Read Online Blood & Dust (Lonesome Ridge Book 2) by Samantha Warren - Free Book Online

Jasper settled himself on the corner of the desk.
    Robert came in a few minutes later. “Where’s the sheriff?” he asked when he saw Jasper alone.
    Jasper cocked his head toward the stairs. “Changing and washing up a bit.”
    “Ah,” Robert said as he plopped down into the chair. “Any word on what they found?”
    Jasper shook his head. “Hasn’t said anything yet. Doesn’t sound good.”
    “It’s not.”
    Both men turned to the door as Abby and Hannah entered. Abby was wearing a clean dress and had washed her face and other exposed skin, but her expression was drawn and tight. Hannah’s joy at seeing her sister had dissipated into silence. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
    “What happened?” Robert sat foreword in the chair and looked at her with interest.
    Abby just shook her head. “We’ll wait til Connor’s here.”
    Silence hung in the air while they all waited. Jasper shifted uncomfortably as his eyes flitted to Hannah. He was on the verge of walking over to hold her when Connor arrived and booted Robert from his chair.
    “So,” Robert asked. “What’s the deal?”
    Connor took a deep breath and told everyone what happened from the moment they found the train to the time they left the house. Jasper’s heart kept sinking further into the pit of his stomach, and every time he thought it couldn’t go any deeper, it somehow managed.
    “So what are we going to do?” he asked when Connor was finished.
    Connor and Abby exchanged a glance. “We’re going after them.” Jasper and Robert both opened their mouths to speak, but Connor held up a hand to stop them. “Not either of you. I need you both here.”
    Jasper wanted to protest, he felt he should protest, but he was secretly grateful. He stole a look at Hannah. The tears had spilled over her lashes and rolled unchecked down her face.
    “Abby and I are going. Just the two of us. We were going to take others, but I’ve decided against it. We’ll move faster with less people and Abby has proven herself. Jasper, you’re staying here. I need you to be the acting sheriff while I’m gone. I can’t leave this place without a sheriff for who knows how long. And Robert, I need you to help him. They respect you. If you back him, they’ll listen.”
    “You two can’t go alone,” Jasper said. “There are too many of those things out there. They could get the jump on you. If one of you gets bit, that’s it. It’s over. You need a group. A dozen at least.”
    Connor shook his head. “No. The moer people we have, the more people will be in danger. And the less you will have to protect the town. Lonesome Ridge is the top priority right now. You need to keep it safe.”
    “I know that, but you guys need to be safe, too. Why not take Nel and Bates with you, at least? They’re good men and crack shots. They’ll watch your backs.”
    Connor crossed his arms. “No, Jasper. I’m not putting anyone else in danger like that. This is my choice, and this is still my town until I leave. Everyone is staying put. No more arguments.”
    Jasper’s eyes narrowed and he grumbled under his breath something about Connor being ridiculous and careless, but he let the matter drop.
    Connor looked at Robert, who had stayed silent through the whole exchange. “Robert, I need you to help Jasper in any way you can. Run patrols, calm down the troublemakers, that kind of thing.”
    Robert straightened and nodded. “Aye, you have my word, sheriff. I’ll keep the kid in line, keep things on track. I won’t let you down.”
    Connor met Jasper’s eyes. “Jasper?”
    The young man’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he nodded. “Of course, Connor. I’ll do my best.” Just a few weeks ago, he was an outlaw, following his brothers into some awful schemes, and now he was going to be acting sheriff. He wasn’t sure if this was a blessing or some strange, cruel trick that was doomed to go wrong.
    Hannah threw her arms around Abby and sobbed. “You can’t go,