Free Deadly by Sylvia McDaniel Page B

dress, look and act frail. There’s not much that’s fragile about me.”
    Simon laughed. “You remind me of my mother. She was never a delicate woman. In fact, she ruled our home with an iron fist. Still does.”
    “Then what happened to you? Are there other brothers and sisters?” She needed as much information about Simon as she could glean from him. For once she escaped, she would return with her sisters to cash in his six-shooter.
    “I’m the baby of four,” Simon said behind her.
    “Is your mother still alive?” Meg asked. Fear growled like an angry serpent in her stomach at the thought of what would happen when they stopped.
    “Oh, yes, she’s a smart woman, except when it comes to men. And she’s very protective of her children,” Simon said. “Don’t mess with her sons, unless you want to get hurt.”
    “Even the ones who are in trouble with the law?”
    “You’re asking a lot of questions,” Simon said, his voice harsh, ignoring her statement.
    She could feel the anger radiating from him. Meg tried to act like it was nothing, but somehow she thought she’d just found an issue that maybe if she could learn who the man’s mother was she could exploit. “Just passing time.”
    They rode along in silence for a few minutes, Meg thinking of ways she could escape. She knew that if they killed her, her sisters would make sure these men hung from a noose or they would extract their own revenge. But she didn’t want her sisters coming after them. She wanted to escape. Then she would pursue the longrider again. Only next time, she’d be even more cautious. Next time she wouldn’t make a greenhorn mistake.
    “You asked me why I hadn’t married. Why haven’t you found a good woman and settled down?” she asked, not really caring. “You could be eating three cooked meals a day, instead of riding from town to town.”
    He didn’t answer her, and she knew something she’d said had affected him, but which statement? Which question was churning in his brain, triggering it to fester until he broke?
    The sun beat down on her, its rays feeling more like summer than spring, causing her to sweat. She wanted to lean over her horse and ride away as fast as she could, but feared he’d shoot her. And he still had her gun. Sure, she had another one in her saddlebags, but she liked the gun he’d taken. She’d do whatever it took to get the weapon back.
    A horse whinnied and stepped out in front of them from the bushes, startling Meg. A rush of warmth and pleasure flooded her body, and she smiled at the sight of Zach, sitting on his horse, his hat low over his head, his gun pointed at Simon. God, she was so happy to see him.
    “Sheriff,” Simon said laughing, as he pulled on his horse’s reins, halting the animal. “I’ve been expecting you. It seems anywhere Miss McKenzie is, you’re not far behind.” He looked between the two of them. “Is there something you need to tell me? Maybe a wedding being planned?”
    “No,” Meg responded defiantly, yet still thrilled to see Zach. “I’m too much woman for him. I wear pants.”
    Simon sat back in his saddle like he was greeting an old friend. He seemed relaxed, almost at ease, like he wasn’t afraid. Still, Zach had a gun pointed at his middle.
    “Untie Meg’s hands and give her back her gun,” Zach demanded.
    “And if I don’t?”
    Zach shook his head. “Don’t give me an excuse. God, I’d like to shoot you right now.”
    A smile lifted Simon’s lips. “Just asking.” He reached over and tugged on the knots that had kept her hands tied to the saddle horn. In a matter of moments, she was free. She shook her wrists, letting the blood flow back down into her digits.
    “Now her gun,” Zach said patiently.
    Simon pulled her gun out of his saddlebag and placed it in her hand. “Do you know how to use that thing?”
    Anger churned inside her at the fear she’d ridden with for the last couple of hours. She clenched her fists, and when he leaned