Boot Hill Bride by Lauri Robinson Read Free Book Online

thought but had to
    believe it was close to the dread swimming around in his
    guts.
    "Ready?" he asked, looking down and trying to read what
    was behind her frowning stare.
    She swallowed and took a deep breath. "I guess I'm as
    ready as I'll ever be."
    He fell into step beside her, steering her toward the group
    with the arm settled around her shoulders as if it was born to
    be there. She certainly was a dainty little thing and so damn
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    Boot Hill Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    pretty. He had to be thankful for that. The women in Dodge
    weren't always known for their looks. Plenty of the gals in the
    dancehalls didn't have enough teeth left to shake a stick at. If
    Ma had to marry him off to one, at least Randi wasn't hard to
    look at. He frowned, agitated by his own thoughts. A wife was
    the last thing he needed. Why couldn't he have a normal
    family? And why did his mother have to marry her sons off
    like some kind of overzealous father with a parlor full of girls?
    Randi's steps faltered, his arm tightened to lead their stroll
    around a batch of green leaves that were sure to be full of
    goatheads. Cautious of her bare feet, he picked a trail as safe
    as possible. When she flinched for about the fourth time, he
    stopped, scooped her up, and carried her the last few yards.
    Justifying his actions by telling himself he had to get some
    work done today and couldn't spend all day tiptoeing through
    the weeds.
    Setting her down on the canvas spread out in front of Ma's
    tent, he turned to Corrine Martin. "I'm gonna send my brother
    to get her stuff. Will you go with him to make sure he gets it
    all? She can't walk around without any shoes."
    The woman, whose bloomers were brighter than the
    western sky, stood. "Oh, of course, Mr. Quinter." She glanced
    between him and Randi for a moment before she took a step
    forward and asked her niece, "Are you okay?"
    Randi looked at him with big thoughtful eyes for a few
    seconds before she turned back to her aunt. "Yes, yes, I'm
    fine. You know where all my things are?"
    "Yes," the aunt assured.
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    Boot Hill Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    Bug and Snake had made their way to the small gathering
    as soon as he and Randi had started walking that way. Snake
    stepped forward. "I'll go get her things."
    Howard nodded his thanks before turning to Bug. "You got
    the men started?"
    "Yup, all under control."
    "Good, I'll be over as soon as I can."
    Bug glanced at the group, gave a slight nod. "All right." He
    followed Snake and Corrine away from the campsite.
    Howard pulled another chair closer to the one behind
    Randi, waited for her to sit down before he took a seat. "Are
    you hungry? Want some coffee?"
    Her hands fidgeted in her lap. "No, no I'm fine, thank you."
    He took the cup his mother held out. The contents were
    hot, burned all the way down, but he needed the fortification.
    He'd never faced off an angry father before and almost
    wished he didn't hate Thurston Fulton so much already.
    After the last swallow went down, he set the cup between
    his feet and lifted his gaze to the man. "What was it you
    needed to talk to my wife about?"
    The coffee in the man's cup sloshed over the rim as he
    pulled it from his lips. "Oh, well." He set the cup down on a
    small table and wiped his hands on a white handkerchief
    before he thrust one forward. "Mr. Quinter, I must say, it's a
    pleasure to make your acquaintance."
    Anger rolled in Howard's stomach. He leaned back in the
    chair and crossed his arms over his chest. So Thurston Fulton
    now knew he was one of the Quinter boys. He could almost
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    Boot Hill Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    see dollar signs in the man's eyes. His gaze went to his
    mother.
    A grin the size of Texas covered her face. She was proud
    of her boys, had a right to be. His oldest brother, Kid, had
    one of the most successful cattle ranches in the state, and his
    brother, Skeeter, had become quite wealthy finding old bones
    and other artifacts on his property out near the