Page 43 of Cutter’s Lady

“You know where the rooms are.” She gestured through the rear door of the large room. “You two are on the second floor, rooms 14 and 15. You can find them.”

He nodded. “No problem.”

“Good. I’ll see you later.”

“Right. Send somebody for me if you need any help,” Cutter told her.

The woman walked away, and Cutter watched her go. Leslie watched Cutter. He turned back to her. “Ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

He led her through the rear door and down a long hall with doors opening off either side. They went up a set of simple wooden stairs at the far end. Theirs were the first two rooms by the stairs and faced each other across the hall. The doors of the rooms stood open, revealing their sparse, utilitarian furnishings. A single bed on a frame without a headboard stood against one wall in each room. There was also a wooden straight-back chair, a small washstand with pitcher and bowl and a simple wooden crucifix hanging on the wall.

Cutter handed Leslie a couple of sheets and towels, a washcloth and a bar of soap. “Here. You’ll have to put the sheets on your bed. There are a couple of bathrooms down the hall. They have indoor plumbing here. It’s the Ritz-Carlton of the interior.”

He moved into his room with his share of the bedding, but Leslie wasn’t ready to let him go yet. She tossed her pile down on the bed in her room and followed him across the hall. “Just a minute. I want to talk to you.” She closed the door behind her.

He glanced at the closed door, a smile beginning. “Is that ominous or promising?”

Leslie ignored his remark. “Why didn’t you tell me what you were carrying in that truck?”

“If you’ll remember, I tried to.”

“Not very hard! Why didn’t you explain that you were carrying medical supplies, not ammunition or bombs?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t figure it would make any difference. It interfered with your job, like you said. It endangered your plans.”

Leslie’s eyes widened. “Do you honestly think I’m that callous? There’s a lot of difference between carrying guns and carrying an X-ray machine to a mission hospital! How could you believe I’d object to that? How could you think I’d be so selfish and cruel as to leave children’s books and medical supplies behind?” Her eyes narrowed. “I think you were trying to embarrass me, to make me feel in the wrong.”

Cutter rolled his eyes. “My every action is not taken with you in mind, no matter what you think.”

“Why couldn’t you have told me? Why were you so secretive? Why didn’t you tell me about Sister Mary Margaret and her mission? You could have prepared me a little. You could at least have said she was a nun.”

“Look. I had no idea you would care a bit about Sister Mary Margaret or her mission. All I’ve seen you care about is your idiot ex-husband and this trip to rescue him.”

“Of course that’s what I was interested in. How could I possibly have any interest in the mission when I didn’t know it existed?”

“You are the most impossible woman,” Cutter threw his arms up. “First you complain that I’m endangering your sacred job with my cargo, and now you’re pissed that I didn’t tell you what I was hauling!”

“If you’d explained…”

“Why? I never saw anything to indicate that you’d give a damn. You’re a cold, spoiled little rich girl, and all you care about is getting your own way.”

“That’s not true!” Leslie flared.

“No? Everything you’ve done this trip has been solely because it’s what you want to do, with no regard as to whether it was safe or practical or crazy as hell. The only thing you pay any attention to is what Leslie Harper wants!”

“Well pardon me for going after what I want!” Leslie retorted heatedly. “I’m so sorry you had to run into a woman who wasn’t selfless and meek. I realize that you’d prefer a saint, but that’s not what I happen to be.”

“A saint! What is that supposed to mean?”

“Like Sister Mary Margaret. That’s the kind of woman you’re into. All virtuous and sitting up on a pedestal, safely out of your reach. It’s the only kind of woman you can care for, isn’t it? Absolutely perfect, because you don’t have to worry about making the actual commitment of a relationship.”

Cutter’s hand lashed out and gripped one of her arms. “You haven’t got the slightest idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” Leslie flung back defiantly. “I saw you look at her today. You love her.”

“Yes, I love her. Everyone loves Mary.”