Lori Connelly Read Online Free

Her gaze studied each stump and bush for any sign of her husband. Minutes passed like an eternity. Reality pressed upon her, ruthless. The land that surrounded her appeared empty of all but small wild creatures.
    By the distant tree line, a couple of deer meandered along. Some small brown rabbits played by a rotting log. A turkey vulture flew by so close her nose wrinkled at its stench. Unsure what to do next Evie started to turn around, head back home then stopped cold.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted distant puffs of dust on the previously deserted road. Rhythmic beats of horse hooves against earth soon disturbed the quiet. Wind swayed tall blades of roadside grass on either side of her. Evie brought a hand up, shaded her eyes and spotted a rider. The image roused hope. She wanted to believe it was Ben, safe, sound, on his way home.
    Apprehension swept over her when it became clear the rider wasn’t alone. Evie could make out three, none with a mount that had Sugar’s coloring. With the realization that Ben wasn’t one of them, another possibility occurred to her.
    It could be the men from yesterday.
    Alarm rooted her to the ground. Her mind screamed run but her feet refused to move. Nausea churned her stomach. Her legs threatened to buckle. Yet Evie stood, a statue, the entire time it took for them to reach her.
    As they neared, it became clear she’d never seen these men before but the sight of strangers brought little relief. They slowed then stopped only feet in front of her. Evie kept a calm façade even as her heart raced. Expressions serious, intent, they didn’t look lost and the only destination on this section of the road was her home.
    “Gentlemen.”
    “Mrs. Rolfe?” The stocky older man in the center wearing a dusty dull white hat moved his horse slightly forward.
    Evie cradled the firearm against her mid-section. “Yes?”
    “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m William Talbert.”
    “Mr. Talbert,” Her tone sharpened by nerves, “Did you know some of your men harassed me last night?”
    “I’m aware of that ma’am,” He dismounted with the ease of a man who’d spent a lifetime in the saddle. “And I don’t hold with craven behavior. I let those boys go as soon as I found out what they’d done. It won’t happen again.”
    Evie inclined her head, acknowledged. “Thank you.”
    “It was the right thing to do.”
    “And you rode out here just to let me know?”
    “No,” Anger threaded into his voice as he stepped away from his horse, “I’ve business with your husband.”
    His long strides ate the distance between them. With each thud of footfall, her anxiety intensified. Evie inched back, kept space between them.
    “Please stop.”
    “If you’ll jus-”
    “I said,” Her stance wide, Evie brought the rifle Ben had insisted she learn to shoot, and shoot well, up to brace against her shoulder. The firearm wobbled in her hands for a second then steadied. “Stop.”
    Mr. Talbert stilled. He raised both hands chest high, palm out. His tone pitched to soothe, “Ma’am there’s no call for that. Put it down.”
    “Not another step,” Evie issued a firm command.
    The other men started to protest. Mr. Talbert made a sharp gesture and they fell quiet. “Easy now, there’s no need to get upset. I just want to talk to him.”
    “Not today,” Evie stalled as she bore the weight of his steady gaze. Like a cornered animal, she felt trapped. Her grip on the smooth wooden stock tightened until her knuckles gleamed white, a finger hovered over the trigger. “Come back tomorrow.”
    “No, he will explain himself today,” his tone firm.
    Her lips parted but no words emerged. Evie couldn’t admit she didn’t know where Ben was, that would reveal she was here alone and she couldn’t ask them for help. These men had reason not to wish her husband well. Seconds stretched into almost a full moment of silence while she tried to decide what to do.
    Unexpectedly the sound of