. Although the building wasn't modern, it was in excellent repair.

  A teenage boy walked out of the office area towards the Jaguar. His admiring glance at the lithe figure passed unnoticed by Stacy as she surveyed the town ahead of her, shimmering in the afternoon sun.

  'Fill 'er up, miss?' the young voice drawled.

  'Please. Check under the hood, too,' she replied, smiling at the gentle Southern accent

  Cajun went off to investigate a grassy lot next to the station while Stacy walked into the office to escape the sun. Inside, it took a minute for her eyes to adjust to the absence of the blinding sunlight. There were two men inside. One, the older of the two, was dressed in an attendant's uniform. The other, who had his back to Stacy, was dressed in blue Levi's and a faded plaid shirt. His dark, almost black hair was barely visible under the sweat-stained brown Stetson on his head. His tall, muscular frame blocked the attendant's view of Stacy until she stepped over to the counter where there was a selection of sweets.

  'S'cuse me, Cord. Can I help you, miss?' the man inquired.

  Stacy glanced up at the man facing her, taking in the smiling hazel eyes and his creased face, leathered by the Texas sun. She couldn't help but return the smile offered by the stocky man.

  'Yes, I'd like one of those chocolate bars,' Stacy said.

  'Sure thing,' the man nodded, turning towards the cash register with the coins Stacy had handed him for the bar. 'Don't think me nosey, ma'am, but from your accent, I take it you're not from around here?'

  Laughing, Stacy replied, 'I never realized I had an accents but I suppose to you I do. Actually I'm from New York, but I'm staying here this summer. I was wondering if you could tell me where I might find a family named Nolan. I've rented their hunting cabin,' she explained.

  It was then that the second man turned to face Stacy, and she was surprised by the seeming antagonism in his eyes. Puzzled, she heard him mutter a goodbye to the man behind the counter and stride out the door to a jeep parked beside the station. Turning back to the counter, she attempted to shake herself free of that haunting expression in his eyes. What had she done?

  'I'm sorry, what did you say?' she asked, realizing the attendant had been addressing her.

  'I said the Nolans run the grocery store in town. You turn right at the next block, then straight for two more, then left Theirs is the second shop from the corner,' he smiled.

  'Thank you.'

  'Miss, you were a quart low on oil, so I put some in. Boy, that's some car you got,' the young boy commented, coming inside, his allegiance switching from the attractive girl to the black sports car. 'I'll bet she really leaves 'em behind on the straight-away!'

  'That's enough, Billy,' the older man put in, taking Stacy's money for the petrol and oil. 'I'm sure the lady appreciates the fact you like her choice of cars.'

  Stacy laughed in return. 'Right now I'd better look up the Nolans or it'll be dark before I get to my new home.

  'Well, you just follow the directions I gave you and you can't miss it. Molly Nolan is always there in the afternoons, and I imagine she'll know where to run down her old man,' the attendant said as he walked along with Stacy to her car.

  She whistled to Cajun and waved a good-bye to the two attendants as she drove out on to the highway. Stacy smiled to herself as she turned right at the next block. The people seemed friendly anyway. At least two of them were, she qualified. And she wasn't going to let a dark-haired stra
nger's seeming hostility spoil her first visit to the town. If he hadn't seemed so disagreeable, she probably would have considered him handsome, she reflected.

  He certainly had the requirements—dark hair, brown eyes, and a tall, muscular build—but he had acted as if she carried the plague. There really wasn't any reason for her to keep dwelling on those unfriendly dark eyes; chances were she probably would never see him again. It was the clear-cut features of his face with their straight lines outlining his jaw, cheekbones, and chin that gave Stacy the feeling there was no 'give' in the man.

  Reaching the corner of the second block, she spied the grocery store. Ahead of her was a space just wide enough for her to park her car and trailer. Cajun attempted to join her when she hopped out of the car, but she ordered him to stay. She glanced into the horse van at Diablo before continuing on her way to the shop.

  It was a quaint little main street, covering all of two or three blocks. There was a drugstore on the corner, the grocery store next to it, a little brick post office after that, followed by a clothing shop and a cafe’. 'It isn't a big town,' Stacy thought, 'but it's probably sufficient to serve the ranch community surrounding it.'

