Patchwork Bride ; Calico Bride by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-06-11T15:00:54+00:00

Chapter Two

Dobbs. Burke’s mouth soured at the sight of the snake. No, thinking of the sheriff as a snake did a disservice to reptiles everywhere. He blinked hard against the fiery pain scorching him, rasped in a breath and locked gazes with the villain. He did not blink. He’d learned long ago to never show weakness to a bad man.

“It takes more—than an outlaw—to stop me.” He bit out the words as if the double bullet holes weren’t affecting him one bit. “Don’t give away—my job—just yet.”

“I’ll put up a post. I was plannin’ on it anyway.” Footsteps struck the floor with a bully’s force, the only power left a man with no heart and a black soul. “You’re a lightweight. Never should have given you the job.”

Lightweight? Burke didn’t let the insult bother him. He was a good half foot taller than Dobbs. He knew what Dobbs was. He had gotten a good eyeful working for him the past few months. “I’ll prove myself.”

“I doubt it, boy.” Dobbs lifted his upper lip in a sneer.

Burke’s vision blurred. That couldn’t be a good sign. Reality wavered around him like a mirage. From the blood loss no doubt. His teeth clacked together like a train’s iron wheels on a track. Pain consumed him like flame. He was fading fast. Lila’s pretty face hovered over him but her image blurred, too. He caught a pinch of concern, a fluff of cinnamon-brown curls and sweetness. So much sweetness. The pressure of her hands felt distant on his wounds. The world slowly began to melt away.

Keep the badge hidden, he wanted to tell her. Keep your promise to me. But the words would not come and he couldn’t say them in front of Dobbs anyway.

“Looks like I ought to put you out of your misery like a downed horse.” Dobbs bit out with a hint of laughter.

“What a horrible thing to joke about.” Lila’s gentle alto held a note of dismay. “Step away from him. I don’t need your brand of help.”

“Just tellin’ the truth, gal. Life is hard. You ought to toughen up and accept it.”

Easy to feel Lila’s outrage and distress. Her emotions seemed to vibrate through her gentle touch. She was all he could see—every other bit of his surroundings had gone. She was a smudge of creamy skin, rich brown curls and pink calico, and he clung to her image, remembering her sweet beauty and rosebud smile.

“Ignore. Him.” He coughed out the words.

“I intend to. Hold on, Deputy.” She ignored everything but him. Voices murmuring at the doorway, the strike of her stepmother’s shoes on the stairs and the scary amount of blood soaking her hands and her dress. “Don’t you leave.”

“Won’t.” The one word cost him. His eyes drifted shut but the hint of a smile touched the pale corners of his lips.

“Deputy?” Her heart crashed to a stop. “Burke?”

“That’s life, missy.” The sheriff scoffed. “No sense tearin’ up about it. First you live, then you die.”

Her faith taught to turn the other cheek, so she ignored him.

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