Frontier Engagement by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

James’s arm strayed over the backboard to his rifle. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking us an easy target,” he warned, pulling out the gun.

“You might not be, but your missus is,” the would-be robber said, raising his gun as well. “For me and my partner. Right, Davy?”

“You bet,” came a thick voice behind them. “That gray cape makes a mighty fine target.”

Rina stiffened. James felt cold all over. He set the gun down carefully and raised his hands.

“All right, gents,” he said, keeping his voice calm. “You got the drop on us. But I don’t think you’ll find much for your trouble.”

“We’ll start with your gun,” the front man said, venturing closer. “Hand it over nice and easy like.”

Oh, but he was going to miss that rifle. James offered the miscreant the Spencer, and the robber took it. Then he nodded to Rina.

“Open your cloak, now, ma’am. Let’s see how well your husband has you decked out.”

James thought she might protest, but she unhooked the cloak and held it wide. Something sparkled deep in its folds.

The robber grinned. “That pocket watch will do nicely.”

Rina’s hand closed over the gold case. “It belonged to my...to someone once dear to me.”

A chuckle came from the rear robber. “Heard that one afore.”

That regal air was coming over Rina again, her spine straightening, her face stiffening. She’d get herself killed over a pocket watch!

James pressed his hand down on her free one in warning. “It’s all right, dear,” he said. “I’ll buy you another on our anniversary.”

He could only hope she’d understand why he was pretending in front of these fellows. It was safer for her if the robbers thought she was married and not an unattached female with no family to avenge her.

She pulled the watch all the way out of the inside pocket that had held it. James caught sight of a highly embossed case before she reached out and dropped the watch in the robber’s outstretched hand.

He held it up. “Now, that’s a lovely thing. You got anything else like this, missus?”

“No,” she said, gaze out over the horses as if she were determined not to allow the thieves the least encouragement. “Everything was sold to pay off debts.”

Perhaps she was just trying to throw them off the scent, but James thought she spoke the truth. Whose debts had she been forced to pay? Her own? A husband’s? Was that where the watch had come from? He couldn’t very well ask under the circumstances.

The robber tsked. “Shame, that. Davy, see if we can lighten the poor lady’s load.”

James swiveled in time to see the other robber approaching the back of the wagon. He was a small man with the short-cropped brown hair, tiny eyes and long nose of a rat. Robbing must not have paid well, for his clothes were worn and dirty, patches barely hanging together in places. As Rina turned, the fellow grabbed for her trunk.

“Leave that alone!” she cried.

James’s grip tightened on her hand, preventing her from moving.

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