The Outlaw's Kiss (an Old West Romance) (Wild West Brides) by Anya Karin Read Free Book Online Page A

think a little rest would do him good.” Sol
smiled as he spoke. “But then could you watch the store for a time? Mr. James
here is new to prospecting, he’s just bought a claim and-”
    “Yes.” He twisted Eustace Rawls’s arm around
behind his back and shackled his hands. “If you’ll pardon me ma’am, I’m usually
not so gruff.” He turned and left, with Rawls making quite a racket.
    “Don’t listen to him. He’s always that gruff. In
fairness, he usually he only gets irritated when someone like that fellow makes
him so.”
    “Who was that?” My father asked. “Not the sheriff,
the under-turned man with the foul temper?”
    “That’s Goldtooth. Eustace Rawls. He’s something
of a legend around here. He came from the Comstock when it emptied out. A lot
of folks thought he was coming to prospect for George Hearst, but as it
happened, old Eustace had left Hearst’s employ. He made his way up here to
strike it rich on his own. Thus far, all he’s done is to cultivate a month-long
hangover that I’m certain will grip him as soon as his lips don’t taste whiskey
for a day or two.”
    I chuckled and then quickly covered my mouth. Mr.
Star had such a way of rattling off words that I found him endlessly
fascinating. “I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that the way you speak, it’s like
you never run out of things to say. I could listen to you for hours.”
    “Well thank you ma’am. Since opening this store, I’ve
learned the usefulness of speaking circles around people. I expect that if I
move into politics later, it’ll come in quite handy.”
    At that, Mr. Star turned to his books for a time,
balancing expenditures, he said. Father and I looked at all sorts of tools, to
pass the minutes until Mr. Bullock’s return.
    Ah! He returns. Seth, can I leave you in charge of
the store for the day?”
    Mr. Bullock scraped something off the side of his
boot and onto the store’s steps as he entered. “I already said yes, Sol. I’m terribly
sorry about that oaf, folks. He’s one of the many problems that this little
camp has grown. He’s already fast asleep though, sleeping like a dead drunk
baby.”
    “Father? What shall I do while you’re gone?” I had
to speak or else I’d laugh at Mr. Bullock’s joke harder than would be proper.
    “Oh, hum.” He chewed his mustache. “I hadn’t
thought of that. Well, can you arrange the ice delivery with Mr. Bullock, and
acquire some household supplies? That’d be most helpful.”
    “Yes sir, we can handle that.” Mr. Bullock seemed
eager for the men to leave. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her. Good luck with
your claim.”
    Gathering a few tools, Mr. Star led my father out
of the store, the two of them chattering away about gold and the process.
    “Let’s get out of here,” Mr. Bullock said. “I’ve
got some business to attend, and I’d like you to come with me. I’ll show you
the town, such as it is. Oh, apologies. Seth Bullock.” He tipped his hat.
    “Nice to meet you, Mr. Bullock, I’m Clara James.”
I liked this one too, though his forwardness was a bit disarming. I had to
remind myself that in such a rough place, his manners had probably roughened a
good deal.
    “I know,” he said. “Everyone’s heard you two are
presently occupying the house on the edge of town. Nice place.”
    “Oh thank you,” I said, taken aback. “But how
did-”
    “I built it.” He put his hand on my shoulder.
“After you, ma’am.”
    I stopped in the doorway. “I’m sorry, but I don’t
want to take you away from the store you’re watching. I don’t want you to miss
any business or the like.”
    Mr. Bullock shook his head and nudged me into the
street, pulling the door closed behind him. “Business never picks up until the
afternoon. And I expect Sol didn’t really think I’d be sitting around in
that place while there was a lady to show around.”
    Taken aback, but pleased at the company, I took
his arm and we proceeded east, into the