Brazen Read Online Free PDF Page B

enough."
    "Only `nice enough'?" her friend challenged. "In case
you hadn't noticed, John McQueen is handsome."
    "He's all right, but I've always liked dark-haired men
best."
    She groaned. "And John's got money!"
    "Yes, he does. So?" Casey agreed.
    "So?" Anne shook her head in disbelief. "Have you
given any thought to the idea that the most handsome,
most eligible, richest man in the area might be interested
in you?"
    "You are such a romantic. I don't have time to worry
about men right now. But if you're so excited about them,
then you can have John. Or, better yet, go find that man
I met down at the stable. He definitely could give John a
run for his money when it comes to good looks." Casey
smiled at her. "Now, enough about men. I have to get my
supplies loaded up and get back home."
    "Oh, you!" Anne gave up and started to help her get
what she needed.
    "Pa was gunned down in cold blood, robbed and left for
dead, and right now Sheriff Montgomery doesn't have any
leads." Michael finished filling Nick in on what little ad ditional information he'd gotten from the lawman. "I can't
imagine why anyone would shoot Pa. He always carried
some money on him, but never a lot. It's hard for me to
believe robbery was the real motive."

    "Whoever it is, we'll find him," Nick said fiercely.
    "You're right. We will, no matter how long it takes."
    The two men shared a knowing look. If there was one
family trait Michael and Nick shared, it was their fierce
determination. Once they made up their minds to do
something, they did it.
    "Right now, the bushwhacker thinks he's gotten away
with it, but he's in for a big surprise," Michael said.
    "And not a pleasant one."
    "You're right about that," he agreed, his mood lightening a bit in anticipation of seeing justice done.
    Nick managed a slight grin as he went on, "Speaking
of surprises, I've found that things aren't always what they
appear to be here in Hard Luck."
    "Why? What happened to you?"
    "When I first got to the stable, there was a boy working
outside, harnessing a horse. I didn't see anyone else
around, so I went to ask him about renting a buckboard."
    "And?"
    "Turns out the `boy' was no boy. I know you warned
me things were different here, but I had no idea Texas
women wore pants. It was quite a revelation for me."
    "A girl at the stable was wearing pants?" Michael
frowned. "What did she look like?"
    "For all that she was so unorthodox in her dress, she
was quite pretty. She had dark, curly hair and-" Nick stopped as he saw Casey's buckboard tied up before the
general store. "That looks like her buckboard." He
pointed it out as they drove by.

    Michael glanced toward the store just as two young
women came outside carrying supplies. One was a pretty
blonde wearing a dress, and the other was
    "That's her," Nick said.
    It was just as Michael had suspected.
    The girl in pants was Casey Turner.
    Though Casey and Anne had both changed during the
years he'd been away, Michael recognized them. Anne
had matured into a very attractive young woman.
    And then there was Casey.
    She was the one female he would never forget, no matter how hard he tried.
    "She said her name was Casey Turner," Nick told him,
smiling.
    "Yes," Michael answered curtly. "I know."
    Michael hadn't planned to acknowledge Casey and
Anne, or to even slow down. He had intended to keep
on driving, but Anne spotted him and called out before
he could get away.
    "Michael? You're back!"
    He had no choice but to rein in and speak with them.
He quickly introduced Anne to Nick.
    "Why, hello," Anne greeted him, seeing immediately
what Casey had been talking about. He was one handsome man.
    "It's nice to meet you, Anne," Nick said enthusiastically.
He was growing even more impressed with the women of Hard Luck. Casey was darkly pretty in her unorthodox
style of dress, while Anne was lovely, too, in a more classic, feminine way.

    Michael looked over at Casey.
    "Hello, Casey." His tone was less than