Free Lone Star Lover by Debbi Rawlins Page B

staring at their beer. Like every Saturday night, the saloon was crowded with cowpunchers who worked at the nearby ranches. Normally the boys tended to get rowdy, but tonight everyone wore long faces and talked quietly amongst themselves. So far, only Lola had snared a customer, one of the drifters who was headed south to the border and had remarked on the place looking like a funeral parlor.
    Kitty figured the downcast mood was on account of what happened to Otis last night. Folks admired him because he was an honorable man, generous with the boys that worked for him and with neighbors who needed a helping hand. Then, too, everyone likely was worried about who might get strung up next.
    Trixie and Ruby were watching the card players, and when Kitty glanced over at them, Ruby took her meaning and went to the bar to get a bottle.
    “There’s no room at Doc’s for Jake,” Kitty said casually. “Otis is laid up there.”
    Bart and Moses gave each other quick looks under the rims of their hats, and finished their shots.
    Glaring at her, Corbin spit in a spittoon three feet away, not caring that he’d missed.
    “Too bad about what happened to him.” Kitty ignored the vulgar man and planted a hand on her hip, easy like, showing him he didn’t rile her none. Letting him smell weakness would be bad. “Makes a body wonder who these vigilantes are. Everyone from around here knows Otis is no rustler.”
    “I told you to get me my damn whiskey.” Corbin leaned close, spit flying from his mouth. “I ain’t gonna tell—”
    Ruby set the bottle in front of him.
    He grabbed her wrist and twisted it until she whimpered. “I didn’t ask you, now did I?”
    Kitty picked up the bottle, ready to smash it across his head. “Let her go.”
    Corbin stared at her with a look of disbelief, that inched into a feral smile.
    “Come on now, Kitty, ain’t no need for this.” Bart touched her arm. “Corbin, let go of Ruby.”
    Corbin locked gazes with Kitty for another few seconds, and then flung Ruby toward the next table. She caught the back of a chair, saving herself from ending up on the hard plank floor. Sending the back of Corbin’s head a resentful look, she fixed her bodice and then scurried to the bar.
    Kitty reluctantly set the bottle back on the table. “You know Wade don’t take to you hurting the girls.”
    “Shut up, Kitty,” Bart said in a hushed voice, his normally ruddy face dark with warning.
    She heeded his counsel. Bart wasn’t one to interfere unless there was big trouble on the horizon. Could be Corbin had been drinking more than Kitty realized.
    Behind her, she heard the door to the saloon open and then Wade’s voice, and allowed herself a small victorious smile. Corbin wouldn’t bother her with Wade here.
    “Ain’t you the lucky lazy-ass whore,” Corbin mumbled as he uncapped the bottle.
    She adjusted her skirt and touched her hair, before turning around. Wade had stopped at the bar, but now he strode toward her, his duster flapping against his long legs as he walked. His black hair, graying at the temples, was damp from his bath, and swept away from his lean clean-shaven face. Funny how he could still make her heart flutter after all these years.
    “Don’t you look pretty tonight, Kitty.” He winked and kissed her cheek, before pulling out a chair.
    She smiled, mostly because he said the same thing every night he was in town. Which was happening less and less lately. Sometimes he was gone for days. Patrolling the border and hunting rustlers, or so he claimed. Kitty had her doubts. Not that she would ever voice them.
    He removed his hat and sat down. “You boys eat yet?”
    Bart and Moses nodded. Corbin didn’t answer.
    She touched Wade’s shoulder. “I’ll get you a glass, honey.”
    He caught her hand as it started to trail away. “Lloyd’s telling Cook to fry me up a steak, and then he’s bringing me a beer.” He glanced at Bart and Moses, but then set his sights on Corbin. “You boys