Read Online Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) by Kit Morgan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kit Morgan
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hoped by then the entire incident would be behind her. But Apple knew she wouldn't be so lucky. Clear Creek was a small town, and she was going to have to be extra careful if she wanted to avoid Deputy O'Hare. After all, it was for his own good, and hers.
* * *
Bran rode across the prairie at a fast gallop. The cold wind brushed against his cheeks to streak them a bright red. He found it invigorating when the weather changed from fall to winter, and realized the change was coming early this year. That, of course, meant a string of long, cold nights ahead. For some reason, the thought was troublesome.
He slowed Grady to a trot and eventually a walk to let him cool down. He was riding the cow trails to see if there was anyone camped south of Clear Creek. Occasionally a late wagon train came through about this time of year, before the snow started, and if there was one, he wanted to let them know they could get supplies nearby.
Sometimes the settlers didn't realize how close to Clear Creek they were. “Grady, me lad,” he told his horse. “Maybe there'll be a fine lass or two to drink in, before winter comes.” But what did it matter if he saw an attractive woman from a wagon train? It's not like he was going to take up and marry her. Besides, there was an attractive girl back in town, as he recalled… too bad he was still mad at her.
It was also too bad that he never planned to marry; otherwise she might make a fine match for him, despite the fact that she almost killed him.
He laughed at the thought. Grady flicked an ear in his direction in response. “What would ye do?” he asked the horse. “Would ye fancy a filly that nearly killed you?”
Grady broke into a trot.
Bran burst out laughing. “I thought ye'd say that! That's it, runaway! Run as fast as ye can!” Grady broke into a canter.
Bran laughed again and let the horse have his head. He knew the trail and knew where they were going. But as Grady made his way to where the settlers usually camped, he began to think. Did he want to get married one day? He was young, only twenty-seven, and didn't plan on being a lawman forever, did he? True, he'd seen more than his fair share of violence, rape, and murder during his years as a Texas Ranger, it was one of the reasons he came west in the first place. He liked being a lawman but had seen more in five years, than some lawmen see in a lifetime, and was done with it. He figured being a deputy in a small town would be much better than what he'd been through in Texas. But he hadn't given marriage much thought. Until now, that is.
There were quite a few lawmen that married, but then, there were just as many that didn’t. Who was to say whether it was right or wrong, to do so? He thought of Sam Jamison, the Cookes’ cowhand. He wasn't a lawman, yet he'd been shot. It could've happened to any one of them that day. Out here in the West it seemed everyone ran the same risk of death. The only things that kept it at bay were a man's wits and how fast he was with the gun. Bran O'Hare had plenty of both.
He crested a small rise and looked down over the area where the settlers often camped. It lay empty. He sighed and turned Grady around to head back the other way. Marriage then was plausible. He could do it if he really wanted to. The only problem was, there was no one in town to marry, except ... “Apple Sayer,” he said aloud. “Mrs. Apple O’Hare.” Hmmm… He had to admit, she was a pretty little thing. When he stood in front of her not hours ago, he felt an odd tingling in his gut and a twist in his heart as he looked into her eyes. She wasn't frightened at the time, or in need of any help, yet something inside of him wanted to protect her, keep her safe, and he couldn't understand why. She was a feisty thing and he liked it. In fact, he had no doubt that if she knew how to use a gun, she wouldn't hesitate to. Yet… there was just something about her. A vulnerability he couldn’t explain that drew
* * *
Bran rode across the prairie at a fast gallop. The cold wind brushed against his cheeks to streak them a bright red. He found it invigorating when the weather changed from fall to winter, and realized the change was coming early this year. That, of course, meant a string of long, cold nights ahead. For some reason, the thought was troublesome.
He slowed Grady to a trot and eventually a walk to let him cool down. He was riding the cow trails to see if there was anyone camped south of Clear Creek. Occasionally a late wagon train came through about this time of year, before the snow started, and if there was one, he wanted to let them know they could get supplies nearby.
Sometimes the settlers didn't realize how close to Clear Creek they were. “Grady, me lad,” he told his horse. “Maybe there'll be a fine lass or two to drink in, before winter comes.” But what did it matter if he saw an attractive woman from a wagon train? It's not like he was going to take up and marry her. Besides, there was an attractive girl back in town, as he recalled… too bad he was still mad at her.
It was also too bad that he never planned to marry; otherwise she might make a fine match for him, despite the fact that she almost killed him.
He laughed at the thought. Grady flicked an ear in his direction in response. “What would ye do?” he asked the horse. “Would ye fancy a filly that nearly killed you?”
Grady broke into a trot.
Bran burst out laughing. “I thought ye'd say that! That's it, runaway! Run as fast as ye can!” Grady broke into a canter.
Bran laughed again and let the horse have his head. He knew the trail and knew where they were going. But as Grady made his way to where the settlers usually camped, he began to think. Did he want to get married one day? He was young, only twenty-seven, and didn't plan on being a lawman forever, did he? True, he'd seen more than his fair share of violence, rape, and murder during his years as a Texas Ranger, it was one of the reasons he came west in the first place. He liked being a lawman but had seen more in five years, than some lawmen see in a lifetime, and was done with it. He figured being a deputy in a small town would be much better than what he'd been through in Texas. But he hadn't given marriage much thought. Until now, that is.
There were quite a few lawmen that married, but then, there were just as many that didn’t. Who was to say whether it was right or wrong, to do so? He thought of Sam Jamison, the Cookes’ cowhand. He wasn't a lawman, yet he'd been shot. It could've happened to any one of them that day. Out here in the West it seemed everyone ran the same risk of death. The only things that kept it at bay were a man's wits and how fast he was with the gun. Bran O'Hare had plenty of both.
He crested a small rise and looked down over the area where the settlers often camped. It lay empty. He sighed and turned Grady around to head back the other way. Marriage then was plausible. He could do it if he really wanted to. The only problem was, there was no one in town to marry, except ... “Apple Sayer,” he said aloud. “Mrs. Apple O’Hare.” Hmmm… He had to admit, she was a pretty little thing. When he stood in front of her not hours ago, he felt an odd tingling in his gut and a twist in his heart as he looked into her eyes. She wasn't frightened at the time, or in need of any help, yet something inside of him wanted to protect her, keep her safe, and he couldn't understand why. She was a feisty thing and he liked it. In fact, he had no doubt that if she knew how to use a gun, she wouldn't hesitate to. Yet… there was just something about her. A vulnerability he couldn’t explain that drew
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