Lone Star Lonely by Maggie Shayne

Author:Maggie Shayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: texas, family, secrets, cowboy, ranch, contemporary romance, western romance, maggie shayne, texas brands, left at the alter
Publisher: Maggie Shayne

“Adam?” Elliot lowered the gun when he got close enough to confirm it was his brother he’d been pointing it at.

“Put that damn thing away,” Adam snapped. “You trying to get yourself killed?’’

“Trying to help you out of a mess of trouble, big brother. Not that you seem to be any too grateful.”

“I’m not. I don’t want you involved in this.”

“Too late,” Elliot said. He holstered his gun, got off his horse. Adam noticed the lean grace with which he moved, the power he seemed to hold in check. Hell, Kirsten was right. His kid brother wasn’t a kid anymore.

Adam dismounted as well, swallowed the scolding tone that kept trying to creep into his words, and instead clasped Elliot’s hand. When had it become so big, so callused? “Thanks for the supplies.”

“No problem. Where are you staying?”

“Made camp not far from here. For now. We’re gonna have to move around a lot.”

Elliot nodded. “Garrett didn’t sound the alarm. I wanted to make sure you knew that. He tried to stall, never said a word about whatever the hell happened at the estate this morning. The rangers never knew you and Kirsten were missing until they showed up to place her under arrest.” Elliot paused, eyeing his brother. When Adam didn’t speak, he said, “I saw the bruise on Garrett’s jaw, Adam. The rest I’ve been piecing together on my own.”

Adam lowered his head, guilt rising like bile in his throat. “He didn’t give me any choice.”

“The hell he didn’t. He’s our brother, Adam. He wouldn’t have—”

“He was going to let them arrest her.”

“Well what the hell did you expect him to do? He’s the sheriff, and she’s wanted for murder.”

Adam shrugged, shook his head. “Is Garrett okay?”

Elliot just stared at him. Then his smile finally came back. Slowly, but surely. “What? You afraid you hurt him?” Elliot’s grin grew wider. “You are, aren’t you? You sure do have an active fantasy life, pardner. Garrett’s got thirty pounds on you. You might better ask yourself why big brother Garrett went down so easy, instead of wondering how bad you might have hurt him. If he’d hit you back, you’d be in a coma right now.”

Licking his lips, biting back an angry retort based solely on his own ego, Adam paused, thought back and finally sighed. “You’re right. He did go down awfully easy.”

‘“Course I’m right.” Elliot shrugged. “I mean, not to belittle that bruise on his jaw or anything—you always did have a solid right hook—but this is Garrett we’re talking about here.”

Adam’s guilt grew even bigger. “He let us go,” he said slowly.

“Damn straight he did. Then, when the rangers came out later in the day and found you two gone, they accused Garrett of aiding and abetting. Threatened to bring him up on charges, but I think he managed to convince them he was completely unaware you’d left. And now they’ve got a full-fledged man-hunt going on.”

“I figured as much.” Adam lowered his head, sighed. “Listen, all I want to do is buy some time.

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