Once an Outlaw Read Online Free

it isn’t that simple.”
    “Says who?”
    “Says me.”
    He caught her arm as she made a grab for the rifle. Even through the gingham, Emily felt the warmth and strength of his grip, though he didn’t hurt her. But he didn’t release her either.
    “Let me
go
”
    “I’ll think about it. Look.” Suddenly his voice sounded weary. And patient. As if he were a teacher speaking to a recalcitrant and not very bright child. “I just got back into town. I’m tired. I’m not in the mood to fight with you. I just want to ask your uncle some questions.”
    “He’s not here. You’ll have to come back another time—maybe in daylight, out in the open, instead of skulking around in the dark, like a… a rat! Unless you’re too frightened to ride up and show yourself?”
    A short laugh broke from him. Emily realized how foolish she sounded. From the swift, sure way she’d seen him move and the tough, dangerous glint of his eyes, hedidn’t appear to be a man who was frightened of much in this world. Maybe of nothing.
    “I learned early in this job to be cautious,” he said softly. “It’s what’s kept me alive.”
    “Isn’t that a pity?” She glared at him, wishing he would let go of her. His touch was disconcerting. It wasn’t just that he was so strong, she thought, it was something else. Something indefinable.
    In the darkness, he lifted a brow.
    It annoyed her that he didn’t seem to mind her animosity in the least. In fact, he looked almost amused. But still wary, careful. Almost as if he were expecting someone to jump at him or shoot at him out of the dark. Something told her that if someone did, he’d be ready for it.
    “The thing is, like I told you, I’ve been away,” he continued in a quiet tone. Without her even realizing exactly how he did it, he backed her against the barn wall again, his body hemming her in. “Just rode in this evening. And first thing, before my horse is even unsaddled, one of our citizens tells me Jake Spoon showed up in the general store. He was followed back here, to the Sutter place.”
    “So? What of it?”
    Her tone was defiant, but her heart was sinking down to her toes. Emily had been hoping against hope they could just kind of settle in, blend in, that no one would really notice or care that three members of the Spoon gang were setting up ranching outside of Lonesome. But if folks were already noticing—and following—and sending the sheriff…
    “We don’t want any trouble.” She tried to control the quaver in her voice, but it escaped and she flushed, hating the sound of it.
    The lawman’s cool blue gaze fixed itself on her face.“Folks in Lonesome don’t want any trouble either,” he said evenly.
    Suddenly he released her arm. Then to her amazement, he handed her back the rifle. “You heard of the Duggan gang?”
    She nodded, her fingers clutching the rifle, even though she knew he could take it away again if he chose to.
    “They took over Lonesome a while back. The town hired me to clean them out. I did.”
    “If you want a medal, go to the governor.”
    For an instant she saw the quick spark of amusement in his eyes, then it was gone. His voice stayed even, maddeningly even. “Lonesome has been quiet since then—a nice, clean, upstanding town—real safe. Folks like it that way. So do I.”
    “I’m really not interested—”
    “So if the Spoon gang has any ideas about—”
    “My uncle isn’t the head of the Spoon gang anymore,” she interrupted. “There is no Spoon gang anymore. We’re just a family looking to set up ranching. We don’t want any trouble either.”
    “Jake Spoon and his outfit are bad news.”
    “Not anymore.” Emily met his gaze squarely. A sudden gust of wind lifted her heavy hair and blew it across her face and she shoved it back with a hand that shook, but her voice was steady. “If you and the rest of the stupid town just leave them alone, leave
us
alone, you’ll find out that they just want to go straight and