The Wrangler Read Online Free Page B

song and in the beat of silence, heads turned. Conversations stilled. He had to shout over the first strains of "Oh Susanna". "You're lookin' to play and we're short a player."
    "Because you shot him." The disguised girl braced her feet, gloved hands fisted. The gesture wasn't entirely masculine, but it wasn't wholly feminine either. An improvement.
    "Didn't shoot him. There's a hole in the roof to prove it." The man's Cheshire grin widened. Whoever he was, he'd spotted a tenderfoot and figured he could take him for all he had.
    This was gonna get interesting. Dakota rocked back on his heels, watching the girl as she gave her hat brim a tug, squared her slender shoulders and gulped. At least the red bandana hid the graceful column of her throat.
    "Don't worry, boy, we won't bite." Tannen pulled out the spare chair next to him. "This won't hurt one bit. Come have some fun."
    Don't do it. He willed the advice as she bit her bottom lip, debating. What was there to debate? The men were out of her league. They'd take every cent she had. He'd seen the tale before.
    "Fine. I'm in for a couple of hands. At least you're letting me play, and I thank you." She hitched the gun belt strapped to her hip and marched across the saloon.
    Hell, no way was this was gonna end well. He squeezed his eyes shut. Good thing his Peacemaker was strapped to his thigh. He might need it.
    And why was he getting involved? The question shot through his brain, but he ignored it. Looking back, he might come to regret that decision. She made something inside him rear up like a wild beast, powerful and protective. It had to be because of her gentle horse, obviously well loved. Anyone could win him over with that. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was a woman. Nope, that wasn't it at all.
    He shoved his empty shot glass at the barkeep. It looked like things were about to get interesting.

Chapter Three

    "Looks like you lose again, kid." The man called Tannen began to gather the fat pile of money he'd won. "That's what happens when you bet small. Nothing good ever comes from that."
    "This is my first real time playing." The truth tripped off her tongue before she could call it back. Great. Now they had a reason to kick her out before she could win her eight dollars back.
    "Your first real game? Ha!" Tannen counted out his latest winnings. "What did you do, kid, play with your pa in the kitchen?"
    "He taught me everything I know."
    "That explains it then. I'm sure he did his best." His calculating gaze turned mean. "Well, there's a lot to learn in the real world, and we'll all be glad to teach ya. Right, boys?"
    "You bet." The balding guy on her left grinned like a hyena right before the attack.
    Not comforting at all. Not one bit.
    "You stick with us, kid." The rough looking gunslinger across the table grinned, showing tobacco stained teeth and the wad tucked against his cheek. "We'll show you the ropes."
    "You got that right, Dune. We sure will," chortled the portly man next to him and took a swig from his tin full of whiskey. "First thing you gotta know about poker is this. Bet big or go home."
    "What's in your billfold, boy?" Tannen's foreman leaned in, hard eyes glittering as he shuffled the deck. "Open it up and make a real bet."
    "Bet like a man," Tannen advised as if they were best friends.
    Tannen. The last time she'd seen him had been from a distance, talking with Pa the day before he took off. She always tried to keep distance between her and Tannen. She didn't like him. She didn't trust him.
    Then again, she didn't trust any man. The only man who affected her in an entirely different way was the one dressed in black hunkered up at the bar. Even the bartender seemed leery every time he approached to refill Dakota's drink. She counted out ten dollars for the pot and shoved the rest of her dwindling funds into her trouser pocket.
    She picked up her cards, schooling her face as she glanced at her hand. A pair of aces. Not bad. She watched the