Strongheart Read Online Free PDF Page B

making everything worse. He looked in the corner and saw a waste bucket for his use, and he ran to it, emptying whatever might have been left in his stomach into it. His head pounded as if his horse were standing on it and trotting in place. Finally, he spotted nearby a bucket with a bar of soap and a towel, and he crawled to it on hands and knees and dunked his head in and out of the bucket three times. His head cleared a little as he shook it like on old dog who had just crossed a creek.
    He blinked his eyes and then rubbed his face with the towel, looking around. Joshua Strongheart was in a dark, dusty jail cell and could not, for the life of him, figure out how he got there.
    The outer door opened with a loud, rusty squeak, and Joshua scrunched his shoulders up with the sound, which made his headache hurt worse. He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life. Dark auburn, her hair hung all the way down to the small of her back, and it had a natural curl in it, the morning sun streaking through the window making it glisten like dew drops. The classy full-length shiny green dress she wore could not hide the natural curves of her body, but what entranced him were the light hazel, almost yellow eyes. She smiled looking at him and walked right up to the bars. Hesitantly, he got to his feet and walked forward.
    â€œThe deputy said I could visit with you briefly,” she said through full crimson lips.
    Joshua knew this beauty was speaking to him as if they were close. Her body language showed it, but he had no idea what had transpired the night before, or nights before.
    He said softly, “Hi,” still wondering why he was here and what had happened.
    â€œOh, you poor thing,” she cooed. “Your eye is black, and you have a nasty cut on your cheekbone. I was certain those men were going to kill you. How can I ever thank you?”
    He suddenly realized his left eye was swollen almost shut, and he winced as he touched his cheekbone.
    â€œWell,” he said, actually trying to access information, “they were awfully tough. Weren’t they?”
    â€œThem?” she said, throwing up her hands. “You almost killed all three of them.”
    Now Joshua was really concerned, and it was driving him crazy trying to figure out a missing piece of his history. Had he nearly killed someone? Did he use a gun, or his knife? What started it? He made a silent promise to himself to never drink again. It seemed like every time he tried to drink, things like this just happened, even if he planned on having only a cold beer. He also knew he had made himself the same promise before, but now here he was again, wondering what he had done.
    She suddenly pulled him forward, kissing him full on the lips, and the door burst open again.
    A very large and sloppy-looking strawberry-headed deputy walked into the room, saying, “Time’s up, ma’am.”
    She whispered, “Even though they were paying customers, I could not believe how you took exception to them touching me. You were such a gentleman protecting my honor.”
    Joshua stepped back and sat down hard on his cot.
    He smiled at her feebly, saying, “Sorry. Hangover. Are they okay, ma’am?”
    She headed toward the door, saying, “Don’t know, sweetie. Ask him,” indicating the deputy. “Thanks again.”
    Joshua gave the deputy a sheepish grin and said, “Did I hurt some men last night?”
    â€œNaw,” the deputy replied, and Joshua felt relief.
    Then the jailer added, “More like half kilt ’em. Ya broke up Bugger Johnson’s face bad, knocked out a lota the teeth he had left, broke his jaw, smashed his nose. Lessee, Big Ed Thomas, ya snapped his arm like it was firewood. He screamed like a durn banshee. Then poor ole Lucipher Rhames. Took the doc mosta the night to get him awake. He cain’t remember what happened neither.”
    The deputy shuffled toward the door, then stopped and