Only My Love by Jo Goodman Read Free Book Online Page B

mind. In reality it had taken mere seconds.
    Michael shook her head as if to clear it. Something niggled at the back of her mind but she couldn't bring it to consciousness. In the next moment her attention was brought to focus on another matter entirely and the thread of memory was broken.
    Happy McAllister was holding Drew Beaumont at gun point.
    Michael began to march forward, only to be brought abruptly back by Houston's hand on the collar of her duster. "What's he doing? What's this all about?"
    Houston ignored her. "That the one?" he asked Happy.
    Happy nodded. "Sure is. Hell of a time findin' it out. Didn't say a word until he saw you coming back. Figure that shook him up a little."
    Ethan knew now what had shaken Drew and it wasn't Nathaniel Houston. Until she had stepped into the car the other Chronicle reporter had maintained a stoic silence. Apparently Drew didn't trust his colleague to maintain the same discretion. Wise man, thought Ethan. She looked about ready to say something incriminating any moment.
    "What's going on?" Michael demanded again. This time she wrested herself away from Houston's grip and got several steps closer to Drew. Happy's gun held her off. "Drew? What's this about?"
    "You know him?" Houston asked.
    "Of course I know him. He's—"
    Ethan felt his breath catch again.
    Drew interrupted. "We met on the train. As you're probably aware, her company's quite entertaining."
    "Drew?" Michael's brows knit. "Why are you—"
    "Don't worry about me," Drew cut in again. "These men don't seem to like reporters and they've found me out. They were sure they could find a newspaperman right off, but I must look more like a parson than I knew. Took them a while to get to me." His smile was self-depreciating. "Hell of it is, my mother wanted me to be a preacher."
    "Drew, I still don't-"
    "Seems this fellow here and his friend uncoupled the Chronicle cars and the caboose."
    "Uncoupled the cars?" Michael couldn't take it in immediately. What Drew was telling her was too horrifying.
    "They're dead," Drew said quietly, holding her eyes, willing her to be cautious. "All dead."
    There wasn't any more space in the first class car than there had been earlier. Injury was still a possibility but it no longer mattered. Michael dropped in the aisle like a stone.

 
     
     
    Chapter 2

     
    In a way it was a relief, Ethan thought. She was out cold, curled and crumpled in the aisle like a dry leaf. For the moment at least she couldn't say anything stupid. Now he could concentrate on the matter of Drew Beaumont. With a little luck he could make it work.
    Houston hunkered down at Michael's head. "Get that damn reporter out of here," he barked at Happy, "and take care of him."
    Happy hauled Drew out of his seat and pushed him into the aisle. Drew tripped on Michael's outstretched leg and nearly went sprawling himself. Ethan caught him and pulled him upright. "I'll take him out. You help with the lady." He felt the restlessness of the other passengers. A stony stare and a single wave of his gun put all of them back in their seats. "Obie, you watch them carefully. We don't want any heroes. One damned complicating female is enough for any robbery."
    "I second that," Happy said feelingly.
    Ethan let Drew step in front of him and leveled the barrel of his Colt at the reporter's back. "Let's go." Once they were outside the car Ethan directed Drew to jump down on the steep side of the track. "Keep going. Walk to the end of the train."
    Drew glanced back over his shoulder and sneered.
    "Thanks to your friends, a shorter walk than it used to be."
    "Are you foolish or brave?"
    "Neither. Just realistic. You're going to kill me. I've a mind to say whatever occurs to me."
    Ethan nudged him when his steps slowed as they reached the rear car. "Keep going. About another hundred feet or so. Stop before the curve. If someone wants to watch I want it said I did my job." He looked around him, feeling the inky night closing in. Could anyone from the