Shadow Walker Read Online Free PDF Page B

free of the holster and aimed it at him.
    “What the hell! Give me that. You shouldn’t play around with a man’s guns. No wonder Billy enjoyed beating you. When I’m through with you I’m gonna put bruises in places Cobb never thought of.”
    He grabbed for the gun at the same time that Dawn fired.
    Cole was a few hundred yards from the cabin when he heard a single gunshot. The blood froze in his veins. Strangely, he wasn’t worried for himself. It was Dawn he worried about. He hadn’t noticed a gun in the cabin, but he supposed there could have been one hidden somewhere beyond his notice. His gut told him something was wrong,and he spurred Warrior forward. Cobb’s horse, laden with supplies, followed close behind.
    Cole saw a horse tethered to the stunted tree in the front yard, and alarm bells went off in his head. Dawn was in danger, he knew it! He cursed himself for leaving her alone. Leaping from his mount, he approached the cabin with both guns drawn. He wasted no time in preliminaries as he kicked open the door and stormed inside. The sight he encountered made his blood run cold.
    Dawn lay supine on the cornhusk mattress in the corner, her legs spread obscenely and a man lying between them. He saw no movement from either occupant of the bed, and that frightened him. Who was the man and what had he done to Dawn? Willing his feet into motion, he reached the bed in three long strides.
    Dawn’s eyes were closed. A smoking gun lay beside the tangled bodies. Then he saw the blood and went wild.
    Shoving his guns into his belt, he grasped the man by the shoulders and tossed him aside like a rag doll. Then he began tearing off Dawn’s clothing, searching for a wound.
    Dawn clutched the torn material to her breast, opened her mouth and screamed. “Don’t, please don’t!”
    “Dawn, it’s me, Cole. I’m not going to harm you. Where are you hurt?” His hands shook as he rid Dawn of her dress.
    Dawn’s eyes opened slowly, so grateful to see Cole that she clutched his shirtfront and refused to let go. “He was trying to … He wanted to …” She couldn’t go on.
    Cole had only one thought. “Where did the bastard shoot you? Are you in pain?”
    Dawn swallowed several times before she could speak. “He … he didn’t shoot me, I shot him. Is he dead?”
    “The blood …”
    “It’s Duke’s blood. I couldn’t let him … do that to me. Oh, God, I shot a man. Did I kill him?”
    Cole sent a quick glance at Duke, saw that he was writhing on the floor, and decided the bastard was very much alive. “It’s all right, sweetheart, he’s not dead. Don’t trouble yourself over it.” Before he realized what he was doing, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then he pulled the blanket over her shivering form and turned his hard-eyed gaze to the man who had tried to hurt her. “What are you doing here?”
    Duke stared at Cole through pain-misted eyes. “The bitch shot me. I’m bleeding. Get me to a doctor before I die.”
    Cole dropped to his haunches and probed the wound high up on Duke’s shoulder. “It’s not life-threatening, more’s the pity. The bullet shattered your collarbone. I would have aimed lower.” Duke screeched and passed out. Satisfied that the man was in no danger of dying, Cole returned his attention to Dawn.
    “Are you all right, Dawn? I shouldn’t have left you alone. Who is that man?”
    “His name is Duke Riley. He’s one of Billy’s men. He’s come for his share of the money.”
    “And a share of you, unless I misjudged the situation. Why did you shoot him? Didn’t you likethe way he was pleasuring you?” The moment he spoke, he wished he could call back the words. Dawn didn’t look at all like she had enjoyed being mauled by Duke. She looked terrified. How many times in the past had Duke assaulted her with Cobb’s approval? he wondered bitterly.
    “Bastard!” Dawn hissed from between clenched teeth. “You have no right to judge me when you know nothing about me or my