Read Online When The Heart Beckons by Jill Gregory - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jill Gregory
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from a rise at the
edge of town, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of her saddle,
and she smiled to herself.
It might be only a raw frontier settlement,
but it was civilization: people, shelter, food, hotels, and stores.
She hadn’t encountered a single soul in the wilderness all day
long.
After seeing that Sunrise was watered,
rubbed down, and fed in the stables, Annabel turned her attention
to securing a room at the Kincaid Hotel. The faded rose-papered
lobby was empty except for the stout young clerk poring over some
kind of ledger books with a grim air. So far she’d glimpsed no sign
of Brett, but there had been no sign of Roy Steele, either. That
was good news.
The clerk proved to be a friendly sort, so
after arranging for her room and receiving a key, Annabel decided
to begin her questioning with him.
“Perhaps you can help me.” She smiled
hopefully at him and was encouraged when he gave her a gap-toothed
grin.
“Be glad to try.”
“I’m searching for a friend of mine who
passed through Eagle Gulch recently. A young man—his name is Brett
McCallum. Do you happen to remem ...”
The clerk, who had been listening
attentively, suddenly stiffened. He paled beneath his ruddy tan and
dropped the pencil he’d been fiddling with.
“Never heard of him.”
She raised her brows in open skepticism and
then leaned forward. “Are you sure? I know for certain that he
headed this way.”
“Well, he must have changed his mind, then,
and gone somewhere else instead. Maybe to Winchester, maybe to
Tucson. All I can tell you is that I don’t know nothin’ about Mr.
Brett McCallum and no one named Brett McCallum has set foot in this
hotel.”
She regarded him shrewdly. “Did a man named
Roy Steele tell you to say that?”
“How did you ...” The clerk flushed. “I got
no idea what you’re talking about, miss.”
Annabel sighed. It was no use. She
remembered how Steele had threatened the blacksmith if he revealed
any information about Brett. He’d obviously done the same thing to
this poor man. And to how many other people in Eagle Gulch?
Dismay washed over her. How would she find
Brett if no one would tell her what they knew about him? The head
start Roy Steele had stolen on her last night could prove
disastrous if it caused her to reach a dead end.
Then you simply have to press on—work
more quickly and urgently than ever. Find someone in Eagle Gulch
whom Steele hasn’t spoken to yet, or someone courageous enough to
risk his wrath and give you some answers. Hurry!
a voice
inside of her urged.
You have to find Brett first. If Steele
gets to him before you do
...
She gripped the edge of the registration
desk. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Is Mr. Steele still in town?” she demanded,
and the clerk’s gaze swung away.
“I don’t recall mentioning Mr. Steele
...”
“Please.” Annabel touched his large,
freckled hand and gazed at him with imploring eyes. “This is
terribly important. Just tell me if he’s still in Eagle Gulch. I
swear to you he’ll never know you said a word.”
The clerk gave one quick nod. “But you’d
best steer clear of that hombre,” he whispered. Then as if alarmed
by his own foolhardiness, he busied himself once more with his
ledger book, ignoring Annabel as if she had suddenly become
invisible.
She turned slowly away and carried her bag
up to her room. At least she knew one thing. Steele was here in
this town. She’d have to watch her step and try to avoid him. The
last thing she wanted was to have to explain herself to that
cold-eyed gunfighter, especially when she was this close to finding
Brett.
Her green-painted room was every bit as
spartan as the one in Justice, except for the rather pretty
floral-patterned coverlet on the high narrow bed. Annabel sank down
upon it and tugged off her boots. As she lay back wearily on the
bed and closed her eyes, she began compiling a mental list of
people likely to be aware of Brett’s presence in town.
edge of town, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of her saddle,
and she smiled to herself.
It might be only a raw frontier settlement,
but it was civilization: people, shelter, food, hotels, and stores.
She hadn’t encountered a single soul in the wilderness all day
long.
After seeing that Sunrise was watered,
rubbed down, and fed in the stables, Annabel turned her attention
to securing a room at the Kincaid Hotel. The faded rose-papered
lobby was empty except for the stout young clerk poring over some
kind of ledger books with a grim air. So far she’d glimpsed no sign
of Brett, but there had been no sign of Roy Steele, either. That
was good news.
The clerk proved to be a friendly sort, so
after arranging for her room and receiving a key, Annabel decided
to begin her questioning with him.
“Perhaps you can help me.” She smiled
hopefully at him and was encouraged when he gave her a gap-toothed
grin.
“Be glad to try.”
“I’m searching for a friend of mine who
passed through Eagle Gulch recently. A young man—his name is Brett
McCallum. Do you happen to remem ...”
The clerk, who had been listening
attentively, suddenly stiffened. He paled beneath his ruddy tan and
dropped the pencil he’d been fiddling with.
“Never heard of him.”
She raised her brows in open skepticism and
then leaned forward. “Are you sure? I know for certain that he
headed this way.”
“Well, he must have changed his mind, then,
and gone somewhere else instead. Maybe to Winchester, maybe to
Tucson. All I can tell you is that I don’t know nothin’ about Mr.
Brett McCallum and no one named Brett McCallum has set foot in this
hotel.”
She regarded him shrewdly. “Did a man named
Roy Steele tell you to say that?”
“How did you ...” The clerk flushed. “I got
no idea what you’re talking about, miss.”
Annabel sighed. It was no use. She
remembered how Steele had threatened the blacksmith if he revealed
any information about Brett. He’d obviously done the same thing to
this poor man. And to how many other people in Eagle Gulch?
Dismay washed over her. How would she find
Brett if no one would tell her what they knew about him? The head
start Roy Steele had stolen on her last night could prove
disastrous if it caused her to reach a dead end.
Then you simply have to press on—work
more quickly and urgently than ever. Find someone in Eagle Gulch
whom Steele hasn’t spoken to yet, or someone courageous enough to
risk his wrath and give you some answers. Hurry!
a voice
inside of her urged.
You have to find Brett first. If Steele
gets to him before you do
...
She gripped the edge of the registration
desk. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Is Mr. Steele still in town?” she demanded,
and the clerk’s gaze swung away.
“I don’t recall mentioning Mr. Steele
...”
“Please.” Annabel touched his large,
freckled hand and gazed at him with imploring eyes. “This is
terribly important. Just tell me if he’s still in Eagle Gulch. I
swear to you he’ll never know you said a word.”
The clerk gave one quick nod. “But you’d
best steer clear of that hombre,” he whispered. Then as if alarmed
by his own foolhardiness, he busied himself once more with his
ledger book, ignoring Annabel as if she had suddenly become
invisible.
She turned slowly away and carried her bag
up to her room. At least she knew one thing. Steele was here in
this town. She’d have to watch her step and try to avoid him. The
last thing she wanted was to have to explain herself to that
cold-eyed gunfighter, especially when she was this close to finding
Brett.
Her green-painted room was every bit as
spartan as the one in Justice, except for the rather pretty
floral-patterned coverlet on the high narrow bed. Annabel sank down
upon it and tugged off her boots. As she lay back wearily on the
bed and closed her eyes, she began compiling a mental list of
people likely to be aware of Brett’s presence in town.
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