A Cowboy Christmas Legend by Linda Broday

Author:Linda Broday
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2021-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-seven

The raspy voice came again. “Come on, Sam, hurry!”

Needles of warning lay against Sam’s spine like porcupine quills. He rushed to the side of the building and inched toward the dark corner, every nerve taut. Cold sweat formed on his forehead as tinny piano music and bawdy singing came from the saloon across the way.

Finally, he called out, “Who’s there?”

Nothing but silence came.

“If you’re playing games, I’m not in the mood. Better speak up.”

“It’s me. Mitchell. I don’t have much time before they find out I’m gone.”

That was all well and good, but Sam wasn’t born yesterday. “Who’s with you?”

“I’m alone.”

“Better be.” Sam gripped the gun and stepped around the corner of the building.

Jared Mitchell raised his hands to show he had no weapon. “I have to hurry.”

“Aren’t you taking a big chance?”

“I have to know about my wife. Please!” Worry lined Jared’s face.

“She has pneumonia and malnutrition.” Sam hesitated for a second. Jared might not know about the baby. Finally, he decided to go ahead. “Doc says the baby isn’t doing so good.”

“A baby?” A smile broke across the father’s face. “I’m going to have another kid?”

“Appears that way.” If the little thing made it, but Sam didn’t tell him that. “Aaron and Ellen are missing you bad and scared. With their mother so sick and you gone, they’ve been out of their minds with worry.”

“Nothing I can help. Maybe when I finish engraving this plate, they’ll let me go, but they’re not known for keeping their word.”

No, that was for sure. More than likely, they’d put a bullet in Jared’s head. A sure way to silence him.

“Is there any way you can escape?” Sam asked. “We could hide you out.”

“Not a chance. The only way I could be here to catch you is by pleading to visit the outhouse. Otherwise, someone’s with me all the time.”

Footsteps crunched, and three men with rifles came around the building.

“Mitchell!” one yelled.

“Quick. Do you have a weapon?”

“They took it.”

Sam removed his Colt and handed it to him. “I don’t want to scare you, but I don’t think they intend to let you go. Hide this, and at least you’ll have a shot of making it.”

“Mitchell, who’s that with you? Answer me, dammit!” another man yelled.

“Thanks, Legend.” Jared took the gun and put it under his coat. “The thought crossed my mind that I’ll die here. Please tell Retta I love her.”

“I will.”

A dog ran out and tried to bite the men approaching. Seeing they were occupied, Sam asked, “Hey, do you happen to know where the Doolins are living?”

“A rundown house close to town, but I don’t know where. They always blindfold me when we leave each night.”

“Okay, thanks. Be careful, Jared.”

Sam watched as the ranch hand melted into the shadows in the opposite direction from the three men sent to find him. He prayed for his safety. Then turning, he swung onto Rio and trotted toward a warm fire in the Ronans’ bunkhouse.

His father was waiting at the edge of town. “I was about to turn back to look for you.

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