Whirlwind Bride. Debra Cowan

      “He knows how to drive a rig,” Davis Lee reminded him.

      Cora added, “They took his uncle Tony’s old mare.”

      “Oh, well.” Davis Lee shrugged. “She’s as easy to handle as a pup.”

      “But if something happened …” Cora’s concerned gaze swung from Riley to his brother.

      Davis Lee patted her shoulder consolingly. “The boy has been to Abilene plenty and he has experience.”

      “With outlaws?” Riley fought the urge to hightail it out of town and start searching for the pair.

      Davis Lee heaved a sigh. “Brother, you’re not really helping.”

      Unease pinched between Riley’s shoulder blades. “What time did she leave?”

      “She showed up here at the jail a little before eight,” Davis Lee said.

      “Why would she come to see you?” Riley swallowed a bark of impatience. And since you saw her, why did you let her go?

      Davis Lee leaned over his desk and opened a top drawer, taking out his revolver. “She asked me about the McDougals, wanted to know if I thought they were still in the area.”

      “I’m sure you told her they were nearby.”

      “They’re not. I got a wire last evening telling me the McDougals robbed a train yesterday between Dodge City and Wichita.”

      “Thank goodness, they’re gone!” Cora put a hand to her chest.

      Riley crossed his arms and said in a low voice, “Maybe they’re not all up in Kansas. They could’ve split up.”

      “They never have before,” Davis Lee said evenly. “All four of them were spotted at the holdup.”

      “Someone could’ve made a mistake.” Urgency coiled through Riley. Just because Davis Lee was so all-fired certain the McDougals were gone didn’t mean they were. “People do it all the time.”

      Davis Lee buckled on his gunbelt. “I’ll ride that way and see if I can find Susannah and Miguel.”

      “Oh, thank you, son.” Cora pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

      He moved to the wooden gun cabinet behind his desk, unlocked it and pulled out a rifle. Glancing over his shoulder, he held it toward Riley. “Do you want one?”

      “I’m sure you can find her.”

      Davis Lee laughed. “You might as well come along. You’re about to crawl out of your skin just standing there.”

      “She’s a grown woman—” Riley began. “I’ll feel better if you go, too.” Cora squeezed his arm.

      Why couldn’t he just mind his own business where Susannah Phelps was concerned? Like yesterday, when he’d piped up with that story about her fake husband dying in Abilene. Even so, this was different, possibly dangerous. Riley couldn’t face Adam if something happened to his sister.

      “Let’s go.” Davis Lee tossed him the weapon.

      Riley caught the Winchester, grabbed a handful of shells from his brother’s desk drawer.

      “I’m sure she’s fine, Cora.” Davis Lee gave the woman a quick hug.

      Riley kept his mouth shut, but gave the older woman an encouraging smile. He truly hoped Susannah was all right.

      He and his brother mounted, riding east out of town past the church. After covering more than a mile, Riley saw a buckboard moving slowly through the prairie grass.

      As they neared, sunlight glinted off silvery hair, and relief swelled sharply in his chest.

      “It’s Susannah,” he called, loudly enough to be heard over the horses’ galloping hooves.

      Davis Lee nodded to show he’d heard.

      A few short moments brought her and the young, dark-haired boy into clear sight.

      Miguel walked in front of the buckboard, leading the mare by her harness. Susannah rode in the weathered wagon, her hands clamped onto the edge of the seat as if welded there. Her face was pale as chalk, and Riley didn’t miss the brilliant flash of relief in her blue eyes.

      She met his gaze briefly, then looked away.

      “Are you two okay?” Davis Lee reined his horse on Susannah’s side of the wagon, while Riley did the same on the other.

      She nodded. “Yes, we’re fine.”

      “Cora’s pretty worried.”

      “It’s my fault, Sheriff.” Miguel uncomfortably met Davis Lee’s gaze. The boy’s hair stuck straight up in back, as if he’d just rolled out of bed. “The mare was spooked.”

      “It’s not your fault she saw a snake.” Susannah shuddered.

      “She bolted off the road,” the boy explained.

      “But not very far. Miguel got her under control quickly.”

      Despite Susannah’s defense of the boy, Riley noted that she trembled. Was she all right? What about the baby? He wanted to ask, but he didn’t think Davis Lee and Miguel were aware of Susannah’s condition. Concern hollowed out a hole in his gut.

      “This mare’s well-trained.” Davis Lee looked her over with a critical eye.

      Riley dismounted to check the horse for injuries, running a hand down both her back legs to her fetlocks before moving to the front. She was fine. While he stood stroking a calming hand down the bridge of the mare’s velvety nose, he studied Susannah. Her hair drooped from its usual neat chignon. A streak of dirt ran across one cheek. Her hat dangled precariously off the back of her head. Wisps of silvery-blond hair blew around her face and straggled down her neck.

      She slid a glance at him, then turned her attention back to Davis Lee.

      If Riley weren’t so aware of the sheer terror swimming in her blue eyes, he might think she’d just tangled the sheets with someone.

      That thought heated him up as much as the possibility that something could’ve happened to her and the baby.

      “Looks like everyone is okay,” his brother said.

      Riley clapped a hand on Miguel’s shoulder. “You did a fine job, boy. The mare isn’t injured and you and the lady are fine.”

      Miguel smiled.

      Susannah’s lips curved, but she didn’t relax her hold on the wagon seat.

      Davis Lee pushed back his hat and stared toward town consideringly. “I’ll drive Susannah back in the wagon. Miguel, you can ride my horse or in the back of the wagon, whatever you want.”

      “I can really ride your horse?” he asked excitedly.

      “Yep.” Davis Lee walked around to the other side of the buckboard and stepped in front of Riley to climb up beside Susannah.

      He inched back, swallowing the insistence that he drive her. Davis Lee was more than capable, and it was better for him to drive her. If Riley got any closer, he might try to shake some sense into her.

      As the four of them rode back to town, he let the soft wash of their voices play over him. He was glad both Susannah and Miguel were all right, so why did this restlessness churn inside him?

      Whip yanked on the reins and Riley realized his hold was too tight. He loosened his grip and struggled to level out the tide of relief choking him. Susannah was still pale, but appeared composed. A spooked horse could be as dangerous as anything out here. He wondered if this incident would send her packing. She sure didn’t like horses much.

      Sliding a sideways look at her, he watched as she shakily unpinned her crooked hat and resettled it properly on her head.