Deadly Read online

  The damn woman had left him exposed, sitting on Main Street naked. Nothing had stung so badly as when she’d ignored him when he’d said he was going to marry her. She’d paid no mind to the fact that against everyone’s advice he’d planned on standing up with her and the sin-buster.

  A blush stained her cheeks, and it was all he could do to keep from jumping over the desk and pulling her into his arms again. In the wee hours of the morning, he’d awakened, remembering that last kiss, dreaming of how her lips felt beneath his, wanting to experience them again.

  No woman had ever gotten beneath his skin like Meg. It felt like standing on a porch while watching a Texas twister churn toward you. If you weren’t careful, you’d get slammed.

  “Too bad,” she said, her chin rising defiantly, her eyes flashing with disdain.

  He leaned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and gazed at her. God, she was a beautiful woman, and yet, she dressed and acted like a man. Was he wrong to want a soft woman who’d let him wear the pants in the family?

  She glanced over at the empty jail cells. “Where’s Simon?”

  He’d known this question was coming, and he didn’t know how to answer her. He couldn’t tell her Simon had hanged, as there hadn’t been a trial. He couldn’t say he’d left him in another jail, as she could check and find out he was lying, and then he could lose the job he loved.

  He sighed and chose the answer he was sure would cause him the most trouble, but would allow him to retain his job. “He got away.”

  She jumped up from her chair. “What do you mean he got away? You’re a lawman. How do you lose a prisoner?”

  “When he knocks you out cold and takes off, that’s how,” he replied, hoping she wouldn’t seek Simon out. Praying she’d give the pursuit a rest.

  Zach had some business to take care of first. Then he would ride out, find Mary Lowell, and hear her story. Hopefully, he’d learn the truth regarding Simon then handle the situation in the most law-abiding way.

  “And you didn’t go after him?” Meg asked her eyes wide and her mouth open in disbelief. She shook her head and gazed at him with a weird look on her face. “What kind of sheriff are you?”

  “A damn good one,” he responded as a curl of frustration tightened his fists. He’d made a promise—a vow that held him hostage.

  She shook her head at him. “A damn good one for who? The criminals?”

  “No,” he said. “I’m going after him.”

  “Something’s not right. You would never have let a prisoner get away and not hunt him down.”

  “Leave it be, Meg. I’m going after him tomorrow,” Zach demanded, standing and coming around the desk. “Don’t even think about going after him.”

  “Why?” she asked. “Why is he different than all the other prisoners I bring in? Why should I stay away from him?”

  “Because he’s dangerous.” Zach placed his hands on her shoulders, wanting to shake some sense into her. God, she was so defiant, so reckless, so brave and stupid. She would place herself in danger just to earn this bounty.

  “That’s never stopped me before,” she said in a daring tone.

  His hands moved from her shoulders to cup her face, and he stared at her, his gaze intent on trying to see inside her soul. To see if she would listen to him and stay in town or if she planned on pursuing Simon.

  He stared at her luscious lips, longing to taste her again, needing to see if there was still passion between them. Wanting so badly to kiss her. To taste her again. To plunder some sense into her way-too-smart brain.

  “You can’t go after him,” he whispered, unable to stop himself as his mouth came down on hers. His lips assaulted hers, pouring all his resentment of the situation into her mouth as he moved over her lips, indulging and holding her mouth captive. He kissed her with all his frustration from her ignoring his proposal. He kissed her with all the pent-up passion that had long been denied for her tempting curves and her luscious mouth.

  Suddenly her hands came up between them, and she pushed away. She stepped back from him. “That’s enough, Sheriff. Don’t forget I’m still that same pants-wearing woman who is going after Simon. He’s mine, and I won’t be bringing him back to your jail, so he can conveniently escape again.” She spun on her heels and walked out the door, her boots ringing against the hardwood floor.

  “Damn,” he said. “The chase is on again.”

