Read Online Hoofbeats of Danger by Holly Hughes - Free Book Online Page A

the station house. Annie wrapped a braid around one finger, uncertain whether to follow. If she went inside, would she just be in the way?
    Ambrose stalked away, grumbling under his breath. Annie watched him go with a sinking feeling. He’d seemed genial before, but now she saw he had a vicious side as well. Annie feared that her mother’s actions had only confirmed the spy’s bad opinion of the Dawson family.
    Ambrose headed for the stagecoach, which still stood in front of the door. The horses stamped their hooves and jingled their harness, waiting impatiently.
    The blond man, the one Billy called Goldilocks, came around the corner of the cabin, a book tucked under his arm. He halted as he saw the coach waiting. “Ready to load up?” he asked the guard. “Or do I have time for another bowl of that excellent porridge?”
    â€œYou mean you haven’t brought out your luggage yet?” Ambrose barked, looking up sharply at the passenger. “The rest was all strapped on a while ago. We’d be gone by now if there hadn’t been all this fuss. You’d have been left behind, brother.”
    â€œFuss? What fuss?” Goldilocks reached up to twirl his mustache. “I was just down by the river, below the bluff—I thought I’d get in a morning stroll while I had a chance. Sitting in a cramped coach all day and night is such a bore.”
    â€œJust get your luggage,” the guard said with a disgusted wave of his hand. “We’ve got a schedule to keep.” He turned away and busied himself with yanking tight the leather straps holding the pile of baggage atop the coach.
    Annie watched the passenger saunter away, wondering if he was telling the truth. Maybe he really hadn’t heard the shooting and the shouting. Standing below the rocky outcropping with the rain-swollen river thundering nearby, he might have been out of earshot. But it did seem odd. Why was this one passenger always absent when trouble broke out?
    Billy came up behind Annie and muttered in her ear, “Goldilocks has been riding that stagecoach for two weeks. He’s got to know better than to wander off when the stage is getting ready to leave.”
    Annie nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”
    Billy frowned, tugging on one ear. “Funny things are going on here. Someone’s up to no good.”
    The other passengers began to file out of the station house now, talking among themselves. Jeremiah slapped Billy on the shoulder as he passed, heading for the barn. “See if you can find Magpie,” he said. “Mr. Dawson and I agreed this morning, she has to be shot.” He heaved a sigh. “If we’d done it sooner, he wouldn’t be hurt now.”
    Annie saw an unwilling look cross Billy’s face. “Aw, Jeremiah, she’s already run away from the station—why don’t we just let her go?”
    Jeremiah shook his head. “She’s dangerous, Billy. Besides, putting a bullet through her brain would be kinder than letting her break a leg out there and starve to death in some gulch.” He glanced toward the loaded stagecoach. “We got to do things right. We can’t let Slocum think we’re careless.”
    Annie’s head drooped. Jeremiah was right; they needed Mr. Slocum’s good opinion to save her pa’s job. But why did it have to be at the cost of Magpie’s life? Then she threw a fearful look toward the station house. Would Pa be able to go on serving as stationmaster anyway?
    Billy stopped at her side. “Sorry, Annie,” he said gently as he began to load his revolver. “But maybe Jeremiah’s right.”
    Annie clutched Billy’s arm, the one that held the gun. “But Billy, she ain’t loco!” she protested. “She was just spooked by that gunshot, that’s why she kicked Pa.” She lowered her voice. “Redbird reckons you were right about poison, Billy. She says