Read Online Melinda Heads West by Robyn Corum - Free Book Online Page B

knowledge that Boone was a member of law forces. “You’re a marshal? Why didn’t you tell us?”
    “Drop it, Mindy. I had a job to do. All that matters is I failed.”

Chapter Sixteen
    There was one more night to get through in the journey toward their destination. The scrawny old man had promised to send help by the morrow. Mindy had been given the option to ride along, but wouldn’t leave her charges.
    Lucas and Boone began to grow antsy and ill-tempered as they realized they would soon be home. They were ready to be on with their lives.
    As dusk turned into a deepening twilight, the three sat fireside, studying one another, lost in thought. A chilly wind had swept in and they were huddled close to the warmth of the flickering flames.
    “So, you never told us what you were doing on this trip in the first place,” Boone said, looking at Mindy. “Why would a young lady be traveling alone?”
    Mindy sniffed. “It was supposed to be a simple trip from Mississippi to Kansas to pick up a title to property left us by my uncle. Have you heard of The Blue Saloon? That’s where it’s being held.”
    “A saloon? Well, that’s a great way to end a trip like this!” Boone said, with fire in his eyes.
    “I only plan to pick up the title, not apply for employment.”
    “Has anyone ever told you that you can be a little stupid? A nice lady doesn’t travel alone in these parts. She certainly wouldn’t visit establishments like that, either. Have you thought about what would have happened to you if you had ridden along with Gibb? Have you considered that at all?”
    “Yes,” Mindy said. “I thought about that as soon as I saw him. I could have been lying there alongside him.”
    “Only if you were lucky! Those men would have carted you off with them … for more than an afternoon ride into the country.”
    Mindy blanched. That thought had not occurred to her.
    “What if Lucas, here, or — me — weren’t gentlemen?”
    She snorted. “Perhaps I would have been better off with the Bylers, if you represent a gentleman.”
    Boone stared hard into her green eyes. “I’m being serious. You have to be more careful. What if we leave you in Tipton and you go off on another harebrained adventure?”
    “I don’t plan to go off on another adventure, Gary Boone! I didn’t plan on this one! And besides, when I get to Tipton, I’ll be no concern of yours, anyway. What do you care?”
    Rubbing his hands and holding them in front of the fire, Lucas joined in. “You two never stop, do you? Can you leave go for a while, at least?”
    “Stupid,” Boone said. “You can’t fix stupid. My momma always said you can love it and you can pet it, but you can’t fix it.”
    Mindy’s body drew up into a hard line. “How dare you say something like that! You don’t know me! You don’t know anything about me!”
    It was Boone’s turn to snort. “I reckon I do. We’ve spent every minute together for the last … six days. I’ve seen what I need to see to sum you up pretty well.”
    “Well, that makes two of us! And do you want to know what I’ve decided? You’re a heathen! A filthy, good-for-nothing heathen! You can’t see anything past the end of your nose!” Mindy stood up and walked off into the woods.
    The two men stared at each other. “Do you think she’s gone off to take care of business, or decided to walk on to Tipton without us?” Lucas finally said.
    Boone cursed and stood up. He stalked to the edge of the forest line. “Mindy! Mindy?” He glanced back at Lucas, then straightened his shoulders and strode into the brambles.
    Boone heard the sound of sobbing and it wrenched his gut. How many times had she cried in the last few days? Enough to wash away every sin he’d ever had, that was for sure. Too bad it wouldn’t work. He crept up to her softly. “Mindy, are you okay?”
    “Yes! Of course I’m okay! I’m always okay! That’s my lot in life. When my brothers got hurt and had to be stitched up, it