Badland Bride Read Online Free PDF

small, black teeth, “including shark's teeth and dinosaur bones."
    "Mosasaurs,” she interrupted with the same tone Ma used when she was correcting their speech.
    "What?” he asked as she plucked one tooth from his palm.
    She pinched the tooth between her thumb and forefinger, examining it closely. “You said shark, but actually they're Mosasaurs. They were the predecessor to the modern day shark."
    Her explanation caught him off guard. “Mosasaurs, you say?” He glanced at the other two teeth in his hand.
    She nodded and replaced the tooth with the other ones.
    None of the fossil's they found had been named Mosasaurs, or at least none he knew of. “I'll have to remember that,” he mumbled, stuffing the teeth back in his pocket. Her self-assured gaze encouraged him to make a mental note to write a letter to Russell.
    "Anyway,” he continued, “this guy we'd met up with, he was all excited about our findings, and took off for New York to put together an expedition to come back. I figured whoever owned the land would make money from all these folks digging stuff off their property. Kid wasn't interested in owning the land, so I came back to find out if it was part of the land run or not. It just so happened it was, but no one had claimed it ‘cause a band of Sioux had been keeping everyone off it."
    "Sioux, like in Indians?” Her eyes had grown as round as silver dollars.
    He'd hope to make even the long version short, but her startled look told him she needed as much information as possible. “Yes, Indians,” he used what he hoped was a calming tone, knowing some folks still feared the Sioux. “I put a claim down, and started to befriend The People. Not that long ago this part of the plains had every clan of the Redman roaming it, but since the Army drove most of them into Oklahoma, there's only a few tribes here and there.” He paused for a moment. “Just those strong enough to keep one step ahead of the Army.” Knowing how badly Buffalo Killer's family had been treated by the army never failed to irritate his craw. He swallowed the foul taste it always created in his mouth, squelching it for now. “Every trip out, I bring things for them, beads and such. They're good folks, and I thought we were getting along quite well, until this trip that is."
    "What happened?” Her eyes shot across the badlands as if she expected a raid at any moment.
    "Don't worry. We're still on friendly terms.” A begrudged smile twisted his lips at the thought of what he'd experienced. “At least until I see Buffalo Killer again, once I settle the score with him, his clan may not be too happy with me."
    The sound of her gasp split the air like a stray bullet.
    He cringed, hadn't meant to frighten her again, and patted her knee. Smooth, bare skin filled his palm, and then a sting, sharper than a hornet's, shot up his arm. Instantly, he pulled the hand away. A woman's skin had never stung him before. He glanced at his palm sure he'd find a red welt. Finding no sign of injury, he formed a fist, tightening the muscles around the zing shooting up his arm.
    Still wanting to ease her fear, he said, “Don't worry, I'm not really gonna hurt him. All of us Quinter boys like to think we're mean, but in all honesty, we pretty kind-hearted.” Blood, hotter than the sun above, raced into his cheeks. He bit down on his tongue. Damn! The stupid thing got away from him sometimes. Not only was his hand on fire, but he was as tongue-tied as a school boy in a brothel. A new wave of embarrassment washed over his neck, and this time he closed his eyes. Why the hell was he thinking of brothels? She wasn't the kind of gal in one of the houses in Dodge.
    Lila let out a little giggle. It floated on the breeze, tickling his ears.
    There was one thing for sure though—this little woman had him ready to jump out of his skin. He peeked at her with one eye.
    Her face had lit up like a firefly. All shine and sparkle. “What happened? What did Buffalo