Gunfighter's Girl by Pierson Cheryl

Author:Pierson, Cheryl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: western romance, gunfighter, cheryl pierson, 99 cent short, christmas miracles
Publisher: Western Trail Blazer

Chapter Six

Miguel hurried down the hall, then the stairway. His long strides ate up the front room and the hallway, until he reached his bedroom door. He threw it open violently and was inside in two steps. He reached for the saddlebag, opening the side pouch. His clean clothes were inside, along with a small packet of medical supplies. Wrong side.

Impatiently, he opened the other side and began to rummage about inside the deep interior of the leather pocket. His fingertips brushed the brown paper of the parcel the street vendor had wrapped up for him. He pushed aside all the other items and pulled the paper out. It felt lighter than when he'd tucked it inside the pouch earlier, still tied with twine; the edge of the small parcel was suspiciously flat.

Panic rose in his chest, but he pulled the twine, releasing the knot. As the twine fell away, he pushed the edges of the paper back to reveal what he had feared. The package was empty. The ribbons had disappeared.

* * * * *

It was several minutes before Miguel could believe what he was seeing. The empty parcel mocked him, and he dropped it to the floor in disgust. This was no magic. Somehow, the street vendor had tricked him. He probably sold those same two scarlet ribbons again and again. But this time, he would pay. This time, it meant more than it ever had at any time before. This time, the vendor caused disappointment to twist Miguel's insides into knots. How could he have performed such a trick, though? Miguel ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He'd stood there and watched the old man wrap those ribbons. He'd felt the slight weight of them, spooled inside the brown paper. His gaze dropped to where the twine and empty paper lay on the floor. He bent and picked them up slowly, laying them on the festive coverlet.

He needed answers. He would excuse himself and take care of this before dinner. With cold, detached fury, he thought of how he would walk right back down the street, find the vendor, and tell him he wanted the two ribbons he had already paid for—once. He'd have to hurry. He glanced at the window. When had afternoon become evening?

Snatching the paper and twine from the bed, he stuffed them into his back pocket, then took his hat from the bed and put it on firmly. He closed the door behind him, and retraced his steps down the hallway to the front room.

Lina peered down at him from Maria's half-open door. "You're leaving?"

He shook his head. "No. I mean…just for a while. I have an errand."

Lina's steady stare moved to the gun he wore strapped to his thigh. "That kind of an errand?"

This time, a smile curved his lips. "No. It won't take long. I'll be back soon. I promise," he added.

Lina glanced away from him, back inside the room toward the bed.

"Lina."

She looked at him once more.

"I promise." He nodded toward the door.

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