Bucking the Tiger Read Online Free Page A

so, he managed to shake his head and turn his back on the old man. “I’ll read it later, when I’ve got the time.”
    â€œJust take them now. I can fetch the others and—”
    â€œWhen I’ve got the time,” Doc snapped. “Thank you very much.”
    Rather than walk the rest of the way to his hotel, Doc went straight to the little saloon next to the stagecoach platform. It was a place no bigger than a horse stall and smelled just as bad. The man behind the bar recognized Doc on sight and immediately filled a shot glass with whiskey.
    After downing the shot without so much as a wince, Doc removed the flask from his pocket and handed it over. “Be a good man and fill that for me.”
    The barkeep did as he was asked and said, “Didn’t know you were back in town, Doc.”
    If Doc even heard the barkeep, he gave no indication. Instead, he simply drained a good portion of the flask and then handed it over again to be refilled. Once another portion of whiskey went down, Doc let out a few short hacking coughs, which eventually tapered into a wheezing sigh.
    â€œYou feeling all right?” the barkeep asked.
    â€œI’m right as the mail,” Doc said, which brought a wry grin to his face as well as the flask back to his lips. This time, he took a bit less of the liquor before twisting the flask’s cap back in place. Placing down more than enough money to cover the amount of whiskey he’d been given, he said, “Be so kind as to forget this visit.”
    The barkeep made the money disappear with a deft swipe of his hand. “Anyone in particular I should keep an eye out for?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œLong as there ain’t no trouble nipping at yer heels.”
    â€œWith any good fortune,” Doc said as his more familiar grin returned, “all the more interesting troubles are in front of me.”
    Doc left the little saloon with a tip of his hat. True to his word, the barkeep returned to his business as if nobody had stepped through his door.
    By the time Doc returned to the stagecoach, the horses had been replaced with a fresh team and the driver had climbed back into his seat. When he saw Doc coming, the driver leaned down and asked, “Still no luggage?”
    â€œThere are stores in Denver, aren’t there?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œThen who needs luggage? Let’s put this town behind us.”
    As Doc settled into his seat, he was careful not to disturb Jenny. Soon after the wagon got moving, she was snoring loud enough to cover the sound of the horses. Colleen and Doc engaged in a bit more chat, but it wasn’t nearly as spirited as when they’d left Dallas.
    Doc soon crossed his arms and gazed out the window, allowing Colleen to drift off to sleep. Even though Denison wasn’t more than a smudge on the horizon behind them, Doc couldn’t help but feel as if he were still standing on that boardwalk with those letters in arm’s reach.
    Part of him wondered what was in those envelopes.
    Part of him already knew.
    After he’d taken a healthy swig of whiskey from his flask, every last one of those parts quieted down and allowed Doc to nod off and catch a bit of sleep.

    Doc’s eyes came open grudgingly and then he immediately squeezed them shut.
    Pulling in a ragged breath, he leaned forward and stretched his back as best he could within the confines of the carriage. He forced his eyes open again, took a look around, and saw the same two faces that had been there when he’d dozed off. The view outside the window, however, wasn’t quite as familiar.
    â€œWhere are we?” Doc grunted. Just to be on the safe side, he blinked and rubbed his eyes a bit before taking another look out the window. It didn’t help.
    Since she’d been the first one to fall asleep, Jenny was already awake. She looked out the window, but didn’t seem half as perplexed by what she saw. “Are we