Cougar's Prey (9781101544846) by Larry D. Sweazy Read Free Book Online Page A

falling evening light—Josiah was certain she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Guilt, of course, had taken over his heart, because his love for Lily still lived deep in his soul. He had tried to ignore Pearl, tried to deny the attraction he felt for her . . . but he could not resist. Not when she obviously felt the same way about him.
    â€œHow did you know that I had a meeting in the capitol?” Josiah asked.
    Pedro had slowed the coach, and Josiah pulled away from Pearl slightly, freeing his arm so he could peek outside. They were north of downtown Austin. It looked like they had outrun the mob.
    â€œI know far more about what’s been going on than you think I do, Josiah Wolfe.”
    Josiah opened the blind halfway, wishing he had a gun with him. “I don’t need a rescuer.”
    â€œObviously you do.” The sunlight beamed off Pearl’s wet face. She straightened herself up and produced a delicate lace handkerchief out of nowhere and began to dab her face dry. “What was your plan? Just to run as fast you could?”
    â€œI was going to lead them into Little Mexico, a place very few Anglos go, even in the light of day.”
    â€œBut you know your way around there?”
    â€œThanks to Juan Carlos, I do.”
    â€œWell, I suppose that was a good enough plan.”
    â€œI wasn’t expecting a crowd.”
    â€œI’m sure you weren’t,” Pearl said, tucking the handkerchief away in the folds of her dress. It was not black like everything else Josiah was surrounded by. Her dress was off-white, perfect in every way, and looked like it had come straight off the shelf in Hadley’s Lady’s Shoppe, a fine and expensive store on Congress Avenue.
    Josiah exhaled deeply and focused on Pearl’s face. The last time he had seen her was after he returned from near Laredo, after he faced Pete Feders and pulled the trigger. Her mother was furious, but Pearl had made it clear that she was not distraught by the news, that she saw it as their chance to be together. Josiah wasn’t so sure then that they could ever have a life together. He was even less sure now.
    â€œWhere is Pedro taking us?” Josiah asked.
    â€œA spot on the river where we can be alone and talk.”
    Josiah settled back into the corner of the seat, as far away from Pearl as was physically possible. “You think that’s a good idea?”
    â€œYou shouldn’t let my mother scare you.”
    â€œHave you read the papers lately?”
    â€œEvery word. You think my mother is behind the headlines?”
    â€œI have reason to believe she is, yes,” Josiah said.
    Pearl nodded, glanced out of the open window quickly, then turned back to Josiah. Her face was less than serene, but not angry, perhaps annoyed. “I cannot dispute the fact that Mother may be feeding the flames, but even without any intervention or prodding on her part, the papers would be making this a bigger story than it really is.”
    â€œAnd you think it’s a good thing to be seen with me?”
    â€œI couldn’t go another minute without seeing you.” Tears welled up quickly in Pearl’s soft blue eyes.
    â€œHow can I court you properly with all of this happening? With your mother banishing me from your property forever? I just think we need time, Pearl. Let things quiet down a little bit. At least wait and see what General Steele and the others decide about my fate. If there is a trial, then all of this will just get worse. And where’s that going to leave us?”
    â€œI’ll stand by your side proudly.”
    â€œI know you will, but I think that would just make things worse for you. So far, the papers have been kind to you, painting me as an interloper, a specter of greed, only after your inheritance. That’s why I suspect that your mother is pulling some strings. Otherwise, we would be flayed together as conspirators in Pete’s