Free Gunsmith 360 : The Mad Scientist of the West (9781101545997) by J. R. Roberts

us, if you’ve nowhere else to go.”
    â€œThis was my destination,” she said.
    â€œThen come inside. I’ll set you up with a meal and then see to your horse.”
    â€œThank you.”
    She tied off her horse and followed him inside. Tesla stood as she entered.
    â€œSheriff,” he said. “What a pleasant surprise.”
    â€œMr. Tesla,” she said.
    â€œThe sheriff has come to join us for breakfast,” Clint said. “Sit, please, Sheriff.”
    â€œMiranda,” she said. “Please call me Miranda.”
    â€œFlapjacks and bacon, Miranda?” Clint asked.
    â€œAnd coffee, please.”
    â€œComing up.”
    He quickly whipped up a stack of cakes and strips of bacon and set them before her.
    â€œI’ll see to your horse if you’re going to stay awhile.”
    â€œMaybe I should first tell you why I’ve come,” she offered.
    â€œAll right.” Clint poured himself some more coffee and sat at the table with Tesla and Miranda. “What’s on your mind?”
    She told him.
    â€œFour men?” Clint asked when she was done. “Not three?”
    â€œFour,” she asked. “The one who came to see me was a big brute.”
    â€œHe didn’t hurt you?”
    â€œHe looked down the barrel of my gun,” she said.
    â€œGood for you,” Tesla said.
    â€œBut I thought it was wise for me to leave town,” she added. “And I figured I might as well warn you.”
    â€œWe appreciate it,” Clint said. “I’ll see to your horse now, and arrange a room for you.”
    â€œI don’t want to put you out. If you have a barn—”
    â€œYou’ll take my room,” he said. “I can bunk out here with my bedroll.”
    â€œA bed,” she said, “and a wonderful breakfast. What more could a girl ask for?”
    Clint left to take care of her horse.
    â€œSo those men are looking for us?” Tesla asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell,” he said, “if they find us, I’m sure Clint can take care of them.”
    â€œFour against one?” she asked.
    â€œWell . . . that is supposed to be what he does, isn’t it?”
    â€œI guess so,” she said.
    â€œMore coffee?” he asked.
    She smiled and said, “Please.”

TWENTY-FIVE
    Clint unsaddled Miranda’s roan, rubbed it down, and gave it some of the feed he’d bought in Denver for the team—something else Tesla had forgotten to buy.
    When he reentered the house, Miranda was standing at the stove. He put her rifle and saddlebags down by the door.
    â€œThe coffeepot went dry,” she said. “I made some more.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œI made it strong, since the cup you gave me would have removed paint.”
    â€œThat’s the way I like it,” Clint said.
    â€œSo do I.”
    â€œDoes anyone want the last piece of bacon?” Tesla asked.
    â€œNo,” Clint said.
    â€œYou have it,” Miranda said.
    Tesla plucked it from the plate and popped it into his mouth.
    They had more coffee and then Miranda insisted on cleaning the plates and cups. Tesla went to his room to read his books. Clint sat at the table and watched her, drinking another cup of coffee.
    â€œDid you camp on the trail last night?” he asked.
    â€œI did.”
    â€œYou didn’t happen to run into a big cat, did you?”
    She turned and looked at him.
    â€œI felt something looking at me from the dark. In the morning I saw the tracks. Have you seen it?”
    â€œNo,” he said. “We were hunting and crossed its trail. Haven’t seen it, but it’s a big one judging by the tracks.”
    â€œWhat were you hunting?”
    â€œDeer.”
    â€œBad one?”
    â€œA young buck. Left most of it for the cat.”
    â€œHe won’t thank you.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWhat’d you make?”
    â€œVenison stew.”
    â€œAny