Carolyn Davidson Read Online Free PDF Page A

mixed cornmeal with water from his metal flask. Asmall pan from his pack held the mixture, and he placed it on a rock at the edge of the coals.
    “Will it cook like that?” She’d baked corn pone in an oven, but trail cooking was beyond her.
    “The rock’s pickin’ up heat from the fire.” He tossed a thick flannel pad her way. “Turn the pan once in a while. It oughta be done about the time the rabbit is.”
    She nodded agreeably. Will Tolliver was turning out to be the best thing that had happened to her in a long while. Whether he tired of her company in day or so, or if he took her as far north as he was heading, anything was better than her stepfather’s shack in Loco Junction.
    It had been a long slide downhill the past three years. Her flesh crawled as she thought again of the man her mother had married. She shivered, remembering the feel of the knife in her hand, shuddered as she recalled the flow of blood that had stained her fingers, pooling beneath Remus as he slumped to the floor.
    I killed him. Cassie’s eyes closed, then flew open as she beheld the vision of death she’d left behind. Lips pressed together tightly, she breathed the fresh air, the scent of meat roasting over the fire, the clean smell of freedom.
    “We’ve got company.” Will stood, a casual gesture, stepping a few feet from where she sat to stand next to his rifle, which was snugged against his pack.
    Cassie felt the hair rise on the back of her neck, and turned her head to view the approaching horseman. Tall, rugged and riding as if he were a part of the animal he straddled, the man neared. His hat shielding his face, both hands visible on the reins, he rode in from the south, as if he had followed their trail.
    “Howdy there, folks.” He was within hailing distance and he slowed his horse to a walk. The animal nickered,and Will’s big stallion responded, a shrill challenge, jerking on the reins that held him fast to a tree.
    “Behave yourself, horse,” Will growled, impatience tingeing his words, then he thumbed his hat back, calling out to the approaching horseman, “Hello yourself, stranger. You lost your way?”
    The horse halted several yards away and the visitor lifted a hand to push aside his coat, revealing a silver star pinned to his shirt. “Nope, just takin’ a look around.” His gaze swept the area, a wide open space, only a few trees for shade and a sparsely grassed field. “You folks from here-abouts?”
    “No, sir,” Will answered, casting a quick glance at Cassie— a warning glance, if she was any judge.
    “This your missus?” The lawman nodded at her, and Cassie dredged up a smile as his deep-set eyes scanned her from top to bottom.
    “Yeah, this is Sarah Jane. I’m Will Tolliver, Sheriff.”
    Cassie caught her breath. In one short sentence she’d had her name changed and been tagged a married woman. Her smile trembled as she brought up one hand to shade her eyes.
    “Haven’t seen a young woman hereabouts, have you?” the lawman asked, his gaze still fixed on Cassie’s borrowed clothing.
    “A young woman?” Will looked perplexed, then glanced at his female companion. “We haven’t noticed anyone around about, have we, honey?” His grin appeared then, his demeanor transformed as he kicked at a small stone with the toe of his boot. “Of course, we’ve been kinda…”
    His pause was lengthy and he cleared his throat. “Well, we haven’t been married too long, Sheriff, and we don’tpay a whole lot of attention to anybody but ourselves, to tell the truth.”
    “Is that so?” The horse sidestepped and the lawman tightened up on his reins. “Well, if you should come across a young gal, you might want to keep an eye out She’s wanted back in Loco Junction. The sheriff wants to talk to her.”
    “Sorry to hear that,” Will said, frowning and shaking his head. “She considered dangerous?”
    The sheriff nodded. “Maybe so, under the right circumstances. She’s pretty young. I’d hate