The Lawman Claims His Bride (Love Inspired Historical) Read Online Free PDF

hold Logan had used earlier.
    He fought against Trey’s grip. “If I wasn’t so angry you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to subdue me like this.”
    “But you are angry.” Trey tightened his hold. “Allowing your emotions to rule your actions is what gets a man shot.”
    Logan was in no mood for a lecture, especially from Trey Scott. “This? From you?”
    “You know I speak from experience.” Trey rolled his right shoulder, reminding them both of the time he’d taken a bullet when he’d confronted Ike Hayes over the cold-blooded murder of his first wife. Trey had been bent on revenge and had lost his perspective. Logan had saved the man’s life because he’d been the rational thinker.
    Now Logan was the one losing perspective. He dropped his chin and let out a long breath. “I can’t leave her in jail. Let me take her away from here. I’ll keep her safe.”
    “I know you will.” Trey released his hold and stepped back. “But we need answers first.”
    Absently, Logan rubbed his throat. “We have to find Kincaid’s real killer. Before he finds Megan.”
    “Right now, all we have is supposition. We need more information.”
    Then Logan would get them more. And he knew exactly where to start. “Promise me you won’t let Megan out of your sight, not for any reason.”
    “That goes without saying.”
    Logan took two steps in the direction of Market Street but Trey blocked his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “To Mattie’s.”
    “Waste of time. You know the woman will run you around in circles if she decides to speak to you at all.”
    “She’ll talk.”
    Trey tried a different tactic. “My deputy has been there for several hours, looking for any clues we may have missed earlier. You’ll just be in the way.”
    “I don’t plan to interfere. I plan to get answers.” From the most likely source, Mattie Silks herself. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    He shoved past Trey.
    This time, the man didn’t try to stop him.
    With each step he took, Logan calculated how best to go about questioning Mattie. There was no room for emotion now. Only harsh, unyielding intent. Someone in that den of iniquity had seen the real killer. Someone besides Megan.
    And Logan wouldn’t rest until someone started talking.

Chapter Four
    B y the time Logan rounded the corner onto Market Street, the wind had taken on a nasty bite. He turned up his collar against the cold and instinctively increased his pace. Hollow laughter rang out in the distance, followed by the slam of a door.
    He hated this time of day. In the eerie, predawn light, when the world stood poised between night and day, a desolate sheen seemed to cover everything. The oppressive stench of rotting garbage and stale liquor added to his already bleak mood.
    A shadow slithered across his feet, then disappeared.
    He turned quickly, scanning the area with a narrowed gaze. He found nothing more than a stumbling drunk and a scrawny mutt digging for scraps in the frosted earth.
    Frowning, Logan resumed his trek toward Mattie’s. Every few steps he stabbed a covert glance over his shoulder. He couldn’t shake the notion he was being followed, yet he didn’t get a sense of imminent danger.
    Puzzling over the contradictory sensations, he arrived at his destination. The most elegant house on the block, the brothel’s pale pink stucco, sweeping ivy and heavily sloping roof presented an inviting picture of hearth and home.
    It was a lie, of course. The temporary pleasure offered in this house only resulted in despair. For all parties involved.
    What Logan couldn’t fathom was Megan’s decision to come here at all. What had she hoped to accomplish with her charity work? What had been worth putting herself in harm’s way?
    When and if the time was right, he would ask her.
    For now, he lifted the ornate knocker and let it drop with a loud bang. The abrupt sound helped focus his thoughts on the matter at hand.
    He would get his answers this