A Promise of Roses

A Promise of Roses Read Free Page A

Book: A Promise of Roses Read Free
Author: Heidi Betts
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Action & Adventure, Western
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street and handed me overburdened Tom the sack of bread and eggs he'd been carrying. “Take this to the horses. I'll be right, back."
    "Where ya goin '?” the boy asked.
    Lucas ignored him. When he reached the gelding, he ran a hand over its rump, stroking the ridge of a long, straight scar. The hair hadn't grown back after the injury.
    Lucas clamped his jaw shut. He adjusted his hat to conceal his face and took slow, sure steps as he made his way into the saloon, keeping his eyes down the entire time. The press of customers inside the small building made it easy for Lucas to sidle up to the bar and remain inconspicuous.
    "What'll ya have?” The bartender yelled over the roar of voices.
    "Five bottles of your strongest whiskey,” he said over his shoulder, holding up his fingers for the man to count. He kept the brim of his hat low and scanned the room.
    Disappointment rushed through his veins when he didn't find what he was looking for. And then he heard a bark of laughter. His eyes narrowed as he focused on a table near the stairs.
    A group of scantily clad women clustered around the occupant of that table. A dusty black hat sat atop the customer's head. His black beard held a hint of white that hadn't been there when this all began.
    Hatred, thick and vile, pooled in Lucas's gut. He hated this man with every fiber of his being. With every thought, with every motion, with every breath, he wanted this man dead. And Lucas intended to see it done.
    But not here. Too many people. He wanted to kill Silas Scott out in the open, where the man would have nowhere to run, no one to interfere. He wanted to make the bastard beg for mercy.
    Lucas turned around. “Who's in charge of the girls?” he asked the barkeep.
    "Gracie.” He arched a thumb in her direction. “End of the bar."
    "Watch the whiskey for me, will you?” Lucas said.
    Gracie turned out to be a large, flaxen-haired woman with exceptional hearing. “ Lookin ’ for me, hon ?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the group of girls surrounding Silas Scott.
    "You Gracie?"
    She nodded.
    "Then, I'm lookin ’ for you. Do you usually let that many of your girls work on one customer?” Lucas asked , making sure he honored her position as the saloon's madam.
    "One customer doesn't usually throw money around the way he's been doin '.” Gracie stuck out her ample bosom, which looked ready to pop from the tight white satin camisole she wore. “What's it to you?"
    "Well, I've got a proposition for you. If you're interested, that is.” Lucas knew that if it involved money, she would be interested.
    She slanted her eyes in his direction but didn't answer.
    "I'd like you to keep that man entertained for a while."
    "I have a feeling he's going to be plenty entertained."
    Lucas chuckled. “Yes, I imagine so. But, you see, I'd like you to keep him entertained until I get back."
    "What for?"
    "That's personal."
    "I take it you don't want him to know."
    "No."
    Gracie shrugged a plump shoulder.
    "You get your girls—as many as it takes— to keep him liquored up, and I'll make it worth your while."
    "How worth my while?"
    "Very. I'll pay for the whiskey and the girls. Double."
    "You mean you're willin ’ to pay me twice what it costs to get him drunk and happy?"
    "That's right. All you have to do is make sure he stays here till I can get back"
    "What're you gonna do then? I don't want you stainin ’ my sheets with blood or nothin '. That stuff's a real bitch to get out."
    "No blood. As soon as I get back, you can go about your business and let him leave the saloon."
    "That's it? I'm supposed to go to all the trouble of keepin ’ him here and then just let him leave?"
    "Yep. I'll take care of the rest."
    Lucas and Grade both watched as Silas stood and started none too steadily up the stairs, flanked by a blonde and a redhead.
    "Looks like he's about to be entertained,” Gracie said.
    "And you're about to make a great deal of money."

Chapter Two

    Megan jumped when the cabin

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