Read Online Savage Thunder by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B

shouted at her, couldn’t wait to ride off and never see her again. So it was a distinct surprise to find that he might, just might, be as aware of her as she was of him—that was, if she could construe those comments as complimentary.
    She quickly followed behind him again to try to explain. “It’s only been this last year that he’s been trying to kill me, you know. Before that his purpose was just to return me to England. Mine was to avoid that at all costs. It’s rather a long story, but the gist of it is that I have been running from that man for three years now, and quite frankly I’m tired of it.”
    He dusted his hat off by hitting it against his leg, then set it back on his head with the brim tilted forward rather rakishly. “It’s none of my business, ma’am.”
    “No, of course it isn’t. Indeed not. And I wouldn’t dream of embroiling you in my problems, especially after all you’ve done for me already.”
    He gave her a level look after so many words when a simple nod of agreement would have covered. “Glad to hear it,” he replied dryly.
    “I wasn’t exactly finished, Mr. Thunder.”
    “Look, don’t tack any ‘mister’ on my name. Call me either Colt or Thunder. I answer to both.”
    “As you wish. But as I was saying, I couldn’t help noticing how superbly adept you are with that revolver you carry.”
    “Superbly adept?” He grinned. “Lady, you sure have a fancy way of calling the kettle black.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Never mind. So what about it?”
    “What about—oh, yes. So are you by any chance for hire?”
    “You want Longnose killed?”
    That disturbed her, how easily he said it, without the least bit of emotion, but she tamped down the feeling. “No, just apprehend him and turn him over to whatever law officials there are in this territory. He’s wanted in New York for the murder of my solicitor.”
    “Your what?”
    “My American lawyer.”
    “Why’d he kill your lawyer?”
    “We have only been able to determine that the unfortunate man discovered him in his office, in the process of stealing the will I had just had executed that same day. It was the only thing missing from his office, according to his partner. And there were several witnesses whom he asked for directions to the lawyers’ office. They all swear it was an Englishman who questioned them. And besides, it’s not the first will I have made that has turned up missing.”
    “Sounds to me like all you need is a bounty hunter, ma’am, and that I’m not. Or better yet, just report what happened here to the town marshal over in Tombstone when you have the body turned in. All that’s needed is this fellow’s name and a description.”
    “But I don’t know his name or what he looks like.” At his frown, she quickly added, “John Longnose is just what we call him. All I know about him is that he’s as English as I am.”
    “Well, chances are there’s not another Englishman within a hundred miles of here, but you never know. I’ve seen others passing through, so it’d be easy enough to make a mistake. Your best bet, then, is to entrench and let him come to you. You did say you have guards?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Then you don’t need another gun.”
    Before it registered that he was refusing her offer, his gun was out again and going off. Jocelyn turned to see a long snake now minus its head, though the body was still wiggling, and she shuddered at how close it was behind her. She hadn’t heard it or sensed the danger. She didn’t need another gun? He had just proved that statement false.
    Colt glanced at her sideways after he tossed the snake away from them. He had to hand it to her. She’d been shot at, near snake-bit, and that was after her coach had crashed. And no telling what had happened before then. Yet she hadn’t made a fuss about any of it. Of course, that snake had managed to shut her up. She was the talkingest woman he’d ever met. Not that he minded. That accent of