Andromeda Gun Read Online Free PDF Page A

were seen only with respectable men, but, temporarily, Ian McCloud was a respectable man.
    “Are you open Sundays, ma’am?”
    “No, I’m not, Mr. McCloud, but I could fix you a box of chicken good for three meals, tomorrow, for the amount you’ll have left on Brother Trotter’s meal ticket.”
    “I might take you up on that. Is there a Methodist church hereabouts?”
    “Why, yes, Mr. McCloud.” Her face within the alcove flashed him a smile. “It’s just south of town. Brother Winchester preaches a fine sermon. Tomorrow, he’s going to tell us about heaven. If you care to join us, I’d be pleased to sit next to you and introduce you to our congregation.”
    “If you’re willing to be so kind, Miss Stewart, I’d be happy to hire a rig and carry you to church.”
    “I’d be honored to let you, Mr. McCloud, but I’m spoke for, coming and going. It’s only after I get there that I’m alone.”
    “Reckon I should have figured that, Miss Stewart. A girl as pretty as you would be sure to have a courter for going and one for coming.”
    “No, Mr. McCloud. Billy Peyton’s my only suitor. But he’s a Mormon and won’t go in. He just waits outside.”
    Her remark dismayed him. It would be harder to steal a horse with Billy Peyton waiting outside the church. “If Peyton’s willing to court you, seems to me he’d be willing to take your faith, unless you took his.”
    “No,” she said, above the crackle of frying potatoes, “and I’m not marrying into his church. Mormons can take more than one wife, and I’m not rushing home from my honeymoon so my husband can hurry away on another one.”
    “Why don’t you refuse him?”
    “Wouldn’t do any good. No other boy in the valley dares to come around, knowing how Billy feels about me. Besides, Billy’s Mr. Bryce Peyton’s first son by his third wife, as I recall, and Billy’s trying to persuade his father to send the Mormon children to my school. I’d certainly like to bring those children to the light, at two dollars, apiece, head tax, payable to the teacher.”
    “Still, the young men in this valley must be lily-livered. Billy ought to have claim jumpers all over the place.”
    “Billy’s a little ornery,” she explained. “Most of the boys know I despise violence, and Billy can get violent when he thinks somebody’s taking on over me.”
    She brought his plate and a cup of coffee and set them before him. “Now, when you’re through with this chicken, Mr. McCloud, I want your honest opinion if it’s the best chicken you ever tasted. If it’s not, you needn’t say a thing.”
    “All right, Miss Stewart, but why don’t you just call me Ian?”
    “I’d be pleased to, Ian, and you may call me Gabriella until Billy gets here. After that, we’d best go back to Mister and Miss because Billy might think we’re getting too familiar.”
    “Is Billy coming here?”
    “He will if you have a second cup of coffee. He watches from the saloon across the street.”
    “I didn’t think Mormons drank,” Ian said, biting into a chicken leg. It was good chicken, and a sip of the coffee told him he was bound to have a second cup.
    “Billy’s sort of a backslider, a jackleg as the other Mormons call him.” Suddenly her voice grew excited. “Here he comes, already. He must have seen you smile at me, and he’s getting worried.”
    “Well, if I’m not going to have the pleasure of your talk, Gabriella, maybe I could look at your book while I’m eating.
    “Why, I’d be pleased, Ian,” she said, handing him the book. “I’m always glad to see somebody read an enlightening book. But, remember, call me Miss Stewart, and I hate violence.”
    “I’ll remember, Miss Stewart, and I hate violence, too.”
    Ian raised his eyes to look at the man who emerged from the swinging doors across the street and disliked instantly what he saw, a tall and handsome young man with a ten-gallon white hat tilted back over his waving and lustrous black hair. There