Free Love's Sweet Revenge by Rosanne Bittner Page B

Jake we’ve seen Mike Holt snooping around Guthrie.”
    Red nodded, glancing in the direction Holt had gone. He couldn’t see him. “I wish there wasn’t so much law and order these days,” he complained. “There was a time when the town could have hung that sonofabitch, and nobody would have cared.”
    * * *
    Brad Buckley watched from the shadows. He’d walked out of a saloon across the street from the Okie when he heard the commotion outside—heard everything that was said. He stayed out of sight as he walked up the street, following Mike Holt. He waited until he was sure no one was watching, then hurried to catch up with Holt.
    â€œMike! Mike Holt!” he called in a rough whisper.
    Holt stopped and turned, quickly pulling a rifle from its boot on his horse. “Who is it?” he asked.
    â€œName’s Brad Buckley. I don’t mean any harm.” Brad stepped closer. “Is it really you—one of them that was at Dune Hollow?”
    Holt kept the rifle ready as he studied the big, strapping, barrel-chested young man. “What’s it to you?”
    Brad put out his hand. “I want to shake the hand of a man who was in on fucking Jake Harkner’s daughter.”
    Holt cautiously shook his hand. “And why would that be?”
    Brad shook his hand vigorously. “Mister, Jake Harkner killed my pa and two brothers four years back when he was a U.S. Marshal. And he just about killed me once—slammed his rifle butt into my chest and nearly broke my breastbone in two. I was months recovering. I hate the sonofabitch, and, well, I heard what was said back there. Are you thinking of looking up Harkner?”
    â€œIt’s his son I’m after. Me and my brother joined up with the Bryants on that thing in Dune Hollow. My brother gave himself up, but Lloyd Harkner shot him in the back after he had his hands in the air and had put down his guns. He started to run off, and Lloyd shot him down like a damn jackrabbit. After it was all over, I told that kid I’d get him for what he done to my brother, and I intend to do just that.”
    â€œCan I ride with you? I have my own score to settle. I’m sick of Guthrie. My ma died last year, and I’ve got nothing left here. All I do is think about how I can get back at Jake Harkner for killing my father and causing me ungodly pain for months. I know for a fact he headed for Colorado. A man as notorious as Jake Harkner shouldn’t be hard to find just by asking around, and where Jake is, you’ll find Lloyd, too. They’re inseparable.”
    â€œYou know how to use a gun?”
    â€œâ€™Course I do.”
    â€œAll right. I’m camped outside of town. You can join me if you want.”
    â€œHell, I have a farm, such as it is, just northwest of here. You’re welcome to come there with me and sleep in a real bed under a real roof.”
    Holt nodded. “That’s right friendly of you, Buckley. I’m hurtin’ pretty bad from that damn red-bearded man’s fists.”
    â€œI bet. Red St. James is the town gunsmith, and he’s known for his fighting skills. He’s never been beat arm wrestling.”
    They started walking together.
    â€œHey,” Brad said, “if you don’t mind my asking… I saw it in the news. They said you were released because there was no proof you actually raped Jake’s daughter.”
    â€œAnd you want to know if I did.”
    Brad shrugged. “Can’t help wondering. I sure would have liked to have been there and had my own turn.”
    Holt stopped walking. “Well, son, I had my turn at her, and it was sweet. The best part is, she was blindfolded.”
    â€œ Blindfolded ? ”
    â€œYup. Some of us decided to blindfold her when we took our turn. It was pretty entertaining. And now I could walk right up to her, and she wouldn’t recognize me. When I was done with her, I went back to a barn where