To Honor and Cherish Read Online Free PDF Page A

room. I paid for it.”
    “I own this building. Do you think your dollar matters to me? What does matter is a busted up room and the Sherriff stopping by. I don’t care who you are or even who your daddy was. I don’t own that kind of establishment.” The older man fixed his gaze on Jax. “Evening, young man. I’m guessing you aren’t here by choice?”
    Jax looked at the man through the heavy lid of one eye. It was all he could manage. His mouth hung open, the lip split on the right side. He was sure he was a sorry sight. His head lolled to one side and he didn’t have the strength to hold it upright. The old man walked over to Jax and pulled one of his arms away from one of the men. Jax began to slip to the floor, His rescuer put Jax’s arm over and around his shoulder and helped him walk.
    “We’re not finished with him, old man.” Lars spat.
    “You are now. And if I catch you near him again, I’ll just put a bullet in you.” For the first time in Lars’s quest to kill Jax he was experiencing resistance and it made him angry. Jax could feel the energy of Lars’s anger directed right at him. Lars hit the table with his fist, the vibration shook the whole room.
    As they were leaving, they heard Lars growl, “You’re biting off more than you can chew, old man. I know where your daughter lives.”
    “You’ll pay for that table and anything else you manage to do. Worthless, hot-tempered fool.”
    They stumbled out of the torture room. Jax saw the young lady he’d thought about earlier in the room down the hall. Her door was open like she was waiting for someone. She looked anxious, wringing her hands and her brow furrowed when she looked up at him. He saw her nod. She was nervous and tentative. He wished he could motion back to her in some way. The man next to him raised his head at her and nodded. She frowned, walked swiftly to her door and shut it.
    She had beautiful raven hair and bright blue eyes. What was it with blue-eyed girls lately? First the boss-lady, now this one. Maybe he’d just been hit too hard. No way there were two girls around here with those same intense blue eyes.
    The old man limped him down the stairs and over to a small waiting carriage. It was a two-person rig with a cover and he leaned Jax up against the edge.
    “I know you can’t talk much, but can you tell me where to take you, partner?”
    Jax swallowed hard, every bone in the upper part of his body throbbed. He wished he could pass out. He wheezed, “Whitte…Ranch.”
    “Ah, you must be one of the new hands.” He picked up the reins but waited for a moment. “This is going to be a long bumpy ride, but I’ll try to make it as easy as possible. You and I’ll probably get to know each other rather well. My name is Augustus Whitte. I’m bankrolling your employment for my daughter.”
    Jax groaned to himself, so much for first impressions. Boss-lady would fire him now. She wouldn’t ask questions and neither would Mr. Whitte. They’d assume he was a brawler and get rid of him instead of taking a chance. If he had nowhere to go, Lars would find him again without much of a hunt. Next time, there might not be anyone around to come to his rescue.
    “Don’t worry young man. My Meg is a smart girl. She can take care of you. You might not want to, but mind her and she’ll do well for that place. I taught her everything she knows, you hear?” Augustus finally flicked the reins to start the long ride home.
    Jax held his ribs and nodded feebly. He felt his face swelling and he was sure he wouldn’t be able to see out of either eye soon. He wouldn’t be moving for a few days, not around the ranch, not to the bunkhouse. His lungs wouldn’t take a deep breath, and it was all he could do to remain upright in the carriage. Each clop of the horse’s hooves made him want to gasp with the pain and wish he could escape it.
    “Good thing I heard that fight when I did. I don’t think they planned on stopping. I hope whoever she