Free Wildfire in His Arms by Johanna Lindsey Page B

been looking for it, but he must have been. She quickly retrieved it and remounted. They were nearly out of the hills. The sun had already topped the Big Belt range to the east and she was hungry. She wondered how long she’d have to wait for a meal in jail.
    Damnit! She’d done so well avoiding people other than the farmers with whom she’d traded fresh game for vegetables, herbs, and ammunition. Degan might think she only ate meat and berries, but she didn’t. She knew how to get by on her own, but it wasn’t always so easy to cope with the loneliness that came with it. That was why she’d relaxed her guard in Helena. Because she’d been so happy to make a friend. And she’d stayed there longer than she should have.
    Degan rode them into town the way she usually entered it. He might even pass by Luella’s brothel. Might. She tried not to get her hopes up. But if he did and he didn’t stop, she was definitely hopping off her horse. He might not notice before she was through the door of Madam Joe’s.
    But he stopped, dismounted, and tied the two horses to the post out front. Incredulous, Max dismounted slowly, too slowly. He grabbed the shoulder of her coat and shoved her through the brothel’s front door. She started toward the stairs, but glanced back to see that Degan was still standing by the door. She gave him a questioning look.
    He nodded at her. “Five minutes, kid. If I regret this favor, you won’t like it.”
    He was actually going to wait there in the parlor for her? Ecstatic, Max raced upstairs. Escape was just around the corner!

Chapter Ten

    M AX DIDN ’ T CLOSE THE door to Luella’s room quietly. She meant to, but she rushed into the room too fast. But at least the noise woke Luella. She rolled over in bed, started to smile, but ended up wide-eyed instead.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? You don’t usually—”
    â€œI need to borrow your gun.”
    Luella nodded toward her bureau. “Top drawer, but where’s yours?”
    â€œIt got taken—when I got taken. Someone snuck up on me and I only have a minute to get out of here, or he’s taking me to jail.”
    â€œOh, God, the gunfighter? He found you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut I sent him toward Big Belt! I was sure he’d be up there for weeks looking for you, so I’d have time to warn you when you visited next week.”
    â€œI guess he didn’t trust you any more’n he trusts me.” Max stuffed the little derringer in her coat pocket.
    Luella had leapt out of bed and opened a few more drawers. “At least let me give you a change of clothes. You’re a mess.”
    Max chuckled, picturing herself riding away in her friend’s scanty attire. “There’s no time, Lue, except for this.”
    She gave Luella a quick hug that turned into a long one instead. She was going to miss this girl something fierce. And she’d be crying in a moment if she didn’t get out of there. With a last squeeze, she turned and headed for the window.
    â€œDon’t do anything stupid, Max. That gunfighter looked far too dangerous.”
    â€œI won’t have to if I’m quick. I’ll get the gun back to you when I can, after I’m sure he’s left the area.”
    Max was halfway out the window when Luella called out, “Wait! This came yesterday.”
    Luella grabbed the letter from her nightstand and rushed over with it. Max stuffed it into her other coat pocket with a big grin. “Thanks. If it’s good news, maybe I can actually go home now.”
    â€œI’ll miss you,” Luella whispered sadly, but Max was already sliding down the porch roof.
    She swung over it on the side where she usually did, dangled for a moment, then dropped to the ground. And froze. Degan was standing there between her and the horses, less than a foot away. Her last damn chance to get away from him and he had to second-guess