Shotgun Bride Read Online Free PDF

“That’s everything.”
    As Kathleen flipped the bag shut, she almost jumped out of her skin when he brushed up against her. One strong, tanned hand closed around the handle.
    “Ready?”
    “Yes.”
    He pressed a palm to her lower back and escorted her to the door. A comforting sense of safety curled around her and she slipped a little closer to his lean side as they entered the darkened hallway.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the bad guys away.”
    “Yeah, well, someone waylaid me in the hall.”
    The hand on her back jerked away. “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “I was a little distracted. Besides, how do I know who is trustworthy and who isn’t.”
    “You can trust me.” Those four words, delivered in a no-nonsense tone, covered her skin like a soothing balm.
    A frown tugged her lips down as she took a dive into murky waters of loneliness-induced desires. In the flickering light of lanterns hung far apart, with a handsome man that showed her kindness instead of harassment, butterflies did a rowdy dance in her stomach now.
    She refrained from laughing at her stupidity. For years, she’d avoided such situations and now, all of a sudden, she felt giddy? Any other time she would be walking, no running, away. But this easy-mannered stranger wiped away her normal trepidations of being caught in the dark and deserted hallway with a man.
    “I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier,” she said, meaning it.
    He chuckled and nudged her down the hall. “Forget it. Accidents happen.”
    He pushed the door to his room, and Kathleen ducked under his extended arm to enter. She waited while he lit a lantern beside the bed. A boot rested up against the far wall and the other lay by the edge of the bed. He tossed her bag onto the ruffled blanket. He must have been sleeping when she screamed. A travel-worn saddlebag rested on the chair under his hat.
    She admired his cat-like gracefulness as he snatched his boots up and tossed the saddlebag over his shoulder.
    Turning, he grinned. “You know which room I’ll be in if you need anything else.”
    “I don’t need anything, thank you.”
    When he closed the door, she sagged against the wall. Oh my. He was one fine-looking man. She donned her nightgown and kicked her boots off. She flopped down onto the still-warm bed and hugged the pillow. One night dreaming about gorgeous eyes, rippling muscles, and a killer voice sounded better than agonizing over who and why someone had tried to rob her.
    Heart pounding in her ears, Kathleen bit her lower lip and strained to sort out what noise woke her. She lay perfectly still as an unnatural silence descended. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention.
    She softly slipped out of bed, tiptoed to the door, and pressed her ear against the rough wood. Nothing. Placing a hand over her heart, she drew in several deep breaths to slow its rapid pace. She braced a hand on the dresser, poured some water, and splashed the tepid liquid over her hot flesh.
    Suddenly gunshots split the peaceful night. Kathleen dropped to the floor and huddled next to the washstand. Her heart slammed against her bones. Wood splintered under the impact of bullets and angry shouts erupted as a brawl intensified.
    Somehow in the midst of the boisterous clamor, she heard a soft click and her door swung open then closed in a rapid burst. A ray of moonlight from her window glinted off the barrel of a gun. A dark-garbed man crossed the room in two quiet strides. Swallowing the scream in her throat, her eyes widened in fear. Six bullets riddled the bed she had so recently vacated, the loud boom mingling with the new eruption of shots in the hall. A tremor ran down her spine, and she held her breath, petrified the killer would notice her white cotton nightgown against the green paisley wallpaper.
    Drops of water tickled her nose as the intruder swiftly climbed out the window. The roar of her pounding heart drowned out all other sounds as she hugged her knees to her