Stacey Casey and the Cheeky Outlaw by Michael C. Madden

Author:Michael C. Madden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

freshen up, used the disgusting toilets in the hotel, then set out into the street.

Dad was looking around when a large, bearded man came past on a horse and cart. He looked dirty and scary, his wide-brimmed hat was pulled low over his eyes, and he held his head low.

To my horror, as the man’s cart rattled past the front of the hotel, Dad called, ‘Excuse me, sir. Might we trouble you for a ride?’

The big man, keeping his eyes low, turned to regard Dad but said nothing. He just shook his head slowly.

I didn’t like the look of this man, so I took my dad’s hand. ‘Maybe find someone else, Dad,’ I whispered. ‘He looks scary.’

The man must have heard me, because he suddenly stopped his wagon and looked back over his shoulder. I could barely make out his eyes under the brim of his hat, but he was staring at me, as if I had just offended him deeply.

Dad stepped in front of me protectively. ‘Never mind, sir. We’ll find someone else. Good day.’

The man, however, didn’t move. He continued to stare at me, then he slowly turned his head to look forward again. He didn’t move his wagon but just stayed there in the middle of the road, looking straight ahead.

I noticed that he had pistols holstered on his hips, like a cowboy. ‘Ah, Dad?’ I said quietly. ‘Should we go back inside?’

Dad was about to say something, when the man suddenly jumped off his wagon and came to stand in front of him. The guns on his hips were huge and black, his boots looked worn and cracked. To his credit, my dad didn’t take a backward step to the man, but I could tell he was nervous. Dad raised his chin and opened his mouth to speak, but the man said, ‘Forgive me, sir. I didn’t mean to scare your little girl.’ His voice was deep, and he spoke with an Australian accent that was like the bartender’s, tinted with Irish.

‘It’s fine,’ Dad told him smoothly. ‘We need a ride is all. I’m happy to pay.’

The big man looked down at me and shook his head. ‘What’s become of me?’ he said in a whisper. ‘What would me ma say? Going around scaring little girls … she’d have my hide, she would.’

‘It’s okay, sir,’ Dad said firmly.

‘No, it’s not,’ the man replied, then he nodded at me and tipped the rim of his hat back so I could see his face more clearly. He had kind eyes and handsome features beneath a dirty, tangled ginger beard. Long tufts of hair stuck out from under his hat, and he said, ‘I’m a good man, truth be told, though many would tell you otherwise.’ He looked down at me and said, ‘Young lady, I’m terribly sorry if I frightened you. It’s been a long, hard day. If you need a ride, I’m happy to oblige.’

‘It’s okay, thank you, though,’ Dad said, his voice sounding stern. ‘We’ll find someone else.

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