My Heart Will Find Yours Read Free Page A

quickly at Jason to see if he was breathing, then turned to the woman the crowd had backed up against the boardwalk in front of the saloon. Hans eased behind her and quickly caught her under the arms and locked his hands behind her head. Head pushed forward, the woman fought to break Hans’ hold. She kicked backwards, but Hans lifted her off the ground and swung her from side to side so her feet couldn’t make contact.
    “Hurry up, Marshal, get some cuffs on her. How else you gonna get her home?”
    A quick scan of the woman indicated she didn’t have a weapon strapped to her side or in her hands. His gaze moved from the unusual shoes she wore, up indecently clad legs encased in denim pants. How else could he describe it? When his eyes reached her torso, his body jerked in response. Beautiful breasts were fully outlined by a skintight blouse. Her pebbled nipples showed through the thin, pink fabric. His face burned with anger. It was downright scandalous. No decent woman would dress so provocatively. Then he noticed the flame-colored curls. Hans eased his hold, and her head jerked up toward him. His eyes met hers, and his heart stopped. God, she’s beautiful . He looked at her face again and thought he’d faint from sheer joy. His bliss quickly turned to rage.
    With a growl, he bit out, “Get your hands off my wife.” At least, he thought it was his wife. The hair was the same, but her eyes were bluer, her nose thinner, and damned if she didn’t have kohl on her eyebrows and lashes.
    Hans looked around for support. “Are you sure, Marshal?”
    No one spoke. Hans shrugged. “All right, Marshal, but look out.”
    Royce’s eyes never left Pearl’s. “Jason, are you all right?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. She’s scared to death, Royce. She didn’t recognize me. And be careful. Her feet and hands can move faster than anything I’ve ever seen.”
    Royce handed his shotgun to Pete then held out his hand to her. “Pearl?”
    Her eyes flicked from his hand to his face. “I’m not Pearl. I’m Texanna.” She backed up a step. “And I’m sure as hell not your wife.”
    The crowd gasped at her language, and Royce felt his face heat. His wife didn’t talk like this woman. He frowned, tamping down his anger. Regardless of who she was, it was his responsibility to see she got help, and put on some decent clothes.
    “Watch your mouth, young woman.” Royce took off his jacket. “Here.” He tossed it to her. “Put it on. You’re not dressed proper.”
    Damned if her chin didn’t shoot out an inch, but she caught his jacket. He stretched out a hand to her. “Come on now—let’s go somewhere and talk.”
    Royce watched her. She’s scared but doing a darn good job of hiding it. Something’s definitely wrong. Of course there is or she wouldn’t be dressed so, or have been gone for four years. Had she been held in captivity and those were the only clothes she owned? His throat clogged with emotion. God, what if it wasn’t Pearl, just someone who looked like her playing a cruel joke on him? Or it was Pearl, and she’d lost her mind.
    He started toward her. Before he took a step, she threw his jacket at his head and took off running. She was fast. Shock filled him, as did a sense of pride. Wherever she’d been, she’d not let them beat her down.
    “Somebody give me their horse.”
    In less than a minute, he was riding after her. When she heard the horse pounding close behind her, she turned back to look and tripped. Royce caught her by the waist of her pants before she fell and sat her sideways in front of him on the saddle.
    She screamed and fought, but Royce pinned her arms and pulled her body against his. “Stop it, it’s all right. I won’t hurt you. You’re safe now.”
    Her screams turned into sobbing mumbles. Something about time-travel, Pearlina, and going crazy. She stopped shrieking and fighting but remained stiff in his arms. Taking a chance, he loosened his hold on her arms. She pulled free and