Shadow Walker Read Free Page B

realized that Billy left her penniless for a purpose. He didn’t want her wandering around the countryside raising suspicion and alerting the law. He usually brought food with him when he returned, and that had helped.
    “I fish, and I trap small game when I can. Usually Billy brings food with him, but this time he arrived empty-handed. He couldn’t afford to go into town after pulling off robberies for fear of being recognized.”
    “There’s food in my saddlebags. I’ll bring in what I have, and you can put something together for us. It’s not much, but it will keep us until I can bring supplies back from town.”
    “Don’t bother. You won’t be here that long. There’s no money hidden here. Billy must have given it to one of his gang for safekeeping.”
    Cole snorted in derision. “You know Billy better than that. The loot is here, Dawn, I’d stake my life on it.” He left the cabin, still chuckling to himself.
    Dawn rose stiffly from the chair. Her back hurt dreadfully from the strapping Billy had given her. He had tried again to be a man with her without success. It was always the same. Nothing had changed during the five years of their marriage. Instead of placing the blame on the injury he had received during a bank robbery before they were married, he accused Dawn of not being woman enough to arouse him. The results were unmentionably vile. He assuaged his lust by pummeling her with his fists, and when he tired of that, he removed his belt and used it on her back and buttocksuntil he grew bored with the sport.
    Thank God Billy rarely returned to the hideout, Dawn thought as she measured out the last bit of coffee in the can, poured it into the iron coffeepot, and fired up the stove with the last of the firewood.
    The one luxury in the tiny cabin was the cook-stove, and Dawn constantly blessed the previous owners for leaving it behind. It provided welcome warmth in the winter when wind-driven snow blasted through the cracks in the walls and shuttered windows.
    Cole returned with a knapsack and placed it on the dry sink. “It’s not much. A few potatoes, an onion, bacon and beans. I think there’s a bit of flour and sugar, too. Can you manage?”
    Dawn laughed without humor. “It’s far more than I’m accustomed to.”
    Cole turned away, unable to hide the pity he felt for her. “I need to tend to my horse. I’ll put him in the lean-to with your mule. Is there hay inside for Warrior?”
    “There’s plenty of hay. Billy treated his animals better than he did me.”
    Cole grunted, oddly distressed by the picture her words conjured. What had the bastard done to her besides use her for a punching bag? he wondered as he left the cabin. What had he allowed his men to do? Dawn was as skittish as a young colt, distrustful of men and hurt in ways few people would understand. She was like a fragile, broken doll, her spirit destroyed and her soul injured beyond repair.
    Dawn knew what Cole was thinking but didn’t care. Let him think she was helpless; it served herpurpose. Let him believe she was broken in spirit and sick at heart. She’d have the last laugh when she left here with the money Billy had stolen. After Billy’s vicious beating today, Dawn realized she couldn’t continue like this. She had spied on him when he hid the train loot the day he’d arrived at the cabin, and prayed for him to leave on some errand or other so she could retrieve it and run away.
    Unfortunately, Billy’s hand had been heavier than usual and it had taken her longer this time to recover from his beating. By the time she’d roused herself from her stupor, Cole Webster had arrived and temporarily put her plans on hold. It was imperative now that she get rid of the lawman before the members of Cobb’s gang arrived for their share of the loot.
    Dawn worked efficiently and silently, using the ingredients Cole had provided for their meal. She fried the bacon and used the grease to fry together the potatoes and onion. There