Boot Hill Bride
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
The Wild Rose Press
www.thewildrosepress.com
Copyright ©2009 by Lauri Robinson
First published in 2010
NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser
only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email,
floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a
violation of International copyright law and subjects the
violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice
overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are
erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to
others.
This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.
2
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
CONTENTS
* * * *
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
4
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Even sitting here, stinging from the cold of the night, his
fingers tingled, wanting to touch her silky skin, caress the
curve of her back and examine those perfect dimples—
"Holy shit!" Snake exclaimed under his breath.
Howard snapped his head up. Both of his brothers stared
over his shoulders, their mouths agape, and their eyes as
round as biscuits.
"What?" he asked, twisting his neck to follow the trail of
their gazes. His jaw went lax, the bottom of his chin all but
slapped against his chest. The sight he stared at knocked the
air out of him harder than being thrown off a wild bucking
bronc.
Inside the canvas, the flickering light of the lantern made
his tent glow brighter than the moon. The white, heavy tarp
had become pale yellow, and a dark silhouette moved about
inside the gently billowing sides. It was a moment before his
eyes locked on the shadow and registered what he saw,
sending the impulse to his brain.
Randi was undressing, and the light projected each
movement against the canvas screen more clearly than the
finest painter could create. Her graceful, womanly profile
moved with perfection as she drew her gown over her head.
The contours of her breasts, flat stomach, the inward arch of
her lower back, and her long, slender legs became clearly
visible to onlookers.
"Shit!" Howard leaped to his feet. Almost as an
afterthought, he grabbed the hat off his head and swiped it at
5
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
both of his brothers, knocking theirs askew. "Turn around!"
he demanded before storming off toward his tent.
Jogging across the grass, he shouted, "Randi! Randi!
Dowse the light!"
The silhouette inside stalled.
"Dowse the light!" he repeated.
6
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Praise for Lauri Robinson
SHOTGUN BRIDE,
The Quinter Brides, Book One: "This
firecracker of a story should not to be missed."
~Coffee Time Romance
BADLAND BRIDE
, The Quinter Brides, Book Two: "An
amazingly well-woven story. Lauri Robinson has created not
only a wonderful couple, but also a believable family. Skeeter
is a charismatic, charming hero, and Lila is a great match for
him. These characters are colorful, vibrant, and full of life.
They surround you with their wit and realism."
~Romance author Mallary Mitchell
"I love the McBride series, these books are wonderfully
written and they all connect together but have a story all their
own to tell."
~Tonya, You Gotta Read Reviews
"
LAWMEN AND OUTLAWS ANTHOLOGY
is a thoroughly
enjoyable set of stories. Each story had its own cadence and
feel to it and I enjoyed them all very much. My favorite was
SHERIFF MCBRIDE
by Lauri Robinson."
~You Gotta Read Reviews
"
AN APRIL TO REMEMBER
is a wonderful story, a must
read for someone who loves a bit of everything, heartache,
catastrophe, romance, and passion."
~WRDF Reviews
"
AN APRIL TO REMEMBER
will touch your heart and make
you weep with gratification that we have authors such as
7
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Robinson. This was a wonderful read and I wish it could go on
forever. It's a keeper for any bookshelf!"
~ Long and Short of It Reviews
8
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Boot Hill Bride
The Quinter Brides, Book Three
by
Lauri Robinson
9
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or
are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons
living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is
entirely coincidental.
Boot Hill Bride: The Quinter Brides, Book Three
COPYRIGHT (C) 2009 by Lauri Robinson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written
permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or
reviews.
Contact Information: [email protected]
Cover Art by
Nicola Martinez
The Wild Rose Press
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Cactus Rose Edition, 2010
Print ISBN 1-60154-738-2
Published in the United States of America
10
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
To Liz, Connie, and Jackie.
The best daughters on earth.
11
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
Southwestern Kansas
1885
Another scream split the air. Louder, longer.
Oh, dear Lord, it's all my fault.
Randilynn Fulton huddled
as close to the back wall of the outdoor privy as humanly
possible and rubbed cold fingers against the chills racing up
and down her arms.
Please don't let him hurt Aunt Corrine
.
