Texas Redemption by Linda Broday

Author:Linda Broday [Broday, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2017-02-07T08:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

Laurel whirled on her heels, forgetting the folly of sudden moves. The animal lunged for her. Had Vallens not snatched a handful of gray neck the wolf would’ve torn her to shreds. Her pounding heart told her how close the beast had come.

Sometimes being that frightened helped unleash old-fashioned fury. If a fight he wanted, then one he’d get.

“What do you want? How much will it take for you to leave and forget you ever stumbled upon this town?”

“Ain’t your money I’m wanting, little missy. Got more than enough from selling wanted men’s sorry hides.”

“You’re a bounty hunter?”

“By trade. I’m not above dabbling in other persuasions should the job require.”

Blood drained, leaving her stone cold and faint. “In case you think that pertains to anyone here, there’s not a soul who’d pay one shiny copper for Ollie or me.”

But what about Brodie? The army would pay dearly for him.

The thought slid down sideways. Prayers doubled for Vallens to ride on before Brodie returned.

Wolf-dog’s powerful body strained against Vallens’s grip. “I wouldn’t be too sure, girlie. You might fetch a handsome price.”

The pitiful attempt to approach him with logic withered. “Over my dead body, that’s the only way.”

“That’s purely a shame you feel that way. A crying shame.”

Laurel’s stand took every ounce of strength. She flew inside the café, slammed and locked the door behind her. Only then did she sink to the floor, shaking.

Ollie glanced up from peeling onions. She threw down the knife and knelt beside her. “Who’s chasing you?”

“That…that horrible man.” She let Ollie help her to a chair.

“Who? The alley was deserted when I came inside.”

“Your grim reaper.”

The woman’s lips narrowed into a thin line. She whipped the pistol from the table, then fumbled with the door latch. When it finally opened, sheer force sent it thundering against the wall. Ollie glanced up and down.

“Dadburn it. The devil’s gone.” She shut the door.

“Thank God.” Badgering Vallens would cause more danger and possibly trigger events no one wished.

“What did he say?”

“He’s a bounty hunter. Leastwise that’s his claim.”

“Any idea who in hell he’s sniffing after?”

“Maybe me.” Or Ollie. Or Brodie. Or all three. Who knew? Taft taught her well to distrust the obvious. The walls seemed to close in when Laurel repeated the conversation.

“Son of a bluejacket. He’d better not try it or he’ll find himself on the hurting end of this six iron, trying to plug a few leaks. I ain’t about to let him get you.”

“You’ll do your level best.” The assurance didn’t comfort.

“I need to come clean about something, girl.”

The solemn statement brought ghostly silence inside like when a person had to own up to a secret even though they hated to but couldn’t see a way to dodge it. Laurel knew it would bring change that would serve no practical purpose.

“Please, we should get lunch cooking.”

Ollie continued, unfazed. “That night we snuck out of the Black Garter…I struck Will Taft, rendering him almost dead. Then I stole the money he was counting.”

“You didn’t.” Laurel covered her mouth.

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