Carol Finch - Lady Renegade

Glenn’s broad chest puffed up like an offended toad’s. “I’m twenty-six years old, damn it… Excuse my language, Lori. I can do whatever I want, if I want. You aren’t my boss anymore.”

While Glenn and Gideon exchanged teasing taunts, Lori smiled to herself. She missed having a brother. For years, it had been only Lori and her father, working together to establish the trading post to feed, supply and transport travelers.

After hearing about Gideon’s dealings with his scheming, abusive stepfather, she understood why he was wary of believing strangers’ stories. She knew he felt the burden of responsibility to care for and protect his family. She wondered how it would feel to have him protect her rather than distrust her motives and spew his cynicism at her.

Come to think of it, why had he brought her along when he could’ve foisted her off on his fellow marshals and be done with her? That’s what she’d expected, but he’d surprised her.

She couldn’t help but ask him about it.

He shifted awkwardly on the striking Pinto-and-Appaloosa stallion. For a moment, she didn’t think he planned to answer. He didn’t bother to do her the courtesy of glancing in her direction when he finally spoke.

“You’re my prisoner and I’m collecting my bounty money.”

The comment cut her to the core. She told herself she suspected as much. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust the other marshals to keep her captive. It wasn’t because he thought she might come to harm while caged with known outlaws who might maul her or molest her during the trek to Fort Smith.

No, it was about the money he’d collect when he delivered her to trial.

“At least you’re honest,” she mumbled.

“One of us should be.”

Lori gnashed her teeth. “I’m really beginning to dislike you intensely, Marshal Fox.”

“It’s not my duty to win friends, Miz Russell.”

“Good thing. You’d fail miserably. You have the charm and disposition of a rattlesnake.”

Glenn chuckled at the unflattering exchange. “Too bad Galen isn’t here to enjoy this. Very few people dare to talk back to my big brother.”

She figured the only reason Gideon allowed her to get away with it was because he didn’t want to shoot her or strangle her while his youngest brother was an eyewitness.

“Ah, home at last,” Gideon declared three hours later.

Lori stared into the lush valley, admiring the rock-and-timber home butted up against the north hillside to block off cold winter winds. The ranch boasted one of the most panoramic settings she’d seen for miles. A spring-fed creek meandered through the meadow to flow into the nearby river. It passed close to the two-story home and oversize barn similar to the one at Burgess Ranch and Stage Station.

There were a half-dozen large sheds equipped with stalls for cattle and horses. Dozens of horses grazed in the pasture. But apparently, someone had stolen the prized breeding stock. Considering the fine quality of broodmares and colts on the ranch, the top breeding stock must be something extraordinary.

So this was where Gideon and his brothers had grown up, she mused as she cast him a discreet glance. She predicted the men had built the spacious home and outbuildings with their own hands. Lori wondered how Sarah Fox dealt with the three brothers who came and went from the ranch. She sincerely hoped Gideon treated his sister-in-law with more trust and respect than he did Lori. Otherwise, the woman should seriously consider whacking Gideon’s hard head and knocking some manners into him.

As the threesome rode downhill a petite woman with shiny black hair, expressive brown eyes and olive complexion—that hinted at her Osage and white ancestry—stepped onto the covered porch. She wore a calico gown that modestly concealed her rounded belly.

The instant Gideon dismounted Sarah flew into his arms. “Thank goodness, Glenn found you!” she gushed as she hugged the stuffing out of Gideon. “I can’t keep that mule-headed brother of yours down without resorting to every Indian remedy of a sedative. He wakes up and swears he’s going to hunt down those thieves. You have to do something with that crazed brother of yours, Gid!”

No doubt, the whole family expected the eldest brother to resolve all problems they encountered. Being unflappable, self-reliant and more than capable, Gideon quietly reassured Sarah that he would take care of Galen. Then he strode toward the porch. He stopped abruptly then lurched around to glance at Lori. As if he wasn’t sure what to do with her.

She shouldn’t feel offended because she was his afterthought. You are a fool to expect anything from that hard-nosed marshal, she reminded herself sensibly. She was one of his many duties and she was nothing more than a dollar sign in his eyes. What did she care what he thought of her? She didn’t, she told herself fiercely. As far as she was concerned, Gideon Fox was a pain in the ass, the gigantic obstacle standing between her and freedom and exoneration.

He was also her first shocking experience with irrational lust. She still couldn’t fathom why Gideon intrigued her. She knew he wouldn’t blink an eye at shooting her down if she attempted escape. At most, she was nothing but a convenient warm body to him. Someone to wrestle around in the grass and kiss because there wasn’t another available female for miles—with the exception of his pretty sister-in-law. Well, she had a grand suggestion as to what he should do with her, she thought huffily. He could release her and she would promise never, ever to bother him again.

“Glenn, do something with Lori,” he requested as Sarah grasped his hand and tugged him up the steps.

“Come on, Lori,” Glenn said, jostling her from her contemplations.

To her surprise, Glenn untied her feet from the stirrups and discarded the infuriating leash attached to her manacled wrists. With courteous care—something Gideon Hard-Hearted-Fox knew absolutely nothing about—Glenn scooped her from Drifter’s saddle and set her on the ground. She noticed Glenn took his sweet time setting her on her feet and releasing her. His body brushed against her, but to Lori’s frustration, she didn’t feel the same tingles of awareness that Gideon set off.

She wished she had. Glenn was arrestingly handsome, with a muscular build, thick raven hair and twinkling black eyes. Plus, he was only a few years older than her and he didn’t treat her with such wary distrust.

“I’m sorry I can’t do anything about the cuffs,” he murmured without backing away. “I would if I could. But I’d have to answer to my big brother.”

“It’s all right, Glenn. I appreciate your consideration.”

To her surprise, he slid his arm around her waist and shepherded her up the steps into the house. When they stepped into the spacious parlor and dining area, she heard gruff voices wafting down the hallway.

“Sit down, you idiot!” Gideon boomed like thunder.

“Get the hell out of my way!” came another deep, agitated voice that she presumed belonged to Galen Fox.

Glenn shuttled her down the hall and they paused in the doorway. Lori assessed the dark-haired, bare-chested patient who had a bloodstained bandage wrapped around his upper right arm. Galen, who looked to be a couple of years younger than Gideon, thrashed wildly on the bed while Gideon tried to shove his head against the pillow. Galen attempted to backhand Gideon while Sarah scolded her partially sedated husband for tearing the stitches and defying his older brother’s orders.

“See what I mean, Gid?” Sarah fussed. “None of the remedies to sedate him are as effective as they should be.”

“That’s because you can’t sedate stubborn,” said Gideon.