Devils on Horseback: Nate Read Online Free PDF Page A

late for our appointment,” Nate snapped, desperate to change the subject, to get his mind off Elisa Taggert and what she did to him.
    “Yes, sir.” Gideon saluted Nate and it was so ridiculous, all three of them laughed.
    Nate’s mind kept drifting back to Elisa, so he forced himself to focus on the horizon and reaching O’Shea’s ranch without anything else happening. Gideon and Zeke kept Nate between them, constantly scanning, watching. During the war, Zeke had been their planner, the one who created and executed raids with amazing precision. Nothing had changed there. Gideon still looked to him.
    “Anybody watching?” Gideon asked quietly.
    “At least two of them, but I’m thinking there’s a third.” Zeke shifted and unsnapped the leather on his holster. “They’ve been tracking us for at least five miles.”
    “Any threat?” Nate swallowed hard. He was hoping he’d never have to hear the sound of battle again. Hoping, of course, never got him anything. If he never heard a cannonball whistling through the air again, he’d die a happy man.
    “Some, but I think they’ve been ordered to just watch.” Zeke gestured to their right. “They could have picked us off if they wanted to.”
    Nate felt the familiar tickle of danger on his back and freed his own weapon. He saw Gideon do the same. No doubt the men watching them knew the Devils were not inexperienced fools. By the time they reached the gates to the O’Shea ranch house, the tension had only increased. Nate was glad they’d left Lee behind. Damn fool would’ve ridden straight toward the men watching them, more than likely screaming like a lunatic.
    Two armed men at the gate nodded as they passed by. When they reached the front porch, two men emerged from the shadows of the late day sun, O’Shea and Rodrigo.
    It was the biggest house Nate had seen since leaving Georgia. A palatial mansion by most standards with Doric columns, acres of windows and even a balcony out on the second story. All in perfect condition with nary a paint chip in sight.
    “Evenin’, gentlemen.” O’Shea’s steely gaze swept over them. “I’m glad you were able to accept my invitation.”
    “Thank you for the invitation, sir.” Nate tipped his hat, then dismounted and gestured to the others. “May I present my associates, Gideon and Zeke Blackwood.”
    “Brothers?”
    “Cousins.” Gideon dismounted and held out his hand to O’Shea. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. O’Shea.”
    Zeke followed suit and stood to Gideon’s left, his gaze soaking in everything he saw. No doubt tucking it away in that clever brain of his.
    O’Shea shook Gideon’s hand, and a small battle of wills ensued. Nate could see the grip between them neared the point of breaking bones.
    “Well, what do you say we sit down and get acquainted?” Gideon gestured to the ranch around them, bustling with prime horseflesh, dozens of cowboys and a few Mexican women hanging wash. “This ranch is beautiful.”
    O’Shea finally let loose his death grip on Gideon’s hand. “Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. I’ve worked hard to get what I have and aim to keep it.”
    “I know what it means to lose what you love, so I fully appreciate the sentiment, Mr. O’Shea.” Nate smiled his winningest smile and stepped up to the porch.
    “Let’s go inside and have a bit of whiskey. I think you boys might be just what I’ve been looking for.”
    As Nate followed O’Shea into the house, he couldn’t stop the shiver of unease that crept up his spine. He reminded himself that food and fact were more important than feelings.
    “What do you mean, remove the Taggerts?” Nate thought perhaps he hadn’t heard correctly.
    “They’re squatting on my land. Land I purchased fair and square a year ago.” O’Shea took a drag from the fat cigar in his hand. “That daughter of Sean’s is a stubborn little thing, thinks she has a right to it since her granddaddy founded the town. Every time we tell them to leave, she