Free Outlaw Bride (Lawmen and Outlaws) by Tanya Hanson Page B

go along. Teresa might have bared her soul, poor tragic girl—and Redd would never blush or regret his snooping—but Adelaide’s secrets still must be kept. She had the fake postulants to protect.
    “Yes, you did.” Jessy Belle said, almost too soft for an ear to hear. “I fear I have found my truth.”
    Sister Adelaide smiled with triumph. “You may stay here. But you must reveal yourself to the sheriff. If you confess your crimes it’ll go easier for you, I’m sure. He will have questions for you. Your answers might lead a posse onward to apprehend your brother. Whether or not he killed my....Elena, he is a wanted man and known horse thief.”
    One more time Redd heard the fake nun’s pain, his brain spelling out the rest of her unspoken words. Reward and justice. But Jessy Belle shook her head so fast her face fuzzed before his eyes.
    “That he is, Sister,” said Jessy Belle. “But I cannot put you in danger. Ahab must never know I was here.” She pulled from her pocket the stick Redd recognized. The stick that had been her grave marker. She handed it to Redd. The scrawl would take too long for him to cipher, but the panic rolling Jessy Belle’s eyes got him scared enough to sweat.

Chapter Six
    Redd rolled his eyes, but Jessy Belle now knew he was no ignorant fool like her brother. Not this kind, good man who she loved. Even so, the heat of shame colored Redd’s face.
    “Spell it out for me, Jessy Belle,” he said, holding the stick back to her. “Reading’s never made much sense to me. No matter how much alphabet I tried.”
    Jessy Belle shook her head, knowing it all by memory. “‘ Little Sister, I’ll be joining you soon.’”
    Renegade whined. Bad quivers crawled up her spine just saying words. Redd opened his mouth to react, but she shook her head again, hugged the dog’s neck to calm down. “Ahab knows nothing about reading or writing. Somebody else wrote this.”
    “Let me see it.” Sister Adelaide held out her hand, squinted at the hatchings. “So...he’s coming to find you?”
    “Thought he always left folks behind.” Redd spoke up, gazing upon Sister Adelaide’s wrinkled up forehead.
    Jessy Belle’s hand left the dog to wipe her nose, but she was done crying around Redd. He needed to see her brave and durable. Not tears sprouting. “That’s true enough,” she said, all ten fingers wrestling with ’Gade’s coat. “It means the whole gang’s coming back for me. I mean...”
    “Why, child? Do you bear a secret?” Sister Adelaide’s asked, fingers uniting in prayer.
    Jessy Belle reached for Redd’s arm and squeezed so hard he jumped. “I mean, they’re coming for Ma’s pearls.” She grabbed the hem of her dress.
    “Then we must contact the sheriff immediately.” Sister plunked her hands down on the arms of her chair like she was readying to get up.
    “No. No.” The loudness of Jessy Belle’s voice surprised ’Gade so much Redd smiled even in this dangerous time. “No. You can’t let anybody know I’ve been here. Teresa and Sister Avery and Veronica and Will...I can’t bring Ahab’s treachery upon their very lives.”
    Sister Adelaide’s face grew stern. “But you’ve tried to assure me the gang does not kill.”
    “It’s been true in the past, and I believe it yet. But there are others with Ahab who hold no disinclination toward fire.” Jessy Belle peeked out at the ramshackle buildings. “And well...” Mortification grabbed her. “The postulants are beautiful. Get enough likker inside some of those scoundrels and...”
    Jessy Belle shuddered. Teresa’s painful words slammed in her brain again. “It’s best I sneak off. I know the tricks that will keep Ahab off my heels.” Across the table she reached for Adelaide’s hands. “I thank you for all you did. Someday I’ll restitute you, Sister, for all you spent on me. Including the purchase of Blossom. But leaving here, please, Sister? Redd? My leavin’s the only way.”
    Redd’s fingertips