Wild Is the Night by Colleen Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

removed himself, muttering under his breath.
    He was scarcely gone when Luke attacked. “What the hell’s the matter with you? You don’t invite a man like that to your table unless you’re willing to go along with what he has in mind. Didn’t you learn anything in that damned college you went to, other than quoting dead philosophers?”
    “I certainly did!” Amanda snapped, her eyes glittering with anger. “What right did you have to ask him to leave? I was just getting started. He was providing valuable research material.”
    “I’ll bet,” Luke snorted incredulously. “What kind of research? The kind you do on your back?”
    Amanda paled, looking stricken for a moment, and Luke immediately felt bad that he had hurt her. “Look, I didn’t mean—”
    “I know what you meant,” Amanda snapped, gathering up her bags. “And I think it just as well that we end this acquaintance. ‘Friends are as dangerous as enemies.’ Thomas De Quincy.” Amanda started for the door, her shoulders squared, even as she hefted her bag and the cage. Luke started after her, then on second thought, let her go.
    It would be just as well for both of them.
    The thought was barely formed when gunfire shattered the normal sounds of the cowtown and people screamed, scrambling for cover. Amanda stood frozen in the doorway that was now riddled with bullets, her numb fingers slowly opening, and Aesop’s cage tumbled to the ground.
    “Get down!” Luke dove at her, grabbing for his gun, even as another fusillade of shot poured from the street. Stunned, Amanda scrambled back inside the restaurant. Luke aimed his gun, but it was already too late. Whoever had fired was gone, the street deserted. Reholstering his weapon, he turned back to Amanda, helping her to her feet, then he cupped her chin and forced her to look up at him.
    “It’s you,” he said in wonder, rudely examining her lovely face for some kind of clue to this mystery. She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let her. “Jesus Christ, it’s you they’re after!”

Chapter
   4   
    “No!” Amanda gasped, horrified at the thought. Yet even as she denied it, reality pushed its way into her consciousness. It was too much of a coincidence. The logical side of her mind overrode her emotions, telling her that, for some reason, someone wanted her dead. Her knees grew weak, and she swallowed hard, fighting to quell the dizziness that threatened to overcome her. She heard Luke shout for water, even as he helped her into a chair. Amanda was scarcely aware of the stunned murmurs of the restaurant’s customers, or knew that some of the men rose from their positions on the floor to stare out into the vacant street. Someone called for the sheriff, while the waitress brought the water.
    “Drink this.”
    Amanda tried to refuse, but Luke forced the glass to her lips, spilling the chilled liquid down her throat until she choked. She glared at him, then closed her eyes until the weakness passed.
    They were shooting to kill her. If it wasn’t for Luke, she would already be dead. Insulated for all of her life in a safe scholastic shell, Amanda felt like a newly hatched chick facing a world that was dangerous, even deadly.
    “Feel better?” Luke asked, ignoring her scowl.
    Amanda nodded her head and pulled the owl’s cage closer to her feet, as if accepting comfort from the close proximity of the barnyard bird. “Why?” Her voice was sharp, demanding an answer.
    “Damned if I know,” Luke said dryly. “But think about it. The Haskwells came back after successfully looting the train, risking capture. For them to show up here, and open fire as soon as they saw you…For some reason, Sam Haskwell wants you dead.”
    Amanda nodded, her shoulders sagging. Suddenly, the idea of taking a trip was not nearly as appealing as it once was.
    “Well, little lady, looks like you’re lucky to be alive.” The portly sheriff left the crowd of people gathering at the entrance and