Longarm and the Wyoming Woman Read Free Page A

him.
    â€œMaybe we should get you to a doctor.”
    â€œNo,” Addie said. “It’s just delayed shock plus the fact that I haven’t had anything yet to eat today. I think hunger and the shock are just now catching up with me.”
    They were standing outside a café that Longarm often frequented and that he knew was very good. “Then let’s go inside and have something to eat,” he decided. “We can’t have you fainting and banging up those pretty knees again, now can we?”
    She took a deep breath and managed a radiant smile. “So you thought my knees were pretty?”
    He blushed slightly. “Well, I couldn’t help but notice they were very pretty. As were your legs.”
    Now it was Addie’s turn to blush. “Modesty forbids a response,” she told him. “But I have to say that I’m glad you thought my legs were attractive.”
    He helped her inside. “I have a habit of speaking exactly what is on my mind, Addie.”
    â€œThat’s good,” she replied, sliding into a booth. “So do I. And that’s why I have to admit that I’m very attracted to you, Marshal. You have no idea how much it means to me that you recovered all that money. I must think of some way to repay you.”
    â€œNot necessary,” he assured her as he slid into the booth next to her.
    â€œOh, but it is necessary! You see, that money I almost lost is for my father, who owns a ranch near a town called Buffalo Falls, Wyoming. He’s desperately trying to save our land from being taken over by a very powerful and unscrupulous man who wants to have him evicted. The two thousand dollars will be used to hire good lawyers to defend my father’s claim.”
    â€œThen I’m glad that I was able to save it for you,” Longarm told her.
    â€œMy father will want to thank you personally.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary.”
    â€œMaybe sometime you could come to see our ranch. It’s very scenic and—”
    â€œThey keep me pretty busy,” Longarm told her. “Sometimes, I get sent out on assignments on a day’s notice.”
    â€œWell, today is almost half over, so I doubt you’ll be leaving before tomorrow.”
    â€œI expect not.”
    â€œI’d like to see you for dinner at my place . . . my treat.”
    Longarm was interested. By rights, he should have insisted that dinner certainly wasn’t necessary. But something told him that more was being offered than a good meal . . . much, much more.
    So he merely smiled with appreciation and said, “I’d like that, Addie.”
    She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “You are really something special, Custis. And I want to know all about you.”
    â€œNot much to tell.”
    â€œI don’t believe that for a minute.”
    They ordered breakfast, and Longarm and Addie lost track of time. When they finally left the restaurant, it was almost noon. That being the case, Longarm decided that he might as well spend the lunch hour with Addie after they reported in to the local police.
    His boss would be furious, but when Billy Vail learned that Longarm had saved the lives of two women and rid the city of a pair of vicious muggers and thieves, he would be more than forgiving.

Chapter 3
    â€œCustis!”
    Longarm waved and strolled between the desks at his office. He could see his boss, Billy Vail, gesturing wildly for him to come right in at once. But Longarm didn’t hurry, and his coworkers were grinning because he was defiantly their outlaw, the maverick of the office. They knew that he could get away with plenty because he was indispensable. Still, coming in on Monday in the middle of the afternoon with lipstick smeared on his cheek was sure to create quite a row with the boss.
    â€œWhere the hell have you been all morning!” Billy shouted. “Close that door.”
    Longarm turned to see the office