  Pushing the door open, she entered the grocery shop. Behind a narrow counter was a small, matronly lady Stacy guessed to be in her late forties. Her hair was peppered with grey which made her seem more motherly. The simple house dress covering the plump figure reminded Stacy of a kitchen filled with the aromas of fresh-baked cakes. When the customer the woman was waiting on left, Stacy stepped forward.

  'Excuse me, are you Mrs. Nolan?'

  'Yes, I am. Is there something I could help you with?' the woman asked.

  'I'm Stacy Adams. I made arrangements to rent your cabin for the summer,' Stacy explained, smiling at the jovial face.

  'Of course, how silly of me. I should have recognized you right off. We don't have many tourists stop in our store. You did say you'd be here on the first part of May, but it had completely slipped my mind,' apologized the older woman. 'I imagine you're anxious to get out there before dark.'

  'Yes, I had hoped to stay there tonight, Mrs. Nolan;'

  'Oh, goodness, call me Molly or I'll think you're talking to someone else,' she laughed. 'My husband will be here shortly and can drive out with you. We cleaned it all up last week, but it's still a little barren. You know how men are, if they got somethin' to sit on and a place to cook food, it don't matter if there's curtains at the windows or a cloth on the table.'

  'I'm sure it will be fine. I hope you didn't go to too much trouble just for me,' answered Stacy, recognizing that the woman had noticed her city clothes and was concerned that Stacy was expecting something fancier.

  'Excuse me,' a voice from behind Stacy said.

  As she turned to move away from the counter, she found herself face to face with the broad shoulders of the stranger from the petrol station. Involuntarily her eyes rushed up to meet his. There was no flicker of recognition in the dark eyes, no spark of interest.

  'Oh, Cord, I'm so glad you're here,' said Molly Nolan, coming around the counter to take his arm. A faint smile tickled the corners of his mouth as he looked down on the motherly figure. 'I want you to meet Miss Stacy Adams. She's rented the hunting cabin in the foothills of the east range for the summer. Stacy, this is Cord Harris, your official landlord. The Circle H headquarters is about ten miles from the cabin.'

  Surprised by the unexpected encounter with the stranger a second time, Stacy murmured a polite reply to the introduction and managed to raise her eyes to meet his stony gaze again. This time there was no doubting the hostility and contempt in his eyes. Deliberately they searched her face and continued their way over her yellow top to her creased slacks and fashionable buckle shoes, before returning derisively to her face. The pant-suit that Stacy decided as being practical for travelling before suddenly seemed too chic, too elegant for this rough country.

  Embarrassed, she felt the growing heat burning her cheeks. Angry that this Cord Harris had managed to make her feel artificial and cheap, she thrust out her chin defiantly.

  'I hope you won't find our country too desolate and isolated for you,' the man went on, a trace of sarcasm in his voice.

  'I'm sure I'll enjoy my stay here. Almost everyone has made me feel very much at home,' Stacy replied, attempting to curb the anger that trembled on the edge of her words.

  ‘I’m sure they have,' inserted Mrs. Nolan. 'We don't have many pretty young things like you around here. Why, once the word gets around that you're staying for the summer, our young men will beat a path to your door!'

  'I doubt that,' Stacy smiled, 'but it's nice of you to say so.'

  'Not worried about staying alone at that deserted shack, are you?' Cord Harris interposed. 'After a few nights alone out there, you'll probably welcome the company of our young men.'

  ‘It's possible, but unlikely. You see, Mr. Harris,' Stacy was now indignant at the veiled cynicism, 'I came here to be alone. I do intend to make friends, but I don't intend to enter the social set.'

  '‘Intend,’ very cleverly stated,' the dark-haired man drawled, meeting Stacy's flashing eyes with a cool gaze. 'It leaves you wide open to do whatever you please. And somehow you don't seem the type to isolate yourself for any amount of time.'

  'Now, Cord,' Molly Nolan put in, trying to quench the unexpected friction between the two. 'I don't think it's our place to judge Miss Adams or her plans. You apologize for your rudeness.'

  'If what I said was unfounded, I certainly do apologize.' His hand touched his hat brim, mockingly. 'I do hope you enjoy your stay here, Miss Adams, however long it may be.'

