Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona by Miralee Ferrell Read Free Book Online Page B

double-breasted vest with a watch chain dangling from the front pocket stepped up, his thumbs hooked in his belt. “Sorry, mister. We don’t cotton to city folks. You need to get yourself a decent head covering. Doesn’t appear that one’s going to survive long in this town.”
    Grinning wide, a miner trooped up to the gawking stranger, dangling the now battered and dusty object from his finger. He turned to the rest of the laughing crowd and shoved the disreputable headpiece into the hands of the nearest man. “Pass this around, gents, and let’s get this man a decent sombrero.”
    Cheers resounded and men tossed coins and bills into the offered basket. The miner turned with a smile. “Hold out your hands.”
    The stunned city slicker did as he was told and the miner pushed the hat into them. “Hop on over to the dry goods store and tell the clerk to fix you up proper.” He gave the city slicker a shove in the direction he’d indicated. The crowd gave another cheer, then started to disperse. Apparently that hour’s entertainment had ended, and it was time to find something else to amuse them.
    Nevada rubbed his chin, surprised at what he’d seen. If this didn’t beat all—that was a cowboy trick, for sure. He wondered what the motley assortment of men would have done had the stranger put up a serious fuss. Probably sent him rolling down the street after his hat, instead of taking a collection.
    A jolt shot through him, and he swiveled around. Where had the woman with the veil gone? In the excitement he’d completely lost track of her before he’d gotten a look at her. He let loose a low groan and urged his horse forward. He didn’t have a prayer of discovering her identity, but he could ride up the street a ways and see if he could spot her.
    Another searching glance brought him up short. A man with a gold star on his vest strode toward the stage. Looked like the law had arrived. All he could do was hope the woman would keep her word. Time for him to slip into the background and disappear.

    Christy eased farther away from the laughing group of men, only slightly disturbed by the scene that had played out before her. It had been a number of years, but the memories rushed back quite easily. Men having sport at another’s expense—be it a city slicker, a drunk, or a tenderfoot. So many of the folks in Last Chance had been decent, law-abiding citizens that she’d almost forgotten how this part of the world lived. She shook her head. Time to get out of here and see if she could find her brother.
    Too bad she’d been unable to let Joshua know what day she’d arrive, but hopefully it wouldn’t be too hard to discover his and Ma’s whereabouts. A dark-frocked man wearing a flat-brimmed hat and a gold star on his lapel pushed his way through the crowd. Christy shrank back, not caring to face his questions right now. All she wanted was for her arm to be treated and to find where her mother lived. The details of the stage holdup could come later.
    She took a few more steps away from the laughing crowd and cast a look around for someone familiar. Fingers touched her arm, and she turned. A tall, slender man stood before her. He was dressed mostly in black, his broadcloth suit neatly pressed and a flat-crowned black hat snugged down on his dark hair. He wore a white shirt with the stiff collar turned up and a pair of dust-covered black boots. She’d wager he was a gambler. It may have been nearly five years since she’d escaped the dancehall life, but she could still spot a man of chance with her eyes half closed.
    “May I direct you somewhere, dear lady?” Dark blue eyes peered from beneath slender, raised brows.
    “No. Thank you.” She turned to go, then realized she’d have to speak to someone. A glance revealed no other women in the area, and none of the men sauntering nearby looked much better. “Excuse my manners. I would appreciate being directed to the doctor’s office.”
    He gave a half bow and