The Deputy - Edge Series 2 Read Online Free PDF

later it was to the front of them they first saw for certain they were not the only people on this Texas trail tonight. They had just rounded the base of a small hillock to emerge on the crest of a gentle slope that swept down into the head of a broad valley. At the foot of the incline, a quarter of a mile away, an enclosed wagon with two horses in the traces was stalled.
    A man was stooped near the offside rear wheel of the rig, like he was about to change it, or maybe had just finished changing it.
    All three riders reined in their mounts and Isabella caught her breath: this time certainly rasped an embittered Spanish oath.
    North said: ‘What do you reckon, Edge?’
    Edge did not need to survey their surroundings again to know they were totally exposed at the top of the slope, with no cover of any used within immediate reach: and maybe a bunch of hired guns not too far away.
    He replied tautly: ‘We got nothing to lose but our lives. I say we keep riding.’
    ‘You can if you want, but I’m – ‘

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    Isabella made to jerk on her reins to command her horse to wheel. But Edge thrust out a hand and gripped her arm to prevent her from completing the move. He looked grimly at her with eyes narrowed to glittering slits for a stretched second before he returned his intense gaze to the stalled wagon ahead and below them and told her evenly:
    ‘There’s no place for you to go, lady. So it seems to me it’s best you stay with us, uh?’
    North added through clenched teeth: ‘But it’d be better if Edge didn’t need to keep hold of you, senorita. Best for him to have both hands free for his guns if he needs them don’t you think?’ The woman swallowed hard and remained rigidly tense as she allowed huskily: ‘All right. I see I have no option but to do as you say.’
    After a sideways glance into her fear filled dark eyes Edge was certain she meant what she said and released his hold on her.
    Then the three of them started their mounts forward and concentrated their attention on the wagon as the man beside the wheel looked toward them, rose from where he had been hunkered down and waved in friendly greeting. I do not think you should trust him!’ Isabella cautioned softly, her voice quivering in a fearconstricted throat. North’s tone was almost as shaky as he rasped: ‘I ain’t your grandmother, so don’t try to teach me to suck eggs.’ All three peered fixedly ahead. And with the talk done the only sounds in the night were the clop of hooves, creak of tack and rasped breathing which seemed much louder than before.
    If the man at the wagon said anything as the riders came to within a hundred feet of him, the words did not carry to Edge, North and Isabella. Or maybe here was no need for him to utter any kind of signal.
    Whatever, the burlap covering of the wagon’s rear end was abruptly wrenched aside. And three guns stabbed vividly bright muzzle flashes out into the night. Edge snarled: ‘Eggs as in duck!’
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    CHAPTER • 4
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    ISABELLA SCREAMED.
    Edge powered off his horse, crashed heavily into the fleshy woman and bundled her down against the rock hard ground as North’s horse crumpled under him with a high pitched equine screech, blood spurting from its many wounds. In the night filled for stretched seconds with the crackle of gunfire, any noise made by the men, the woman and their mounts was masked by the barrage of shots. As the cursing Edge struggled to keep the shrieking and struggling woman pressed hard against the dirt.
    And North freed himself from the saddle of his stricken horse, slid the rifle out of its boot and triggered a shot as his feet slammed to the ground. Then pumped the action and exploded a second shot as he pitched forward. This while the man who had been crouched beside the wagon’s rear wheel raced forward and clambered up on to the seat. Commanded the team to a gallop as the men in the rear continued to explode