  Nodding a good-bye to Mrs. Nolan, the arrogant rancher picked up his sack of goods and went out the door without allowing Stacy time to reply. Her fury had reached the peak where words failed her. Never had she met such an overbearing, insolent, and sarcastic man! Turning to the astonished woman beside her, Stacy vented her displeasure.

  'Who does that man think he is?'

  'Oh, you mustn't mind Cord,' soothed Molly absently. 'He has a tendency to voice his opinion. Underneath all that bluster though, he's really quite charming.'

  'You could have fooled me,' Stacy exclaimed. 'I wish he lived ten thousand miles away instead of just ten. What in the world did I do to warrant such an attack?'

  'Nothing, dear, I'm sure. Maybe you just reminded him of someone else,' the woman replied bustling around to the other side of the counter. 'I imagine you'll want to do some shopping. My husband ought to be here any time now.'

  Still fuming inwardly, Stacy took a trolley and started down one of the aisles. 'He may be my nearest neighbour,' Stacy thought, 'but I'll make a special point to avoid him from now on, though I would like to see that infuriating coolness of his upset once!'

  After picking up all the supplies she felt she would need, Stacy returned to the check-out where she found Molly Nolan engaged in a conversation with a thin, balding man. Guessing that it must be Mr. Nolan, Stacy joined them.

  'Well, dearie, did you find everything you needed?' Molly inquired, then turned to the man by her side. 'This is Miss Adams, Harry. This is my husband. He'll drive up to the cabin with you.'

  'I'm happy to meet you, Mr. Nolan,' Stacy said, extending her hand to the little man before her.

  'Molly said you was a pretty thing, but she didn't say you was this pretty. Ya shore are going to light this little cowtown up,' the bright-eyed man replied, eagerly shaking her hand. 'I hope the cabin will suit you all right, 'cause it shore ain't very fancy.'

  'I'm sure it will suit me. I'm used to roughing it with my dad/ Stacy said, smiling at the man who was an inch shorter than Stacy's five-foot-four.

  'Oh, is your father coming to join you?' Molly asked.

  'No.' A flicker of pain haunted her face momentarily. 'He was killed in a plane crash a month ago.'

  'Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—–' Molly started.

  'No, you couldn't have known,’ interrupted Stacy.
/>   'What about your mother? Is she still back East? Does she approve of your gallivantin' off by yourself?' Harry Nolan asked.

  'My mother died shortly after I was born, so I'm pretty, much on my own now. But you needn't worry about me being alone, I brought my German Shepherd along with me. I'm sure he can handle any four-footed animal that would wander in, and the two-footed variety as well,' Stacy laughed, thinking about Cord Harris with a malicious satisfaction.

  'Good dogs, them Shepherds,' the old man agreed. ' 'He'll watch out for you real good.'

  'Naturally I hope he won't have to,' Stacy said, reaching in her purse to pay for the groceries. 'Well, Mr. Nolan, I'm ready to go whenever you are.'

  ''Where'd you park your car?' he asked.

  'Across from the drugstore.'

  'I'll meet ya in about five minutes with my jeep and you can follow me out,' he nodded, moving, towards the door.

  'Now if you need anything or get to feelin' you want some company, you just hustle yourself into town. Me an' my husband would love to have you any time,' said Molly after her husband had left.

  'I'll remember. But I think for a while I'm just going to enjoy the peace and quiet,' Stacy replied, touched by the motherly concern.

  'The folks around here are all pretty friendly and would be more than glad to help you out if you have any kind of trouble, so you just don't hesitate to ask anybody,' instructed the matronly woman. 'Peace and quiet's fine, but you mustn't shut yourself off completely. You just remember that you're always welcome here and don't be ashamed to ask for help.'

  'I won't be. Thank you again. You'll be seeing me.' Balancing the sack of groceries in one arm, Stacy pushed the door open with the other. It was nice to feel so at home with people she had only met a few minutes ago. With the exception of a certain man, everyone had gone out of his way to help her.

  Reaching the car, she put the groceries in the back, quieted the excited dog, and looked around for Mr. Nolan. In the van Diablo was starting to raise a little fuss. Walking back to the trailer, Stacy entered the van by the side door of the empty stall. The sorrel turned his blazed head to her and blew gently on her face. Softly she talked to him, trying to quiet him down. His ears flicked back and forth catching' her words, but his eyes still rolled with unease.