There All Along by Megan Hart, Lauren Dane Read Free Book Online Page A

evening, lawman.”
    “Good evening, Ms. Coleman.”
    She squeezed his shoulder as she moved past. “Are you hungry then?”
    “I am.”
    “I’ll make us some supper and you can tell me what’s happening with this new schedule.”
    She pushed her sleeves up and washed her hands before she began to pull together a meal.
    “You’re too bright for your own good.”
    She laughed. “If only you were the first person to tell me such nonsense. How is one too smart for their own good? In any case, I can read the blips. I know there are more attacks. Your change in schedule is most likely due to that. It’s not mysterious.”
    “Aye. They’ve put more lawmen out on the Highway. It’s good for citizens to see us, to know they’re protected. But the shift only just happened a week ago so there’s been some scrambling. We made a big jump and drove straight through without stopping. Stayed in Salt Flats two nights though, so it’s better than we were before that.”
    “And how long are you here this time?”
    “We’re staying in all mid-sized garrisons three days now. Small ones we’ll do overnights. The largest we stay for two days. My team will accompany patrols, do sentry duty.”
    “Good training for the garrison soldiers here. To see how you all do your job in that setting. Most of them are farmers. Aside from the full-time garrison sentries.” She paused as she deposited a bowl of sliced fruit on the table. “It’s bad then? Risky?”
    “There’s been a great deal of activity along this sector. We don’t think you’re at risk for an assault, but it won’t hurt for their scouts to see us on the ramparts of the garrison walls.”
    “All right then.”
    “Been busy since I last left?”
    “Gearing up for—” There was a knock on the back door. “Can you get that then? I need to turn the fish when it’s ready.”
    He stood, moving carefully to the door.
    Jackson Haldeman stood there with a smile. “Well met, Loyal.”
    Loyal stood aside to let Jackson in, hiding a frown as he headed straight to the kitchen.
    Verity smiled when she saw who it was. “Good evening, Jackson. I was just making some supper. Would you like to stay?”
    Jackson’s expression lit in an entirely different way when gave his attentions to Verity. His smile softened as he took her in from head to toe. “I would very much, thank you.”
    That’s when Loyal realized Jackson Haldeman had his eye on Verity as more than a passing fancy.
    “I’ll get another place set.” Loyal moved past Haldeman to grab another plate and some utensils. He put them on the side away from Verity.
    Jackson held up a sack. “I brought some sweets. My mother wanted to thank you for the poultice you made for her leg.”
    Verity took the bag and peeked inside. “Spiced fried dough? Your mother knows my weakness. We’ll have them after dinner. Sit. Both of you.”
    She filled their plates with food and sat, chattering about her day and whatever else was going on for some time until she finally sat back. “All right then. I’m sure you’re here for an official reason, Jackson. Go on.”
    “You might as well speak plainly in front of her or she’ll pester you until you do.”
    Verity’s surprised laughter came right as Loyal realized he’d spoken his thoughts aloud. He gave her a stern look but she waved it away and kept eating.
    He and Jackson spoke then about their plans. About the news that the brigands had attacked Banyon Pass two days prior. The garrison had managed to repel the attack, but not without losing a third of its livestock and nearly twenty citizens.
    Banyon Pass was roughly the same size as Silver Cliffs, though it wasn’t quite as protected by the surrounding landscape as Silver Cliffs was.
    “Why are they suddenly so much more active?” she asked.
    “We don’t know. It’s always like this. It ebbs and flows, aye? We can go an annum or three with minimal activity and then suddenly they’re everywhere, attacking. We