Read Online Utah Terror : Utah Terror (9781101606971) by Jon Sharpe - Free Book Online

yet.”
    Terry sat up straighter. “What? Why not, in God’s name? Why stick around?”
    â€œI’m a prickly cuss.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Noirin asked. “It’s our daughter’s life we’re talking about. Whatever reason you have for staying, it can’t be more important than she is.”
    â€œIt doesn’t have to be tonight,” Terry sought to compromise. “It could be tomorrow night or the next.”
    â€œTerrence,” Noirin said.
    Terry reached over and placed his hand on hers. “The important thing is that he takes her.”
    â€œTonight is best, I tell you,” Noirin insisted. Pulling her hand free, she bent across the table toward Fargo. “Would money change your mind?”
    â€œNoirin,” Terry said.
    She ignored him. “We don’t have a lot but what we do have is yours if you’ll take Flanna away from here this very night. Two thousand dollars, every penny we’ve saved, and it’s yours.”
    â€œNoirin,” Terry said again.
    Noirin motioned in annoyance. “Hush. I’m trying to strike a bargain with our guest.”
    â€œIf I take her,” Fargo said, “it will be because I want to.”
    â€œNow you’ve done it, woman,” Terry said to his wife. “You’ve gone and insulted him.”
    â€œWhere’s the insult in paying him for his trouble?” Noirin countered. “He knows how much she means to us.”
    â€œYou’re suggesting he has a mercenary nature,” Terry said. “Some men wouldn’t like that.”
    â€œThat’s pride, that is,” Noirin said. “And I won’t let pride stand in the way of our daughter being safe and free.” Her eyes bored into Fargo’s. “What do you say? You could take her to Salt Lake City. It’s the nearest town of any size, and civilized. She could find lodgings and wait for us to join her.”
    â€œIt’s overrun with Mormons,” Terry said.
    â€œTerrence O’Brien,” Noirin scolded. “Since when did you become intolerant of the religion of others? Besides, Salt Lake is to the east and well out of Han’s influence. He came here by way of San Francisco, where he still has considerable sway.”
    Fargo glanced at Flanna. She studiously avoided looking at him. He reckoned it would take a week or better for them to get there. All those nights, alone under the stars. “I might be willing to,” he conceded.
    â€œMight isn’t good enough,” Noirin said. “We need your solemn promise.”
    â€œMight is all you get for now,” Fargo said.
    â€œWe’ve invited you into our home, we’ve fed you, and you treat us like this?” Noirin snapped.
    Terry pounded the table so hard, the dishes and silverware jumped. “That will be quite enough. Keep this up and he’ll refuse to spite you.”
    â€œSurely not,” Noirin said.
    Sighing, Terry gestured at Fargo. “I apologize for my wife. She’s distraught. Normally she wouldn’t think to impose on anyone.”
    â€œDamn it, Terrence,” Noirin said.
    â€œAs you can see,” Terry said with a grin, “between her Irish temper and her stubborn streak, she’s a handful.”
    Fargo pushed his chair back and stood. “I’m obliged for the meal,” he said. “If things work out I might be able to take Flanna away before morning. But I can’t make any promises.”
    â€œWe can’t ask for more than that,” Terry said.
    Noirin said, “Sure we can.”
    Fargo touched his hat brim and went to leave but Flanna said his name.
    â€œIf you should decide to take me,” she quietly stated, “I’d be happy to accompany you. I know you’d be a perfect gentleman the whole journey.”
    Fargo almost snorted. She knew he hankered to have her. He wondered what she was playing at, and replied, “It’s