Guardian Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

lifted a hand. Summer took it,
    letting him lead her down the steps and across the dirt.
    Stephanie, as well as the other two men followed. When
    George stopped in the shade of a large cottonwood, the rest
    gathered around.
    "What you need to talk to her about?" Stephanie asked,
    placing an arm around Summer's shoulders.
    "I'm afraid we have some news," George said, removing
    his hat.
    "What is it, Mr. Hinkle?" Summer asked. A thousand
    thoughts raced through her mind. Snake had never made it to
    Dodge. Had never been able to claim the win. Were they here
    to take her and the children back, give September to
    Wainwright? Her throat burned. She wouldn't let it happen.
    Couldn't let it happen.
    "I'm afraid Miss A—" George paused when Stephanie
    cleared her throat and then continued, "Mrs. Quinter, that
    your father, July Austin, was found dead earlier this week."
    Her legs went weak, would have collapsed beneath her if
    Sheriff Sughrue hadn't stepped forward and took her elbow. It
    was news she'd known would someday be delivered, but still,
    like a wagon wheel one knew would eventually let loose, it
    shocked her beyond belief now that it had happened.
    A thump sounded behind her. "Here set her down."
    She glanced over her shoulder. Malcolm Turley had set a
    bucket upside down and gestured to Sheriff Sughrue to let
    her rest on it. The sheriff on one side and Stephanie on the
    33

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    other eased her until she sat on the bucket. It wobbled as her
    weight settled.
    Summer lowered her head, squeezing her temples with
    one hand. "What happened?" she asked.
    George crouched down in front of her. The man had always
    been nice to her, especially over the last couple of years when
    she took to cleaning at the Long Branch. He'd watched out for
    her, kept an eye out as she made her way home after work.
    His wife was the school teacher, and Summer had no doubt
    the couple knew the hard life August and September had. It
    was bad enough to have the town drunk as your father, but a
    half-breed for an older sister caused many more problems for
    the children.
    "He was shot," George said sympathetically. "Most likely
    by the same men that shot Snake. The card game was never
    settled. Snake never made it to Dodge."
    "I know," she said, nodding. "It was Wainwright, wasn't
    it?"
    "We think so," Pat Sughrue said.
    "I told them you didn't see who shot Snake," Malcolm
    Turley offered.
    Sheriff Turley had questioned her after she brought Snake
    home. Summer covered her face with both hands, attempting
    to rid the images of Snake's blood encrusted body. She'd
    been afraid he was dead by the time she'd led his big horse
    into the yard. Terrified the men would catch up to them, she'd
    barely covered his wounds before she'd forced their mounts
    to the limits racing back toward Stephanie's house. When
    Jonas had assured no one followed, she'd slowed their pace,
    34

    Guardian Bride
    by Lauri Robinson
    but never once had she allowed the animals to completely
    stop until they'd arrived at the barn late that night.
    "You didn't see anything?" George asked.
    She took a breath and wiped at her eyes and nose before
    lifting her face. "They were too far away. All I saw were two
    men on horseback. I couldn't even make out the color of their
    animals."
    "No one's seen hide or hair of Wainwright. We're assuming
    he headed back down to Texas, but we can't be sure," Sheriff
    Sughrue said.
    "What's going to happen now? Do I need to go back to
    Dodge to bury—" Choking on her words, she couldn't
    continue.
    "No, that's already been taken care of," George said.
    Thankful she didn't have to attend to the task, she realized
    something else. "The undertaker will want money."
    "July had some, enough to bury him." Sheriff Sughrue then
    asked, "Is there anything at the house you need, want? The
    landlord wants to rent it to someone else."
    "No. No, I took everything the children need when we left."
    George patted her shoulder. "You're safe