Outlaw Bride (Lawmen and Outlaws) Read Free

right fine idea, too.
    She shrugged, hoping he’d understand.
    “All righty. You get some rest now,” Cleeland Redd said with a smile. “Now, my mutt could use some exercise but he’s accustomed to riding in that very spot. You like some company?”
    Even her sore neck couldn’t stop her nods. A dog! Oh, she’d wanted one her whole life through. She held off a tremble, Pa shooting strays while he laughed. Claimed a pet was nothing but a fursack full of fleas and infection. And life with Ahab of course, with no chance to settle down anywhere, hadn’t given her a chance to hug or love anything.
    Not even her brother.
    Right now, the dog jumped up into the wagon and made himself at home by her side. Her heart melted. His fur wasn’t full of anything bad at all, other than dust and a burr. She put her hand on him. The warmth and softness of a childhood lost tickled her skin. And her heart melted again, this time not in a good way, when she remembered all the bad years.
    Dagnab, most of her years had been bad, some way or other. She’d turned eighteen last week. It was high time for some good ones.
    Cleeland Redd peered down at the two of them, and she took a few careful peeks at him from under the brim of the chewed-up straw hat. With his long dark hair trimmed neat at the ends, he was most good-looking. A moustache hugged his lip, and eyes the color of whiskey winked in the sun.
    Then and there, she realized the truth. No man of evil character would ever be delivering goods to a passel of nuns. And sure as tarnation, nobody in Ahab’s employ would be carting around boxes of slates and books.
    She smiled in sudden joy at the day’s outcome. She was alive. And for the first time in her life, in the company of a handsome, decent man. She’d never found a hidden spring, but she had found deliverance.
    Cleeland Redd smiled slowly back. For a flash, his lids dropped over his eyes just like they might do as he fell asleep.
    Hmmmm. Thinking of him asleep beside her flew butterflies and bumblebees in her stomach. Despite her pains, she felt a funny little tingle in a place she only thought about once a month, and then only because of the mess.
    This now, this feeling was nice, and she’d like more of it. Starting with her pa way back when, no one of the male persuasion had ever been nice to her before. Leastways not without wanting something from her she didn’t want to give.
    Then her heart started a sad tremble, almost like it was breaking in two. A man this kind and fine-looking would already have staked a claim on a real-live respectable woman somewhere.
    Right then a new thought birthed itself inside her brain. Jessy Belle knew what she had to do even though the plan started up her tears. When they got to the mission, she’d join that group of nuns.
    Last place on earth Ahab would come searching for her was a church.

Chapter Two
    With the creek mumbling nearby, Renegade set off to explore. Night fell after a sunset turned the rocks gold, like those fairy tales about El Dorado.
    Redd lit a fire. The evening had grown surprisingly cold and the scent of brewing Arbuckle’s filled the air. He needed something to help him stay awake and keep watch. Rumors had the Ahab Perkins gang meandering the ’Zona territory, and he had two fine mules for the nuns and his own calico to protect. ’Course the mutt would raise a fine ruckus if need be.
    Damn horse thieves. Ought to be strung up, each and every one. And he’d heard lately they’d taken to robbing stagecoaches and passersby. Those fool dime novels just kept spreading their names and exploits like they were natural things.
    Along with the animals, he now had a sick, scared woman to tend. She’d slept, the wagon wheels rocking her like a baby, but even then, she’d groaned the whole way. Tears dropped down her cheeks with her bad dreams.
    Now she stirred and from his place by the fire, he saw her head pop over the side of the wagon.
    “How do, ma’am,” he said,