Outlaw Hearts by Rosanne Bittner Page A

and his wife would be dead, or they might even have taken his wife with them and made her wish she was dead.”
    Jake listened from inside. So, Kennedy was on his trail too, just like he thought. The man had gone on south, so this might be a damn good time to head north rather than into Indian Territory like he had planned. He was glad it wasn’t Miranda’s place Kennedy had stopped at. If he’d found her there alone…
    He heard the sheriff apologizing for his reference to what Kennedy and his men might have done to Bansen’s wife. “I hate to be so crude, but you’ve got to understand how dangerous it is for you out here, Mrs. Hayes,” the man was saying. “Why don’t you come back to town with us tonight? You’ve got friends you could stay with. Kennedy and his bunch are a bad lot, believe me. Personally I hope that Harkner fellow is dead. Anybody who would ride with men like that has to be as bad as the rest of them.”
    â€œI’m just fine right here, Sheriff. Besides, I couldn’t pick up and leave at this hour. Why, I just started a pot of dumplings, and I have bread rising. You said yourself Kennedy and his men headed south, and in just a few more days I’ll be leaving here myself, heading for Independence. You really must stop worrying about me.” She smiled for the man. “I have a fresh-baked pie on the table. Why don’t you take it back with you and share it with your men? I’ll get it for you.”
    Jake pressed his back against the wall near the curtains as Miranda came inside. His gun was cocked and ready to fire. He heard a horse whinny, heard footsteps on the porch then, heavy ones, like those of a good-sized man.
    â€œSheriff,” he heard Miranda say, sounding surprised. “I was just wrapping a towel around the pie to bring it out to you. It’s apple.”
    Jake waited, every muscle and nerve end tense and alert. McCleave was inside the house! He listened intently.
    â€œMrs. Hayes, I didn’t really come here because of Kennedy and his bunch. I have good reason to believe they’re long gone from here. I just…I needed an excuse to come and see you once more, since I was gone when you came into town four days ago. I feel like I have to try once more to convince you to stay in Kansas City, mostly for your own safety, but also…because I’d like very much to court you.”
    Jake grinned a little, relaxing slightly. So, that was the reason he had followed her inside. He couldn’t blame the man for being infatuated with Miranda. He expected a lot of men desired her. “Please stay, Mrs. Hayes. I beg you again, not just for my sake but for your own, don’t go to Nevada. It’s just too dangerous. Not only is it wild, untamed country full of unruly men, but there’s a lot of Indian trouble out west.”
    Jake waited through a moment of silence. He couldn’t see Miranda, but he could see the sheriff through a slit in the curtains. He was a big, stout man who needed to lose some weight off his middle.
    â€œSheriff, I have explained before why I can’t stay. There are simply too many bad memories here, and I truly feel obligated to find Wesley. After that, and after I’ve had some time away from here, maybe I will come back.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be wishing for it real hard,” the sheriff told her.
    Jake could see how the man looked at her, and it brought a surprising jealousy to his own heart. He had a distinct urge to shoot the man on the spot. He watched Miranda hand him a pie.
    â€œYou have to stop thinking about me and just take care of yourself, Sheriff McCleave; but I do appreciate your concern. You’re very kind.”
    McCleave sighed deeply, bringing the pie to his face to smell it. “Well, you can’t blame a man for trying.” He shook his head. “What a waste. Not only are you a right handsome woman, but a good cook on top of it.