Outlaw Heart by Vickie McDonough

Author:Vickie McDonough
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Lottie sidled a worried glance at Brett. “Uh. . .we were led to believe the older children were at school.”

The teacher wrung her hands. “Oh, dear. This is highly irregular. I’ll have to talk to Mr. Richter, the school board chairman. Although I don’t know how I’d handle any more children than I have now.”

“Don’t worry about it, ma’am. We’ll find out what’s going on. I’m sure we just misunderstood.” Brett took hold of Lottie’s arm and ushered her out the door. In spite of her bewildered look, she didn’t fight him.

“Why did you say we misunderstood?”

As they descended the steps, Brett glanced over his shoulder to make sure the door had closed. “I’m not ready for that teacher to stir things up and alert Stout that we’re suspicious of him.”

She leaned against his side as they headed for the buggy, causing a stirring within that he didn’t want to acknowledge. “I knew something wasn’t right over there. What do you think’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but I aim to find out.” He helped her into the wagon, climbed in, then guided it on into town and stopped at the sheriff’s office. They stepped inside, but the office was empty.

Lottie casually studied a wooden door with a small barred window that Brett assumed led to the jail cells. “Now what?”

“I don’t know.” He tried to rub the tension out of the back of his neck, halfway surprised that Lottie hadn’t bucked at the idea of entering the sheriff’s office. She’d just marched right in as if she’d never once done anything illegal. Even now she seemed completely at ease. “Unless. . .”

“Unless what?”

He stared out the window for a moment, hoping to see the sheriff. He had some questions for the man. “I could come back in the morning and trail the older kids. See where Stout takes them.”

“I’ll ride with you.”

“No.” He spun to face her. “It could be dangerous.”

“I’m not afraid. I’ve been in dangerous situations before.”

Brett clenched his jaw. He just bet she had. He stared into her coffee-colored eyes, wishing things were different. What was he looking for? Guilt?

Her cheeks flushed a bright pink at his perusal, and she looked away. “Fine.”

Lord, why does the only woman I ever wanted have to be an outlaw?

If only. . .

He stormed out the door toward the post office with Lottie on his heels. “You’re too soft. . .” His father’s words haunted him again. Maybe he was right.

All Brett needed was some evidence tying Jack and Lottie to the bank robbery; then he could go home and start a new chapter in his life. He had to get inside the McFarland house again.

His boots echoed on the wooden floor as he strode into the post office. “Got any letters for Brett Wickham?” he asked the postmaster.

The thin man shook his head. “No, haven’t received nothing for you. Sorry.”

Brett nodded his thanks. Lottie sashayed past him to the counter.

“I’d like to purchase two sheets of paper and an envelope with postage to Bismarck.

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