Read Online Glory by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online

found her here? She shivered at the thought.
    Shadows lengthened in the muddy alley, and a dampness rose from the ground, sending a chill through her thin clothing. She gazed at the strip of stars overhead. It was clear, no rain likely, but definitely a cool night ahead.
    She heard manly voices at the end of the alley near the street. Cautiously, she peered over a crate. She saw silhouettes of men passing by, a few in pairs, others alone, all headed in the same direction. Each looming shadow looked like Amos. Throaty laughter and harsh shouts reminded her of the vile man and his taunting threats, his promise that she could never escape him.
    Glory wanted to spring to her feet and run for her life, but she was frozen with fear. If she left her hiding place, she could likely run smack into him. One of those men could be him. If he tried to grab her, would anyone stop him? Sheremembered the young couple. Not likely anyone in this town would come to her defense.
    Behind her, through the wall, she could hear a tinny piano and the clink of glasses, followed by loud voices and the scrape of furniture pulled across wooden planks.
    She crawled into an overturned crate, similar to the one where she’d sought shelter the night before. It was tight and cramped, but she’d be safe here. Maybe her luck would hold out again. Her fingers tightly gripped the rifle stock. She’d never shot a person, but if Amos appeared, it might have to be her last resort.
    She remembered his rage. Surely Amos was in pursuit. Greed had sent him to Poppy’s cabin. He’d been prepared to do whatever it took to get his hands on Poppy’s gold.
    Now something more would drive his search: revenge. She had escaped, and in the process she had hurt him. She knew that he would never tolerate that. Even when Amos had visited Poppy on earlier occasions, even when he’d acted friendly upon arrival, his good humor had always exploded into rage when Poppy had refused his demands. Poppy had warned her that his brother was evil. At the first sight of Amos, Poppy had sent her to the shed or anywhere so that she wouldn’t be around him.
    A week before his death, Poppy had demanded that Glory promise him never to share the gold with Amos. The whole conversation had made Glory uncomfortable. She hadn’t wanted to discuss a life without Poppy, but he hadn’t been satisfied to drop the subject until she’d given him her word.
    At this point, Glory was tempted to give up the gold in exchange for her safety, but she could never break her promise to Poppy. He’d asked so little of her over the years. Only one promise. He’d insisted that he’d saved the gold for her, to give her the start she deserved.
    She’d gladly trade all the money to have Poppy back, to go back to her life with him in the cabin. She sighed; she couldn’t go back to that life. Poppy was gone forever. And Amos? Would he ever give up trying to find her and the gold?
    She shook her head sadly. Not likely Amos would ever give up. She’d been foolish to think she could start a new life in this town. It was too close to Poppy’s cabin, only a few days’ ride. Sooner or later, Amos would show up here . . . if he wasn’t here already.
    The thought filled her with dread, and a realization dawned on her. She had refused to continue with Jackson Lincoln and the girls, not because this town appealed to her. It had been because she knew that when Amos found her, and she had a scary premonition that he would, he would not hesitate to hurt her or anyone with her.
    Her heart ached for the girls and Jackson, but she felt protective and loyal where they were concerned. They were the only people besides Poppy who’d ever been good to her.
    The noise in the building behind her grew louder, the voices more raucous. Drunken shouts like those she’d heard from Amos startled her.
    Poppy had mentioned that Amos spent most of his nights in saloons. Just her luck. In her embarrassment, she’d darted into the first