Devil in Texas (Lady Law & The Gunslinger Series, Book 1) Read Free

warmed with interest. "Natural born, eh? Well, the Yankee's got taste in women, you gotta give him that. When does this new filly trot out on stage?"
    "Eight o'clock, sir. Mr. Dietrich changed the program last-minute to feature Miss McGuire."
    Baron harrumphed, checking his pocket watch. "Well, I reckon we got nothing better to do until the poker game starts. C'mon, boys. Let's find ourselves a stage-side table so we can take a look at the new gal's gams."
    But an alarm went off in Cass's head as he surveyed Baron's destination. "Wait." He caught the senator's arm. "Those footlights will make us sitting ducks."
    "You expecting trouble?"
    "Maybe. I'm thinking all the schedule changes might not be a coincidence. You're an influential man in the legislature. Someone might not want you around."
    The senator hiked a bushy eyebrow. "My arrival did cause a flurry in the dove cote. But I just figured the bawds were drawing lots to see who'd get first crack at my purse."
    "Could be." Cass wasn't convinced. "To be safe, why don't you and Collie get acquainted, while I scout the premises."
    Baron grunted. "You armed?"
    "'Course."
    The senator winked. Patting his own hidden shoulder holster, he waved Cass on his way.
    Compared with the poker room, the gaming hall was a mob scene. Cass stepped into the guttural din of male voices, wheezing trombones, and raucous laughter, punctuated by occasional bellows of, "Snake eyes!"
    After a leisurely stroll around the perimeter, he bellied up to the bar. Tossing down two bits, he ordered a shot of José Cuervo, then rested his elbows on the counter to survey the room. Near the stage, he spied the casino's duded-up new owner, Karl Dietrich, cracking his knuckles and ordering dancing girls around. Stocky, like a bouncer, Dietrich's darting eyes missed nothing. Cass took an instant dislike to him—and not just because the German was barking at women. Something about Dietrich wasn't quite right. He looked too young for gray hair and a silver goatee.
    Next, Cass noticed the sodbuster, whom Collie had spotted earlier on Post Office Street. The granger sat in a dimly lit corner without friends, women, or even a deck of playing cards. His tankard was foaming with cherry sarsaparilla.
    That country bumpkin traveled all the way to Sin City to drink fizzy pop?
    Suddenly, the sodbuster stiffened. He leaned intently across his table. Cass followed the man's gaze and noticed the rippling stage curtains.
    The auburn head of the mermaid queen split in two, replaced by a pile of upswept, flame-colored curls. A face that rivaled Aphrodite's hovered in that makeshift window for a moment, a bare fraction of time, but every nerve in Cass's body fired with recognition as a pair of tawny tiger eyes locked with his.
    He sucked in his breath.
    The face vanished.
    Damn.
    Cass's instincts had never failed him, and right now, they were screaming loud enough to rouse his pecker.
    The devil's own daughter smoldered behind that curtain, and the firebrand's name wasn't Cassandra McGuire.

Chapter 2

    Sadie Michelson cursed under her breath as she dared to peer a second time through the stage curtains. Unfortunately, her eyes hadn't deceived her. The heartthrob with the sun-bronzed skin, sapphire eyes, and sinfully tight, leather chaps was none other than her cocky ex-lover.
    Eros in Spurs. That's what William Cassidy was called in polite society, but Dodge City bawds had dubbed him the Rebel Rutter after he'd accepted a bet to seduce a bride on her wedding day. And succeeded.
    There are 26 brothels on The Line, Cass. Why did you have to pick mine?
    Sadie fumed, and not just because the inveterate skirt-chaser had waved Randie to his side. In less than two minutes, Sadie was supposed to sashay onto the stage, wearing a shameless, black satin gown that fit too tightly to allow a corset.
    She was supposed to wiggle her hips, bounce her breasts, and tease the all-male crowd into a lusty lather during the first public performance of