Free Badland Bride by Lauri Robinson Page A

figured out all of the strings and buttons without the woman's help.
    After assisting her dressing, Stephanie had left the room, only to return a short time later transformed into a Holy Roller. Quoting the Bible and totting a shotgun half the size of a cannon, she burst into the room and marched Lila to the kitchen table. She tied her to the chair, while one of the brothers tied an unconscious Skeeter to another chair. Scared out of her wits, and more confused than driving in Wichita made her, Lila had barely uttered a protest. Her vocal cords had become paralyzed by the way Stephanie Quinter ranted and raved no grandchild of hers would be born out of wedlock.
    Lila had even gone so far as to click her heels together three times, praying she'd wake up and the wicked witch would be gone. Guilt made her stomach roll, bile burned the back of her throat. She shot a glance toward Skeeter. His head slowly shook back and forth, as if he couldn't believe it all either.
    He hadn't betrayed her by telling his mother of her condition. She'd known the moment the older woman had seen her darkened breasts her secret was out. Taking a bath at the Quinter house had provided less privacy than showers in seventh grade gym class. And the short, round, pioneer woman was more attentive than any physical education teacher had ever been. Caught off guard when Stephanie carried in another bucket of hot water, Lila hadn't been quick enough to cover herself. Now Skeeter's family thought he'd wronged her, and they were set on making it right.
    "The baby isn't his,” Lila muffled through the cloth, once again trying to explain his innocence.
    Skeeter mumbled something at the same time while gesturing toward her with his head.
    "I can't understand a word either of you is sayin', so you might as well hush up. The boys will be back soon.” Stephanie took a long drink from her cup.
    Behind the woman, leaning against a long cupboard, stood what Lila imagined could only be called an elephant gun. The huge double-barrels were large enough to make any beast die of a heart attack long before it was shot. A shiver ran up her spine. Skeeter gave her a worried glance. She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but the quivers raking her body wouldn't quell. How on earth was she going to get out of this one?
    The answer seemed to have come a moment later, when the door flipped open, and a man and woman, followed by the youngest Quinter brother, Bug, rushed in the house. “Stephanie, what the hell is going on here?” a tall, broad shouldered man asked.
    Lila's heart leaped to her throat.
    The petite woman with golden brown hair hanging almost to her waist beside the man patted his arm. Her voice was warm, but held warning. “Kid."
    The man glanced down at the woman. His dark eyes instantly softened. “I'm sorry, love. Are you feeling all right? The ride wasn't too much for you was it?” One of his hands went around the woman's shoulder while the other began to caress her stomach.
    Lila felt her eyes widen. The woman was pregnant. The pounding of her heart became almost painful. Skeeter had told her about his brother Kid, and his wife Jessie, but he hadn't said how pretty Jessie was, or that she was pregnant. Lila surveyed the woman with interest. Jessie Quinter appeared to be very young, younger than she. A depressing sigh left Lila's chest. The odds of the girl surviving a pregnancy in this day and age were gravely against her.
    "I'm fine,” Jessie said, and tilted her head upwards, accepting a gentle kiss, before she turned to Stephanie Quinter. “Ma, why are this girl and Skeeter tied up?” Her voice was once again light, but it held underlying authority that rang surprisingly loud and clear.
    Stephanie had leaped to her feet when the trio entered. She wrapped an arm around the woman. “Here, sweetie, have a seat. I'd have thought you'd have brought a wagon in your condition.” She frowned at the man as she continued, “Kid, you should have known