Catch Me Read Online Free PDF

his head, but he wouldn’t look back at her. “He didn’t force me to invest in that railroad line.”
    “Or the mines? Or the stock ventures?” Her hands tightened into fists. “Every opportunity he’s steered you to has gone badly, while his continue to make him richer.”
    A huge sigh shook him. “He offered me a chance to invest in every single one, kitten. I was the one who picked badly.”
    “It’s not fair.”
    “Probably not. But then, life isn’t fair in general.” He turned away from the window and his deep gaze bore into her. “We’ll go together and I’ll appeal to his sense of friendship to overlook the situation. If we bring the money back, I’m sure he’ll let bygones be bygones.”
    “I doubt it.” She pouted her truculence. “He’s got no speck of loyalty in his bones.”
    A wry smile tweaked his mouth. “Unlike you.”
    “Besides, it’s too late.” She crossed her arms over her waist and cinched her fear in tight. “I’ve already deposited the funds with the director. You’ve no choice but to stay and get well, or I’ll tell the doctors that you seem completely irrational. They’ll never believe I robbed a bank.”
    “You’ve no choice, kitten. Masterson will send the law after you.”
    Maggie ducked her head and inspected her dirt-covered boots.
    “He already has, hasn’t he?” Suspicion colored his words. “What’s happened?”
    “Nothing.”
    He sighed again and leaned against the wall. His already narrow frame collapsed into itself. “Don’t lie to me. Not at this point. I don’t think I could take it.”
    She couldn’t bear to see him so disheartened. “Nothing, really. I felt as if I was being watched for a day or two, that’s all.” She wasn’t exactly lying, just omitting the full truth.
    “Masterson will send bounty hunters after you. They’re the worst sort of scum.”
    Collier hadn’t seemed that bad to her. In fact, his manner had been surprisingly gentlemanly when he’d greeted her and spoke rationally about how going with him was her only choice. Too bad she hadn’t been in a rational state of mind lately.
    “Come. Let’s go down to the dining room and have a nice supper together. You can tell me all about your activities here.”
    He shook his head. “Because you can’t tell me about what you’ve been up to, robbing banks and all?”
    She sighed. “You’re right, Father. Masterson will send someone to hunt me. So I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stay. Let’s not cloud our time together with unhappiness.”
    “Sometimes you are a pure-dee fool, my girl.”
    “Yes, I’m sure I am.” She held out a hand so they could leave together. “But I’ll be a pure-dee fool with a father. And that’s the only thing I need.”

Chapter Four
    After supper, they’d retired to a beautifully decorated parlor along with a few other residents. They’d taken turns entertaining each other with reading aloud and the occasional ballad accompanied by the upright piano tucked in the corner. But for the incessant chatter of a Mrs. Haverly, it had been one of the best evenings Maggie could remember in quite a long time. Father’s energy and verve had lasted much longer than he’d been able to stand since first becoming sick.
    She’d rented a room in the only hotel on the grounds of the sanitarium, and as soon as the door closed behind her, Maggie yanked the pins from her hair. Her neck ached with the unfamiliar weight of wearing it so high, as well as the tension of the last few months. That bounty hunter had haunted her mind all day. Something about the easy way he’d advanced on her perch, like a predator, both frightened her and awoke an unfamiliar sort of interest.
    He hadn’t been the tallest man she’d ever seen, but he’d likely tower a full head over her. She shivered a little remembering the breadth of his shoulders. They’d been wide enough that if he’d lain over a female, she’d be fully covered and protected, the way a