Read Online Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona by Miralee Ferrell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Miralee Ferrell
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two buildings with a burly man not far behind. Nevada scratched his head and grinned at the comical sight. Must be a tolerable mouse or rat problem if men chased cats up the alleyways.
The door of a saloon a block away slammed open, and a young man stalked out. He didn’t bother to check for passersby but barreled onto the boardwalk, pushing through anyone who got in his way. More than one man tossed an oath at his back as he headed up the street away from Nevada. Must have lost at the gaming tables. Nevada suppressed a chuckle. Hopefully the young fellow would learn early that a man and his money are easily parted in places like this one.
Seconds later a young lady dashed out, waving her hand. He couldn’t understand the words she called over the noise in the street, but she looked fit to be tied. Poor woman. Must be hard up if she had to work in a saloon and chase down customers when they wanted to leave. Nevada made it a half block in the opposite direction when realization hit him hard. That green dress and hat…he’d seen it before—a few hours ago, to be exact. Why hadn’t he paid closer attention? He whirled around and started forward, looking up the street on both sides. Straining to see through the crowd, he tried to get a glimpse of the green dress, but both the man and woman had disappeared as though they hadn’t existed.
He slowed his pace, disappointment slapping at him. When had he started fantasizing the girl needed rescuing and he could be the one to do so? Obviously she could take care of herself if she’d already made her way to a gambling hall. Had she come to Tombstone for that reason and gone straight to the business wanting to hire her? He shook his head in disgust. Never had he understood women who lured men to drink themselves into a stupor for a living—or worse.
Yet, somehow, he still wished he’d gotten a glimpse of her face.
Christy’s ire rose with each step and she clenched her fingers into fists as she hurried along behind her brother. Joshua strode ahead without looking back. When she caught up, she’d love to box his ears like she’d done when he was a little scrap. What had changed the young man she remembered into someone ready to pick a fight? Even two years ago, when she’d last seen him, he hadn’t evidenced this degree of anger. She realized men in this country must stand up for what they believed, and if a card shark was cheating, it might be appropriate to call him on it. But drawing your gun and killing the man? No. That was too much.
They left the business district behind and entered a row of houses. Shacks, more like it. She shuddered as she looked around. Ma would never agree to live like this. At least she didn’t have to worry about Joshua stopping at one of these hovels.
“Joshua.” Christy raised her voice, making sure he could hear her, but he didn’t slow his pace.
And men thought women were cantankerous creatures. She grasped her skirt with one hand and lifted her hem. Time to catch that young scamp before he arrived wherever he might be headed.
“I say, Joshua. Wait for me!” The increased pace jarred her arm and she gasped. She gritted her teeth and kept going. A few more trotting strides and she almost drew even with her brother. “Joshua, stop walking this minute.”
He seemed to wake from an angry stupor and came to an abrupt halt, letting her plunge on past him two full steps before catching herself and stopping. “What? Can’t you see I’m heading home?”
Panting for breath, she placed her hand over her heart to still its racing. “I had no notion where you might be headed, but I’ll admit I’d hoped it wasn’t home, considering our surroundings.” She glanced around her at the low adobe buildings and the shanties built out of scraps of lumber—some covered with only a canvas roof that a strong puff of wind could easily remove.
Joshua rounded on her and crossed his arms on his chest. “You too good for the likes of this
The door of a saloon a block away slammed open, and a young man stalked out. He didn’t bother to check for passersby but barreled onto the boardwalk, pushing through anyone who got in his way. More than one man tossed an oath at his back as he headed up the street away from Nevada. Must have lost at the gaming tables. Nevada suppressed a chuckle. Hopefully the young fellow would learn early that a man and his money are easily parted in places like this one.
Seconds later a young lady dashed out, waving her hand. He couldn’t understand the words she called over the noise in the street, but she looked fit to be tied. Poor woman. Must be hard up if she had to work in a saloon and chase down customers when they wanted to leave. Nevada made it a half block in the opposite direction when realization hit him hard. That green dress and hat…he’d seen it before—a few hours ago, to be exact. Why hadn’t he paid closer attention? He whirled around and started forward, looking up the street on both sides. Straining to see through the crowd, he tried to get a glimpse of the green dress, but both the man and woman had disappeared as though they hadn’t existed.
He slowed his pace, disappointment slapping at him. When had he started fantasizing the girl needed rescuing and he could be the one to do so? Obviously she could take care of herself if she’d already made her way to a gambling hall. Had she come to Tombstone for that reason and gone straight to the business wanting to hire her? He shook his head in disgust. Never had he understood women who lured men to drink themselves into a stupor for a living—or worse.
Yet, somehow, he still wished he’d gotten a glimpse of her face.
Christy’s ire rose with each step and she clenched her fingers into fists as she hurried along behind her brother. Joshua strode ahead without looking back. When she caught up, she’d love to box his ears like she’d done when he was a little scrap. What had changed the young man she remembered into someone ready to pick a fight? Even two years ago, when she’d last seen him, he hadn’t evidenced this degree of anger. She realized men in this country must stand up for what they believed, and if a card shark was cheating, it might be appropriate to call him on it. But drawing your gun and killing the man? No. That was too much.
They left the business district behind and entered a row of houses. Shacks, more like it. She shuddered as she looked around. Ma would never agree to live like this. At least she didn’t have to worry about Joshua stopping at one of these hovels.
“Joshua.” Christy raised her voice, making sure he could hear her, but he didn’t slow his pace.
And men thought women were cantankerous creatures. She grasped her skirt with one hand and lifted her hem. Time to catch that young scamp before he arrived wherever he might be headed.
“I say, Joshua. Wait for me!” The increased pace jarred her arm and she gasped. She gritted her teeth and kept going. A few more trotting strides and she almost drew even with her brother. “Joshua, stop walking this minute.”
He seemed to wake from an angry stupor and came to an abrupt halt, letting her plunge on past him two full steps before catching herself and stopping. “What? Can’t you see I’m heading home?”
Panting for breath, she placed her hand over her heart to still its racing. “I had no notion where you might be headed, but I’ll admit I’d hoped it wasn’t home, considering our surroundings.” She glanced around her at the low adobe buildings and the shanties built out of scraps of lumber—some covered with only a canvas roof that a strong puff of wind could easily remove.
Joshua rounded on her and crossed his arms on his chest. “You too good for the likes of this
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