A Bride for McCain by Mary Burton

Author:Mary Burton [Burton, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460359501
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2000-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

McCain’s shirt, soaked with sweat and blood, clung to his chest. He groaned painfully and leaned heavily on her, giving her more of his weight. She wrapped her arm protectively around his waist. She reminded herself McCain was a strong man and that he’d be all right.

McCain glanced down at her. His eyes seemed to bore right into her as if reading her thoughts. The idea was unsettling. “You look worried,” he said.

“I’m still mad enough to shoot you myself.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve a bloodthirsty wife.”

Jessica’s tart reply died on her lips when a half-dozen men ran out of the saloon toward the schoolhouse. Each had his gun drawn.

Jed, with a six-shooter in one hand and a lantern in the other, led the pack. “What in tarnation happened?” he barked. “We heard gunshots coming from the schoolhouse.”

Jessica and McCain stopped in the middle of the street as the men encircled them. “There was trouble.”

Jed’s lantern cast a searing glow on McCain’s bloodstained shirt. “What the hell happened? Did the schoolteacher shoot you?”

“No!” Jessica gasped, horrified.

McCain chuckled, then grabbed his side as if it hurt. “She didn’t shoot me. Zeke did. He came by the schoolhouse looking for a fight.”

“Where’s he now?” Jed asked.

“Back at the schoolhouse.”

“He dead?”

“Nope, but he’s got a bullet in him,” McCain said. “Send for the sheriff. I want him locked up.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Jed said. “Let me get the boys to help you home.”

McCain shook his head. “My wife has everything under control.”

Jed walked up to McCain, his lantern held high, and inspected his wound. “A lot of blood. But it looks like a flesh wound. I’d say you’ll be fit as a—”

McCain groaned, drowning out Jed’s voice, and leaned more heavily on Jessica. She staggered under the extra weight and prayed she could get him back to the house. He tightened his hold around her waist. For an injured man, he was surprisingly strong.

“Believe me, Jed,” McCain said, “it’s worse than it looks.”

Larry grinned. “Getting shot on your honeymoon ain’t the best of timing.”

Heat rose in Jessica’s cheeks.

“You underestimate me, Larry,” McCain said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my shoulder is on fire, and I’ve a taste for some strong whiskey.”

The men’s laughter rekindled Jessica’s anger. “Gentlemen, if you’ll pardon us.”

Jed nodded and put away his gun. “Make sure Peg does the doctoring. I don’t know if I’d let your wife get too close to you with a knife, McCain. She’s got fire in her eyes.”

McCain shrugged. “She’s already threatened to shoot me.”

“But Zeke beat me to it,” Jessica said flippantly. Hoots of laughter followed as she led McCain home.

Peg stood on the front porch of McCain’s house, a shotgun in one hand and a box of shells in the other. She wore rag curlers, and black boots peeked out from beneath her thick blue robe. “What in the hell is going on? I heard gunshots.”

“Mr. McCain has been shot,” Jessica said.

Peg frowned. “You shoot him?”

“Why does everyone think I shot him?” Jessica guided McCain up the stairs.

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