Outlaw's Bride Read Online Free Page A

protectively in front of him. His spurs dug into the horse’s sides.
    The riders disappeared in a hail of bullets, hightailing it out of town.
    Dust rose in red plumes as the sheriff and his deputy returned fire toward the disappearing cloud.
    “Put me down! Let me go!” The girl twisted and gave Johnny a harduppercut to the jaw. His teeth rattled and stars floated overhead. He fought to stay astride, biting back the metallic taste of blood spreading through his mouth. She could have knocked out his teeth with that blow! He did an inventory—uppers, then lowers—all there. The only casualty was his tongue.
    Tightening his grip on her, he warned, “Don’t do that again, young lady.” He grasped her wrists, pinning them against the saddle horn. The big sorrel galloped headlong down the road behind the gang.
    “You put me down this minute!” She thrashed, striking out until her heel connected with his shin.
    “I’ll be only too glad to do that as soon as you’re out of danger.” He glanced at the bank bag, spurring the horse harder. At least the money had been saved.
    Lawmen pounded behind them, firing their weapons. Whipping the sorrel faster, he kept the retreating bank outlaws in sight. Far ahead, the four gunmen cut off the road and ducked into a creosote thicket.
    The girl twisted in the saddle and looked back at Johnny, her face contorted. Johnny hitched her tighter. “Don’t you start crying on me. You’re all right.”
    “Are you going to hurt me?” she whimpered. Her body quaked against his chest.
    “Why would I hurt you?” He was trying to save her from harm. “Just calm down. This will all be over in a few minutes.”
    He slowed enough to trail the robbers but stay out of the range of their gunfire. With the girl in front, he couldn’t take a chance on her taking a bullet. The sheriff and his posse were closing in. Soon the thieves would be apprehended, the girl could be safely returned, and the money safe. He cut his horse through the thicket and up a steep embankment.
    A bullet zipped by his ear. He bent lower in the saddle, glaring back at the posse. Why didn’t they hold their fire? The robbers were out of range.
    “My daddy’s going to be very unhappy,” the girl promised in a voice jolting with each hoofbeat.
    Her daddy would be unhappy? What about him? One minute he was minding his own business reading the wanted posters, and the next hewas in the middle of a bank robbery, trying to save her hide. And she was complaining? He ducked another round of posse fire.
    She started sobbing, great, anguished wails, and Johnny finally had enough. Forget the robbers. Let the lawmen do their jobs without his help. Slowing his horse, he awkwardly patted the young woman’s heaving back. “Okay, okay. It’s over. I’m not going after them. Dry your tears. You’re safe.”
    She shook her head, sobbing louder. “You’re horrible…and…and you’re mean! You robbed our bank, and kidnapped me. You are in so much trouble!” She glared at him, then her lip quivered, and the corners of her mouth dipped downward.
    “Robbed your bank? Do you think I was a part of that?” The irony of the situation hit him. That’s exactly what she thought. Why wouldn’t she? He did a quick take at the fast-approaching posse. Did they think he was part of the gang? “Young lady, I didn’t rob that bank.”
    “Oh, yes you did.” She sniffed. “I saw you.”
    Shifting her to the side, he set her on the ground. He was getting out of here. “Stay right there. The posse will take you home. I’m out of this. They don’t need me anymore.”
    She gazed up at him, tears spilling from her big brown eyes.
    “Look, I know what you think, but I’m not one of them.”
    She sniffed again. “If you’re not a bank robber, what do you have in that bank bag?”
    He glanced down, and his stomach pitched. The bank bag. He quickly rammed the bag into his saddlebag, fumbling with the strap.
    A shot whizzed by his ear, and