Read Online Lone Star 05 by Wesley Ellis - Free Book Online Page B

There was something about it that didn’t smell right. He wasn’t quite sure what it was. The Starbuck kid was a terror, all right, with a string of killings that would turn William Bonney or John Wesley Hardin green with envy. The federal law was after him, as well as numerous territories and private businesses—thus the inconvenient presence of a deputy U.S. marshal, two private investigators, and Fagan and McKittrick. And the girl, whose strange Oriental companion shadowed her wherever she went. And then there was Mueller, the strutting German. He’d shown an extraordinary interest in the boy killer and had met a few times with Joshua Carpenter, the Mormon strongman. No, somehow there was a hell of a lot going on in Skyler that he didn’t know about—too much. It made him skittish, uncomfortable.
    He sat up, tossing the smoldering butt of the cigar onto the floor and stamping it out. He needed a change of scenery to think this matter through, to decide if it was worth sticking around to witness the bloody end that was sure to come.
    Without a word to the others, he stalked out of the room. He stopped at the bar downstairs for a quick drink, and then stepped outside. The street was quiet, the sky gunmetal gray and heavy. He was headed in no direction in particular, but found himself walking toward the courthouse.
    He rounded the corner just as Jessie Starbuck turned to make her way to the hotel. They collided, and each looked up, startled, at the other.
    â€œBeg your pardon, ma‘am,” Thad said. It was her. The girl he had seen earlier. Damn, she was even more beautiful close up!
    â€œMy fault,” she said. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Jessie brushed the red-gold hair out of her face. She loeked at the tall, rough-hewn man before her and could see that he was embarrassed, perhaps more than she was.
    â€œYou all right?” he asked.
    â€œYes.” Jessie had bumped into him hard and felt her muscles twinge. The man’s body was rock-solid, and she had felt slightly bruised upon impact. “It was so stupid of me ...” was all she could think to say.
    â€œNot at all.” Thad wondered what the hell to say next. He couldn’t let her just walk away. He might never have this chance again.
    â€œWell, sorry,” said Jessie. She, too, was drawn to the stranger. Something in his brown eyes spoke to her, and she moved away only reluctantly. She warned herself that she could not afford to get involved with a man right now; there was too much at stake here in Skyler.
    â€œIt might not be my place to ask,” Thad said, “but who are you, ma‘am? I haven’t seen you around town before today.” He removed his hat as he addressed her, revealing his high forehead and long auburn hair. A shave might have helped, but he still cut a handsome figure.
    â€œMy name is Jessica Starbuck,” she replied without hesitation. “And what might yours be?”
    â€œThaddeus Hill, ma‘am. My friends call me Thad.”
    â€œAnd my friends call me Jessie—not ‘ma’am.‘”
    They both laughed. The ice was broken. They shook hands.
    â€œI suppose the next question is obvious,” Thad said. “You kin to the Starbuck kid they’re holding in jail?”
    Jessie stepped back onto the plankwalk from the street. Hill followed, saying, “You don’t have to tell me anything. I was out of line to ask.” He put a hand on her shoulder and she spun around to face him, anger building in her green eyes.
    â€œI must return to my room, please. Thank you for your concern.”
    â€œBut Jessie,” he blurted. “You can tell me. Maybe I can do something about it.” As the words spilled out, he knew he was talking foolishly. He didn’t even know her—or her problem.
    â€œNo, I really must go. I appreciate the thought.”
    â€œLook, either we stand here and argue about it, or