  Chapter Four

  She’d never thought of Zach Gillespie as stupid. But how could he have let a known killer escape and not hunt him? What kind of lawman let a man wanted for murder get away? If he hadn’t interfered with her bringing him in, Simon would be sitting in jail, awaiting trial. She’d be five hundred dollars richer, and the bank loan would be paid off.

  She kicked the sides of her horse, spurring him toward the house. Gritting her teeth, she let the frustration of their last conversation wash over her like spring’s flash floods. There was still plenty of daylight, and she could be halfway to Dyersville, where she’d last seen Simon, by nightfall.

  Yet, as she pulled up in front of the farmhouse and threw her leg over the saddle, her biggest battle of the day lay ahead. They had agreed never to hunt alone, but they hadn’t planned on Ruby getting hurt when Annabelle was needed at home. They would just have to listen to reason or not.

  She slid to the ground and marched into the house, determined that no matter what was said she would be on the road within an hour. She would be in Simon’s hometown tomorrow. Maybe he wouldn’t be there, but maybe he would. No matter, the hunt was on again. And this time she’d win. This time he wouldn’t escape. This time he would go to jail.

  When Meg walked into the house, Ruby looked up from her chair with a frown on her face. “What happened?”

  Meg didn’t say a word. She went into her bedroom and pulled out her war bags. She tossed in two extra pairs of clothes, grabbed her blanket roll, and carried the bags into the kitchen.

  “What are you doing?” Ruby asked, her blue eyes wide with alarm. “Simon wasn’t there, was he?”

  Meg grabbed some leftover biscuits, put them in a tin along with some dried fruit, and shoved the meager rations in her bags. Where she was going, she wouldn’t need a lot of food.

  “Damn it, Meg, talk to me. You can’t go after him alone. Wait a minute, and I’ll get my things and go with you,” Ruby said, rising from the chair.

  “No,” Meg told her. “You’re not going with your ankle in that kind of shape. I can’t be worrying about you. This job I’m doing alone.”

  “We made a promise we would always hunt together,” Ruby said, her voice rising.

  “Well, sometimes promises have to be broken,” Meg yelled back. Her stomach clenched, and her limbs stiffened as determination pulsed through her blood. It wasn’t like she wanted to go by herself, but she had no choice. “This time it’s just me.”

  Annabelle chose that moment to walk into the house. “What’s all the noise about? I could hear you guys clear out in the garden.”

  “Meg’s going after Simon…alone.”

  “No, you’re not,” Annabelle said, taking a step into the living area, where the three sisters took positions like three prizefighters circling the ring. “We made a deal there would always be two of us.”

  “So fire me. I’m breaking the deal,” Meg said, pulling on her long coat, which she knew she would need tonight. “For every day we linger, the trail gets colder.”

  “Meg, wait. I’ll go with you. Let me just gather my things,” Annabelle said.

  “No. You’re needed here with Ruby. It’s spring calving season. I can do this without your help.”

  Annabelle stopped and stared at Meg, her green eyes flashing with anger. “We stick together. We’re like the three musketeers. Don’t do this. I won’t have you go missing or learn I have to bury my sister. You can’t do this without one of us by your side.”

  Meg took a deep breath; her heart was pounding in her chest like a runaway locomotive. She had to
follow Simon. She had to finish this, so her sisters wouldn’t have to ever bounty hunt again, even if that meant she’d die trying.

  “I’m leaving. I’ll be back, or I’ll send you a telegram in a few days and let you know I’m all right,” Meg said, walking toward the door. Part of her knew she was doing wrong, but she refused to stop. She had to go after him like the moon chased the setting sun, like a bull pursued a cow, like a good sheriff chased a criminal.

  Or at least, like a good sheriff should chase a criminal.

  Simon had become a token that Zach and she were fighting over, and she was determined to win this time. The bounty would be hers. Simon would go to jail. The bank loan would be paid in full, and neither Annabelle nor Ruby would ever have to ride after a bad man again.

  Meg closed the door, her chest aching, her stomach rolling, knowing in her heart she was hurting her sisters, yet unable to stop herself. The bounty was hers to bring in, even if that meant leaving Ruby and Annabelle.

