Kate Wingo - Western Fire 01 Read Online Free PDF Page B

righteousness.”
    “And proud Confederates, they are!” Pru exclaimed. “Why, I don’t know what General Lee would do without them.”
    Mercy’s mouth fell open, having only heard the gospel truth ever fall from Prudence’s lips.
    “Is that true, gal?”
    Mercy worriedly glanced at Pru, well aware that her sister had lied to protect her. Now it was her turn to return the favor. Taking a deep, purposeful breath, she looked Ned Sykes straight in the eye.
    “You heard my sister.”
    “Hallelujah and praise the Lord!” one of Sykes’ men suddenly shouted from inside the house. A moment later, a gangly man dressed in an embroidered hunting shirt stepped through the front door. “Look what I just found stashed away in the family Bible.”
    Inwardly groaning, Mercy watched as the bushwhacker waved the leather-bound Bible to-and-fro. She didn’t need anyone to tell her that the man had uncovered the daguerreotype of her two uniformed brothers which had been removed from the mantle only the week before. As the photograph was handed over to the rebel chieftain, Pru’s eyes widened with fear, well aware that her lie was about to be exposed.
    Turning to wards Prudence, Sykes’ lips twisted into a smile; a smile that never touched his wintry gray eyes. “This little one’s got hair like an angel, don’t she, boys? Hey, come on over here, angel face. I got something I want to show you.”
    Her face marred with fear, Prudence took a stumbling step forward. When Mercy attempted to go to her sister’s aid, a bushwhacker lassoed an arm around her waist, jamming his grimy hand across the front of her mouth. Desperate to protect her sister, Mercy put up a fierce struggle.
    Her captive bent his head, his stubbled cheek grazing the side of her face. “You keep up with all that squirmin’ and you’re gonna put ideas into my head, sure enough.”
    Forewarned, Mercy ceased her struggles, watching helplessly as her sister stood before the most feared man in all of Kansas. With a sinking heart, she observed Sykes take Prudence by the hand, leading her down the steps to where his mount was hitched. A second later, fear turned into horror as she spied several bloody scalps dangling off Sykes’ saddlehorn.
    Releasing Pru’s hand, Sykes fingered one of the scalps. “I wanted you to see with your own eyes what happens to those folks who don’t have the good sense to tell me the truth.”
    “I only said it to make you leave us be,” Pru whispered, tears streaking her face.
    “I know that, gal. And that’s why I’m willin’ to forgive you for it.”
    “You are?”
    Sykes’ lips curved in a humorless smile. “I like your spunk, little sister.” No sooner was the compliment issued than he unsheathed a 10” Bowie knife. With his free hand, he grabbed both of Pru’s tow-colored braids, skimming his knife blade up and down a coiled length of hair. “And just to make certain that you don’t ever lie to me again, I’m going to relieve you of one of these pretty, long braids. Now which one are you going to let me have?”
    Not about to let Ned Sykes take one hair from her sister’s head, Mercy bit down on the sweaty hand still pressed against her mouth .
    “Hell, fire, and damnation! ” her captor yelped. “The lil’ she-cat done took a hunk out of my hand!”
    Lifting her feet off the ground, Mercy unceremoniously threw her captor off balance. As the two of them fell to the porch floor, she nimbly rolled away before he could grab hold of her again. Taking advantage of what she knew would be a short-lived freedom, she ran down the porch steps toward her sister, hoping to create a diversion.
    “That man was taking unforgivable liberties!” she accused, her words meant to deflect Sykes’ attention from Prudence.
    “ Is that so?”
    Mercy nodded vigorously, encouraged by the gleam of interest in the gang leader’s eyes.
    “Well, goddamn if I’m going to stand by while one of my men takes those kind s of liberties with