one of the hands, and he pointed at where a plume of dust rose in the distance. “Looks like a decent sized bunch of hosses and they ain’t goin’ slow.”
Will tensed, scanning the horizon, his hand falling naturally to his hip. “It’s too much to hope it’s those bastards, but Jacob is right, they’re moving hell bent for leather. I say we ride to intercept them.”
“Could be Indians,” Jeff observed, looking troubled. “The Utes sure are hanging on.”
“Could be, but considering why we’re out here, a band of fast-moving horses interests me. From all that dust they are in one all-fired hurry.”
His father showed the first spark of animation in two days. He nodded, his mouth tight. “I agree. Let’s ride.”
They spurred their horses, heading due east over the rolling topography. Will knew if they could see the approaching party, they would also be seen. He braced himself. There could be a fight, but the truth was, he was spoiling for one.
Any action, even if it was having bullets winging past him, was preferable to being helpless.
Not Indians, he realized as they got close, the two parties on a collision course.
White men, saddled mounts, and the group was heavily armed. A shout alerted him they’d been seen, and with a start he recognized the horse of the man in the front.
John Evans’s big sorrel gelding. The sheriff had helped them organize the search party in the first place but stayed in town to tend to his duties, tactfully refraining from saying he thought the whole thing hopeless because the River Bend Outfit had been tracked before and never found. Wherever they holed up was a mystery and he’d www.samhainpublishing.com 73
Emma Wildes
obviously had little faith in them being able to solve it simply by riding out in the vague direction the witnesses had given.
He’d been right too, damn it.
But for whatever reason he was there now, leading a large party of men.
“I was kinda hoping to run into you all. You aren’t too far off course,” he said without greeting as they drew up. Lathered horses heaved and the sheriff looked grim, but there was a triumphant gleam in his eye. “We came across a camp yesterday and I hoped it was yours.”
“Why?” Will wasn’t interested in polite small talk either, though he liked John and they were friends.
“Because we could use all the firepower and men possible. Most of the River Bend are wanted one way or the other. From what I understand of the position of their camp, dead is going to be the most likely way we take them in. It’s fine by me and saves the judge a lot of trouble.”
“You know where it is?” For the first time he felt a glimmer of true hope. His throat tightened.
“I do.” Evans gave a brisk nod. “What’s more, I also know your sister is safe.”
The staggering relief he felt was punctuated by his father’s inarticulate cry. “How?”
“The same source that has helped me out before. I believe it is reliable and I’ve been told she’s going to be returned to Snowy Peaks soon.”
Will glanced over and saw his father’s eyes glittered with tears. He said hoarsely,
“You’re sure?”
John looked him in the eye. “As sure as I can be without seeing her myself, Will.
The same informant gave me the exact directions to the camp where this bunch is hiding.
Laurel isn’t there. But, the men who took her are. You interested in coming along?”
Interested in the chance to put a bullet in one of the men who’d put his parents—and himself—through hell?
Laurel was supposedly safe.
Thank God.
74
www.samhainpublishing.com
Lawless
“Fuck yes, we are,” he gritted out.
***
Facedown on the bed, Laurel quivered as a finger traced a line down her spine. Two warm hands then cupped her buttocks and squeezed gently. Cal murmured in her ear,
“You have a very nice ass, Miss Daniels.”
She mumbled in amused irritation into the pillow. “Is that your idea of a compliment?”
“It’s just an
Will tensed, scanning the horizon, his hand falling naturally to his hip. “It’s too much to hope it’s those bastards, but Jacob is right, they’re moving hell bent for leather. I say we ride to intercept them.”
“Could be Indians,” Jeff observed, looking troubled. “The Utes sure are hanging on.”
“Could be, but considering why we’re out here, a band of fast-moving horses interests me. From all that dust they are in one all-fired hurry.”
His father showed the first spark of animation in two days. He nodded, his mouth tight. “I agree. Let’s ride.”
They spurred their horses, heading due east over the rolling topography. Will knew if they could see the approaching party, they would also be seen. He braced himself. There could be a fight, but the truth was, he was spoiling for one.
Any action, even if it was having bullets winging past him, was preferable to being helpless.
Not Indians, he realized as they got close, the two parties on a collision course.
White men, saddled mounts, and the group was heavily armed. A shout alerted him they’d been seen, and with a start he recognized the horse of the man in the front.
John Evans’s big sorrel gelding. The sheriff had helped them organize the search party in the first place but stayed in town to tend to his duties, tactfully refraining from saying he thought the whole thing hopeless because the River Bend Outfit had been tracked before and never found. Wherever they holed up was a mystery and he’d www.samhainpublishing.com 73
Emma Wildes
obviously had little faith in them being able to solve it simply by riding out in the vague direction the witnesses had given.
He’d been right too, damn it.
But for whatever reason he was there now, leading a large party of men.
“I was kinda hoping to run into you all. You aren’t too far off course,” he said without greeting as they drew up. Lathered horses heaved and the sheriff looked grim, but there was a triumphant gleam in his eye. “We came across a camp yesterday and I hoped it was yours.”
“Why?” Will wasn’t interested in polite small talk either, though he liked John and they were friends.
“Because we could use all the firepower and men possible. Most of the River Bend are wanted one way or the other. From what I understand of the position of their camp, dead is going to be the most likely way we take them in. It’s fine by me and saves the judge a lot of trouble.”
“You know where it is?” For the first time he felt a glimmer of true hope. His throat tightened.
“I do.” Evans gave a brisk nod. “What’s more, I also know your sister is safe.”
The staggering relief he felt was punctuated by his father’s inarticulate cry. “How?”
“The same source that has helped me out before. I believe it is reliable and I’ve been told she’s going to be returned to Snowy Peaks soon.”
Will glanced over and saw his father’s eyes glittered with tears. He said hoarsely,
“You’re sure?”
John looked him in the eye. “As sure as I can be without seeing her myself, Will.
The same informant gave me the exact directions to the camp where this bunch is hiding.
Laurel isn’t there. But, the men who took her are. You interested in coming along?”
Interested in the chance to put a bullet in one of the men who’d put his parents—and himself—through hell?
Laurel was supposedly safe.
Thank God.
74
www.samhainpublishing.com
Lawless
“Fuck yes, we are,” he gritted out.
***
Facedown on the bed, Laurel quivered as a finger traced a line down her spine. Two warm hands then cupped her buttocks and squeezed gently. Cal murmured in her ear,
“You have a very nice ass, Miss Daniels.”
She mumbled in amused irritation into the pillow. “Is that your idea of a compliment?”
“It’s just an
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