To Catch a Texas Star (Texas Heroes) by Broday Linda

Author:Broday, Linda [Broday, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2018-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Roan stood near Marley as the second round of the shooting competition began. The man she was tied with stepped to the line and raised his rifle. He was a young guy, no more just an inch or two over five feet and as skinny as a willow sapling.

Roan wasn’t paying much attention beyond that, busy scanning the crowd for Gentry. So far, he saw nothing.

The contestant hit the new target with all three of his shots, but only one made it to the bull’s-eye. Marley moved into place and raised her Winchester. She took her time, putting the board in her sights. Slowly, she squeezed the trigger and sent the bullet hurtling through the air. A roar went up when the hole ripped right into the target’s dead center.

Marley stepped back and took a deep breath.

“You can do this,” Roan cheered. “Slow and easy.”

She smiled at him and toed the line again. Her second shot just missed the X, a hair outside the middle where the lines crossed.

As she raised her rifle the third time, a shot rang out from behind them. Roan grabbed Marley and hit the dirt. Screams echoed around them, and people scattered.

“Are you hurt, Marley?”

“No.”

“Stay here and keep down,” he ordered. Without waiting for an answer, he rose and raced to a tree. Counting to three, he zigzagged to another and another.

Everything was eerily quiet. He paused near the street, and movement made him look up at the second story of the hotel. A man with a rifle stood on the balcony. Sun in his eyes, Roan couldn’t tell if it was Will Gentry, but the build told him it could be. Just then, the possible shooter whirled to go inside.

Roan lifted his Colt and fired, but the man had vanished. The bullet splintered the door facing. Damn!

Though he waited for the man to show himself again, he didn’t. Roan strode quickly back to Marley.

Virginia Creek was with her, her arm around Marley. “Tell me what I can do. Would you like me to take you to the hotel where you’ll be safe?”

“No, thank you. I’m not forfeiting this competition.” Marley pulled from her arms and ran to Roan. Her heart stampeded like a herd of wild broncs. “Was someone trying to kill me?”

“I don’t know.” He held her close until her trembling stopped. “Put him out of your mind and finish this competition. I’ll be right here.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“I’ll be here too,” Virginia declared. “We aren’t going to let anyone run you off.”

Roan leaned Marley back and stared into her brown eyes. “You’re not a quitter. Don’t let them scare you. I don’t think he was trying to kill you—I’m sure he was just trying to keep you rattled.”

Marley gave him a shaky laugh. “Well, it’s working. But I won’t give up. I have one more shot, and I’m taking it.”

“That’s my girl. The gentlemen are motioning to you. Go show them what you’re made of.” He didn’t mention that those so-called gentlemen looked ready to run for cover.

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