The Iron Horseman Read Online Free PDF Page B

,” she said coolly, looking at Levi, “and yes, Eamon
Walker is my father. You are obviously some relation of Mr. Redbourne here.”
She motioned with her head, but did not look at him. “Twins.”
    Tag
laughed. “We,” he swooped his arm in front of him and took a bow, “are Mr.
Redbourne’s brothers, ma’am. Cole and Taggart.”
    “It
is my pleasure to meet your acquaintance.” She dipped her head in a slight bow,
her hand still in Cole’s. Levi had to fight the urge to swipe it away. Not that
it should matter to him any. Still, he couldn’t help the relief that washed
over him when she slid her fingers from his brother’s grasp.
    “So,
what is Eamon’s daughter doing in a little town way out here with the likes of
you?” Tag elbowed Levi in the gut, then directed his attention to Cadence. “I
thought you were supposed to be living back East somewhere.”
    “Chicago,
actually. I am moving out here to be closer to my father and to help him run
the homestead.”
    “Wait,
Eamon is giving up the agency?” Tag asked.
    “He
purchased some land in Bryan,” Levi informed them, “where he’s building a
homestead. I think he wants to have a place to hang his hat. He won’t be a
Pinkerton forever.” Levi still didn’t understand his friend’s reasoning. Eamon
had a home in Chicago where his wife, son, and until recently Cadence still
resided. Although his wife had made it perfectly clear that she had no
intention of moving west.
    Cadence
shrugged. “He thinks I’ll find a husband out here where the odds are better
than ten to one.”
    Levi
felt the color drain from his face.
    “Don’t
worry, Mr. Redbourne,” she placed a hand on his chest, “I have no interest in
my father’s plans…except for the homestead, of course.” She smiled. “Chicago
was stifling—especially under my mother’s constant watch.” She turned to his
brothers. “I’ve only just met Mr. Redbourne this afternoon when he…rescued me
from a runaway horse.”
    Tag
and Will both nodded knowingly. Levi groaned. He would never hear the end of
this.
    “What
a lucky day for us,” Cole said with that dimpled grin that always seemed to
charm the ladies.
    “Will
you be riding the train with us to Bryan?” Cadence asked Tag, ignoring Cole’s
attempt.
    “‘Fraid
not. We’ve got work to do,” Tag answered.
    “What are you fellas doing all the way out here?” Levi managed to ask, still
reeling from the events of the last five minutes.
    “We
heard you were causing some kind of trouble out here and thought we’d drop by
to lend a hand.” Cole laughed as he clapped Levi on the shoulder with a
chuckle.
    Levi
turned to Tag.
    “Business,”
Tag said matter-of-factly. “Dad bought a new stud for the ranch from a breeder
in Cheyenne. So, we drove a small herd of cattle up to one of our buyers, but
the horse won’t be ready until tomorrow morning. A Mr. Dowdry saw us as we rode
back into town. He stopped me.” Tag smiled. “It didn’t take long before we
realized he thought I was you. When we explained, he told us you’d given him a
second chance with a new life as the owner of the mercantile here in Flat
Plains. He told us he believed you’d be around ‘til Thursday.”
    “Since
we can’t pick up the stallion until tomorrow, we decided it would be worth the
extra trip for the chance to catch up with you,” Cole cut in. “This one,” he
ruffled Tag’s hair, “just isn’t the same without you around.” Their younger
brother was as tall as them, seemingly still growing, and he wouldn’t let
either of them forget it. “He really has become such a bore.”
    Tag
hit Cole’s arm with the back of his hand.
    “I
can’t remember the last time he made me laugh,” Cole said with a hint of
amusement. “You really have to consider coming home. It’s just not the same
there without you—not nearly enough shenanigans to be had.”
    “I
should be home for Christmas.” Once the transcontinental line was complete,
Levi