Free Whippoorwill by Sharon Sala Page B

her disgrace.
    Mehitable’s face turned a dark, angry red.
    “Are you a’sayin’ that he had his way with you and then skipped out of town?”
    Charity swayed on her feet. “I want to die… I just want to die,” she whispered, then fainted in Beau James’s arms.
    A rage unlike any he’d ever known began to fill young Beau’s heart. His Charity—his secret love—had been ruined by the lies of a stranger. And as he gazed at her tear-ravaged face, he knew what he had to do. His eyes were hard, his expression grim as he turned to Mehitable Doone.
    “Miss Hetty, I reckon I’ll be turnin’ in my notice and leavin’ you now. There’s somethin’ that has to be done.”
    Mehitable’s own ire was rising with every breath that she took. She looked deep into the young wrangler’s eyes and saw something she hadn’t known was there. The man was in love with her sister and now it was too late.
    “Put Charity in the buggy and drive it back to the house, then help me get her inside. And you ain’t goin’ nowhere. It’ll be me that puts the bullet in that fat bastard’s belly.”
    Beau did as he’d been told, but what she’d said had not changed his mind. A few minutes later he carried Charity into the house with Mehitable right at his heels. When he laid her down on her bed, her head lolled limply on the pillow. He kept hearing Charity’s words. She wanted to die from her shame. When he stepped back, the anger in him was palpable.
    “Miss Hetty, I reckon if you’re goin’ after the bastard, I’ll be goin’ along with you… with or without your permission.”
    Hetty looked at Beau and then down at Charity and sighed.
    “So it’s like that, is it?”
    “Yes ma’am, I reckon it is.”
    She nodded. “So be it, then. And it’s probably just as well. I’ll need someone to help me look after Charity.”
    His eyes widened. “You’re takin’ her with you?”
    Hetty frowned. “Hell yes. You heard her. She wants to die. It would be just like her to do something foolish to herself before I got back.”
    Fear slipped through him as he turned to look at her. The thought of that beautiful face and sweet laugh buried beneath six feet of territory dust made him sick. His voice shook.
    “There ain’t nothin’ wrong with her. Any man would be proud to call her his wife.” Then he flushed, realizing he’d gotten too familiar with his boss. “When you plan on leavin’?”
    Hetty glanced down at her sister. “I’d like to say now, but I reckon we’d better give her a day. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.” She gave Beau a hard look. “It may take a while. I ain’t got no idea where he was goin’ from here.”
    Beau pulled his hat down low on his head. “Don’t matter,” he said. “I got as long as it takes.”
    ***
    One day passed into another as Randall Howe traveled farther and farther away from his shame. But the distance in miles did not lessen his guilt. He’d done the unthinkable and taken a virgin—a young, helpless woman who’d been caught up in the throes of her own passion. He should have known better. They’d sent for him to counsel with her. He’d fucked her instead.
    He stared at the changing landscape without seeing the green give way to a flat, open plane. Heat intensified. And for the first time in his life, Randall let his personal hygiene slide. When it came time to embark upon the next leg of his journey, he was sporting a three-day growth of whiskers and his suit was covered with dust. Considering himself unworthy to even read holy words, he’d buried his bible in the bottom of his bag.
    When he got off the train and discovered the next leg of his journey would be by stagecoach, he decided it just punishment for what he’d done. That was the day he boarded the stage, bound for a place called Lizard Flats.
    ***
    Gentleman Jim poured a dollop of witch hazel into the palm of his hand and then rubbed his hands together before patting his freshly shaved face. The sharp, spicy