Read Online The Outlaw's Kiss (an Old West Romance) (Wild West Brides) by Anya Karin - Free Book Online

screened pans along the creek.
When he was finished, he clapped his hands. “That does it! Now, tomorrow, we
come back and see where to go from here.”
    “That’s wonderful, father,” I said burying my
skepticism. “How do you tell?”
    Still with a broad grin, Father replied, “I was
hoping you knew. One more thing to ask Mr. Star about tomorrow before we head
out, I suppose!” He chuckled.
    I cringed. The mounting warnings, my father’s
eager unpreparedness, it all made me uneasy. I took a deep breath, filling my
lungs with the cooling early evening air. Even an hour’s ride from the town,
the air was crisper, cleaner; almost sweet as it filled my body.
    “Yes,” I said. “I suppose so. Let’s go home.”

Six
    September 18, 1878
    Deadwood, Dakota Territory
    ––––––––
    T wo days had passed without any excitement since my
last trip to the claim when I was awakened just after dawn by a rapturous
knocking at the front door.
    “Mr. James? You in?” It was Sol Star looking
rather disheveled. “Mr. James! Letter’s come, it was marked urgent!” I’d never
heard the man so upset. He was completely without that chipper, cheerful voice
to which I’d accustomed myself. “Mr. James?” He knocked again.
    “Goodness, Mr. Star. What could be the matter?”
Father opened the door dressed only in his long johns and trousers. His
suspenders weren’t even pulled up yet, and he still had the remnants of his
morning shave on his jaw. “Has someone died?”
    Mr. Star’s hand hung frozen in the air for a
moment as though he’d never seen someone in such disarray. His mouth flapped
soundlessly like a confused fish. “Apologies, Mr. James,” he finally said.
“Very sorry about the early call and the urgency, but I’ve gotten a message
from New York for you.”
    “A message? How?”
    “By way of telegraph. I have a number of talents.”
Mr. Star laughed nervously. “Most of which revolve around delivering things to
people and trying to convince them to pay me upon receipt of said. At any rate,
would you like me to read the message to you, or are you equipped to –”
    “You mean can I read? Yes I’m fine to read. Thank
you, Mr. Star,” Father reached out to accept the small, brown, folded paper.
Almost at the same instant, Mr. Star touched the brim of his derby and turned
on his heel to depart.
    With our visitor gone, I descended the stairs
still in my nightclothes. “What is it father? Something urgent from the sound
of things.”
    He shrugged. “It’s from Francis.”
    “Good news?” I asked.
    “Hardly.” His shoulders slumped visibly. “He says
our latest railroad investment has gone rather badly.”
    From the way he was gnawing his mustache, ‘rather
badly’ was a grand understatement. “Oh, too bad,” I said. “Is the loss
worrying?”
    “It’s nothing.” He stuffed the envelope in his
pocket. “I don’t mean to shush you, Clara. You’re a good girl, asking after
your father’s business. In truth, it is quite bad. Very worrying, but nothing
we can’t cure with a few thousand pounds of gold.”
    Father pursed his lips. He was too proud to admit
just how worried he was, but I could easily tell. I patted him on the shoulder.
“Well, what shall we do? Dress and get to the claim?”
    “You’re coming with me? I thought you had quite
enough of being wet and sweaty and-”
    He was interrupted with another, less urgent,
series of knocks.
    “Well I’ll be. Damned people showing up at all
hours and,” he trailed off into a nearly inaudible series of grumbles. “I could
really do without this sort of business of a morning,” he said to me before
turning to the door and asking after who was knocking.
    “Eustace Rawls, calling, Mr. James. I brought some
refreshments up from the inn’s buffet if you’re taken with a hunger.”
    A heavy sigh made my father’s shoulders rise
almost to his ears before he exhaled with a groan. “Right, give me one moment,
if you please.