Strong Convictions: An Emmett Strong Western (Emmett Strong Westerns Book 1) by Hutchinson GP

Author:Hutchinson, GP [Hutchinson, GP]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: The Hutchinson Group LLC
Published: 2015-02-16T05:00:00+00:00

McIntosh trudged down the hallway. At the top of the stairs, he met Sarah Mae. He clutched the housekeeper’s bicep and murmured into her ear, “Find Margaret. Have her start those China girls on laudanum today.”

When he drew back, Sarah Mae gave a devilish smile. “Only too happy to, Mr. McIntosh,” she said.

He returned the grin and swatted her on the rump as he passed by.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Leaving the little-used trail to Reno, Emmett raced down the slope in pursuit of Yong. His friend was already halfway to the chaparral the runaway Chinese girl had disappeared into. And he was beginning to draw fire from the suspected kidnappers, most of whom were now gathered around the two wagons.

“Get to the bush, Yong!” Emmett murmured.

His mind was in three places—with Yong, with the girl in the thicket, and with the rest of the abducted girls. All were in grave danger. And for all of them, the difference between danger and death was paper-thin.

Emmett figured the front wagon was the one carrying the other Chinese girls. The wagoner had hopped down and run to the rear where he now stood, aiming his scattergun at the canopy flap.

Meanwhile, two of the kidnappers galloped into the chaparral, obviously intent on retrieving the girl who had gotten away.

Could Li Xu be the one in the thicket? Or was she staring down the barrel of that shotgun at the back of the covered wagon?

Somebody would die here today. Emmett knew it, and his chest tightened.

Reining his horse to the right, he made for the scrub. Bullets whizzed by. He cringed and scrunched down in the saddle until he reached the thicket. Once there he slowed his mount to little more than a walk and peered hard into the foliage.

Motion not far ahead caught his attention. It was the young Chinese woman. Emmett’s heart skipped a beat. But it wasn’t Li Xu.

The young woman was running toward an arroyo that sliced through a clearing in the chaparral, breathing hard, her pace slowing.

Then Yong Xu came into view between him and the girl. When Yong called out to her in Chinese, her expression lit up, and she altered her course.

A shot rang out. It kicked up dirt mere feet from the front hoof of Yong Xu’s mount, causing the horse to leap skittishly. Unable to control the animal, Yong was thrown hard to the ground.

Emmett slid his Winchester back into its boot and drew his Colt. He thumbed back the hammer and scanned the brush as he nudged his horse closer to the arroyo.

He had advanced only a few steps when he had to halt abruptly. One of the kidnappers—a dandy dressed overly fine for chasing and shooting in country like this—emerged from behind a dense cluster of mesquites. Oblivious to Emmett, he raised his pistol and took aim at either Yong or the girl. From that angle Emmett couldn’t tell which.

Emmett whipped his Colt up and squeezed the trigger.

Before the Victorio Sanchez incident that ended Gabriela’s life, this would’ve been a potshot.

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