Free Outlaw Hearts by Rosanne Bittner

and this one wasn’t even a woman. She was young, maybe only seventeen or so.” A look of anger and outrage moved into his eyes. “It’s like I said before, Mrs. Hayes. I’ve done a lot of things, but not that. And because of something that happened when I was younger, I’ve never been able to tolerate watching a man abuse a woman. I got her out of there, but not without a hell of a gun battle that left a lot of Kennedy’s men dead. They aren’t going to forget about it anytime soon, if ever. I took the girl back to town and left her off. I don’t even know if she realized who helped her. Apparently she didn’t, or she would have told the law I had nothing to do with abusing her.”
    Miranda watched his eyes. They were dark, compelling, and at the moment she believed they told the truth. The man emanated power and danger, and at the same time he had shown such vulnerability when he was sick, had again spoken the name Santana. When he had muttered about his father, it had been as though in agony, with an almost begging tone to his voice. This man carried some kind of deep hurt, and for some reason she wanted to find the good in him. She told herself to be careful, not to let his powerful personality and handsome qualities make her do something foolish. Those dark eyes had a way of making her forget all reason. She had been alone too long, that was the problem, so long that she was allowing herself to enjoy the company of an outlaw.
    â€œWhat happened in your life that made you feel so defensive of women? Did it involve the one named Santana?”
    He looked away. “All you need to know is that I didn’t do the things I’m wanted for now. By the way, where’s my gear? I need a smoke with that whiskey.”
    Miranda sighed. He was through talking about himself for the moment. “I’ll see if I can find your tobacco, and I’ll get the whiskey, but only if you promise to eat something.”
    â€œI’ll try.” He met her eyes again. “And I still want my guns. Anyone could come by at any time.”
    â€œThat’s right, Jake. And anyone who might come by would be one of my friends checking on me. Do you really think I would allow you to shoot an innocent person who might come out here just to see if I’m all right? I have betrayed my friends enough already just by saving your life and keeping you here secretly. I’m not about to let you turn around and hold a gun on them.”
    Jake rolled his eyes. “Mrs. Hayes—”
    â€œRandy.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI told you my first name is Miranda. Friends and family just call me Randy.”
    â€œI’m not family,” Jake told her. “Don’t tell me you’re calling me a friend! I’m no friend to anything but my guns, and I’m not eating until they’re hanging over this bedpost.”
    Miranda stiffened. “Fine, if that’s the way you want it. You can also go without your tobacco and whiskey. You just remember that you’re not going to do anything but get weaker if you don’t eat, and if you ever intend to ride out of here, Jake Harkner, you’d better learn to go by my rules! No guns!”
    She held his eyes challengingly, then watched another hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “You drive a hard bargain, Randy.”
    â€œIt’s called survival, and I meant it about considering ourselves friends. After what we have been through together for the last week, what else can you call it?”
    He put a hand to his hair, wishing it was cleaner. “I don’t know. I only know that among those I run with, a man calls you friend only as long as he knows you can outdraw and outshoot him.”
    Miranda smiled. “Well then, I’d say it’s time you learned what it’s like to have a real friend. Besides, I did outshoot you, and I’m still calling you friend .”
    Jake sighed deeply.