Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
The boys scattered, running for the barn. Joe's hand landed on his shoulder again. "We'll find her."
"It's been ten days, Joe. Ten God-damned days since she rode away on that wagon." His eyes stung and his chest was aflame, both pains far stronger than the slight sting running across his knuckles.
"I know, but she couldn't have gone far." Joe turned, pointed toward the bunk house. "I'll go pack some grub and tell one of the ranch hands to take care of the wagon." He nodded, waiting for the man to leave. Hoping he'd walk away before the water behind his eyes came forward. He never should have sent her away. It was his fault. He'd put her in danger. He squeezed his eyes against imagined visions of her. Injured, scared, and crying for help.
"We'll find her, Kid," Joe said. The fury he'd felt at his brothers wasn't nearly as strong as the fear overtaking his body. He swallowed, forcing the log in his throat to roll over. "Yeah, but what if Montgomery already has?"
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The tents went on forever. Every shape and size, and not one of them fit for Jessie to live in. Kid reined Jack to a halt and turned to the three riders beside him. "Hinkle said Jessie used to live near a woman named Willamina Smith. She takes in laundry, so her tent will most likely have tubs and clothes hanging up around it. Snake, you and Hog go around that way, Joe you go along the center trail, I'll take the bottom half."
"What do we do when we find her?" Hog asked. Kid glared, but before he said anything, Snake slapped the back of Hog's head and the two of them moved toward tent city.
Joe resettled in his saddle. "What else did the sheriff say?" Kid sighed. "Not much. He hasn't seen Jessie, nor heard anything about her jumping the train, or being in town. He hasn't heard anything about Montgomery lately either." Sweat trickled down his back, and he arched at the quiver it caused.
"He said he's been busy with rustlers lately, wondered if we've had any trouble." Kid scratched the back of his head. He didn't have time to worry about some damn cows, not when Jessie was missing and some bastard was out looking for her. He nudged Jack forward.
In no time, he discovered every other tent had tubs and clothes hanging beside them. Kid didn't bother to re-mount, just led Jack on to the next one, and the one after that. 199
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
The sun, deep in the western sky, blazed off a woman's crouched back near a larger tent as he and Jack continued their way through the haphazard city. Gray hair fell from the bun used to keep the stiff tendrils out of her face as she scrubbed something over a washboard.
His fingers began to tremble. Stopping a short distance away, Kid asked, "Willamina Smith?" The woman's head snapped up, squinting green eyes glared at his face. "Who wants to know?" Hope made his pulse increase.
"Excuse me for interrupting you, Ma'am, but I'm looking for someone."
The material fell into the water with a loud plop, but her curved spine didn't straighten as she turned and started to walk toward him. Using the front of her skirt to wipe her hands, she looked him from head to toe before saying,
"You're him, ain't ya?"
Kid dropped Jack's rein and stepped forward, pulling a chair from beside the tent closer for her to rest her stooped body on. "Excuse me?"
The woman sat down, her head nodding. "You're Jessica's man. Ain't ya?"
Kid smiled, remembering she'd mentioned once that Jessie was her nickname.
"If you're referring to Jessie Johnson, then yes, she's who I'm looking for. Is she here?"
"You look just like I expected ya too. All tall, straight backed, mighty fine looking." She let out a little laugh, but 200
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
then squinted blazing green eyes at him again and said,
"Jessica's a good girl ya know."
"Yes, Ma'am, I know." Kid looked to the tent, wondering if it had moved. "Is she here?"
The woman shook her head. "Nope."
"Well, then, could you tell me where she is?" Once more, the woman looked him up and down, her long pause made him hold his breath.
She tugged at a floppy ear lobe. "I suppose I could." He let out the breath, feeling throttled. For a few minutes he liked Willamina Smith, thinking the old woman had a kind and generous soul, now he realized she held out for an offer of money. He dug in his pocket. Deep down he'd expected as much.
"How much?"
"How much?" She gave him a puzzled look. Pulling out a wad of bills, he folded a few open. "How much for you to tell me where Jessie is?" She laughed. A loud, giggling sound like she was tickled pink.
