The Bandit Princess Read Online Free PDF

turned to face the deputy marshal.
    “You can’t have any doubts, Alice,” he said. “Not when I’m counting on you to watch my back.”
    “Wait, wait,” she said, “I didn’t mean I had my doubts about being able to shoot someone. When the time comes, don’t worry, I’ll do my job. I just meant that I have doubts about how I’ll feel afterward. That’s something I’ll have to come to terms with if I’m going to do this job.”
    “Just don’t hesitate, Alice,” Clint said. “Your hesitation could cost us both our lives. Let’s mount up.”
    They climbed up on their horses and rode out of Fort Smith.
    “What’s our first stop?” she asked.
    “Briartown,” he said, “located in a bend of the Canadian River. It’s Belle Starr country, so maybe somebody there will be able to tell us something.”
    “And what about Belle Starr?” Deputy Eads asked. “She must know something about her daughter. Do we know where she is?”
    “We don’t,” Clint said, “but our main objective is not Belle Starr, it’s Pearl.”

ELEVEN
     
     
     
    Pearl Starr stared out at the rushing Canadian River, standing hipshot, her hand on her Peacemaker. From behind her she heard the sound of male voices arguing. She had five men in her gang, five men who were very good at what they did, as long as they listened to her. None of them had the brains to run the outfit, but the five of them combined—under her direction—were the best gang she could have put together.
    Pearl had everything her mother had—brains, femininity, heart—and to add to all of that, she had her youth.
    The twenty-year-old self-proclaimed “Bandit Princess” turned and walked back to the small two-room house. Erected on either side of the house were the tents that the men used. The house was hers alone.
    The five men were always arguing among themselves. It was amazing that, without her, they could not function. Their egos simply got in the way, and none of them could think straight enough to lead.
    “Randy!”
    Randy Green came running when Pearl called. He was eight years older, but totally subservient to his boss, as he was in love with her.
    “Pearl?”
    “What are they fighting about now?” she asked.
    “There’s only one bottle of whiskey left in camp,” Randy said. “Del and Tate both want it.”
    “Then tell them both to go to Whitfield and get some more—as well as more supplies. They know what we need.”
    “Okay.”
    “Just the two of them, Randy,” she said. “And tell them to stay out of trouble.”
    “I will.”
    “Where’s Hunter?”
    If anyone was Pearl’s second in command, it was Hunter Holcomb, the only one of the gang who was over thirty. He was the most experienced of them all.
    “He went fishing for dinner,” Randy said.
    “And Dave?”
    “He’s doing the laundry.”
    “Good. I’m running out of unmentionables.”
    Randy didn’t know what to say to that.
    “Who’s cooking tonight?” she asked.
    “I am.”
    “Well, get started.”
    “But . . . Hunter’s not back with the fish.”
    “So start making the vegetables,” she said. “Do I have to tell you everything?”
    “Sorry,” Randy said. “I’ll get on it.”
    He went into the house. She only ever allowed a man in the house for two reasons—to cook, or to have sex with. In either case, they had to get out afterward.
    With Randy in the house cutting vegetables, Pearl remained outside. Del and Tate were still arguing, so she walked over to one of the tents and entered. Neither man noticed her. They both had their hands around a bottle of whiskey, and were pulling back and forth.
    She marched up to them and yelled, “Hey!”
    They both stopped talking and pulling and looked at her. She took the bottle of whiskey from them and said, “Get to town and pick up some supplies.”
    “Like what?” Del asked.
    “What about the bottle?” Tate asked.
    “The bottle is mine,” she said.
    “What are ya gonna do with it?” Del asked, licking