Free Runaway by Bobbi Smith Page A

wanted to relax for a while and enjoy not having anything to do for a few days before showing up at the Circle D. Now, though, he was getting close, and after one more day of travel he’d be at ‘his’ ranch.
    Seth couldn’t help chuckling as he took another drink. Living the ranching life was going to be a lot different from what he was used to, but he wasn’t sorry for the change. The law had been closing in on the gang lately, so he believed Dan had been right to come up with this plan. Everything was going to work out just fine as long as he made sure from the very beginning that his ranch hands knew not to cross their new boss. If any of them gave him any trouble, well, he’d make sure they paid the price.
    Up until that night, Seth hadn’t given much thought to the mail-order bride he’d sent for right before leaving Black Rock. Now as he lay alone in the night, he let himself consider that soon he was going to be a married man. He grinned at the thought. He wasn’t sure just how long it would take the woman to show up, but he knew he was going to enjoy having a willing female around whenever he was in the mood. And not having to pay for his pleasure anymore was going to be mighty nice.
    Seth’s only concern was that his soon-to-be bride might be ugly. Even as he thought about it, though, he knew he could always turn out the lamp in the bedroom before he took her, and he could stay away from her during the day, working stock, so he wouldn’t have to look at her. And even if she did turn out to be homely, her cooking had to be better than what he’d been living with these last years. All in all, he was actually looking forward to starting up his new life on the Circle D.
    Again he chuckled, thinking of himself as a married man getting a home-cooked meal every night.
    It was then that a deep, harsh voice resounded through the night.
    “You’re laughing, Rawlins. Do you think something’s funny?”
    Seth was shocked. He hadn’t heard anyone ride up on him! He started to draw his gun, but a shot rang out, kicking up dirt right next to where he was lying. He froze.
    “Try that again and you’re a dead man,” the voice stated coldly.
    Seth was shaking as he stared into the darkness in the direction of the man’s voice. As he watched, a man holding his gun on him stepped forward, and in the low light of the campfire, he could see the glint of the Texas Ranger’s badge pinned on the stranger’s shirt.
    Lane kept his gun trained on the outlaw as he stared down at him. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”
    Seth knew he was in big trouble, and he knew he had to make a break for it. There was no way he could let this Ranger capture him. “What can I do for you, Ranger?”
    “I’m taking you in, Rawlins.”
    “Like hell you are!” Seth erupted. In a frenzied move, he threw his whiskey flask at the Ranger, hoping to distract him so he could go for his gun.
    Lane had known the man wouldn’t give himself up easily. He had been expecting trouble, and he was ready when Rawlins threw the flask. Lane dodged it and dove for cover, returning fire just as Rawlins got off a shot. Lane watched as the gunman collapsed and lay unmoving on the ground beside the campfire.
    Lane got up and approached warily. He kicked the outlaw’s gun aside before turning him over to check his wound. He’d known the gunman wouldn’t go down without a fight, but he’d hoped to take him alive so he could learn more about the gang’s plans.
    The fight hadn’t played out that way, though.
    His shot had proven true. Seth Rawlins wouldn’t be riding with Dan Cooper’s gang anymore.
    It wasn’t often Lane regretted being such a good shot, but tonight he did.
    After burying Rawlins in an unmarked grave near the campsite, Lane took the time to go through the outlaw’s gear. He’d hoped to find something that would give him a clue as to what Cooper’s plans were, but he came up with nothing. The only thing he did find was a hefty