Hunter's Moon (Hunter Family Saga; Half-Moon Ranch 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

watched her from the back of the saloon. He
planned to strike quickly, grab her purse, and make
his getaway just as fast. He wanted cash, and
robbing Opal was the easiest way to get it. One
female was no match for him. He'd be gone before
she could even react.
    He saw the back door open and Opal came out.
He drew his knife, but he didn't plan to use it. Smil ing grimly to himself, he crept nearer to wait for the
right moment to attack.

    Crystal didn't pay much attention to her
surroundings. She came this way every night and
always felt safe. Just then, though, she heard the
sound of footsteps coming up behind her. She
paused, puzzled, and began to turn to see who it
was. As she did, she started to open her purse so she
could get the small derringer she'd started carrying
with her just in case of trouble.
    Crystal didn't react quickly enough. The big man
loomed over her before she could get the gun. He
roughly grabbed at her purse and tried to jerk it
from her grasp. Crystal had the strap wrapped
around her wrist, though, and she held on for dear
life.
    It was then that she saw his knife.
    No!" she cried out, fighting back.
    Time had passed slowly for Brent as he'd kept
watch. He eventually began to doubt the need for his
continued vigilance. There was no one else around,
and he was getting tired. It had been a long day. He
had just made up his mind to continue on to his
hotel room when he saw the man emerge from his
hiding place and move off down the alley. He waited
a moment longer, wondering what the man was up
to, but all remained quiet.
    Brent was convinced that he'd overreacted, that there was nothing going on. He started on his way
again, looking forward to a good night's sleep.

    "No!" The distant, faint sound of a woman's cry
of distress came from the alley.
    A sudden chill of dread filled Brent as he realized
his instincts had been right. The man he'd seen had
been planning to cause trouble. Brent drew his
sidearm and raced off in the direction of the
woman s scream.
    "Give me that!" Mick said with a snarl, yanking
on her purse again. When he still couldn't tear it
loose, he tried to slash the strap.
    Brent charged into the alley to see the man
attacking a woman with a knife. Brent couldn't tell
who the woman was in the darkened passageway,
and it didn't matter. He had to help her. He fired a
warning shot in the air.
    "Hold it right there!" Brent ordered.
    Mick stopped, startled by the gunshot. When he
saw Brent aiming his gun straight at him, Mick
reacted instinctively, grabbing the singer and holding
her before him.
    Crystal continued to struggle against her assailant,
but he held the knife up for her to see.
    "Hold still, woman!"
    She froze, uncertain what to do. The man's grip
on her was brutal.
    Brent closed in on them. As he drew nearer, he
could see the woman clearly for the first time.
"Opal! Are you all right?"

    "Yes," she managed.
    "Let her go," Brent demanded. "Get away from
her now or my next shot won't just be a warning.
The next shot will stop you permanently."
    "Go to hell!" In one violent move, Mick cut
through the strap and made a grab for the purse as
he gave Crystal a savage shove.
    Crystal tried to resist, but she was no match for
his strength. She lost her balance and fell as he
yanked the purse from her hands.
    Mick had what he wanted, and he took off
running in the opposite direction.
    Brent would have taken a shot at him, but he
didn't want to risk putting Opal in danger.
    "Are you all right?" he asked her quickly as he
holstered his gun.
    "Yes, but he got my purse!"
    Assured that she was uninjured, Brent charged
after the robber and caught up with him before he
could get out of the alley. He tackled him full-force,
knocking him to the ground.
    The purse flew from Mick's grip as they began to
fight savagely.
    Crystal scrambled to her feet, shaken and
dazed. She looked around for something she
could use as a weapon to help Brent,