Holt's Gamble by Barbara Ankrum Read Free Book Online Page A

the men lifted Holt onto the thin straw-filled mattress that filled one side of the narrow wagon's dark interior. Jacob struck a match and lit the oil lamp which hung from one of the hickory bows supporting the canvas cover. A soft, yellow light filled the enclosure.
    As the men worked over Holt, Kierin stood outside and tried to collect her thoughts. A powerful tremor coursed through her body, not from the cold but from the tumultuous emotions that battled within her. For reasons that she couldn't explain—even to herself—she wanted Holt to live. He was a complete stranger to her; a gambler who considered her his property. By rights, she should hate him.
    But she didn't.
    Tonight they had depended on each other for their very lives and Holt had nearly lost his—and still might—protecting her. Kierin let out a long sigh. It had been a long time since she'd allowed herself to care about anyone. A long time since anyone had cared about her.
    Her head hurt and she was weary beyond words. Tears welled behind her tired burning eyes, but she refused to cry, refused herself the relief tears would bring her. Instead she reached for the pile of neatly stacked kindling and began to build up the banked fire. After it sputtered back to life, she fetched an iron pot that hung nearby and filled it with water from the large barrel lashed to the side of the wagon. She set it over the fire to heat, knowing that Jacob would have need of it soon.
    The blaze was warm and soothing and she stared at the flames, willing them to heat the water quickly. For the first time she looked at her hands. They were covered with blood, as was the front of the shirt Holt had given her to wear.
    She stood stiffly and walked to the river's edge. The narrow path twined through hedges of wild grapes, heavy with the promise of a summer harvest. Moonlight spilled across the water, mixing eerily with the tendrils of fog that lay like a winter's breath upon the river. Kierin bent and washed her hands and face in the frigid water. Shivering, she hurried back up the path to the campsite.
    Brown met her at the fire when she returned.
    "How is he?" she asked.
    "Still unconscious. But that feller's got the constitution of an ox. If anybody can pull through somethin' like this, I reckon it'll be him. You known him long?"
    Kierin was struck by the irony of his question.
    Long? She'd only known the man for a few hours, but right now it felt more like years.
    "No. Not long."
    Scudder nodded, scooting his eyes away from hers. "Jacob asked me to get some water boilin' but I see you already got that taken care of."
    "Yes, it's nearly hot enough," she replied, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence.
    "Well, I reckon I better get a'goin', ma'am. You be all right here?" he asked.
    "Yes, I—I'll be fine," she told him with more conviction than she felt. "Mr. Brown, I want you to know how much I—that is, how much we both appreciate your help. If you hadn't come back—"
    "Like I said before, it was somethin' I had to do."
    "But what if there's trouble? I mean, it all happened in your shop..."
    "If Talbot's dead, like ya say, there ain't gonna be no more trouble than I can handle. If not... well, Talbot'll never have to know it was me that helped you." Brown looked thoughtful for a moment and then continued. "And the law will never hear about you two from me. Be sure on that account. I reckon my family an' me may just pull up stakes one of these days an' head west. Independence is gettin' a might too crowded for my tastes anyway. I reckon there'd be a call for a good smithy out West, too."
    Kierin smiled at him. "I'm sure there'll be a place for you wherever you choose to go, Mr. Brown. You're a good man."
    Brown lowered his gaze from hers and twirled the brim of his hat in his big hands.
    "Good luck to you, ma'am."
    "And you, Mr. Brown."
    He gathered the reins of his sorrel gelding and swung easily up into the saddle. Brown turned one last time and nodded to Kierin before