Shotgun Bride Read Online Free Page B

Why aren’t you?”
    Willie waved a hand. “I’ll catch up to the boys tonight. They can’t get too lost in one day. Besides, Jimmy’s still my boss, not you.”
    Mike tossed back a gulp of the lukewarm drink and scowled. He really wasn’t in a big hurry to see Sally and it rankled. He should be. Instead, visions of a cute little green-eyed girl swirled around in his mind, refusing to be banished. That mouth of hers promised all kinds of passion.
    Mike finished off his beer and slammed the mug on the rough sawn counter. Funny how the word passion didn’t fit Sally. “Give me another.”
    Willie patted his shoulder. “I know a better way to drown your sorrows.”
    Mike snorted. “And what’s that?”
    “There’s a buxom redhead at the second tent down yonder. She don’t officially work as a soiled dove but she’s willing if the price is right. Never had a better time in my life.”
    Disgust rolled over Mike. He didn’t have any desire to catch some debilitating disease. “No, thanks.”
    “You don’t have to be so uppity.”
    Mike arched his brows. “You want to get sick, go ahead. I’m not going down that road. I’ve seen the results during the war.”
    “Fine, get drunk.”
    “Don’t plan on that, either.” Although maybe he’d forget a skinny girl if he did. Hell. What was the matter with him? Sally was all curves in the right places. Ample curves that could keep a man well satisfied, not some slip of a girl who wore a dress that hung too lose on her spare shoulders. He gulped his second beer in one long pull.
    “Keep that up, and you’ll be falling down in no time.”
    Mike slapped Willie roughly on the back. “I’m done. See you later.”
    He hustled to the hotel, his chaotic thoughts dogging his steps. Sally’s sky blue eyes accusing him, and the stranger’s green eyes beckoning him. The sunless sky bathed the street in a dim glow as lights began to twinkle in several windows. After a quick bite at the hotel, Mike trudged upstairs and yanked his door open. He tossed his hat on the chair, sat on the edge of the bed, kicked off a boot, and flung it across the room. The other boot landed with a thud at his feet as he stripped his shirt off. Damn it . He’d forgotten to send a telegram telling Hank and Juan to have the wagon in town when he arrived.

Chapter 3
    Kathleen stopped at the mercantile to distract herself and stayed until the owner kicked her out. Dusk had settled in and she hurried to the hotel.
    The clerk at the front desk gave her a cursory glance as she rushed inside and headed straight to the stairwell.
    At the top of the stairs, Kathleen rounded a corner in the darkened hallway then jumped at the sound of a deep male voice.
    “Say, lady, what’s your hurry?”
    Plastered against the opposite wall, Kathleen tried to sidestep around the unshaven, burly man. He took one quick step, and shot an arm out to block her path.
    Her gut seized as she gasped. “Get out of my way.”
    Her skin crawled. Why must men pick on her? She didn’t encourage them. Eyes narrowed, she curled her fingers into fists, disgruntled at the necessity of defending herself. Alone. Always alone.
    “Now, lady, I ain’t gonna hurt you.” He lunged, pinned her shoulders to the wall, and gave her a toothless grin. “It gets mighty lonely in these parts.”
    She crinkled her nose at the stench of beer and unwashed flesh. Revolted, she turned her head to the side, punched out with both fists, and stomped on his foot. A whoosh of air escaped his lungs and he hopped on one leg. He muttered a curse. Twisting away, she lifted her skirts and ran. If she’d had a gun right now, the lowdown cur would find himself full of lead.
    She barreled through the door of her room and skidded to a halt as a man whirled around at her approach, his hands stuffed inside the bag, her belongings scattered at his feet. Weaponless, Kathleen did the only thing she knew to get attention. She screamed.
    Her heart beat double-time as