Longarm and the Devil's Bride by Tabor Evans

Author:Tabor Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Chapter 16

Longarm didn’t get anything more out of Dushane. The Frenchman didn’t tell him who he really was or why he was after Stockton, but Longarm was confident that both of them wanted to find out what Stockton planned to do with Angela Boothe. One possible answer immediately suggested itself. Angela was, after all, a beautiful young woman with a history of having a wicked streak.

But Stockton had to have something more in mind than a romp in the hay. Covering up an indiscretion like that wouldn’t justify an attempt on the life of a federal lawman.

Longarm and Dushane walked back to the house after agreeing again to keep each other’s secrets. They went in to find Stockton having a drink with Count von Steglitz, Edward Wilcox, Jason Lawlor, and Timothy Ford. None of the ladies were present.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” Stockton said as he looked at Longarm and Dushane. “What were you two doing?”

Longarm grinned and said, “Just swapping yarns. Mr. Delacroix was telling me all about France. Sounds like quite a place.”

“Oui, M’sieur Parker was curious about my home-land.”

“Figure I’ll never get there,” Longarm put in. “Talking to a fella like Mr. Delacroix is as close as this old cow-hand will ever get.”

Von Steglitz tossed back the liquor in his glass and said, “Why anyone would want to go to France is beyond me.”

Dushane bristled at the count’s arrogant, insulting tone. Longarm recalled that France and Germany had been at war with each other only a decade earlier, and both Dushane and von Steglitz were old enough to have fought in the conflict. Clearly, both men harbored old grudges against the other’s country.

Dushane, though, managed to control his anger and put a smile on his face. “I am willing to set aside politics while I visit this beautiful country,” he said. “Perhaps, Count, you might do the same.”

Von Steglitz shrugged and said, “Yah,” though his agreement came with little grace.

Before any other words could be exchanged, the ladies swept into the room. Marie and Angela were beautiful, and even Claire Wilcox looked more attractive this evening. The two younger women wore low-cut gowns that emphasized the supple curves of their figures.

Marie came straight to Longarm and linked her arm in his. “Did you enjoy your tour of the ranch this afternoon?” she asked.

“Sure did.” Longarm looked at Stockton. “You’ve got a mighty nice spread here.”

“Thank you,” Stockton said. “We like it, don’t we, Marie?”

“It’s home now,” she murmured. “I would never want to move back east.”

“Well, you won’t have to.” Stockton ushered them all into the dining room, where the Navajo servants had the table set beautifully and loaded down with mouth-watering food.

Without trying to be too obvious about it, Longarm kept an eye on Angela Boothe. The lovely blond Englishwoman hung on Grant Stockton’s every word and pretty much ignored everyone else. Even when someone else spoke to her, she answered in distracted monosyllables. Longarm wasn’t sure he had ever seen any gal quite so taken with a fella as Angela seemed to be with Stockton.

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