to appear and maybe substitute in as Celia‘s new husband, and Parker might wind up dead in the bargain.”
Only a year older than Celia, Jared had a good dose of the same hot-tempered disposition. He spat out, “Jesus, I think you might be right, John.”
Colter attempted a pleasant smile but it came off as a sickly smirk. “Look, boys—”
“If John is right, that‘s the dumbest plan I‘ve ever heard of, Colter.” Jared slightly shook his blond head in derision, but his gaze stayed watchful. “Even if you managed to pull it off and coerce Celia into marrying you, your life would be a living hell, man. Not that you‘d suffer for too long, because I‘d kill you, if she didn‘t do the job first.”
They must have hit close to home, because Colter‘s mouth tightened and his eyes glittered. “Last I knew, your sister was kidnapped. That‘s against the law, even here. Let‘s just say my affection for her compels me to make sure she isn‘t made to do anything against her will. West should be strung up for taking an innocent woman by force up into the mountains for the better part of a week. The judge happens to agree.”
John gave a small, hard laugh. “I‘m sure he agreed after he saw your money. And for your information, it‘s damned hard to make Celia do anything she doesn‘t want to do. If she‘s marrying Parker West, it‘s because she wants to marry him. If I didn‘t think that, Josh, Jared, or myself would take care of the matter, believe me. This isn‘t your affair.”
“I can‘t see as how you all have taken care of anything. You let him ride off with her.” Jealousy, open and undisguised, twisted Colter‘s face. “She‘s soiled goods now, but I‘m still willing to make her an honest woman.”
“What‘d you call my sister?” Jared‘s face had gone livid, but his voice was icy and his hand hovered close to his hip.
Colter wasn‘t a complete fool. He could hear the very real menace in the question and his expression changed from fury to fear as his swarthy complexion went pale. Several of his men moved uneasily, showing their discomfort with the situation. One of them muttered something under his breath about not signing on for a big fight over a woman.
The last thing John wanted was for things to get out of hand. Since they stood in the middle of the street, here and there people had begun to notice the confrontation. John said tersely, “Look Rance, there‘s more of you, but all three of us are damn good shots and I‘m pretty sure your men here don‘t get paid enough to die. Besides, with Josh back there, we kinda got you surrounded. If we start firing, who knows what direction you need to look, and believe me, you go first. Here‘s what‘s going to happen. Your men are going to step aside. Then we are going into the courthouse, and you‘re going to tell the judge it‘s just fine to marry my sister and Parker West. In exchange for your cooperation, I‘ll do my best to keep him from killing you when he finds out what you‘ve been up to. Right now, I‘d guess he‘s already pretty mad. It takes a lot to get him going, but he can be dangerous if you push him too far.”
For a moment Colter looked like he might argue. Jared said in a brittle, sarcastic voice, “You got a second choice, of course. I could call you out for what you just said about Celia. You see, I‘m sure you know I‘m not nearly as reasonable as John here, and you just thoroughly pissed me off.”
Looking a little green, Colter visibly swallowed, obviously backing away from the challenge. “I meant no offense. I‘ve got some influence in these parts and I‘ll be happy to talk to the judge if that‘s what you all want.”
Every man with him looked a little disgusted, John was glad to see.
Jared said scathingly, “Yeah, that‘s kind of what I thought you‘d say, but I have to tell you, I‘m damned disappointed I don‘t get to kill you.”
———
Parker stared at the man sitting behind
Only a year older than Celia, Jared had a good dose of the same hot-tempered disposition. He spat out, “Jesus, I think you might be right, John.”
Colter attempted a pleasant smile but it came off as a sickly smirk. “Look, boys—”
“If John is right, that‘s the dumbest plan I‘ve ever heard of, Colter.” Jared slightly shook his blond head in derision, but his gaze stayed watchful. “Even if you managed to pull it off and coerce Celia into marrying you, your life would be a living hell, man. Not that you‘d suffer for too long, because I‘d kill you, if she didn‘t do the job first.”
They must have hit close to home, because Colter‘s mouth tightened and his eyes glittered. “Last I knew, your sister was kidnapped. That‘s against the law, even here. Let‘s just say my affection for her compels me to make sure she isn‘t made to do anything against her will. West should be strung up for taking an innocent woman by force up into the mountains for the better part of a week. The judge happens to agree.”
John gave a small, hard laugh. “I‘m sure he agreed after he saw your money. And for your information, it‘s damned hard to make Celia do anything she doesn‘t want to do. If she‘s marrying Parker West, it‘s because she wants to marry him. If I didn‘t think that, Josh, Jared, or myself would take care of the matter, believe me. This isn‘t your affair.”
“I can‘t see as how you all have taken care of anything. You let him ride off with her.” Jealousy, open and undisguised, twisted Colter‘s face. “She‘s soiled goods now, but I‘m still willing to make her an honest woman.”
“What‘d you call my sister?” Jared‘s face had gone livid, but his voice was icy and his hand hovered close to his hip.
Colter wasn‘t a complete fool. He could hear the very real menace in the question and his expression changed from fury to fear as his swarthy complexion went pale. Several of his men moved uneasily, showing their discomfort with the situation. One of them muttered something under his breath about not signing on for a big fight over a woman.
The last thing John wanted was for things to get out of hand. Since they stood in the middle of the street, here and there people had begun to notice the confrontation. John said tersely, “Look Rance, there‘s more of you, but all three of us are damn good shots and I‘m pretty sure your men here don‘t get paid enough to die. Besides, with Josh back there, we kinda got you surrounded. If we start firing, who knows what direction you need to look, and believe me, you go first. Here‘s what‘s going to happen. Your men are going to step aside. Then we are going into the courthouse, and you‘re going to tell the judge it‘s just fine to marry my sister and Parker West. In exchange for your cooperation, I‘ll do my best to keep him from killing you when he finds out what you‘ve been up to. Right now, I‘d guess he‘s already pretty mad. It takes a lot to get him going, but he can be dangerous if you push him too far.”
For a moment Colter looked like he might argue. Jared said in a brittle, sarcastic voice, “You got a second choice, of course. I could call you out for what you just said about Celia. You see, I‘m sure you know I‘m not nearly as reasonable as John here, and you just thoroughly pissed me off.”
Looking a little green, Colter visibly swallowed, obviously backing away from the challenge. “I meant no offense. I‘ve got some influence in these parts and I‘ll be happy to talk to the judge if that‘s what you all want.”
Every man with him looked a little disgusted, John was glad to see.
Jared said scathingly, “Yeah, that‘s kind of what I thought you‘d say, but I have to tell you, I‘m damned disappointed I don‘t get to kill you.”
———
Parker stared at the man sitting behind
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