The Bounty Hunter's Bride. Victoria Bylin

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      Dani’s skin prickled. If Beau Morgan had been unkind to these girls, she’d chase him away with a frying pan. “Has he mistreated you?”

      “No, but he stays up all night.”

      On occasion, so did Dani. “What else?”

      Ellie’s eyes widened. “He said a bad word.”

      Dani wouldn’t condemn a man for cussing. Her father had let loose on occasion and colorfully at that. “It’s wrong, but men do it sometimes.”

      Emma’s voice shook. “I don’t care about cussing. It’s the guns that scare me.”

      “Guns?”

      “He has four of them. Two rifles and two pistols.”

      Guns themselves weren’t evil, but the men who used them sometimes did evil things. Dani forced herself to stay calm.

      “What exactly does he do?”

      “He sits alone and fires the pistol,” Emma whispered.

      “He fires it?”

      “Not exactly,” the girl explained. “The gun’s empty but I can hear it click. He does it over and over, like he’s aiming at someone he can’t see.”

      That settled it. The man was crazy. He was either wanted by the law or protecting them from a danger he’d brought to Castle Rock himself.

      The front door swung open. Heavy boots thudded on the wooden floor. “Ladies?”

      Dani whispered into Emma’s ear. “We’ll talk later.”

      As she stood straight, Beau Morgan stepped into the kitchen and crossed his arms as though he meant business. A tan duster hung from his shoulders but gaped at the waist, revealing a wide leather belt and the front edge of a cross-draw holster. He pulled his mouth into a smile that bordered on a sneer. “Pray tell, ladies. My ears are burning. I don’t suppose you were talking about me?”

      “No, sir.”

      Emma had lied, but Dani didn’t correct her. She wanted to hide the girls under her skirts. No way could they share their home with a man who armed himself for a trip to town. She’d spotted the church from the window of the train. She’d never met Pastor Blue and his wife, but Patrick had said they were kind. Surely the couple would take them in until Dani could find safer accommodations.

      “Let’s go,” she said with false cheer.

      Mr. Morgan led the way out the door, grabbing the hat he’d left on a peg in the entry hall. As he pulled it low, the girls followed him down the steps with Dani bringing up the rear. In the front yard she saw the livery buggy and the family wagon. He was standing by the buggy, watching them like a coyote spying a flock of chickens.

      He pointed his chin at the wagon. “The girls can ride in the back.”

      Dani steered them to the buggy. “I think we can fit. Don’t you, girls?” The rig had a single seat. It would be a squeeze.

      Mr. Morgan shrugged. “Suit yourselves.”

      When she bent to lift Esther, he reached for the child at the same time. Their hands overlapped on the girl’s waist with Dani losing the race.

      His eyes narrowed. “Let me. She’s heavy.”

      “I can manage.”

      Esther grabbed for Dani, but Mr. Morgan scooped her up and plopped her on the seat before she knew enough to cry. Scowling, he offered his gloved hand to Ellie, then Emma, and finally to her. Looking at the leather, Dani wondered what it hid. Some people thought a man’s eyes revealed his soul. Dani looked at hands. Calluses testified to hard work. Soft skin hinted at laziness or vice. If Mr. Morgan removed the gloves, what would she see? The trim nails of a gambler? The knuckles of a brawler?

      His eyes glinted. “I won’t bite, Miss Baxter.”

      Satan had said the same thing to Eve. Ignoring his hand, she climbed into the buggy.

      He went to the wagon. “Stay in front of me.”

      She took the reins and drove out of the yard with Ellie pressed against her ribs and Esther in Emma’s lap. The top of the buggy shielded them from Mr. Morgan’s stare, but the creak of the wagon kept him close.

      Ellie squirmed closer to Dani. “He’s nothing like Pa.”

      Emma stared straight ahead. “Pa’s gone. We have to get used to it.”

      “I don’t want to!” Ellie cried.

      “There’s no choice.” Emma tightened her grip on Esther’s waist. “I’m the oldest. That means I have to look out for you.”

      Dani’s heart broke for the girl. She knew how it felt to grow up overnight. They rode in silence, listening to the rhythm of Esther sucking her thumb and the creak of the harness. Behind them, Beau Morgan clicked to the horses, crowding the buggy in spite of the empty road. Dani wondered if he’d watch them this closely in town. The closer he rode, the more determined she became to escape. But how? She needed a plan. “Do you know where Mr. Morgan’s going?” she said to Emma.

      “Probably to see Mr. Scott.”

      “Who’s he?”

      “Pa’s attorney. He sent Mr. Morgan a message.”

      Ellie frowned. “He said to call him Uncle Beau.”

      “I don’t care,” Emma replied. “I want him to leave.”

      So did Dani. She considered barging into his meeting with the attorney, but getting the girls to Pastor Blue and his wife took priority. “Where’s Mr. Scott’s office?”

      “On Fourth Street.”

      The church was on the west side of town. The livery was on First Street. If she could convince Mr. Morgan to allow her to watch the girls while he met with Mr. Scott, they could make a run for the church.

      “What are we going to do?” Ellie asked.

      The older girls would understand, but Esther wouldn’t. She gave Emma and Ellie a conspiratorial glance. “When Mr. Morgan visits the attorney, we’ll pay a visit to Pastor Blue and his wife.”

      Emma’s eyes dimmed. “The church is far.”

      “About a half mile,” Ellie added.

      Dani’s heart sank. Her new shoes had dainty heels. Pretty or not, they hurt her feet. Esther posed another problem. Unless Dani took the wagon, she’d have to carry the child a good part of the way. The more she thought about sneaking the wagon out from under Beau Morgan’s nose, the more she liked the idea. By then, they’d have picked up her trunk and she’d have possession of Patrick’s letters. Unless he changed his mind about custody, she’d need them in a court of law.

      Aware of three pairs of blue eyes on her face, Dani nudged the horse into a faster СКАЧАТЬ