“You ain’t the only one’s ever been in love and lost ‘em, moonbrain,” Jayne said, watching River finally eat some decent food.

“Tell me.” She put her fork down. “Or I’ll –”

“You keep eating,” he said. “Or I won’t say a damn word more.”

“Okay,” she said softly, picking up the fork and spearing a piece of protein. “Please?”

Jayne sat back. “We met in a bar. Hell, actually under a table. Wasn’t my fight but I was getting mighty pissed at the amount of time it was taking to end it. Might not be getting paid, but I was considering making a personal appearance. Then she slid down next to me.”

…

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, grinning at him.

“Find your own cover.”

“Now is that any way to talk to a lady?”

“You ain’t no lady.”

“And that’s downright insulting. How would you know that anyway?”

Jayne ducked as a bullet took a bite out of the table top. “’Cause if’n you were you wouldn’t be seen dead in here.”

She laughed, a deep throaty sound that made his blood tingle. “Got me there, cowboy.”

“Ain’t a cowboy.”

“You’re wearing a gun.”

“Don’t mean I’m one of those wo nang fei ’s.”

“You don’t have too high an opinion of them.”

“Nope.”

Someone screamed but the gunplay went on.

“You know, I come in here for a quiet drink and this is what happens.” She sighed theatrically.

“They fighting over you?” Jayne asked, surprised.

“Maybe.”

Suddenly he grinned. “Come on. Let’s get outta here ‘fore we get our asses shot off.” He nodded towards the back door.

Outside, in the daylight, he got his first good look at her. Almost as tall as him, broad shouldered and hipped, small waist, big tits that showed a little above the shirt she wore tucked into workmanlike pants. Her hair was long, tied back out of the way, and light brown, almost blonde. Her eyes, though, were dark, almost the colour of the night sky.

“Like what you see, cowboy?” she asked, her hands on her hips.

He smiled slowly. “Kinda.” The smile grew wider. “Course, I’d h