Her thoughts, or perhaps fears, tumbling together made
her glance down. Running through the streets of Dodge
wearing nothing more than a nightgown would be extremely
foolish, but she had to do something.
Seems she had a calling for foolishness. Slipping out of the
house, while it was full of customers, had been extremely
foolish as well. Had someone seen her? Had Danny J learned
Aunt Corrine had been hiding her in the little alcove above the
kitchen? Her heart pounded, echoed in her head and
amplified the sounds swirling about. She'd never met Danny
J, the man who ran the woman's boarding house, but had
heard enough to be duly afraid.
The trembles in her knees increased, snuck over her body
from head to toe. With pin-pricking stings, the frost-covered
grass penetrated the thin layers of her nightgown and
pantaloons. The coldness, along with the darkness of the late
night hour made every limb shake. She tucked her chin to her
chest and tightened every muscle to gain control of the
12
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
trembles. It was to no avail, even her teeth chattered
together.
"Think, Randi, think. There has to be something you can
do," she whispered.
Abruptly, the screams of the woman stopped. Randi
snapped her head up. Deep rough shouts followed by more
crashing hung in the air for long minutes before everything
went deathly quiet.
Randi covered her mouth with a trembling hand and
peered about. Searing cold, pitch-black air surrounded her.
Danny J's elaborate house sat on the edge of Dodge City. She
didn't know the layout of the town, but there, too, she'd
heard enough to be duly afraid. Squinting, she struggled to
see the light-colored sand of the well-used dusty road near
the gate of the whitewashed fence surrounding the property.
The thought of the lonely dead-end road intensified her lack
of options. She didn't have a clue as to where the sheriff's
office was located.
She lifted her rump and scooted along the back side of the
outhouse to peer around the other corner. Though she
couldn't see it from here, a short distance up the road
between Danny J's and Dodge, a new building was being
erected. The rafters and support beams were up, she'd
watched them rise from the ground almost a week ago, but
since then the site had been quiet.
Slowly, focused on not making a sound, she rose and
eased her way around the privy. The silence of the night rang
in her ears. If she left there wouldn't be any proof, and Danny
13
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
couldn't blame Corrine for hiding her. Were they looking for
her right now?
At the front corner of the outhouse, she peered toward the
big house, searching the windows for movement. Lanterns lit
the glass, but no shadows flickered beyond. She swallowed
against the frantic beat of her heart and flipped around. After
sucking in a deep breath, she balled handfuls of her
nightgown with both hands, hitched the hem high above her
knees, and sprinted across the yard toward the fence.
The chest-high boards glimmered in the moonlight,
highlighting the painted vertical planks fit too tightly together
for her to squeeze between. Increasing her speed as she drew
closer, she thrust her hands forward and grabbed the top. A
smothered grunt slipped between her clenched teeth as she
thrust her body over.
While she soared through the air an ear piercing rip
sounded and the material of her nightgown tightened around
her neck. The unexpected tug brought her sailing body to an
abrupt halt. A shocking sensation of weightlessness vibrated
her body. Then the tight hold let loose and gravity pulled her
down as if she was a heavy solid rock.
Air gushed from her lungs as she hit the ground. Fire
exploded in her chest, but fear gave her no time to dwell on
it, nor check for additional injuries. She rolled onto her hands
and knees, forced her lungs to accept new air, and leaped to
her feet again.
Twigs, pebbles, and stiff grass tore at the bottoms of her
icy feet as she ran, pumping her arms to gain as much speed
as possible. By the time she slowed her pace near the
14
Boot Hill Bride
by Lauri Robinson
building site a sharp pain bit at her side like a hornet's sting,
and her lungs flamed. With a final burst of energy, she raced
forward, scanning the security of the area as she ran. Not a
single flicker or flutter made itself known. Seconds later,
breathless, she wrapped her arms around one of the tall
support beams and clung to it, gasping. The cold air burnt as
hard going in as it did coming out.
Still huffing, but half expecting to see someone bounding
after her, she flipped her head up, looking back toward Danny
J's. Through the blackness of the distance she watched lights
in two upstairs bedrooms go out. She locked her flaming