Read Online Slocum and the Hellfire Harem (9781101613382) by Jake Logan - Free Book Online Page B

truth, it added to his guess that these were the women that the raging, sunburned, Bible-thumping farmer and his sons had lost. Besides, he’d seen no signs of bandits, so his suspicions had been confirmed much earlier.
    With an image of the sunburned five in mind, he didn’t blame these women one bit for leaving. But they must have been the ones to tie up the men. He shuddered involuntarily. These were dangerous, vengeful women. Women who appeared to be in a hurry. Question was—what finally made them leave?
    He looked around the table at all the freshly scrubbed faces, young and older, and decided to hold his tongue for the time being. They obviously wanted to keep to their own business, and he had to remind himself that he had business of his own, too. “After this fine meal, I’ll have to ride on out. That rascal won’t catch himself. But I thank you kindly for your eventual hospitality.” He smiled and was pleased to see the old woman did the same. “Now, I know how you reacted before, but I’m going to ask again anyway.”
    They all stopped eating and looked at him with sudden suspicion.
    â€œYou’re sure you saw no other person. Hard fellow to miss. He might have been wearing a red shirt, sandy hair, needs a trim and a shave, shorter than me, and riding a dun mare?”
    â€œWe ain’t seen him, that’s a fact. But what did he do?” said the old woman, picking at her food.
    He glanced at the children, then back to her. “Quite a few bad things. Bad as it gets. Killed innocent people. They were friends of mine.”
    The older lady’s face grew stony, her eyes sad. “I am right sorry to hear that about your friends. I didn’t mean to pry.”
    Ruth looked at him with questioning eyes. “You’re following him to avenge your friends? Not for a reward?”
    â€œNo, I don’t want any reward. I want him.” He paused and again looked at the kids. “I want him to be punished for what he did. And so do a lot of other people.”
    â€œYou can’t leave, Mr. Slocum.” Ruth gripped his forearm.
    Her mother said, “And why not? The man has things to do and so do we. Like lighting a shuck for . . . other places. We need to be headed on out ourselves.”
    â€œI’d recommend you wait until first light, ma’am.” Slocum looked out the open door at the waning light.
    â€œOh, I see,” she said, setting down her spoon. “What’s sauce for the goose ain’t necessarily sauce for the gander, eh, Mr. Slocum?”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I mean. But only because I have experience traveling at night and you don’t. Besides, you’ll be rested and ready to roll first thing in the morning.”
    â€œWell then, Mr. Slocum,” said Ruth, showing him those glinting peepers again. “Why don’t you take your own advice.”
    And the last thing he needed was for one of the kids to yawn. Soon, every mouth around the table, full of food or no, opened wide in a yawn, his included, try as he might to stifle it. He squinted at Ruth. “You planned that,” he said, sighing and shaking his head. “I’ll bunk down in the barn out back, head out at first light.” He pushed back from the table and nodded toward the entire crew. “My compliments, ladies. That was one fine feed. Now, if you all will excuse me.”
    He’d been more tired than he’d expected. Within seconds he shucked his boots and once again unbuttoned his shirt and slipped out of it. He laid his head on his saddle and welcomed an easy sleep, his long, lean form stretched out on his bedroll on the dusty old hay in a back corner of the barn. He’d slept in more comfortable spots, but rarely one with so many curious creatures so close by. He drifted off to sleep, thinking thoughts of what might have been, particularly with that curious firebrand named Ruth.
    It was the