Moonlight from the window at the end of the hall cast a beam of light on the plank floor. Shadows touched the paper roses that once probably looked real enough to smell, but now wilted against the wall in aged dejection. Assured that the path was clear, she stepped out of her room, then shut the door behind her. She winced at the soft click that echoed in the silence and gave the dim hallway another quick inspection. At half past three in the morning the chances of anyone being up and about were slim, but she didn’t dare risk those men or Jesse catching her. Jesse. Just the thought of his name brought a fresh surge of contempt twisting inside her. She couldn’t believe she’d almost asked him to help her. How could she have been so stupid to think she could trust anyone? Hadn’t she seen, over and over again, that men were faithless, traitorous creatures who used any means at their disposal to get what they wanted from a woman? Even Jesse had proved himself no better; after he’d gotten what he’d paid for, she was of no further use to him.
