Free The Outlaw's Return by Victoria Bylin

on the gate, he heard the creak of the swing and Mary’s footsteps hurrying down the path.
    â€œWait!” she called.
    He turned and saw her running to him. She stopped a foot away, looking harried and confused and as beautiful as ever. Her eyes were shiny with tears, and her cheeks had turned from ashen to pink. Sunshine turned her hairinto gold, while the brightness cast their shadows side by side.
    â€œI forgive you,” she said.
    â€œYou do?”
    â€œYes.” She swallowed hard. “I forgave you a long time ago. It’s just…” She bit her lip. “No one here knows every thing that happened in Abilene. After you left, people called me a loose woman. The gossip was awful. If it started here, I’d—” she shook her head “—I’ll deal with it if I have to, but I worry about Gus and Gertie.”
    He’d come to Denver to rescue her, not to make her life hard. “No one needs to know about our past. What’s done is done.”
    â€œYes.”
    Judging by her expression, she saw the flaw in his logic as plainly as he did. Their memories couldn’t be erased. He knew how she felt in his arms. He’d laughed at her silly jokes and seen her wipe her nose when she had a cold. On the flipside of the coin, she knew him even better than he knew himself. He wanted that closeness again, though he knew he had to earn it. “I won’t hurt you, Mary. I promise. I just want to help you.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter what you promise.” She clipped the words. “I don’t trust you, J.T.”
    â€œI understand.” And he did, perfectly. “I wouldn’t trust me either just yet. But someday you will. It’s up to me to change your mind.”
    She looked peeved.
    â€œWe’ll start with Gus.” He let his eyes twinkle as if they were in Abilene again. Though he had been ready to leave earlier, he couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing Mary again. “Does he like to fish? I could take him—”
    She frowned. “We need some rules.”
    â€œSure.” He usually looked at rules as things to break. For Mary, he’d obey them. “What do you have in mind?”
    She stood as straight as a measuring stick. “No cussing.”
    â€œAgreed.” He wouldn’t be accountable if he stubbed his toe, but he’d try. He didn’t cuss much anyway.
    â€œAnd spitting.” She wrinkled her nose. “I abhor spitting.”
    He put his hand over his heart. “My dear Miss Larue, have you ever seen me spit in front of a lady?”
    She blushed. “No, but I want to be clear.”
    Feeling bold again, he clasped her arms to hold her in place. The gesture had come from the past and she stiffened, but he didn’t regret it. He wanted her to feel his sincerity. “You can trust me, Mary.”
    To seal the promise, he kissed her on the forehead. She could make all the rules she wanted, but he’d gotten what he’d wanted for six months. He had a chance to win her back. He also had a good reason to stay in Denver, where he could keep an eye on Roy Desmond. And he’d be able to prove himself by helping her brother.
    He released his grip and stepped back. “I’ll visit Gus tomorrow.”
    â€œThat’s too soon.”
    â€œThen Tuesday.” He didn’t want to wait. He’d get bored, and boredom led to thoughts of liquor and cards.
    Mary shook her head. “The café is busy that day. I close early on Wednesday. You can come for supper.”
    He’d have three days to endure, but he nodded. “Wednesday it is.”
    He stepped through the gate with Fancy Girl trotting at his heels and a smile playing on his lips. He liked theidea of taking a boy fishing, so he decided to ride out of town to find a good spot. The buckskin wanted to run, and J.T. needed to burn off the rush in his blood. He and Mary had a long way to go, but today had