Almost an Outlaw Read Online Free Page A

the best time ever!” he answered and Darcy saw the adoration in his eyes as he looked at the mare. “She’s the finest horse in all the world and she’s the smartest too.”
    Darcy watched the pretty black mare strut in front of them. Throwing her tail in the air, she danced around as if she knew she had an audience and she wanted to show off. Indeed, the horse was special, and Darcy had no regrets that she had paid Billy Wise a hundred dollars for her. She considered that a huge amount to pay for a horse but Billy had assured her he could get more than that for the mare at auction. The horse did look healthy and Henry had said she definitely had good blood in her veins. She had handed over a hundred dollars to Billy, who took the money and said he was heading to Dodge City.
    “Come here, girl.” Matt called to the mare, who trotted up to the fence where he stood. He gave her a piece of carrot and stroked her nose lovingly. Darcy smiled.
    The glow on his young face was well worth the money.
    An hour later, Darcy and Matt were sitting on a quilt in the shade and enjoying chocolate pie when Henry returned. She left Matt on the quilt and went to meet Henry.
    He got off his old gelding and handed Darcy a note. “From Dingus,” he said, calling Jesse by his nickname.
    Darcy glanced at the note, which indicated the Boys would happy to see Austin. She could bring him to their hideout in the morning. She tucked the note in her skirt pocket. “Thank you.”
    “Anytime, Miz Branson.”
    She noticed the grim lines in his face as he roped his horse’s reins to the hitching post. “What’s wrong?”
    He took off his hat and smoothed the worn crown. “Cole said he’d heard one of Miss Luellen’s girls had been murdered last night. Molly Slater,” he said as his eyes misted. Then he cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to speak of such things in front of a lady.”
    “That’s all right.” Darcy assured Henry she wasn’t offended. “Did you know her?”
    “Ever since she was a kid. Molly had a hard life. She married that no-good Jimmy Slater and he left her with a baby. That’s when she started working at Miss Luellen’s.”
    “She had a baby?”
    Henry nodded. “Miss Luellen told Cole that Reverend Kelly and his wife are taking the little boy ’cause they ain’t got no kids. I’m proud of that. Molly would be happy to know her son’s got a good home now.”
    “Oh, yes, Reverend Kelly and his wife are wonderful people.” Darcy hesitated. “What about her killer?”
    “All I know is he ain’t been caught yet. And Miss Luellen said when he was caught, she was gonna lead the lynching party,” Henry answered with an approving nod. “And I guarantee Miss Luellen is the kinda of woman who’ll do just that.”

Chapter Four
    In his hotel room, Austin opened the window to let in the evening breeze. From across the street, he heard the music coming from a saloon. He rarely went to saloons nowadays. He didn’t like gambling, and there was always the chance some fool was going to call him out. He had done enough killing to last a lifetime. The great passions that had driven him during the war had faded. He was no longer the avenger who rode under a black flag. The fury and the hatred were gone, leaving him with nothing. Just emptiness.
    He hung his gun belt around the bedpost and stripped off his clothes. After he undressed, he pulled back the bedcover and stretched out on the mattress. He thought about Darcy again, wondering what had happened to her husband. If she still missed him. If she still loved him.
    He groaned and rolled over. Forget her, he told himself. In a few days, he would have Midnight Dancer back and he’d be on his way home to his ranch. A place where he was surrounded by lush meadows covered with blooming wildflowers, wide creeks shaded by strong oaks and deep canyons where wild horses ran free.
    With thoughts of home, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. But not too soundly. His