Shotgun Bride Read Online Free Page B

air offered no relief. 30
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    Every limb grew weak. The throbbing pain in her head faded as she slipped off the chair and a black void overtook her senses.
    Kid tuned to the sound of a thud beside him. Reverend Kirkpatrick jumped from his chair and rushed to the body on the floor. The preacher rolled a girl onto her back. Kid glanced around the room. All eyes stared at the tiny body, his gaze copied theirs. Where had she come from?
    "Now what did you do?" His mother looked to Skeeter.
    "Nothing!" Skeeter lifted both hands in the air. "I didn't touch her. I swear!"
    "Bug, get a pillow off my bed. Hog, get me a wet rag," she said. "Dang it, this is turning out to be more work than I imagined." While speaking, his mother ripped long strips of cloth and none to gently, wrapped them along the side of his face, under his chin and back up the other side of his face. Before she tied a knot on the top of his head she said, "I'm gonna take the gag off your mouth now Kid, but be quiet, I gotta tend to the girl."
    Kid closed his eyes, wishing it were all a bad dream. Knowing it wasn't, he nodded in agreement and sucked in fresh air when the rag slipped away from his mouth. The bandana landed on the table, and she pulled the bandage tight. Several strands of hair caught in the strips of cloth. He ignored the sting as she twisted and tied the strands together. Simply one more ache among many. What the hell were they up to this time? Once again, he looked toward the girl at his feet. Long, tangled hair spilled across the floor. The strands were a golden brown, like 31
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    buffalo grass in July, not quite yellow, but not quite brown either. Her face was as white as a porcelain doll he'd seen at the mercantile in Dodge. The tiny body lay twisted, stretching thin material tightly across her bosom. The garment was worn thin, and the shoes on her feet had holes in the leather near the toes.
    A feeling very similar to seeing a wounded animal, wafted through his chest. "Untie her hands," Kid demanded. His mother flashed him a scowl.
    "Now!"
    She nodded and did as instructed before slipping a pillow beneath the tiny head. Hog handed their mother a wet rag. Kid gave him a hard stare as he stepped away to stand with the other brothers, near the door. All four looked ready to run. They damn well better, when he got out of these ropes he would beat each one into a bloody pulp.
    "Is she all right?" a worried sounding voice asked from near the fireplace.
    Kid turned and let his gaze float over the unfamiliar man. He glanced between the stranger and the girl. The man had hair the same color as the girl's. His skin was fair like hers and his eyes held a wide, questioning gaze. But his dapper three-piece suit was in much better condition than her clothes and the boots on his feet held the shine of new leather. Kid took an instant dislike to the man. "Who the hell are you?"
    "I'm Russell Johnson." The man nodded his head to the girl. "She's my sister, Jessie." The man's hands were tied behind his back as well. Kid turned toward his mother, his eyes catching those of Sheriff 32
    Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
    by Lauri Robinson
    Turley on the way. The man nodded at him. Kid ignored it and asked Stephanie, "What the hell is going on?" His mother wiped the wet cloth across the girl's cheeks and said, "I found this here girl to be your wife." It felt as if his eyes popped clear out of their sockets. Air caught in his throat, and his mind went numb, incapable of thinking for a moment.
    "She was supposed to be mine, but Ma said I couldn't have her," Skeeter complained.
    Kid gave his brother a hateful stare. Skeeter hung his head in a pout. Shaking his head to clear his hearing, Kid took a deep breath and asked, "My what?"
    "You need a wife. You can't keep rambling around in that big house by yourself. A good woman is what you need.