Shotgun Bride Read Online Free Page A

earlier, soaking wet, and towing a preacher and sheriff. The hope that grew at seeing the pot-bellied lawman quickly diminished when Stephanie Quinter presented her case, and the sheriff agreed the woman was acting within the law.
    Tears hadn't fallen—yet. All the deals her brother had been involved in couldn't compare with this last one. He was literally trading her for a horse. A horse! When her wrists were finally untied, she would tear him apart. Shred him from limb to limb. Feed his carcass to the buzzards... The door flew open and stalled her thoughts. The other brothers had returned. Skeeter and the younger boy, she now knew was named Bug, struggled to carry a large man, who twisted and bucked like a wild animal in their arms, through 28
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    the open doorway. Jessie ignored the wind and rain as she twisted her tied wrists, feeling lucky only her hands were tied. This man was bound from head to toe. Ropes not only tied his hands behind his back, but they were wrapped around his body from shoulder to ankle, and a wet bandana covered his mouth. The material puffed as indistinct mumbles came from the man.
    Stephanie hit Hog, or maybe it was Snake, on the back of the head. "Get up and help your brothers." Her hand caught the other brother on the back swing. "You get the door." Their chairs uprooted as they jumped to do as instructed. It took all four of them to get the bound and gagged man into a chair at the table next to her. One produced another rope and wound it around the man's legs and chest, securing him to the chair. The wooden legs bounced and skidded across the floor, making the chore very difficult. It took several minutes for the task to be completed. Across the room, the sheriff appeared to hide a grin as he watched the battle. Her eyes went back to the chair on her right. The man's chest heaved with each breath and large drops of rain dripped from the dark hair hiding his face.
    Suddenly, his head snapped up, forcing the locks to flip back and making Jessie struggle to breathe. Eyes, more menacing than those of the Dodge City gunslinger Russell had hoodwinked, glared at each of the Quinter brothers. Skeeter, Bug, Hog, and Snake tripped over one another as they backed away from the man and the chair. His muffled words were unrecognizable, but the meanings made clear by the way the cloth over his mouth bulged. Jessie glanced to the 29
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    trembling brothers, agreeing each needed to fear for their life.
    The room became extremely quiet. Under her lashes, she snuck another peek at the man. The side of his face was red and swollen. A large gash, from his temple to the top of his cheek, oozed blood. She gasped. "Mrs. Quinter, this man is bleeding."
    Stephanie Quinter rushed forward. The man tugged his head away from the woman's touch. "What did ya do to him?" Her voice sounded more harsh than usual. She hurried to the counter by the stove and snatched a piece of cloth. From a shelf above she gathered a few other items then scurried back to the table.
    "Skeeter did it, Ma. I didn't," Bug said.
    "He's wasn't gonna come, Ma. I had to knock him out." Skeeter defended his actions.
    Stephanie started to wipe the blood away. The man jerked again. "Hold still!" she instructed. His back became stiff in the chair, and his nostrils flared with each breath. "Did ya have to use a two-by-four?" the woman asked.
    "Yeah!" Skeeter's eyes grew wide as he nodded his head. The man's chair began hopping toward Skeeter and muffled words came out again. Stephanie tried to stop the chair. "Hold up there, Kid. I gotta get the bleeding to stop." The breath in Jessie's lungs stilled. Kid? This was the man she had to marry? Beads of sweat broke out on her pounding forehead, and the room began to swirl. Bile churned in her stomach. She opened her mouth, searching for a breath of fresh air. It didn't help; the stuffy, stale