  *

  Two days later, Meg walked into the saloon where she and Ruby had first confronted Simon. She pulled her hat down low and tried to appear nonchalant and small, as she sat down at a table. Keeping her head down and her eyes lowered, she glanced around the room.

  The same men were sitting at the bar. The same saloon girl strolled amongst the men, touching them, offering her pleasures. The bartender was tossing out beer and whiskey, the piano player was banging on the keyboard, and the poker players were slinging cards. It was Saturday afternoon, and Meg did her best to blend into the wall.

  Her auburn hair was swept up into her hat, and her clothes were even more masculine than normal. Papa had always told them he tried to appear as if he belonged in whatever situation he found himself. Meg hardly felt as if a saloon was where she fit in best, but she’d been here before.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” a young woman in a dress that had her bosom swelling over the top asked.

  “Whiskey,” Meg replied, lowering the tone of her voice. She kept her eyes downcast, barely looking at the men.

  The swinging doors slammed against the wall, and Frank Jones, the meanest hombre this side of the Rio Grande, stepped into the saloon followed by Simon. The two men were laughing, as they settled in at the bar to drink.

  Meg took a deep breath, her lungs squeezing tighter than a corset. He was here. How did she arrest him and get him out the door? How did she get him away from Frank without taking a bullet?

  Suddenly, she was filled with doubts, wishing Annabelle or Ruby was here to help her. They hunted as a team. She was only one mean-ass woman against two of the worst outlaws in the state. She could get the local sheriff, but it was doubtful he’d do anything. She was by herself, just like she’d wanted, but now she wasn’t quite so certain.

  Or she could simply walk out the door and wait until the timing was better. Wait until Simon came out of the bar, unaccompanied and drunk. All the bravado she’d felt back in Zenith had disappeared.

  For the next hour, she watched as Simon and Frank talked over a couple of drinks. Finally, just when she was beginning to think they were going to drink until the sun set and the moon rose high in the night sky, they stood and headed for the door.

  She threw her money down on the table. Once they stepped out of the saloon, she rose and followed. Quickly, she walked through the swinging doors and out onto the wooden sidewalk. She glanced around looking to see which direction they’d gone, when she heard the click of a gun.

  Her heart slammed into her throat and began beating like a galloping horse. Of all the greenhorn mistakes, she’d forgotten the first rule of safety—to check the sidewalk before walking into the open.

  “Why, look who’s here,” Simon said.

  Meg whirled around and stared into the barrel of Simon’s ugly six-shooter, dangling from his fingers, pointed at her midsection.

  “Bounty hunter, Meg McKenzie,” he said with a laugh. “Where’s the good sheriff? Usually wherever you are, he’s not far behind. He’s been chasing your tail harder than most criminals.”

  Meg shrugged, fear riding her hell-bent to nowhere. “The sheriff who let you get away? I left him back at the hotel. He’ll be along shortly.” It was a lie, but she needed him to believe Zach would be making an appearance any moment. That he was lurking around the corner just waiting on Simon to step out.

  The outlaw took her by the elbow and started leading her down the street, past the saloon. Meg knew once they left the populated area she’d be at their mercy. She dug her heels in. “Whoa, boys, I’m not going anywhere with you two.”

  Simon poked the gun into her ribs, while Frank removed her gun from its holster. He gave her a big ugly grin, blew her a kiss, and strolled down the street, leaving them behind.

  “Where’s he going?” she asked, fear spiking through her like a big gulp of whiskey.

  “He’ll be back,” Simon reassured her. “He wants to join our party tonight.”

  She’d kill them both before she let them touch her.

  Simon tugged on her arm, pulling her down the street. “You’re not dragging me across the country again. You’re not going to keep me tied up, while you and the sheriff play tag. No. This time, you’re going with me, and we’re leaving town now,” Simon said. “Where’s your horse?”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. And I don’t have a horse.”

  “Good try! But that’s your horse there. I recognize him from our last adventures together,” Simon said, yanking her with his gun poking in her ribs.

