Free Shotgun Bride by Karen Lopp Page B

along her arm and stung the left side of her face.
    “Lay off, Trigger, we need her conscious.”
    “I don’t know who she ran off with but it sure as hell wasn’t me.” Mike’s frigid tone horrified Kathleen. Did he believe these lies?
    “Quit yore whinn’, boy.”
    Kathleen cast a glance at Mike, sure he would strike the older man. White knuckled, he snapped his mouth into a thin, tight line. She kicked out, but the close proximity to Trigger prevented any real damage.
    Trigger bent low and his smelly breath whispered across her ear. “Cooperate, or I’ll break your arm.”
    Battered, angry, and frightened, she nodded. She’d give the impression of being docile and bide her time. Somehow she must escape this nightmare. She would not allow her inheritance to transfer to Mike because of this diabolical scheme. Nor would she allow Mike’s problems to ruin her life.
    Trigger wrapped his other arm around her neck, the butt of the shotgun balanced on her shoulder and pointed at Mike.
    “We got company commin’, Pa.”
    “Let ‘em watch. This weddin’ is takin’ place.”
    “I. Will. Not. Marry. Her.” Each word Mike uttered blistered the air with frost.
    A sharp whack of metal on bone made Kathleen wince, Mike curse, and Trigger laugh.
    “Stop it.” The unbidden cry ripped from her.
    Blood oozed on the side of Mike’s head. The blaze behind his eyes promised death and a low guttural growl issued from him.
    “Let me . . . ohh.” Kathleen whimpered as Trigger yanked her arm higher.
    “If you don’t shet your yap, girl, I’ll give you a whoopin’. Yore beau, too.” Trigger snickered. “Then neither one of ya will feel like celebrating tonight.”
    Kathleen bit her lower lip to stop the tremble.
    People filtered out of the restaurants and places of business. A commotion always brought bystanders. The sheriff came stalking out. “What’s going on here?”
    The older man Trigger had called ‘Pa’ shoved the barrel of his gun in Mike’s face.
    “This hayr cowboy been foolin’ around with my gal. We’re off to see the preacher, so you just stay outta the way, Sheriff.”
    Spittle flew from the man’s lips and he wiped a dirty sleeve across his mouth. “I won’t shoot him if he says ‘I do.’” His coarse laugh scraped across Kathleen’s ears like wind-blown sand. A vine of numbing cold coiled around her neck. No way did she want to be forced into an unwelcome marriage. And by Mike’s bunched muscles and pale face, neither did he.
    “I haven’t done anything to this girl!” Mike spoke with such vehemence her blood froze. She darted a glance at the sheriff.
    “He’s—.” Trigger wrenched his arm tight against her windpipe. Her protest cut off in a strangled whiz.
    “Quiet, or you’ll be hurtin’ worse, pronto. You just stifle it and go along. All you gotta do is marry the guy.” His whispered command rattled her.
    Kathleen didn’t want to marry anybody. Yet . Mike had been kind and helpful. She enjoyed his kiss, but marriage? A lifetime commitment to a man she’d just met a few days ago? No way. It didn’t matter if he had decided to call off his marriage to this Sally woman. His words and actions didn’t suggest he was anywhere near wanting to marry anybody.
    “Hey, there ain’t no need to treat the girl so rough.” The sheriff glared at Trigger.
    “Don’t go tellin’ me how to treat my own sister. Besides, it’s him”—Trigger poked Mike in the side with his shotgun—“that’s been pawin’ all over her. All we want is for him marry the girl. Can’t blame us for trying to protect our kin.”
    “That’s a lie. I never touched this girl. We traveled on the same stage from Dodge City and that’s all.” Mike flicked blood from his brow and a hard glint of anger turned his beautiful eyes to iron.
    “Quiet now, or I’ll start thrown’ you all in jail for disturbing’ the peace. Now, you”—the sheriff pointed at the older man—“what’s yore story, an’ be