Read Online Outlaw's Bride by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lori Copeland
Ads: Link
terrorized Barren Flats. She detested them all for the misery they caused innocent people, and Johnny McAllister was no better than any of them. At least that’s what the law said. If Judge Leonard hadn’t shown this particular hoodlum leniency, he would have hanged by now.
Judge McMann changed the subject. “You attended the meeting yesterday, John. Think hiring Mercer is a smart move?”
Annoyance flooded Ragan. The town didn’t need a shootist. What they needed was less talk and more action on their part.
“Well?” The judge prompted when Johnny didn’t answer.
“Perhaps Mr. McAllister doesn’t care to offer his advice.” Ragan set a stack of plates on the table. The prisoner had made that clear when Procky broached the subject earlier.
Judge McMann glanced up. “Is that true, Mr. McAllister? I don’t want to bother you. I just thought that now you’d had a spell to think about the problem, you might have advice that might help some fellow or someone on down the line. You know, ‘Do unto others.’ ”
Johnny reached for another button. “Clean out of advice, Judge.”
The older man cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “I understand the circumstances of your involvement in the bank robbery are questionable.”
Silence dominated the room. Then, “I told you. I’m innocent. I didn’t commit that robbery.”
Judge McMann glanced at Ragan and continued. “You can be honest with us. We’re all in this situation together, and you might aswell reconcile yourself to the fact that you’re going to be here a while, sure as the sun comes up in the east. Now, Ragan and I, we’re bound to this project by endless hours of research and writing. I must say, I still harbor the hope that the program will work and will be of benefit to future generations. I’d say you’d better lower your guard and make the most of your situation.”
It was as close to a lecture as Ragan had ever heard from Procky.
The judge leaned forward and patted Kitty. “Isn’t that what you’d say, old girl?”
Kitty merely rubbed against McAllister’s leg. Her wound was barely discernible now. Back and forth she moved, gracefully arching her back and purring loudly. Johnny moved his foot to the side. The cat followed, rubbing against his boot.
He met the judge’s gaze evenly. “Judge Leonard has my grandfather’s pistol. I intend to get that pistol back.”
“And you will, as long as you serve your sentence with no trouble. Break your word, and the matter is out of my hands. We’re not going to ride shotgun on you. You have access to tools of destruction—such as the ax for chopping wood. What you choose to do is your responsibility. The idea of the program is to allow a convicted man to prove his say. Have you had your say, Mr. McAllister?”
Johnny reached for another shirt. “I won’t give you any trouble.” He gave the cat a slight nudge with his boot. She moved back to sit beside the judge.
“I’m glad to hear it. We should get along fine.” Judge McMann wheeled his chair from the table. Patting his knee, he invited Kitty to join him. She leaped gracefully to his lap, and he chuckled when her nose nudged his ruddy cheek. “Yes, old girl, I love you too.”
His eyes met Johnny’s look over the cat’s head.
Ragan reached for the shirt, taking it out of his hand. “I’ll finish the mending. There’s another pile of wood to be split.”
Johnny was on his feet before she completed the sentence. The judge reached to steady the table.
“Supper’s in a half hour,” Ragan called as he disappeared out thescreen door. She slid a pan of cornbread into the oven, avoiding the judge’s gaze. “I believe he’d rather do men’s work than sew on buttons.”
Judge chuckled. “That’s the impression I get.”
“I’m not sure about the wisdom of handing an ax to a prisoner.”
“In some cases I’d say no, but I don’t believe McAllister’s a threat.
I’m surprised you’ve kept him inside
Judge McMann changed the subject. “You attended the meeting yesterday, John. Think hiring Mercer is a smart move?”
Annoyance flooded Ragan. The town didn’t need a shootist. What they needed was less talk and more action on their part.
“Well?” The judge prompted when Johnny didn’t answer.
“Perhaps Mr. McAllister doesn’t care to offer his advice.” Ragan set a stack of plates on the table. The prisoner had made that clear when Procky broached the subject earlier.
Judge McMann glanced up. “Is that true, Mr. McAllister? I don’t want to bother you. I just thought that now you’d had a spell to think about the problem, you might have advice that might help some fellow or someone on down the line. You know, ‘Do unto others.’ ”
Johnny reached for another button. “Clean out of advice, Judge.”
The older man cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. “I understand the circumstances of your involvement in the bank robbery are questionable.”
Silence dominated the room. Then, “I told you. I’m innocent. I didn’t commit that robbery.”
Judge McMann glanced at Ragan and continued. “You can be honest with us. We’re all in this situation together, and you might aswell reconcile yourself to the fact that you’re going to be here a while, sure as the sun comes up in the east. Now, Ragan and I, we’re bound to this project by endless hours of research and writing. I must say, I still harbor the hope that the program will work and will be of benefit to future generations. I’d say you’d better lower your guard and make the most of your situation.”
It was as close to a lecture as Ragan had ever heard from Procky.
The judge leaned forward and patted Kitty. “Isn’t that what you’d say, old girl?”
Kitty merely rubbed against McAllister’s leg. Her wound was barely discernible now. Back and forth she moved, gracefully arching her back and purring loudly. Johnny moved his foot to the side. The cat followed, rubbing against his boot.
He met the judge’s gaze evenly. “Judge Leonard has my grandfather’s pistol. I intend to get that pistol back.”
“And you will, as long as you serve your sentence with no trouble. Break your word, and the matter is out of my hands. We’re not going to ride shotgun on you. You have access to tools of destruction—such as the ax for chopping wood. What you choose to do is your responsibility. The idea of the program is to allow a convicted man to prove his say. Have you had your say, Mr. McAllister?”
Johnny reached for another shirt. “I won’t give you any trouble.” He gave the cat a slight nudge with his boot. She moved back to sit beside the judge.
“I’m glad to hear it. We should get along fine.” Judge McMann wheeled his chair from the table. Patting his knee, he invited Kitty to join him. She leaped gracefully to his lap, and he chuckled when her nose nudged his ruddy cheek. “Yes, old girl, I love you too.”
His eyes met Johnny’s look over the cat’s head.
Ragan reached for the shirt, taking it out of his hand. “I’ll finish the mending. There’s another pile of wood to be split.”
Johnny was on his feet before she completed the sentence. The judge reached to steady the table.
“Supper’s in a half hour,” Ragan called as he disappeared out thescreen door. She slid a pan of cornbread into the oven, avoiding the judge’s gaze. “I believe he’d rather do men’s work than sew on buttons.”
Judge chuckled. “That’s the impression I get.”
“I’m not sure about the wisdom of handing an ax to a prisoner.”
“In some cases I’d say no, but I don’t believe McAllister’s a threat.
I’m surprised you’ve kept him inside
Similar Books
