Taken by the Cowboy by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page B

she guessed, was growing redder by the
second. How did these people live without sunscreen?
    Wade looped his thumbs
through his belt. "It's a bit odd for a young woman to be traveling
alone, ain’t it?"
    She removed a
handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed at her forehead.
    "You don't have a
horse, and you don't have any money,” he pressed. “How did you
expect to pass through here—by flapping your arms real fast?"
    "No, I—"
    "You needed the money
so you killed Lou. You were pretty darn sharp with your aim. Who
else have you killed?"
    "I told you!
Nobody!"
    How was she supposed to
answer a question like that? Sheriff Wade was wasting his time, and
more importantly he was wasting hers. She needed to get the heck
out of this stupid century, and if he would just leave her alone—go
sign up for a high noon showdown or catch a crazy cattle rustler or
something—she might be able to make some sense out of this
situation.
    Head spinning, she
cleared her throat and loosened her collar.
    "Relax, Miss Delaney,”
he said. “You're not in any real trouble. At least not today.”
    Jessica tensed
immediately as he moved closer and removed a blade of grass that
had blown into her hair. She stood very still until he flicked the
blade onto a passing breeze.
    Dust swirled up around
them. Jessica moistened her lips, realizing she hadn't blinked or
breathed while he had his hands in her hair. Finally, she regained
her composure and transferred her parcel from one hand to the
other.
    "What are you keeping
in there?" he asked.
    "My old shoes. I bought
new ones."
    "Ah, that's right. You
were wearing some strange footwear last night. Your feet looked
like weapons.” After a pause, he added, "You all right, Miss
Delaney? You look flushed."
    "I'll be fine."
    But she didn't feel
fine. She felt sick to her stomach. These dizzy spells were
beginning to worry her.
    She reached for her
handkerchief again, to dab at the perspiration on her forehead.
    "Let’s sit down for a
minute," he said. "This heat can sneak up on a person."
    Wade led her to the
shady side of a storage shed, removed his coat, and spread it on
the grass. He gestured for her to sit down.
    She knew if she didn't,
she might faint into his arms, which was most definitely out of the
question.
    Hoping she wouldn't
have to stick her head between her knees, she dropped her parcel
onto the grass and settled down in the shade.
    She rested her back
against the wall of the shed and shut her eyes, praying for the
dizziness to pass quickly.
    “Ah,” she sighed.
    "Feel better?” He
rested his hands on his hips as he looked down at her. “Need some
water or something? There’s a pump across the street.”
    “No sir, not necessary.
I’ll be fine in a minute.”
    A horse and wagon
rumbled by in the street. “Howdy, Sheriff!” the driver shouted.
    Wade touched the brim
of his hat, then sat down beside Jessica and leaned against the
shed, his knees bent. “Wonder what the good folks of Dodge will say
when they hear about their trusted sheriff lazing about in the
shadows with the infamous Junebug Jess?"
    She opened one eye to
peer at him briefly. "You know as well as I do that I'm not what
the paper said I am."
    "I can't say I do know
such a thing. I reckon you're keeping something from me."
    Jessica shut her eyes
again and wondered if he'd always possessed such a keen instinct or
if she was just a terrible liar.
    "I told you before.
That story was completely false." She moistened her lips and
squinted across the yard at two clucking chickens pecking at the
dirt.
    "False,” he replied.
“So you keep saying."
    His eyes held a cool
hint of suspicion that unnerved her. Or was it concern she saw in
those blue depths? Either way, he was onto her. He knew something
was off its axis, and he wanted to know what it was.
    Why? So he could lock
her up again?
    Or did he want to help
her? To make it all better?
    If only she could tell
him the truth, but she couldn’t possibly. Who knows what