Runaway Read Online Free PDF Page A

that,” Lane agreed with a half smile. “I learned that lesson a long time ago.”
    Lila looked up at him and purred seductively, “You don’t look like a ‘loser’ to me, handsome.”
    Lane chuckled and smiled down at her. “Why, thank you, Lila. You just got yourself another drink. Give the lady whatever she wants.” He tossed some more money on the bar for the bartender.
    “I’ll tell you what I want—” she began as she leaned closer to him, wanting his full attention.
    “I’ll tell you what I want, too,” Dolly put in quickly, ignoring Lila’s testy look as she interrupted. When the stranger glanced her way, something about him seemed different from the other men.
    Lane was surprised that the pretty, dark-haired girl was flirting with him, too, but he wasn’t interested in her either. He had to talk to the sheriff and find out if Dan Cooper had been the deadly gunman who’d been in town, and if so, where the outlaw had been headed when he’d left Black Rock. “I appreciate your offers, ladies, but I have to be going.”
    Lila was not used to rejection. She was shocked and a bit insulted by his dismissal. “I can show you a real good time—and I can make it fast. Just ask any of the boys. They’ll tell you.”
    “Some other time, maybe,” he said easily.
    He finished off the last of his drink, and, nodding to the two saloon girls, he walked out of the Tumbleweed, leaving the women staring after him in frustration.
    Lila picked up her newly refilled glass and glared at Dolly. “You didn’t have to come over here.”
    “You don’t get first pick of all the handsome ones,” she retorted.
    Lila just turned and strutted away to where the gamblers were starting up a new game. She had to get back to work. Only one good thing had come out of spending time with Lane Madison: he’d bought her a few drinks, and the more she drank, the better the other men looked to her.
    Dolly stayed at the bar and frowned a little as she looked at Harold.
    “Who was that man?” she asked.
    “He said his name was Lane Madison. Why?”
    “I don’t know. There was just something about him—He’s not like a lot of the other men we get in here.”
    “Maybe you’ve done business with him in the past,” Harold suggested.
    “Oh, no,” Dolly quickly protested. “If I had gotten him upstairs, I would have remembered every minute of it.”
    Meanwhile in St. Louis
    Bryce Parker never forgot a man who owed him a debt, and Raymond Howard was heavily indebted to him. As he heard Howard’s carriage pull up in front of his home, he smiled confidently.
    The moment he’d been waiting for had arrived.
    Raymond Howard was there.
    Bryce smiled broadly to himself and remained seated until the maid knocked on the door.
    “Mr. Parker? Raymond Howard is here to see you,” the girl announced.
    “See him in,” Bryce responded. He turned serious as he got to his feet to welcome his visitor. Bryce watched Raymond walk into the study, and he noticed how the other man eyed his opulent surroundings. Bryce felt very proud that he had Raymond right where he wanted him.
    “Good afternoon, Bryce,” Raymond offered, struggling to keep his manner confident. He knew what a predator Bryce was and didn’t want to appear weak.
    “We have much to discuss,” Bryce Parker began, getting straight down to business as he came around the desk. He did not offer to shake his visitor’s hand but gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”
    Raymond sat down and couldn’t help feeling intimidated when the other man remained standing. Just knowing that Bryce had outmaneuvered him left him outraged. The knowledge that there was nothing he could do about it made him even more frustrated and furious.
    Bryce leaned a hip casually against his desk as he confronted Raymond. “In the course of our business dealings, you have come to owe me a considerable amount of money.”
    “I’m well aware of that,” Raymond replied