Gun-Shy Bride by B.J. Daniels

Author:B.J. Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-04-19T04:00:00+00:00

BUZZ CLEARLY HAD SOMETHING on his mind when he finally answered his cell phone. “What’s up?” he asked, sounding impatient.

“Did I catch you in the middle of something?” Luke asked.

“No, I’m just on my way to Billings so I might lose cell phone service at any time. What’s going on?”

“Billings?” Luke said, forgetting for a moment his real reason for calling his uncle.

“Eugene and I are going down to talk to the guy he owes the money to, see if we can work something out.”

So Eugene was with him. “You sure that’s a good idea?” Luke regretted the words the moment they were out. None of your business. He mentally kicked himself as he heard the anger in Buzz’s voice.

“Compared to the alternative?” his uncle demanded. “Or we could just let him get what’s coming to him. Is that your plan?”

Luke didn’t have a plan. Nor did he think he should be expected to. He held his tongue, trying not to let Buzz tick him off any more than he just had.

“I was calling to ask you about that old pickup you keep in your barn,” he said, anxious to find out what he wanted and get off the line.

“What about it?”

“I guess I’m surprised you still have it.”

“It’s not worth getting rid of. Why do you care?”

“Does it still run?”

“It did last time I drove it.” His uncle’s irritation wasn’t lost even though the line was filling with static. “Is there something you wanted?”

“We can talk when you get back. When is that?”

“Tomorrow. Listen, I’m losing you. I gotta go.” And with that his uncle was gone.

Luke snapped his phone shut, worried about Buzz and Eugene going to Billings given the people they would be meeting with. Even more worried about Buzz’s old pickup that should have been in the barn last night when McCall was being run off the road.

As dusk settled over the Missouri River Breaks, Luke thought about going to Billings, telling himself he needed to know the truth and it couldn’t wait until Buzz and Eugene got back.

He tried his uncle’s cell again to find out where they would be staying only to get voice mail. He’d have to wait until they returned to Whitehorse.

He’d spent most of the day checking fishing licenses and tags down on the Missouri. Now, headed home, Highway 191 rose up out of the river bottom to trail along the high ridges. From here he could see how the land had eroded into deep gullies and ravines as it fell to the river.

Climbing out of the Breaks, the highway skirted the Little Rockies, the pines shimmering in the sunlight. As the land opened up into rolling prairie dotted with sage and antelope, Luke usually felt a sense of peace.

Today though, he couldn’t shake the bad feeling that seemed to follow him like a threatening thunderhead. He didn’t know if this sense of foreboding had to do with his cousin’s gambling or the poaching and pickup.

He drove past the turnoff to his place and through Whitehorse on out to Nelson Reservoir.

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