Once an Outlaw Read Online Free Page A

make an honest living.”
    His lip curled sardonically. “Ahuh. And I own a parcel of land in a Mississippi swamp that’s just brimming with gold.”
    “I’m telling you the truth.”
    “And you are?”
    She lifted her chin. “Emily Spoon.”
    Emily Spoon. There was something spunky and alluring about the name, just as there was about her.
How in hell did Jake Spoon end up with such a beautiful spitfire for a niece?
he wondered, vaguely distracted.
    “And who else is living here with you and your uncle, Miss Spoon?”
    “I’m not answering any more questions, Sheriff. It’s late, I’m busy, and you’re trespassing on my land.”
    At this, his eyes narrowed and he took a step closer. Emily took a step back.
    “Got a deed for it?” the sheriff asked, an edge to his voice.
    “For … what?” Every time he got close, she seemed to lose her train of thought.
    “The land.”
    “My uncle has one.”
    “Tell him I want to see it.” The lawman’s tone was curt. The weariness was gone from his face and he suddenly looked cold again, harsh, like a man who’s heard too much, seen too much. “Tell him to come into town and show it to me. I have a few questions.”
    “I don’t have any idea when he’ll be back.”
    “Where’d he go?”
    “That’s none of your business either.”
    Emily met his hard penetrating stare for a full minute while the stars glowed clear as diamonds overhead. She’d been through a good many things in her life and dealt with all manner of people, but never had she encountered anyone with as determined and steely a gaze as this tall lawman with his dangerous good looks. She forced herself to meet those penetrating eyes, forced herself to keep her head high, her back straight. But she wanted to weepin frustration, because she’d hoped this would all be easy, and it seemed now that it was going to be hard.
    Yet she wouldn’t weep in front of any lawman. Certainly not this one.
    “It’s time for you to leave now,” she informed him stiffly.
    He studied her a moment longer, his expression unreadable, and then touched his hand to his hat.
    “Good night, Miss Spoon. If you know what’s good for him, you’ll see that your uncle brings that deed to town.”
    Emily stood rigidly, refusing to answer, refusing to budge even as he strode off toward the trees near the little knoll.
    So
, she thought, her knees trembling beneath her skirt.
He hid his horse far enough away so that no one in the cabin would hear his approach. Then he crept forward on foot, no doubt to scout out how many of the “Spoon gang” were on hand—and where
.
    A cautious man. And a smart one.
    The worst kind of lawman
, Emily thought uneasily. Her stomach was churning. Even now, she could remember the strength with which he’d snatched the gun from her, held her. Standing alone beneath the moon, she felt again the power in those muscled arms.
    And heard the deep flat politeness of his voice.
    Still she didn’t turn away, not until she saw him mount, glance back once more at her and at the cabin—and ride off, a shadowy figure in the moonlight, a man who sat tall and easy in the saddle, riding a dark horse, riding him hard.
    It wasn’t until she slipped back inside the cabin and bolted the door with shaking fingers that she realized Joey
had
awakened while she was outside.
    To her horror, she found him with his face pressed against the window, the shutters drawn back. He was barefoot and trembling, his skin so pale she caught her breath. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
    “Don’t let him hurt me!” he sobbed. “Don’t let him, Em-ly, please!”
    “Oh, Joey, no! No one is going to hurt you ever again—it’s all right!” Emily set the rifle down and enfolded him in her arms, drawing him away from the window. “There’s no danger—nothing to be frightened of. That wasn’t the bad man—it was only the sheriff, paying us a visit. And he’s gone now. He rode back to town. Didn’t you see?”
    “Yes,