The Devil You Know Read Online Free PDF Page A

the weight of them. “More,” she said. “Lean back more. I’ve got you.”
    He did, this time with more confidence. His knuckles were bloodless, but the grip remained firm.
    â€œYou can shout,” Cutter said.
    Willa added, “Curse if you have a mind to.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Annalea, stepping out from behind Cutter. John Henry appeared from under her skirt and between her legs. “There’s no ears here that haven’t heard the like before, and that includes Mr. John Henry. As I recall, I heard you blaspheme on earlier acquaintance.”
    â€œJesus,” he said under his breath.
    Annalea nodded sagely. “That’s what I recall, too.”
    Willa looked sharply at Annalea. “I told you to stay in the wagon. Cutter, how did she get around you?”
    He flushed but held his ground. “Sneaky as a sidewinder.”
    â€œI am,” said Annalea, clearly proud.
    â€œThen bring your sneaky self over here and hold hisknees.” She tapped her patient on his uninjured shoulder when Annalea was in place. “You don’t have to hug him that hard.”
    â€œOh.” Annalea offered the stranger a rueful smile. “Sorry.”
    Willa thought she heard him curse under his breath again, but it might have been intended as a prayer this time. “Keep leaning back,” she told him. “That’s it. Stretch. More. More.”
    There was an audible popping sound when the shoulder joint realigned. Willa, Annalea, and Cutter all blinked. The stranger groaned once and then was silent. A heartbeat later his laced fingers unwound, his hands dropped away from his knees, and he collapsed against Willa.
    â€œI didn’t expect him to faint,” Willa said, carefully lowering him to the ground. “But maybe that’s better all the way around. It will ease the ride back for him
and
us.” She shooed John Henry out of the way as the dog came forward to sniff the stranger. “Annalea, put John Henry in the wagon and fetch me a cloth large enough to make a sling.” She stretched out an arm toward Cutter. “The damp cloths, please.”
    While Willa tended to the stranger’s cuts and scrapes, the rope burns around his wrists, Cutter walked off with the shotgun to explore the clearly marked trail made by dragging the man onto Pancake land. Annalea stayed with Willa, assisting now and again, but mostly she sat cross-legged at their patient’s feet, still and contemplative.
    Willa tied off the sling and critically eyed her work. She looked to Annalea to invite comment. When none was forthcoming, Willa made a small adjustment to the knot and padded it with a cloth she folded into quarters.
    â€œYou are uncharacteristically quiet,” she said. When Annalea had no response to that, she added, “And apparently deep in thought.”
    â€œHmm.” Annalea’s eyes did not stray from the stranger. She was leaning forward, chin cupped in her palms, her elbows resting on her knees. “Do you figure him for a criminal?”
    â€œHard to make a judgment there. Is that what you’re trying to do?”
    â€œUh-huh. I am wondering about the nature of his activities. It’s a sure thing you don’t get dragged behind a horse and left for dead if somebody ain’t pissed at you.”
    One of Willa’s dark eyebrows kicked up. “Language.”
    â€œSorry. If somebody
isn’t
pissed at you.”
    Willa’s lips twitched, but the raised eyebrow stayed in place a moment longer. “Have you considered that Happy might know him?”
    Annalea’s head lifted a fraction as she frowned deeply. “Why would Pa know him?”
    â€œBecause he spends considerably more time in Jupiter than any of the rest of us.”
    â€œYes, but mostly he’s in the Liberty Saloon or the jailhouse.” Her frown faded, replaced by a lopsided grin as she comprehended her sister’s