He handed her the wad. "Here, if this isn't enough, I'll get you more. I'm good for it."
She continued to laugh. "I'm sure you are." Her lips pulled together, stifling her giggles. "But, Sonny, even you ain't got enough money for me to tell you where Jessica is." His cheek twitched with anger. He opened his mouth, but before a word came out Willamina held up her hand. 201
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
"You ain't got enough money, 'cause I'll tell you for free." She patted the bottom of an upside down tub, looking at him expectantly.
Anger oozed out, replaced with relief. He lowered, sitting on the bucket beside her.
"I have to find her, Willamina. She may be in danger."
"Montgomery?"
He nodded.
"He's a rotten soul."
"Yes, he is."
"But you're not. I can see it in your eyes. I can also see you love Jessica, just as I saw her love for you in her baby blues."
Kid squirmed, but as the woman's words settled, he straightened, accepting what she saw as the truth. Saying nothing, but warmed by the thought of Jessie's returned love, he nodded.
"I was in love once." She stared off in the distance. "We had a fine house, up by Abilene. Oh, nothing big, but a good solid soddy, and we were happy. Then Paul died. Snake bit. There were too many of them. The well had gone dry, and he was diggin' us a new one. Dug right into a rattler's den." She shook her head. "I had to leave then, with no water I couldn't keep our critters alive. Not even the chickens." She sighed. He wrapped a hand around the red, rough one lying on her knee.
"You moved here after that?" Part of him wanted to scream, he needed to find Jessie. The other part told him to 202
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slow down, give the woman a moment, the few minutes she needed wouldn't matter.
"No, I lived in Abilene for years, until my sister asked me to come to Dodge. She was ailing and needed help." Willamina turned to him. "She died 'afore I arrived." Her other hand patted the top of his.
"The tent city was only about half the size it is now, and I realized there were plenty of young girls that needed me. They needed a mother to keep them good. Been here for five years now." A crooked smile covered her face. "But enough about me, you're needing to find your gal, ain't ya?" Kid smiled back, nodded and said, "Yes, Ma'am." The wad of bills crinkled in his other hand. He loosened his hold, handing the money to her.
She smiled, but shook her head. "I don't want your money, Kid." One hand rose to pat his cheek. "Jessica told me your name. She told me a lot about you." The gnarled fingers pushed the hand holding the money away. "You keep your money, but promise me something, Kid." He nodded. "Anything."
"Promise me you'll keep Jessica a good girl. Promise you won't let anyone ever hurt that young gal again. She doesn't deserve it."
"I promise, Willamina. I promise." It was an easy vow to make. He'd rather die than see Jessie hurt. She pulled her other hand from beneath his. "Then get out of here. Go get your girl."
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He rose, his heart pounding, ready to jump on Jack and fly to Jessie's side. His feet stalled as he stuttered, "Y-you haven't told me where she is yet."
"Well, hell's bells!" Willamina laughed. "And here I was thinking my back would give out 'afore my mind." Sparkling green eyes met his. "She's at her soddy." Air swooshed from his lungs as if someone had punched him in the stomach. "Her soddy?" Not once had he thought of looking for her there.
"Yes! Now get out of here." Willamina waved one hand. It was hard, but he made feet that wanted to run, walk to Jack. Her soddy—all this time she'd only been a few miles away.
"Hey, Kid? When you see Jessica, tell her Willamina say's hi."
He mounted the horse, and steering Jack near the chair where Willamina still sat, he tossed the wad of bills onto her lap.
"I will. And when you're ready to move out of this place, look up the Triple Bar Ranch." He gave her a wink. "We can always use a good wash woman."
Willamina's light giggle filtered the evening air as he spurred Jack and rode away from the tents. Joe crossed his path before the horse had room to leap into a gallop. "Hey, where you headed?" he asked.
"To get Jessie!" Kid steered around the man.
"Well, where is she?" Joe asked.
"Her soddy!" He shouted over his shoulder.
