Free The Texan's Bride by Geralyn Dawson Page A

make sure she stays that way. I’ve got four thousand dollars in land certificates that come with this deal, but nobody touches the Gallagher woman but me.”
    “You know, I could have you all killed with a single word,” the muffled voice shot back. He tilted his head and studied Branch. “Four thousand?”
    Branch nodded.
    The Regulator shrugged and called over his shoulder to his men, “Leave the woman be.”
    Only then did Branch relax the viselike grip on his gun. With total concentration focused on maintaining his restraint, Branch followed the scoundrel purposefully into the kitchen.
    They sat at Katie’s worktable, where a white linen towel covered a wooden bowl sitting to one side. Branch lifted a corner of the cloth, then helped himself to a wedge of cornbread left from breakfast. “Needs a pinch of sugar, but still pretty good,” he said. “Want one?”
    The black hood moved from side to side. “Anonymity protects us from individual reprisals by the Moderators. That’s the mistake Gallagher made. It’s become well known that the inn was a meeting place for Edward Merchant’s band.” A gloved hand pulled at the collar of a black shirt. “Enough of this. Tell me about the four thousand.”
    Branch stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles. Mentally modifying the story he’d intended to tell all along, he began, “I’m a chemist, a very good chemist. With the aid of my special mixture of acids, I can erase figures in ink from the face of notes without destroying or damaging the paper. Unfortunately, I have some very bad people after me. I need protection, and I’m willing to pay whatever it takes to get it.”
    “Chemist, huh?” The Regulator crossed his arms over his chest. “Who is after you, and what does any of it have to do with your telling Edward Merchant you’d spy for him?”
    One corner of Branch’s mouth lifted in a mocking smile. “Well, mister, like so many others, I came to Texas ten steps ahead of the law, in this case a pair of New York detectives. But I didn’t realize I’d be jumping from one hot skillet into another. This clan war of yours is cookin’ pretty hot, and I want out of the pan.”
    “No one forced you to get involved, Kincaid.”
    “You are right about that. It’s the woman. Isn’t it always a woman? I was just lookin’ for some clean commerce, and I end up getting shot at.” He shrugged. “Hell, I’ve got enough people gunning for me without getting caught in the local cross fire. I figure that if each side thinks I’m working for them, they’ll leave me the hell alone.”
    “Kincaid, I’m sitting here trying to decide whether you’re somewhat smart or real stupid. You’re telling me you’re playing both ends against the middle?”
    “I’m telling you I’m trying to cover my ass.”
    Dark eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You’re a nervy sonofabitch, aren’t you? What’s to keep me from shooting you where you sit?”
    “Money. Lots of it.” Branch leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Listen, I knew within a week of coming here who was going to win this fight. The Moderators don’t stand a chance against men like Watt Moorman. In another year the Regulators will own East Texas.”
    The lingering scent of burned pine blew into the room on a breeze, a grim reminder of the destruction that lay beyond the kitchen’s walls. Branch’s gut clenched, and it took a conscious effort to appear relaxed. “I’ll feed Merchant whatever information you want him to have, and I’ll pass along whatever I hear from him that you’d be interested in learning, as long as it doesn’t tip my hand.” He sat up straight, folded his hands on the table, and leaned forward. Make this good , he told himself as he said, “But that’s not what I’m dealing today. Eventually, those detectives on my tail are going to find me. If you’ll put your Regulator guns against ’em when they do, I’ll get you enough money