Cowboys 08 - Luke Read Online Free

travel to this country. For more than a year he insisted Duke Rudolf return to Europe. But such a trip would endanger the duke's life."
    Why?"
    "A revolution in Ergonia deposed his father ten years ago. Those in power now would try to kill the duke if he should attempt to return. He's depending on the princess's inheritance. So you see, he, too, is most anxious to see she reaches him safely."
    "Still, I don't see who can be behind this danger you are certain hangs over the princess."
    Luke told himself he shouldn't be wasting his time. Hans had spent his entire life in the confines of a dull, orderly, protocol-driven European court where being fifteen minutes late for lunch could put a person before the firing squad. Just being in the Arizona Territory was probably enough to start him seeing bandits behind every bush.
    "I have lived at court my whole life," Hans said. "I can sense these things."
    Luke refrained from pointing out that in the West people liked facts, that all this sensing things could get you killed. Being right wasn't always enough. You had to be smart and fast with a gun. Most people weren't smart enough or fast enough. That's where Luke came in. "It doesn't matter," Luke said. "The princess has fired me."
    "She has no authority to do that," Hans said. "I hired you at the behest of her uncle. You are still our guide."
    Luke sank deeper into his chair. "She doesn't want me. Otto told me I could keep the money, to just go away."
    Hans didn't appear surprised, but he did appear disapproving. Or was it disappointed?
    "That's how we do it in my country, pay people to ignore injustice and fade away quietly. I was told men in your country were willing to die for their principles."
    "Meaning?" Luke didn't have any principles. Yet, once he accepted a job, he didn't consider his obligation fulfilled until he had completed the job. But he'd been fired. So why did Hans's disappointment prick a sensitivity he hadn't known he had?
    "You can't desert the princess."
    "I've been paid to go away."
    "I'll pay you more to stay."
    "Why?"
    "My family has served the princess's family for more than a hundred and fifty years. During that time we've managed to prevent any of them from being killed. I don't intend to be the first one to fail."
    "What's in it for you?"
    "Honor."
    "I'm talking about money," Luke said. "Nobody does something like this for nothing."
    "You consider honor nothing?"
    "It can be bought."
    "Service can be bought. Honor never."
    Hans's words stung. What right did he have to criticize Luke? He was short and unattractive, balding, on the shady side of fifty, his stomach threatening to burst the buttons on his waistcoat. He couldn't see without his thick glasses, and he was too slow and weak to defend himself. "You're mighty free with your criticism," Luke said.
    "I don't know your character well enough to criticize you," Hans said, looking more nervous and ill at ease than ever. "But people say once you take on a job, you don't back down, regardless of the danger. That's why I chose you."
    "This isn't a matter of backing down," Luke said. "I've been fired."
    "Not by me, and I'm the one who made the contract with you."
    Luke sat forward so quickly, Hans jumped back startled. "I'll honor our bargain on one condition."
    "I understood you never had conditions."
    "I do this time."
    "What is it?"
    How could a silly, defenseless man look so proud and regal? "The princess must ask me to go with her," Luke said.
    Hans collapsed like a punctured balloon. "She'll never do that."
    Luke settled back into his chair. "Then you'll have to find someone else. I won't take a commission against the wishes of the person I'm supposed to protect. I did that once"-to protect his brother, but Hans didn't have to know that "and I swore I'd never do it again."
    "But how do I get her to change her mind?" "Let her spend several days in this town." "She'll insist I hire someone else." "Then hire someone else."
    "They told me Americans were