* * * *
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Jessie walked out of the sod house and into the bright morning sun. The rays sparkling down did little to brighten her mood. She stared overhead. Where was the gloom? Why couldn't the sky be gray and full of clouds, giving her clear reasons to feel so dreary? She bent, picked up a rock, and tossed it toward the tall grass beside the house. It fell short, with a loud thud it rolled against a thick board. One of the many Joe and the other hands had used to strengthen the structure of her small home.
The changes had surprised her when she first arrived. She'd forgotten he'd said he'd repair it. Solid wood planks covered all of the outer walls, and new shutters hung where old ones once sagged. A long sigh left her lungs. The improvements kept the snakes out, and they'd help keep the winter weather out as well. She should be happy, the men's good deeds meant she had more time for other chores, but nothing could lift the depressed shroud settled around her frame. At times she wondered how her heart continued to beat, something as broken as it should have stilled days ago. Jessie shook her head, hoping the movement would send the thoughts away. She had more this fall than she'd had the past five—a good, solid place to stay warm as winter slipped closer. She should focus on finding provisions. Nuts, berries, even some meat she could dry for the winter months. The few supplies the Jackson's had given her were almost gone, she'd been lazy, using them instead of finding others. What was wrong with her? She'd never been so lax in her life. Slapping her palms against her thighs, she stepped forward, moving 205
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
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toward the small wind-row of trees behind the house. Perhaps there would be something in the snare she'd set last night. The wind blew through the trees, knocking leaves from their branches. Flapping and fluttering they fell against her skirt. The dried and curled leaves didn't bother her, nothing did. She almost wished she could be like them, just curl up and blow away.
A noise caused her to pause and listen for the direction of which it came. If possible, her heart grew heavier. It was the snare. Moving forward again, she walked through the tall weeds to where she'd set the small trap. Jessie knelt down and separated the grass.
A little bunny, trembling with fear, backed into the corner of the stick pyramid as she leaned closer. Large enough to skin, she could make a week's worth of meals from the rabbit. Tiny, brown eyes tried to avoid contact with her. Her face scrunched and she lifted the trap.
"Don't fear, little one," she whispered. Paralyzed with fright, the bunny didn't move. Jessie ran a hand over the soft fur then pushed at his rump. "Go on, off with you. I'd rather have eggs any day."
The rabbit shot forward, quickly disappearing in the waving grass. Leaving the trap unset, she moved away, and made a half-hearted attempt to look through the weeds for a prairie chicken roost. Eggs were easy to eat—she didn't have to kill anything to have a meal. A rustle sounded. Believing it was the escaping bunny, she didn't turn around, choosing instead to continue her search.
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The noise came again, louder and closer. She straightened and turned as a black glob leaped over the tall grass. An excited bark sliced the air as the animal flew toward her.
"Sammy?"
The dog hit her in the middle of the chest, knocking her down. Her bottom smacked the ground, making the air swoosh from her lungs. Sucking in a fresh breath, she flipped onto her knees and wrapped her arms around the head sniffing her up and down. "Sammy, oh, Sammy, I missed you so much."
He snuggled close, his body trembling as she laid her head against his soft, silky hide. For several minutes she relished his unexpected arrival before thoughts formed. Sammy? If Sammy was here, it meant one thing ... Kid wasn't far behind.
Trembles started in her toes and rose to encompass every inch of her frame. Caused by fear or excitement, she didn't know. Wiping at the wetness under her eyes, she gave Sammy one more solid hug before she stood, turning to the eyes boring holes in her back.
The morning sun haloed the tall frame. One foot was settled on a fallen log, making a lean leg bend at the knee. A gun belt hung low on his hips, the holster strapped to his thigh with a leather lace. Narrow hips grew into a wide, solid chest, which was partially covered by the brawny arms folded across it. As usual the top button of his shirt was undone, allowing dark, curly hair to peek out. She bypassed the face, not wanting to see the anger in those dark, obsessive eyes. His head, tilted sideways a touch, was covered with the wide 207