Free Spoiled Evelyn (The Mail Order Brides of Boot Creek Book 4) by Carré White Page A

where people had gathered. A woman held a baby, who cried. Chuck approached the counter, where a man worked, handing out keys to the various rooms. After the purse had been deposited in a safety box, he took my arm, leaning in to whisper, “Here we go. Keep your head down, and don’t look up. Try not to trip. Keep walking like the man you are.”
    I stifled a giggle. “Yes, sir.” Then I lowered my voice. “Yes, sir.”
    “Better.”
    It took every bit of willpower not to glance around, and, from the reflection in the mirror across the room, I saw myself as a slight, short man in a wide-brimmed hat. No one seemed to pay me any attention, even as I walked by, trying my best to saunter in a masculine fashion. I swung my arms and lengthened my strides, following Mr. Brittle out the door and onto the boardwalk. I could not know if anyone glanced my way, as I kept my gaze on the wooden boards beneath my feet that clonked with each booted step.
    “Good, good, so far,” said Chuck. “You’re a fast learner.”
    Afraid to speak, I waited until we reached the livery, where two horses had been tethered, their saddlebags brimming with supplies. Chuck paid the owner, who had kept an eye on our things. When he returned, I glanced at him.
    “Were there men there? I didn’t see anything.”
    “That shadow guy and several deputies. If we had waited another ten minutes, things might’ve been unpleasant.”
    “Do you think they’ve gone up already?”
    “I don’t know, but you gotta get on. We need to go.”
    Stepping into the stirrup, I hauled myself up, tossing a leg over. “Oh, this is singular.”
    “Lower your voice. You talk like a woman.”
    “Yes, sir,” I said deeply, but then I giggled, because I sounded ridiculous.
    He handed me the reins. “Here.” Then he mounted his steed, glancing in the direction of the street. “Follow me.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He shook his head, muttering, “It’s gonna be a long day.”
    Our departure from Boot Creek appeared to go unnoticed. Not one person glanced at us twice, as we ambled out of town, trotting at a leisurely pace. It wasn’t until we had reached the outskirts of The Kelly Ranch that we broke into a brisk cantor.
    “How are you?”
    Grinning, I lifted my chin to feel the sun. “Marvelous. It’s so much easier riding a horse astride.”
    “I forgot something.”
    “What?” My spirits plummeted. “We can’t go back. It’s too dangerous.”
    “No, you need a holster and a weapon. I knew I was missin’ something.”
    “I can’t shoot anyway. I’m liable to kill myself.”
    “Yeah, guns and women don’t mix, but you’re trying to pass yourself off as a man. I’ve got an extra weapon in one of the bags. I’ll get it out when we stop for the night.”
    “I can’t sleep outdoors, Mr. Brittle. I really can’t. I won’t get a wink of sleep that way, worrying about bugs crawling all over me or some snake biting me. It’s too terrible to contemplate.”
    He gave me a look. “Uh-huh.”
    “I’m partial to water closets and breakfast in bed. I can’t fix my hair, unless I’ve Tory to help me. You do understand, don’t you?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “I didn’t really think this through.” We appeared to be descending into a canyon of Russian knapweeds and cottonwoods. “I might’ve just ruined my reputation too. You’re a complete stranger, after all. I’ve no idea if you mean me harm or if you’re going to force yourself on me in the middle of the night. I really didn’t think this through properly.” Isn’t it a little late now, Evelyn? You should have thought of this before you ran off with him.
    “You’d rather stay and be arrested on a false charge? We can turn around right now, if you want.”
    “No.”
    “How do I know you’re not a fugitive from justice? What if I’m aiding a criminal? I’d be implicated by association. I could go to jail too.”
    “I’m not a criminal. I’ve never done anything illegal. I ran away from an