Outlaw Bride (Lawmen and Outlaws) Read Free Page A

polite, and looked over at the supper he’d made her. He’d washed down jerky and hardtack with tipples of whiskey and creek water, but reckoned such a meal would discomfort her throat. So he’d busted the ’tack into pieces and soaked them with the last of his flask. The mush would go down easy, the whiskey would help her sleep the night through.
    But first things first.
    “Let me help you down, ma’am,” he said, heat rising at what he had to say next. “Figure you might be needing some privacy by this time.”
    He nodded toward a thicket of sagebrush. In the firelight, shadows flickered into gray circles underneath her eyes. She swallowed like it still hurt and reached for him.
    When she hit the ground, her legs stood steady, which surprised him. She might be small and scared, but she was no feeble ninny. All by herself, she walked to the bushes, and he turned his back like a gentleman ought. She was shivering, though.
    Pulling the blanket from the wagon, he found himself pleased with her warmth and scent still on it. When she got back to him, he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and said, “Let’s get you set up by the fire. I got something for you to eat. It isn’t much, but it’ll calm you down and warm you up.”
    He backed her down against the saddle on the ground, upon which he’d been leaning, and answered the question in her eyes.
    “Yep, I’m driving this mule team and wagon to the mission for keeps. But my mustang Snapper’s along with us. So’s I can ride him back to my ranch outside Whisper Ridge, I lug my saddle along in the wagon.”
    Hearing his name, the calico nickered in the dark.
    “Got him and the mules ground-tethered just thataway, close to the water.” He pointed into the shadows, knowing right where the animals nuzzled the ground. His eyes were as good at night as they were by day. Scouting for Redd had been a natural occupation, just like breathing. But he didn’t miss it. Not for a second. Not after Tawana, and the buffalo, and all the other slaughter he’d seen.
    “Snap follows the wagon by day, or runs on ahead for a bit. You’ll see him up close tomorrow. We’ll get to the mission by mid-morn,” he went on, knowing though that he’d keep his horse tied behind the wagon tomorrow if there was thieves about.
    Her back was tense against the saddle, but she attacked the crude meal he’d made her with a bit of zeal. Redd was glad she could eat at all.
    “Yep, my Snapper likes to run free on occasion, but he never goes far from me.” He had to laugh as he settled next to his guest. “A rogue, he was. Wild and free as the wind on the Plains. Named him Whippersnapper, as he was none but a colt. Roped him in from a wild herd and broke him myself. Sang to him plenty, but he snapped at me plenty during it all. But now we are the best of friends.”
    He peered at her. Her face had come to life now although he disliked the trails of her tears. After a while he’d get her some creek water for a wash-up. Even though she couldn’t talk, he felt they were conversing right as rain.
    “You know horseflesh?” he asked politely, then got serious. “Me and Renegade, now, we’ll be a bit more wakeful tonight. Heard talk the Ahab Perkins gang’s been prowling around these parts.”
    At that, she choked with a gurgling sound, and he handed her his canteen.
    “Take it easy on your throat, ma’am,” he warned, then tried to chuckle. “We got that whole creek next door, but don’t need to cause your innards any disquiet. And don’t you worry yourself about that Perkins gang. I take care of my own. Although…”
    With a nod, he slowed, considering the possibilities as he sipped some Arbuckle’s, “…although there is a righteous reward out on each and every one of those hooligans. Such cash would go mighty far in completing my needs for my ranch if I were to track them down.”
    Then she burst into tears.
    Likely his mention of outlaws alarmed her gentle sensibilities