Read Online The Gallows' Bounty (West of Second Chances) by Desiree Banks - Free Book Online
Authors: Desiree Banks
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her what she deserved. I did that. She’ll have a life of misery with a man like Butcher Boden.”
The Boss’s hand sliced angrily through the darkness. French nearly expected a bullet to follow the gesture and put an end to his comfortable life. Well, maybe it wasn’t too comfortable right now. But he had plans, if he could stay alive long enough.
“You haven’t listened to all the tales about the great Butcher Boden, have you? He may hunt down the criminals like they are animals, but he has a soft spot for the weak and defenseless. He’ll most likely treat the woman like gold, you fool,” the Boss explained, appearing a tall silhouette against the night sky.
“She’ll be taken care of, Butcher Boden or no,” the sheriff asserted, finding some of his backbone. “You’ll get just what you wanted either way.”
“You’d better hope so, French, or I’ll be gunnin’ for you next.” French thought the Boss smiled, for there was a flash of white in the darkness.
The sheriff stood. “Sure wish I knew why you’re going through all this trouble just to kill a woman.”
“If I’d wanted you to know, I’d have told you, but as it stands, you’ll just take my money and do as I say.”
“So, what should I do now?” Sheriff French asked.
“Lay low for now. I’ll let you know what to do when the time comes. I may be hiring myself some reinforcements.” There was a pause, and then, “It’ll take more than a two-bit sheriff to kill a woman the Butcher’s protectin’.”
“I ain’t no two-bit sheriff,” French spat back, refusing to back down.
“You’re not?” the Boss asked derisively.
The Boss left then, leaving behind a fuming Sheriff French.
Chapter Five
B ODEN AWOKE SOMEWHERE AROUND midnight. He turned from his side to his back and stretched. Sleeping on the floor was even more uncomfortable than he remembered. He wasn’t sure if his awkward position had awakened him or if it had been something else altogether. Sleeping lightly was often essential to his survival, and tonight concern made him more alert than usual. Perhaps Willow had made a noise.
He listened for any sound from the bed, but heard nothing besides the gentle rain hitting the roof and windows. Reassured that he’d only awakened because of the kink in his back, he still couldn’t return to sleep. He decided to check on Willow while he was awake. The floorboards and his knees creaked as he rose to his feet. He took the last few steps to the bed and bent over the sleeping form of his wife.
His bride.
He was married, and he wasn’t even sure he was the marrying kind. He liked his solitary life. Its routine offered him a sense of security he’d not had in years, but he knew it was more than that. Out here he couldn’t hurt anyone, or for that matter, be hurt by anyone. He was alone on the Box B.
You’re not alone anymore , he reminded himself. He had family now. It didn’t matter that he knew so little of said family, that he had met her on the gallows, that she had struck him over the head. He’d promised to take care of her, and Ezra Boden took his promises seriously.
He stretched out his hand and rested it gently on her forehead. She was burning up. What was he to do about that?
A cold cloth.
His mother had always put a cold cloth on his fevered brow. He walked into the kitchen and dipped a clean towel into a bucket of well water before walking back to the bedroom.
He folded the cloth and laid it across Willow’s forehead. He couldn’t see much of her in the darkness. He lit a lamp and turned it low. The paleness of her skin and the unhealthy flush of her cheeks struck him first. The second thing he noticed was that the sheet had fallen low on her body. He couldn’t help thinking that she looked a bit like a calico kitten, defenseless as she was and with all those bruises. He covered her up and Boden promised himself
The Boss’s hand sliced angrily through the darkness. French nearly expected a bullet to follow the gesture and put an end to his comfortable life. Well, maybe it wasn’t too comfortable right now. But he had plans, if he could stay alive long enough.
“You haven’t listened to all the tales about the great Butcher Boden, have you? He may hunt down the criminals like they are animals, but he has a soft spot for the weak and defenseless. He’ll most likely treat the woman like gold, you fool,” the Boss explained, appearing a tall silhouette against the night sky.
“She’ll be taken care of, Butcher Boden or no,” the sheriff asserted, finding some of his backbone. “You’ll get just what you wanted either way.”
“You’d better hope so, French, or I’ll be gunnin’ for you next.” French thought the Boss smiled, for there was a flash of white in the darkness.
The sheriff stood. “Sure wish I knew why you’re going through all this trouble just to kill a woman.”
“If I’d wanted you to know, I’d have told you, but as it stands, you’ll just take my money and do as I say.”
“So, what should I do now?” Sheriff French asked.
“Lay low for now. I’ll let you know what to do when the time comes. I may be hiring myself some reinforcements.” There was a pause, and then, “It’ll take more than a two-bit sheriff to kill a woman the Butcher’s protectin’.”
“I ain’t no two-bit sheriff,” French spat back, refusing to back down.
“You’re not?” the Boss asked derisively.
The Boss left then, leaving behind a fuming Sheriff French.
Chapter Five
B ODEN AWOKE SOMEWHERE AROUND midnight. He turned from his side to his back and stretched. Sleeping on the floor was even more uncomfortable than he remembered. He wasn’t sure if his awkward position had awakened him or if it had been something else altogether. Sleeping lightly was often essential to his survival, and tonight concern made him more alert than usual. Perhaps Willow had made a noise.
He listened for any sound from the bed, but heard nothing besides the gentle rain hitting the roof and windows. Reassured that he’d only awakened because of the kink in his back, he still couldn’t return to sleep. He decided to check on Willow while he was awake. The floorboards and his knees creaked as he rose to his feet. He took the last few steps to the bed and bent over the sleeping form of his wife.
His bride.
He was married, and he wasn’t even sure he was the marrying kind. He liked his solitary life. Its routine offered him a sense of security he’d not had in years, but he knew it was more than that. Out here he couldn’t hurt anyone, or for that matter, be hurt by anyone. He was alone on the Box B.
You’re not alone anymore , he reminded himself. He had family now. It didn’t matter that he knew so little of said family, that he had met her on the gallows, that she had struck him over the head. He’d promised to take care of her, and Ezra Boden took his promises seriously.
He stretched out his hand and rested it gently on her forehead. She was burning up. What was he to do about that?
A cold cloth.
His mother had always put a cold cloth on his fevered brow. He walked into the kitchen and dipped a clean towel into a bucket of well water before walking back to the bedroom.
He folded the cloth and laid it across Willow’s forehead. He couldn’t see much of her in the darkness. He lit a lamp and turned it low. The paleness of her skin and the unhealthy flush of her cheeks struck him first. The second thing he noticed was that the sheet had fallen low on her body. He couldn’t help thinking that she looked a bit like a calico kitten, defenseless as she was and with all those bruises. He covered her up and Boden promised himself
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