Longarm and the Yuma Prison Read Online Free

my twenties, ma’am.” Jessica didn’t like the way that this conversation was going. “I’m a fully grown woman who doesn’t need to be lectured. Now, do you have something inexpensive that I can wear, or should I go somewhere else to do my shopping?”
    â€œI have what you need,” the woman said, her expression softening. “And forgive me if I’ve been too forward. It’s just that Marshal Custis Long has quite a reputation here in Denver with the ladies and you seem a little . . . uh, naïve. I don’t want you to be hurt or taken advantage of, that’s all.”
    â€œI understand and appreciate your concern. But I know what I’m doing and I’m not all that naïve. I’ve seen the hard side of life, ma’am. I can take care of myself when I have to.”
    â€œGlad to hear that. So let’s see what we have that you’ll look good in and won’t cost the marshal a month’s pay.”
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    Longarm hardly recognized Jessica when she finally exited the shop wearing a beautiful blue dress with white lace around the hem and wrists. She also was wearing a pair of new shoes and a fetching sun bonnet.
    â€œMy, oh, my,” Longarm exclaimed. “I’m going to have to beat the men off you with a club!”
    Her eyes danced. “Do I
really
look pretty now?”
    â€œVery pretty!” And it was true. Not only had the woman in the dress shop found Jessica a lovely dress, but she also had given her an air of self-confidence that had previously been lacking. “Take my arm, Miss Ray, and we’ll stroll a bit around the town.”
    â€œI’d be most proud to do so,” she said. “But I thought we were going to go see the local sheriff and then confront Uncle Willard and his brothers about my house.”
    â€œAll business this morning, huh?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Custis. But every day that my father suffers in the Yuma prison is a day that he can’t reclaim and I can’t enjoy. I . . . I wish that I could, but I need to resolve this house business and return to Arizona with enough money to try and hire a lawyer who will set my father free.”
    â€œAnd then you’ll have to fight to retake your mining claim.”
    â€œThere is no doubt about that,” Jessica said. “And that’s not going to be easy or safe.” She looked up into his eyes. “I meant what I said last night about us giving you an equal share . . . if only you’ll help us.”
    His smile faded. “Jessica, I . . .”
    She placed a finger over his lips. “Don’t say anything, Custis. Please don’t make your decision yet. Help me get the house back so I’ll have some money and then I can pay you if . . .”
    Longarm bent over and kissed her hard. It wasn’t something that he had planned or even thought that he wanted to do, but the feeling had suddenly come upon him and he didn’t care if people on this busy street were watching. There was just something about Jessica Ray, a terrible vulnerability, a great trust that she had in him and her courage to do whatever it took to free her father and regain her mining claim that made him think she was very, very special. Also, she had made love so desperately, so inexpertly but passionately the night before in his bed that he couldn’t shake the memory from his mind.
    â€œHelp me, please,” she whispered. “If you can’t come to Arizona, I’ll understand. But if I don’t at least get our house back and sold, there is nothing at all I can do for Father.”
    â€œI’m going to help you, Jessica. Don’t you doubt that for even a moment.”
    â€œUncle Willard has killed a man. His brothers are lazy and piggish, but they are not cowards. When we get to Plum Street, the house is going to look terrible, but if I have a few