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stop Carson before he’d lost the business, but I’m determined to save our home. Even if I have to take on the Old West to do it. Let’s go home, Cat. I want to count my winnings and plan my next move.”
    “You mean you’re going to do this again?”
    “I don’t know. It depends on how much money I have.”
    Cat put the car in gear and gunned the engine. The ancient sedan shuddered, then leaped forward again, eating up chunks of the dark River Road.
    “Take it easy,” Katie admonished. “This car isn’t used to being abused.”
    “It’s a good thing a real posse isn’t after us. I told you we should have taken my Mustang.”
    “I didn’t want to stand out,” Katie said wearily. Now that they’d gotten away, the enormity of what she’d done came crashing down on her. She’d actually gone on board the
Scarlet Lady
and taken on the man she’dcome to think of as her archenemy, the man known as Montana.
    She’d gambled.
    And she’d won—bigger than she’d dreamed of winning.
    No, not her, the lady in red she’d become for one night. But now she’d left her behind, and Katie Carithers, the accountant, was back.
    And as the accountant, she had to count her winnings and see if they had enough for Carson to redeem his IOUs. But first, she had to get home, and the flashing lights that suddenly appeared behind them was about to make that impossible.
    “Ah, Cat, look what you’ve done.”
    “Cripes! The cops. Want me to outrun them?”
    “No! Of course not. I just don’t know how I’m going to explain why I’m wearing men’s socks and am soaking wet.”
    “So don’t say anything. I’m driving. I’m the one they’ll give the ticket to. It won’t be my first.”
    Cat brought the car to a stop. The police cruiser rolled in behind them, and with the red-and-blue strobes still flashing, the door opened and the tall shape of a man appeared in the light.
    “All right, ladies, where are you going in such a hurry?”
    Cat let down the window and was about to speak when Katie opened her door and stepped out. She couldn’t let Cat take the blame for something she’d caused.
    “Please, Officer, it wasn’t my friend’s fault.”
    “Oh, and why is that?”
    “You see, it was storming and I—I fell into the river and she rescued me.”
    The driver shone his light into the car, playing it around, then moved around the car to meet Katie, momentarily taken aback by the obvious truth of her story. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
    “Yes, except I’m a bit cold.”
    He made a motion to take off his jacket, but Katie stopped him. “No, that’s all right. My friend was just overly concerned about me. She didn’t realize how fast she was going. Once I get home, I’ll be fine.”
    “If you’re sure.” He helped Katie back into the car and closed her door, then walked slowly around the front of the car and leaned down into the open window. “I’ll let you go with a warning this time,” he said. “Just watch your speed.”
    “Sure thing,” Cat agreed, patted the officer on the arm, and drove away, leaving the uniformed man in her graveled wake.
    “That helpless approach works every time, Katie, my girl,” Cat said with an approving laugh. “Maybe I’ll keep you around. If you aren’t going to give me a raise, at least you’d save me a pile of money.”
    Katie shivered. She really was getting cold, either that or her nervous system was collapsing, one cell at a time.
    “Not,” she said through chattering teeth, “if I have to jump back in the river first.”

    “We’ve had some desperate losers, but never one who went overboard,” Royal said.
    Montana stood looking at the water, twirling an unlit cheroot in his fingertips. “She had a royal flush. The queen of hearts was her hole card.”
    Royal stared at his boss, his mouth hanging open. “You mean she beat you? Then I sure can’t figure out why she jumped in the river.”
    “I think I can.”
    “She must be a fool or a fish. You say