Page 18 of Calling His Bluff
Her gaze finally met his, her brown eyes snapping like flames in a blaze. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a balled-up piece of paper, shoved it into his chest, and turned to walk away to join the others. “Lock the door,” she said over her shoulder. Was that just anger in her voice? Or did he also hear a little fear?
He locked the door, keeping his eye on the small crowd in the shop as he flattened out the note and readYour luck has run out.
* * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER 9
Jack kept an eye on Josephine as he joined the others. The note had upset her more than she wanted to admit. Poker was a game of strategy, but luck also played a part. He saw her reach into her pocket and knew she was holding the silver dollar that her Aunt Clara had given her. He hoped her good luck charm came through for them tonight as he looked around the table.
He always found it interesting where poker players sat at a round table. Superstition no doubt played a part in choosing a spot. For the Armstrong twins though, he suspected theyhad planned on sitting across from each other to better pass their signals. Jack chuckled silently at that. He’d always heard that identical twins could practically read each other’s minds. Maybe not these two.
What was easy to read was how anxious Wayne was. Darwin though seemed sulky and bad-tempered. Jack watched him touch his still-healing scar as he looked at Josephine. Jack didn’t want to know what had happened. He just didn’t want bloodshed happening here tonight.
Hank Langhor, the owner of the local hardware store had taken a seat between Darwin and Josephine, thanking her for inviting him. The twenty-somethings, seafood supply truck driver Pete Brooks sat on the other side of Wayne next to his friend, bartender Ridge VanBuren. They were both laughing about something that had happened at the pub earlier that night. The construction worker sat to Jack’s right.
Of the group, Nels looked the most uncomfortable. It was obvious that he didn’t know anyone at the table. It made Jack wonder how long he’d been in town.
Josephine was also looking around the table, taking everyone’s measure as he had done. When her gaze lighted on Nels, he saw her eyes widen. No one else at the table would have noticed, but Jack did. Had she recognized the man? Or was she concerned about how nervous he seemed?
Either way, Jack would be keeping his eye on Nels. He watched everyone as Josephine went over the house rules. They would be playing five-card draw, the easiest poker game to learn and play. Money would be won and lost. Simple and fast. At least Jack hoped tonight’s games would be quick.
The Armstrongs both looked impatient to get on with it. The others more excited, except for Hank. He was staring intently at Josephine as if he’d never heard house rules for five-card draw.
“I’ll deal first,” Josephine said, opened the new box of cards and shuffled them doing nothing fancy. She had Hank sitting next to her cut them, and she began to deal. Everyone had been instructed to leave their cards on the table until all were dealt. She put the deck face down next to her, placing a quarter on top to mark it.
“Jack’s or better open,” she reminded them and people began to pick up their cards.
Wayne Armstrong threw a five-dollar bill into the center of the table with the confidence of a born loser without even looking at his hand. “Ante up.” Within minutes, Jack knew where eighty percent of the money would likely come from—the fish, those twenty percent who played too loosely and made big mistakes. Even before this, it became obvious that there were two sharks in this pond, with the Armstrongs and four others being the fish.
As the games progressed without any problems, Jack started to relax. With luck maybe everyone was just here to play a friendly game of poker—except the Armstrongs. Maybe he’d even been wrong about Josephine being in harm’s way out here in Wild Rose Point. But if he’d been wrong about that, then did it mean he might also be wrong about his chances for winning Josephine’s heart for keeps?
-#-
A clap of thunder made Josephine jump. An instant later lightning flashed beyond the blinds on the front window of the shop. She hadn’t realized how tense she was and tried to relax.
But it was difficult when she couldn’t stop thinking about what Jack had asked her.Was there someone in her past that she had to fear?She had rejected the idea. For so long she hadn’t put down any roots, made a practice of keeping people at arm’s length, and protected her free time as if it were pure gold. She’d done it believing it was safer.
Another drumroll of thunder was quickly followed by what sounded like a downpour. She blinked as she realized she could apparently play this game in her sleep. She hadn’t been paying any attention at all—not since she’d thought there was something familiar about the man sitting across from her. The name though, Nels Green, meant nothing to her.
“Josephine?” Jack said, breaking into her thoughts. “Hank is wondering how you like the apartment upstairs.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, smiling at the older man. “I love it.”
“I supplied most of the furnishings through my store,” the man said proudly, then pointed down the table. “Nels here was one of the carpenters who did the actual work.”
“Really, I didn’t know that,” Josephine said, turning to look at Nels. “You did a good job.”
Nels didn’t look up as he muttered thanks under his breath. She told herself she didn’t know him. She was letting Jack’s paranoia get to her. She tried to concentrate on the game.
All the while, she felt Jack staring at her. When she looked up, she saw even more worry etched in his expression. Had she misplayed? No. She quickly looked around the table. Just as she’d hoped, the Armstrongs were both winning. She’d folded on her last good hand because it would have taken the large pot.
Wayne had won it. He was counting his take, looking a little too pleased with himself. Several players had gotten up to refresh their drinks. Pete and Ridge had finished making new drinks and were headed back to the table. She met Jack’s gaze with an irritatedWhat?look and a frown.
He stretched, rubbing the back of his neck, before looking at Nels Green. She followed his gaze to where Nels was standing to one side of the bar and instantly got her answer. Everyone had taken off their coats at the back door earlier. Everyone but Nels. As Nels had stepped forward to make himself a drink, he’d knocked the stack of napkins onto the floor. Now as he bent to retrieve them, his jacket rode up.
Josephine saw the distinct shape of the handgun tucked in the back of his baggy jeans. Straightening, he tugged down his jacket and turned with his drink in hand.
Their gazes met for only a few heartbeats. That’s all the time it took for her to realize why Nels Green looked so familiar. A chill snaked its way up her spine to coil around her neck.Yes, Jack, as it turns out, there was someone from her past she had to fear.
