Rocky Mountain Widow (Historical) by Jillian Hart Page B

white iridescent earth. The snowflakes seemed to give off their own light. He knew it was the faint glow from the clouds where the moon hid, and the ice of the flakes reflecting what light there was, making the midnight world shine like a black pearl and giving him enough illumination to see well.
    The brothers had reached the fence line closest to the house. The dark silhouette of the leader disappeared as he hunched down behind a thick post, studying the lay of the backyard. The cabin was dark and silent, so why did he hesitate?
    Joshua’s heart gave a thump of realization. Maybe Reed could sense his presence. The bastard just couldn’t tell where the danger was lurking. Joshua fought downa grin. Now it was going to get interesting. He didn’t mind the challenge. He was ready, and he wanted a little justice. The gun in his hands remained steady and sure, camouflaged well in the shadows.
    Come on. Just try to take her. His finger leaned against the trigger, ready as Reed lifted up like a gopher out of its hole to get a better peek at his surroundings.
    One wrong move and you’re mine, boys. He willed them to move, but they stayed low and looked to the road, as if they were expecting someone else. This would be a hitch to his plan, but he was prepared for that, too. He lowered his rifle a notch so he could scan the landscape freely.
    No sign of anyone. That didn’t mean they weren’t there. He waited, neck prickling, straining his senses to hear, see, scent approaching danger.
    It came in the form of the shadow moving in from the north, crossing the driveway and ducking between the rails. The deputy. Reed raised a hand in a show of welcome and the pair hunkered down, heads together, repeating rifles held handy and ready.
    Three to one. Not the best odds, but Joshua would take them. He waited, determined and focused. Watching to see how the men intended to proceed. Waiting to see how he could use that to his advantage.
    They broke up and moved in three different directions. The deputy headed back to the road—maybe to the barn, Joshua figured.
    Now, wasn’t that interesting? He hadn’t noticed anything of interest or value in that unkempt place. Maybe he ought to have looked a little harder. Surely there wassomething that had brought the lawman out tonight—and it was important enough to trespass for.
    The brothers broke up. The tallest headed to the front, the other came up the draw between the house and the hillside, moving as if he didn’t expect anyone to be pulling a gun on him. Rick wasn’t the smartest brother, but he was the meanest. At least I get to take him out of the bet first.
    Joshua waited, knowing his steps before he made them. Moving like lightning, fast and silent, he drove the barrel of the Winchester into the back hollow of Rick’s neck. “Move. Go on. Give me a reason to pull this trigger.”
    Rick froze. “Gable. Might have known it was you.”
    â€œMight have. Should have done some scouting first and you might have noticed the extra horses in the barn.” An owl’s hoot broke the silence, sounding on the other side of the roofline, and Joshua cocked his head, listening. The signal that the other Hamilton brother was in place, maybe?
    Rick remained silent, perhaps his signal in return that something had gone wrong. He continued to clutch his rifle, his tension palpable. He didn’t so much as blink.
    â€œYou’re disappointin’ me, Rick. I was sure hopin’ to send you to your just reward. Drop the gun. Do it. ” He drilled the Winchester’s nose harder into vertebrae. The gun thudded to the ground, the sound low but distinctive enough to bring the other brother running.
    â€œOn the ground. Hands behind your back. Now. ” He caught Rick’s upper arm and helped him along, kneeing him to the snow and snapping the fencing wire intoplace around one wrist, then the other. With his free hand, he wound the