Saving the Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday

Author:Linda Broday
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2019-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

A twig snapped. The sound penetrated Jack’s dream like a rifle shot. He jerked up, bathed in sweat, his heart pounding. His gaze swept left and right, but he could see nothing in the night shadows. Had he merely heard the sound in a dream, or had it been it real? His hand tightened around the butt of the Colt that rested on his stomach.

The enemy was so close he could smell them. He pulled to his feet and moved silently through the brush.

All of a sudden, the figure of a man flew at Jack, knocking his weapon to the ground. Jack swung around and landed a fist in the man’s face, sending him backward into a rock wall.

Light from the moon revealed the ugly face and dark, glittering eyes of Bittercreek.

Jack breathed heavily. “You!”

“I came to kill you, Bowdre.” Bittercreek wiped blood from his mouth. “You shouldn’t have taken the boy. Messed up my plans good. You think you’re better ’n me.”

“I know I am.”

Bittercreek shoved away from the bluff wall and launched himself at Jack. The men rolled over and over on the ground, Jack struggling to get the upper hand. Guttural grunts and groans filled the air.

They got to their feet and Bittercreek delivered a punishing fist to Jack’s unprotected jaw. Jack’s head whipped back, his spine arching. Sharp pain rushed through him and spread out along his body. Jack gathered his wits and grabbed the man around the middle, slamming him to the ground.

Jack followed, pinning his adversary. “You’re crazy. You know that, don’t you? Get it through your thick skull—the kid didn’t want to be with you. You starved him, for God’s sake!”

Bittercreek let out a loud yell and threw Jack off, then scrambled on all fours toward his gun lying several feet away. Jack grabbed his leg and pulled him back, jabbing a fist into the man’s kidneys. The air rushed from Bittercreek’s mouth. The man bared his teeth like a wild animal and yanked a knife from his boot.

Ice slid down Jack’s spine. He held his hands wide, readying for the attack.

Moonlight glinted off the sharp blade. “I’m gonna gut you like a fish, Bowdre.”

The first slash missed, but as the outlaw came back across, he caught Jack’s upper arm, slicing through his duster and into flesh. Pain seared along his nerve endings, stealing the ability to breathe. Blinking hard, he leaped back, his gaze searching for a piece of wood, anything to defend himself with.

Nothing but small twigs.

His harsh breath fought through his mouth that had become so dry he was unable to draw spit. Nausea rose in waves. For a second, he thought he saw stars and his head swam in a dizzying whirl. Gaining control, he danced out of reach, searching the ground for the gun but could only conclude the weapon must’ve gotten covered in the scuffle.

Fear rushed through him. To win this fight, he had to stay calm and focused. Slow, measured breaths. In and out. The fear ebbed away and he tamped down his rage.

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