Wild Star Read Free Page B

saddened, I cannot allow it, my son. He did not bother to tell DeWitt that his son had spoken to him frankly of what had happened the previous evening. He knew that he must protect his family and their proud name. He had no intention of protesting his son’s innocence to this miserable creature. It would do no good in any case.
    “I demand marriage, señor. ”
    Don Joaquín wondered briefly if all the wretched things he’d heard about this heavy-jowled man were true. Well, there was nothing he could do about the poor girl. He said calmly, “A marriage is out of the question, Señor DeWitt. My son left this morning for a long visit to our relatives in Spain.” He paused a moment, realizing that he could possibly spare the wretched girl some of her father’s rage. “However, I am willing to give you reparations.” He opened a desk drawer, opened the strongbox, and counted out five hundred dollars.
    He handed the money to DeWitt. He stiffened as the man counted the bills in front of him.
    “It’s not enough,” Madison DeWitt said. “It’s my girl’s honor. He ruined her. Who would want to marry her now?”
    “It is all you will get, señor. Now, you will leave me. I find your presence oppressive.”
    Madison DeWitt cursed, threatened, but Don Joaquín stood firm, saying nothing, merely gazing at him with tolerant boredom. When the man finally left, Don Joaquín heaved a deep sigh. It was time, he supposed, that Gabriel did travel to Spain. His grandparents wouldn’t live much longer, and there were many cousins for him to meet. Yes, it was time for him to see more of the world.

TWO
    Brent Hammond walked out of the dim saloon of the Colorado House into the bright afternoon sunlight. He was smiling with satisfaction. He’d just won two hundred dollars in a poker game with a greenhorn and a cheat. Most of it was from the cheat, and in only four hours. He stretched then turned to look up at Presidio Hill behind him. Up there he imagined one could forget the stench of garbage that lay about in the filthy narrow streets in the flats, and draw a decent breath of clean salt air.
    He was eyeing several loose cows wandering about amid the scruffy adobe buildings when he heard the gunshots. He’d whirled about and taken two steps, when a body smashed against him. He rocked back on his heels, keeping his balance, but she went sprawling on the ground at his feet.
    Byrony cried out, and let go of her two packages. One of them burst open and flour spewed out, raining down white.
    “Oh dear,” Byrony said. Her bottom hurt, but she began laughing, she couldn’t help it. She struggled up to her knees.
    “I’m sorry,” Brent said, dropping to his haunches. “Here, let me help you.”
    She looked up at the man she’d just cannoned into and her breath caught in her throat. He had the most beautiful dark blue eyes she’d ever seen. He was trying to keep from laughing.
    “Hello,” she said, her eyes never leaving his face. His thick black hair was clean and shone in the sun. She noticed the scar on his cheek, white against his tanned skin, and wondered how he’d gotten it.
    “Hello yourself,” Brent said. He clasped her upper arms and drew her up.
    Byrony was tall, but the man was nearly a head taller. She watched his lips part, and laughter, deep and clear, flowed over her.
    “You’d best let me go, or your suit will be white rather than gray.”
    Brent hadn’t realized he was still holding her. He quickly released her arms and stepped back. “I’m sorry I ran into you, ma’am,” he said again.
    “No, it wasn’t your fault,” Byrony said, and began shaking out her skirts. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
    “I heard the gunshots,” he said.
    “Oh, that,” she said, her eyes narrowing in ill-disguised contempt. “It was just some of the young men target-shooting, this time. Nothing to worry about.”
    “I wasn’t really worried, just interested. What do you mean ‘this time’?”
    She shrugged.