The Reluctant Outlaw. Karen Kirst

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СКАЧАТЬ as she neared she saw that his back was to her. Unfortunately, he was still singing in a loud, off-key voice, sitting cross-legged before the fire and guzzling whiskey from a half-empty bottle. His clothes were wrinkled and stained and the edges ragged.

      He looked harmless enough. Probably a down-on-his-luck drifter. And the demands of her empty stomach were starting to override her hesitation. What could she offer him in exchange for a share of the meal? All she had was the comb in her pocket, and from the looks of him, he wouldn’t be interested. Did she dare hope he would help her out of the goodness of his heart?

      All he could do is say no, she supposed.

      Her mind made up, she retraced her steps and approached the campsite.

      Rounding the bushes, she collided with a tall, thin body. She jumped back with a startled gasp.

      “Miss O’Malley!”

      Juliana glanced up into Art’s shocked face. “Art! What are you doing here?”

      “The boss sent us. Didn’t trust Harrison—” His gaze skittered away for a brief second before returning to her face. “I’m mighty glad you’re okay, miss. ‘Course, I never believed any of that stuff Harrison said. Where is he anyhow?” He glanced over her shoulder at Evan’s horse.

      “He, um …” She stalled, racking her brain for a plausible story.

      “Oh, miss.” Art groaned, brown eyes going wide, “You didn’t give him the slip, did ya?”

      “Well, I—”

      He slapped his head. “This ain’t good at all! He’ll be hoppin’ mad! And there’s no telling what Fitzgerald will do.”

      Juliana took an automatic step back. “Fitzgerald? He’s here? With you?”

      “Yep, that’s him singin’ like a drunk bullfrog.”

      Oh, no. What now? Harrison was right!

      Her pulse skyrocketing, she pivoted on her heel and strode toward Lucky. “I have to find Evan!”

      She had one foot in the stirrup when she heard the click of a gun hammer.

      “Stop right there.”

      Juliana froze. Dread settled like a leaden weight on her shoulders.

      “Step away from the horse,” Fitzgerald ordered with a wave of his pistol.

      She was in big trouble, and Evan was miles away. Too far to rescue her this time. Not that he would after what she’d done to him. Silently, she did as she was told.

      “Where’s Harrison?” he demanded, all joviality of a few moments ago gone.

      “He’s not here.” She looked him straight in the eye, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

      “I can see that,” he snapped. “Where is he?”

      “A few miles back at camp.”

      Juliana jerked when he barked a harsh laugh.

      “Harrison underestimated you, I see. I’m beginning to understand his preference for spirited women. Maybe I’ll keep you around for a while.” His full lips curled into an insolent sneer. “See for myself what all the fuss is about.”

      Art spoke up. “What are you planning, Fitz?”

      Juliana squelched the urge to squirm beneath the outlaw’s lewd stare. She clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking.

      “Give me time.” He looked over at the young man. “I’ll come up with something. For now, nature calls. Make sure she doesn’t escape. Or else.”

      Art gulped. He watched Fitzgerald disappear into the woods. Then he approached with eager strides.

      “You have to go now!” He urged her in Lucky’s direction.

      Staring up at his boyish face, years away from manhood, Juliana felt like weeping. Here was her chance at escape, and she couldn’t take it.

      She placed a restraining hand on his arm. “I can’t,” she whispered. “Who knows what he’ll do to you?”

      Art shook his head, his fine blond hair sliding into his eyes. “Don’t you worry about me. Go back to Harrison. He’ll help you—I just know it.”

      Evan’s handsome face swam before her eyes, and she wished with all her being that she’d trusted him.

      “I’m not so sure about that,” she choked out. “In any case, I can’t leave on your watch.”

      Straightening to his full height, Art gave her a stubborn glare. “And I say you can. And you will.”

      Unaccustomed to seeing the awkward teen so sure of himself, Juliana’s jaw dropped. He was maturing before her very eyes. Too bad it was a wasted effort. She could not in good conscience leave him to the mercy of Fitzgerald’s wrath.

      “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Art. But I just can’t do it.”

      “Do you know what Harrison will do when he finds out Fitz has you?” he demanded. “I’d almost rather face Fitz. Please. Go.”

      A loud whistle threaded through the trees, and they jumped apart as Fitz strolled back into the clearing. He looked from one to the other.

      “I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

      Evan hated to admit he’d been outsmarted by a female. He’d gone over the morning’s events a couple of times, drawing the conclusion that he’d gone soft. Give her some privacy, he’d told himself. Be a gentleman!

      The kicker was he’d left his horse in the care of a stranger. When was that ever a smart thing to do? He had let his guard down, and now he was minus one first-rate horse. It was a costly mistake in more ways than one.

       Where was she?

      He’d seen horse droppings and broken shrubs, even spotted some fresh tracks in the soft earth. He was confident he was on their trail, so why hadn’t he found them yet?

      He’d been walking for hours. What he needed was a cup of coffee to perk him up. With the little sleep he had to go on, he was dragging. His feet hurt. There was a permanent dent in his shoulder from the saddlebag strap. He had every right to be irate. Somehow … he wasn’t. Not at her. If anything, he blamed himself for getting her into this situation in the first place.

      If only she had waited a little longer to do her shopping yesterday.

      If only he hadn’t been too ill to take his brother to Knoxville ten months ago.

      There were too many twists and turns in life that could lead a man down the wrong path.

       Especially when the man was doing the leading and not God.

      Evan stopped walking, one hand on his hip and the other СКАЧАТЬ