Apache Moon Read Online Free Page B

“My husband even admitted it to me, but I'm afraid we're not together anymore. I'm waiting for the lawyers to settle our divorce, and then I'll leave this sorry excuse for a town.”
    Marshal Stowe looked her over carefully, wondering what her game was. She'd arrived in town with Braddock, then married Dawes, and now was on the loose again. The lawman had seen myriads of womenin his life, but never one like this. He was too much of a gentleman to make an improper suggestion, so he said, “Do you think your husband would withdraw the charge?”
    â€œExtremely doubtful, because he's a stubborn ass. Will you go after Duane Braddock?”
    â€œI've got a warrant for his arrest, ma'am.”
    â€œI hope it won't be necessary to use force, because I could find you thirty people who'd swear to his innocence. You can arrest him, but no judge would ever convict him.”
    â€œI expect that's so, but I've got to bring him in anyway.”
    The lieutenant's wife fidgeted with her hands, and her cool facade seemed to crack. Then she looked into the lawman's eyes and said, “Please try to be gentle with him, because he's really just a boy.”
    She's still in love with him, Marshal Stowe realized, and felt a pang of jealousy. His eyes roved over her once more, then he appraised his own common appearance. Something told him that she'd never sleep with him no matter how much money he had or how many fancy suits. But she willingly gave that long, delicious body to Duane Braddock.
    â€œI'll try to bring him in alive,” Marshal Stowe vowed, “but if he puts up resistance, I'll bring him in anyway I can.”
    She smiled reassuringly. “You can reason with him, Marshal. He's not as loco as some say. I'd askyou to spare him for my sake, but we don't even know each other. Yet it would be a shame to kill a man for a crime he didn't commit—don't you agree?”
    â€œIt's true that we don't know each other, ma'am, but I'll do my best to spare him for your sake. However, let's make sure we understand each other. If he ever draws on me first, I can't be responsible for the outcome.”
    â€œHow is he?” Duane asked.
    Phyllis pressed her ear against the little boy's chest. “Still alive.”
    They bathed and wrapped him in one of Duane's clean shirts while his little breechcloth was drying. He didn't open his eyes while Duane and Phyllis took turns washing themselves. Then they prepared to move toward their campsite for the night. Phyllis climbed into her saddle, and Duane passed her the boy. She cradled him in his arms as Duane led the horses away.
    Sometimes Duane wished that he'd never left the monastery in the clouds, but lust for Mexican girls who came to mass on Sundays had drawn him into the secular world. Shortly thereafter he'd met the former Miss Vanessa Fontaine, and everything had gone downhill. Now he was deep in Apache country, the possibility of a posse on his tail, and God only knew what difficulties the child might cause. He spotted alarge cottonwood tree standing among a scattering of sage, cactus, and weeds. “This looks like a good spot,” he said.
    Phyllis gazed tenderly at the Apache boy, and his eyelashes were fluttering. “He's coming to,” she said.
    The little eyes opened to slits, and an expression of terror came over his face as he glimpsed Phyllis and Duane. Then he closed his eyes and went slack again. Phyllis passed him to Duane, and the Pecos Kid thought he looked like little Jesus in swaddling clothes.
    Phyllis climbed down from the horse, pushed up the brim of her hat, and took the baby back. “If he dies, I don't know what I'll do.”
    â€œApaches are hardy people, according to what I've heard. I'm certain he'll survive.” But the boy was deathly pale, and Duane wasn't as certain as he tried to sound.
    She made the bedroll, while Duane hobbled the horses, removed the saddles, and rubbed the animals down. “Thanks for