Read Online The Lawman's Betrayal by Sandi Hampton - Free Book Online Page B

enough. Hopefully, no one would recognize her. He chewed on his bottom lip as he debated whether or not to give her name. He’d make that call only if he had to.
    Somewhere close, a dog barked, alarming the ranch hands. Lights appeared in the main house and the bunkhouse windows. Men filled the yard. The sound of weapons being cocked sent alarm washing over him. He held up his hands. “Hello the house. It’s Wes Cooper. I’m coming in. Don’t shoot.”
    “Marshal? Is that you?”
    “Yeah, Robert. Okay we come in?”
    “Sure.”
    A large, gray-bearded man materialized out of the darkness, a rifle in his hand. Wes lifted his leg over the saddle horn and slid to the ground. “Sorry to bother you at this hour, Robert, but we’ve been riding for quite a spell.” He shook the man’s hand. “We’re exhausted and hungry.”
    “We can take care of that, Coop. We was just sitting down to dinner.” Robert motioned at two young men by his side. “You remember my two sons, John and Joseph. Boys, meet U.S. Marshal Wes Cooper. Best damned lawman in the country.”
    Wes grinned. “That’s a mite overrated, Robert.”
    “Not a bit. Who you got there with you?”
    “A lady I’m escorting to Gila Bend. Robert Caine, meet Naomi.” As he lifted her from the saddle, she swayed against him.
    “Howdy, ma’am. Come on in the house.”
    “Thanks, Robert,” Wes said, “but first, do you think you could get a couple of men to stand guard. We’re being chased by some pretty bad hombres.”
    The older man shot him a sharp glance. “Sure. How many of them are there?”
    “Not sure. Four, maybe five.”
    “Five, huh? Okay. Pete, you and Bob take a few men and be on the lookout. Fire one shot if you see anyone, and we’ll come running.”
    “Sure, boss.”
    As Wes followed Robert toward the house, he almost had to drag Naomi behind him. Even in the gray light, he saw her bite down on her bottom lip. With his shirt hanging to her knees, she looked very young and vulnerable. He wanted to put his arm around her shoulders and assure her everything would be all right, but he didn’t dare because things might turn out to be disastrous.
    A tall, raw-boned woman waited at the door, gray hair pulled tightly back. Sally Caine wasn’t a pretty woman, but she had a heart of gold. Many times she’d welcomed Wes like a member of the family. He could only hope she’d do the same tonight. Naomi faced ostracism in Gila Bend—he wanted her left alone for this evening.
    Sally hugged him, then turned to Naomi. “Cooper, what have you done? This poor child looks worn out.” She huffed out a breath. “Men! Not a brain between you. You come with me, honey. I’ll see you get a bath, some hot tea, and something to eat.”
    “But—”
    “John, have Cook fix a steak for the marshal.”
    “Yes, Ma.”
    As her son headed for the kitchen, Sally hustled Naomi through the hallway and up the stairs.
    “Come on in the den, Wes,” Robert said. “You look like you could use a glass of something a little bit stronger than tea.”
    “Sure could.” He laughed and rubbed the stubble of his beard. “Maybe more than one.” He followed the men into the den.
    As Robert sat behind the big mahogany desk, he motioned toward a huge leather chair. “Try that one, Coop. It’s good for sitting.”
    Wes slumped into the chair, sinking into its soft depths. He stretched out his long legs. “Ahhh. That’s a helluva lot more comfortable than my saddle. Best thing about getting in a saddle is getting out of it. You’re not a lawman until you’ve developed a cast-iron backside.”
    “Or a rancher.” Robert laughed as he retrieved a bottle from the liquor cabinet and splashed the amber liquid into four glasses. His other son returned, and the older man handed a glass to each one of them.
    Wes gulped it down, then grinned and held out the glass. “That cuts the dust nicely. Hit me again.”
    With a wry smile, Robert refilled the glass. This time Wes