Free Shotgun Bride by Karen Lopp Page A

hotels.”
    “I’ll be there.” Mike unfolded from the seat, pushed the door open, and hopped out. He turned to help her down and she froze at the ominous sound of a shotgun being cocked. Did the violence never stop? Maybe she should rethink that offer to purchase her land.
    “Drop them guns now, mister.” A gray-headed, scruffy man held a shotgun pointed at Mike’s back. A younger, sandy-haired man pointed his shotgun at her.
    “Take it easy.” Mike raised one hand and with slow movements unhooked his gun belt. The muted thud as it landed at his feet sent her thoughts into a whirlwind. She shivered.
    An unarmed Mike terrified her. He raised his other hand and glanced up at her, brows drawn into a deep crease.
    The sandy-haired man pointed a finger at her. “Jump down an’ git yore sorry self over hayr.”
    Fear rippled up her spine and curled a noose around her throat. Small bursts of breaths matched the wild thump of her heart. Kathleen’s bones melted and she gripped the doorframe for support.
    “Move!”
    She flinched and clambered down on unsteady legs. Back pressed up against the coach, Kathleen slid a step to the side.
    The younger of the two shoved his gun in her ribs. “Don’t try it.”
    Kathleen quailed. The other attacks had been close calls. This time the cold, unyielding press of the gun, sent a chilly sheen of sweat flowing over her body. Her legs trembled like a sapling in a strong wind.
    “Go ahead, Pa.”
    The older cur spat a stream of brown tobacco at Mike’s feet, and then gave her a toothless grin. “Keep yore hands high and turn around feller.”
    Mike eased around.
    The gray-haired man scowled at her. “You’ve done run out with the last feller this time. I warned you over an’ over, I wouldn’t put up with your loose-moraled ways no more. Yore brother an’ I come to put a stop to yore nonsense right now.”
    She gasped and furtively glanced around to decipher who they were talking to. The only other person in hearing distance was the driver but he just climbed down and let his gaze wander over the group.
    “This some family business?” the driver asked.
    “Shore is.” The blond yanked his head to the side and the driver scurried off.
    “We ketched you red-handed this time and I ain’t havin’ you disgrace the family name no more. So unless you want me to beat the livin’ daylights outta you an’ cut this feller in half, you’ll march right over yonder to that thayer church house and get yore-self hitched.”
    As the older of the two delivered this speech, Kathleen’s jaw went slack. She felt Mike’s anger and didn’t have to glance his way to see the hostile glare he pinned on her. He cursed. Volubly.
    The younger man snickered and stepped closer to Kathleen. “Your lover didn’t expect to get caught, did he?”
    She stared from one man to the other. They must be insane. The gray-haired, toothless maniac believed she was his wayward daughter.
    Kathleen clutched the wheel behind her for support. “He’s not my lover.” Her words came out in sputtered shock.
    “Then how do you explain the vulgar kissing on the sidewalk last night in Trinidad?”
    Kathleen didn’t need a mirror to see her skin lose all color. The blood leaving her face was filled with shards of ice and stabbed at her chest as it drained lower.
    “Answer yore brother, girl.”
    “He’s not my brother.”
    “Har, har. Just listen to ya. We were both there the day you was borned.”
    Run . That was her only option. These men lived under the influence of some delusional brain trauma. She shifted her feet and lunged.
    So did her supposed brother. And he proved the quicker. With the force of his weight, the man tackled her. Air exploded from her lungs and bright sparkles of light floated in her vision. Before the ability to breathe returned, she felt herself yanked to her feet as the man twisted her arm behind her back with such force she almost swooned. Moisture pooled in her eyes as pain ratcheted