Rocky Mountain Rose (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

rose.”
    “I’m not going to say it again,” Lyle spoke. “Let her go.”
    Doyle leaned forward, losing his joking manner. “Who is she to you?”
    “She belongs to me.”
    Rose felt a pang go through her, not of pain but some other strong, aching emotion she hadn’t felt in a long, long time. Hope.
    Then the thug’s grip dug in, and she whimpered.
    Lyle’s jaw tensed. “Unhand her. She’s mine.”
    “Oh ho!” Doyle sat back. “Moving through the whole family, are you? Lucky, lucky man.” He then addressed Rose. “You know Mary’s dead.”
    She nodded, trying not to flinch.
    “If my Mary’s dead, then the debt she owed passes on.” Doyle turned to Lyle and pointed at Rose. “To her.”
    “She never was your Mary,” Rose spat. Doyle glanced at her, and she regretted speaking. His look made her skin crawl.
    Lyle spoke. “It’s over, Doyle.”
    “What will you give me for her?”
    “Your life.”
    Doyle’s eyebrows went up disbelievingly, and Lyle nodded to the open window behind the desk.
    Doyle twisted to look. “Is there something I’m supposed to see?”
    “Across the street,” Lyle explained casually. “My brother has a room, and his window is open.”
    They all looked out the window, and Doyle stiffened.
    “Yep, that’s him,” Lyle said softly. “The man with the rifle trained on you. Maybe you’ve heard of him...Jesse Wilder? Some call him the best shot in the Territory.”
    Turning back, Doyle snorted. For a man with a gun on him, he was as cool as a snake. “That’s not saying much.”
    A gun fired, and a bullet snuffed out the candle on Doyle’s desk. The thug holding Rose jerked down, bringing her with him. There was nothing but harsh breathing in the room until Doyle struck a match and relit the candle. His men were all rising to their feet, looking warily at the window for the threat.
    Rose shivered at his look of hate. He and Lyle faced off, but it was clear who had the upper hand.
    Finally, with a short chop of his hand, Doyle barked the order. “Let her go.”
    Rose staggered forward, and Lyle caught her, pulling her towards the door. Doyle watched them go, black eyes burning in the dim light.
    “Watch your back, Wilder. That’s twice now you stole from me.”
    *
    Rose and Lyle wasted no time rushing out of the saloon. Lyle pushed her ahead of him, covering them both with his pistols. They headed down another alley, twisting and turning until Rose had no idea where they were. Finally, Lyle opened a door and led her into a boarding house from the back, and into a room smaller and meaner than the last.
    He closed the door, and before she could say anything, pulled her into his arms.
    “My God, Rose,” he breathed. “I thought I’d lost you.”
    She stiffened at first, then, as she felt his warmth and scent envelop her, she finally felt she could breathe. For a moment, she melted into him, enjoying his solid arms around her and firm chest under her cheek.
    “How did you find me?”
    “Your gun,” he said, releasing her enough to look at her face. “Jesse found it in the mud. It was near Doyle’s; from there it was only a matter of time.”
    He drew her in a second time, then kissed her forehead and set her back a pace.
    “You all right?” His blue eyes searched over her.
    Normal Rose would have a sharp response for that question, but right now she could only nod.
    “Good. I’m going to see that you stay that way.” His hands squeezed her arms lightly before he released her.
    Mouth dry, she nodded again.
    “I brought some of your things so you can change.” Lyle held up a bag. “Do it quickly. We leave tonight.”
    Rose stared at his offering. Her own bag, with all her favorite possessions and money were all gone. She had nothing.
    “Come on, Rose,” Lyle encouraged gently. “We need to move.”
    She took the proffered pack, and he started to turn away. “Wait.” She caught his hand. “We can’t leave. Not without burying Samuel.”
    “Rose, that