  There was still something about this man. A twinge that tugged at her and made her think she was missing an important detail, but she didn’t know what. They stopped in front of her horse, and Simon pointed to the saddle. “Get on and don’t try anything funny, or I’ll shoot your horse.”

  She shook her head, knowing she couldn’t let him see her attachment to the animal, or he was just as good as dead. “It’s not my horse’s fault you’re an outlaw.”

  He smiled. “No, but it would be your fault if I were to shoot him.”

  “Nah, horses can be replaced. But you…your heart is black, and I’d not have a second thought about putting a bullet in you.”

  “That’s not very ladylike,” he said.

  “I’m not a lady,” she responded.

  Simon smiled and taunted, “True, but you don’t have a gun, do you?”

  “Not yet,” she promised.

  “Shut up and get on your damn horse,” he commanded, poking the gun in her ribs again.

  Slowly she climbed on and considered gigging her horse and taking off, but he held her reins. She wouldn’t have minded dragging his body behind her if she’d known he would lose the pistol.

  Frank rode back down the street with Simon’s horse. He handed the reins to Simon, and he climbed on. Without a word, Frank turned and rode off, leaving them alone.

  “Where’s he going?” Meg asked, despair choking her, her pulse pounding, knowing she had to put up a brave front or she’d be lost.

  “You sure are a noisy bitch. Guess you’ll just have to wait and see. Let’s go,” he said.

  Simon rode beside her as they headed out of town, her fear escalating with each passing mile. This was why her sisters hadn’t wanted her to go off on her own. This was why they’d agreed to always have a second person. Now she wondered if they would indeed be burying her body or if Ruby and Annabelle would ever know what had happened to her.

  And what would Simon do when they stopped? Kill her?

  Meg sighed. She wouldn’t give up without a fight. She had too much to live for. Too many dreams she’d yet to accomplish. A town full of people she needed to show that she truly was a woman. A woman with feelings.

  They passed tall pine trees, the birds calling from the branches, and a cool breeze blew against her neck. The sun slid down the sky, and darkness would soon surround them. When they stopped, she would make some kind of move. She had no choice, but to try to escape.

  “Where
are we headed?” she asked.

  “To a place where we can dispose of the body,” Simon told her, smiling.

  Her stomach tightened as revulsion rose, leaving her nauseous. He was trying to frighten her, and though she had on her brave face, her insides were quivering like she was cold.

  “Why aren’t you at home, married with a man of your own, and raising a passel of kids?” Simon asked.

  “Not many men want to marry a woman who dresses in pants and can outshoot and out ride them,” she said, trying to make herself unattractive in his mind. “You men want the pretty, petite women who dress, look and act frail. There’s not much that’s fragile about me.”

  Simon laughed. “You remind me of my mother. She was never a delicate woman. In fact, she ruled our home with an iron fist. Still does.”

  “Then what happened to you? Are there other brothers and sisters?” She needed as much information about Simon as she could glean from him. For once she escaped, she would return with her sisters to cash in his six-shooter.

  “I’m the baby of four,” Simon said behind her.

  “Is your mother still alive?” Meg asked. Fear growled like an angry serpent in her stomach at the thought of what would happen when they stopped.

  “Oh, yes, she’s a smart woman, except when it comes to men. And she’s very protective of her children,” Simon said. “Don’t mess with her sons, unless you want to get hurt.”

  “Even the ones who are in trouble with the law?”

  “You’re asking a lot of questions,” Simon said, his voice harsh, ignoring her statement.

  She could feel the anger radiating from him. Meg tried to act like it was nothing, but somehow she thought she’d just found an issue that maybe if she could learn who the man’s mother was she could exploit. “Just passing time.”

  They rode along in silence for a few minutes, Meg thinking of ways she could escape. She knew that if they killed her, her sisters would make sure these men hung from a noose or they would extract their own revenge. But she didn’t want her sisters coming after them. She wanted to escape. Then she would pursue the longrider again. Only next time, she’d be even more cautious. Next time she wouldn’t make a greenhorn mistake.