The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) by Kelli Ann Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

pearl handled, red colt
revolvers from its holster and just as the man dared take aim, he fired. The
would-be thief tumbled backward off his horse, landing with a thud in the rocky
dirt road.
    “I’m going to kill you, Redbourne,” one of the
captured men spat, lunging forward at Rafe, his hands still behind his back.
    Will stuck out his foot and the man fell forward
onto his face in front of them.
    Rafe knelt down with one knee in the center of
the man’s back. “Wasn’t such a smart move, now was it, Gruber?”
    The man squirmed beneath Rafe’s significant
weight, his feet flailing behind him.
    “Where’s McElvoy?”
    “Get off me, Redbourne, or you won’t live long
enough to regret it.”
    Rafe laughed derisively. “You say that like it’s
the first time I’ve heard a threat.” He looked over at Will. “Hey, little brother,
will you get me that rope?” He pointed to the fallen man’s horse that had
rounded back.
    “How many more do you think there are?” Will
asked as he slipped the braided cord from the strap at the side of the mount’s saddle.
    “The bounty note had four listed,” Rafe said,
returning his gun to its holster and taking the binding from Will. He tied up
the man’s feet. “I imagine that McElvoy isn’t too far away.” He looked over at
Sven, then nodded at the bearded prisoner still standing across from them.
“Make sure he doesn’t move. I’ve got to check on Otis.” He stood up and strode
to where Will had tucked the stagecoach driver behind the ridge.
    Mr. Warding was gone.
    Coward . Nothing surprised him anymore.
    Movement at the top of the cliff caught Will’s
eye.
    “Rafe, look out!” he shouted.
    It was too late. Mr. Kells had already jumped at
Rafe from the top of the ridge, a knife in one hand. He toppled on top of his
brother, lashing out with a cheap punch to his jaw. Luckily, Rafe had been able
to deflect the man’s stabbing arm and rid him of the weapon.
    How had Will not seen it? He’d been travelling
with the man for days, but had been too annoyed with the man under his
protection to suspect anything sinister about the attendant. The more he
thought about it, the more he realized that there had been way too many
coincidences and mishaps on this run to ignore. Something was off and just
didn’t sit well with him, but there wasn’t time to figure it out right now.
    Will considered jumping into the fight, but he
knew all too well that Rafe could handle himself—especially hand to hand. He
shook his head. Either this Mr. Kells had no idea who he’d just attacked, or he
had a death wish. Will considered himself a pretty good fighter, but admittedly,
Rafe was better—at least outside of the ring.
    “Will!” Sven yelled.
    Will looked back to see his friend lying on the
ground, holding his head, and the prisoner who’d been restrained just moments
ago coming at him with a large branch in his hand. He waited until the bearded brute
was within a few feet before he shifted his weight, leaning to one side,
allowing the man’s momentum to take him beyond his intended mark.
    “You all right, Sven?” Will asked without looking
behind him.
    “Yeah.”
    “How did he get loose?” As far as Will knew, Rafe
had never tied a knot that a man could shake without help.
    Kells.
    “Don’t…know.”
    By the time the charging man had turned back for
him, he was prepared.
    One, jab. Two, hook. Three, cross. Down for the
count.
    That was easy.
    Rafe still tussled on the ground with his attacker.
    Otis lay in a lifeless heap, no longer tossing
his head about. Will rushed to his side. The man’s breathing was shallow,
almost non-existent. He pressed down against the wound with the torn cloth,
trying to slow the bleeding.
    Damn that Mr. Warding. Where is he?
    “Rafe, what’s taking you so long? Otis needs you.
Now!”
    It wasn’t like his brother to prolong a fight.
    “Just…give me…one…more…minute,” Rafe grunted the
words as his fists connected with their