Read A Touch of Camelot for Free Online

being run down by a passing buckboard, and then he turned to look at the closed door of the constable's office.
    Everything appeared peaceful, but Cole guessed that if he were to enter that office, he would probably find one spitting-mad peace officer. According to his agency's report, the deputy they'd left behind in Garden City had been found gagged, hog-tied, and locked up securely inside his own jail cell.
    Cole caught one last glimpse of the Pierces before they vanished into the alley from which he'd just emerged. He grinned and sprinted across the street after them.
    He emerged from the alley into a yard that opened onto the flat prairie beyond. Except for the two escapees and one lone stallion tethered by the rear of a dry goods store, it was deserted. This was the perfect opportunity for a heist.
    Cole approached as Gwendolyn boosted her young brother into the saddle. This had to be one of those golden moments in law enforcement he'd always heard about. He just wondered if anyone back at the Chicago office would believe him when he turned in his report. "Uh, ma'am?"
    She jumped and whirled, one hand at her throat. "Holy Moses! It's you!"
    He offered a smile to put her at ease. "Is there something I can help you with? You look a little put out."
    "Put out? Why, no. You just startled me. Do you make a habit of sneaking up on people from behind like that?"
    Cole noted with more than passing interest that, although she was petitely built, she appeared to be nicely endowed up top. Perhaps this assignment wouldn't be so dull, after all.
    "As a matter of fact," he replied, "I do like to sneak up on people from behind. You'd be surprised at what I catch some of them doing."
    She merely gave him an arch look before turning her back and gathering up her skirts. "I’m sorry, but we're in a hurry." As she swung up onto the stallion behind her brother, Cole couldn't help noticing that she also had a pair of mighty fine legs to go with the rest of her.
    Cole took hold of the reins, pointedly delaying their departure. "Ma'am? There's just one more thing."
    "What's that?"
    With his free hand, Cole reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pair of gleaming silver handcuffs. "That horse you're stealing? It's mine."

Chapter Three
     
     
    Topeka Train Station, Topeka, Kansas
     
    The spacious dining hall teemed with Midwestern society in all of its varied shapes and sizes. Businessmen in expensive suits, ladies in fine traveling clothes, drummers, cowboys, farmers, and children. They dashed about willy-nilly, casting hurried glances at their pocket watches, hailing busy waiters, waving and bellowing and embracing in fond farewells.
    Gwin sat, restless and stewing, on a stool next to Cole Shepherd and Arthur at the bar in the dining area. She'd barely touched the food on her plate. This was because she'd been unable to resist staring at Cole Shepherd's handsome profile as he'd blithely shoveled away his own midday meal.
    She was entranced by the lines and angles of his princely face despite her efforts to be objective. Lancelot . Gwin had recognized him immediately. How could she not? Hadn't he lived in her dreams for as long as she could remember?
    Cole stabbed a piece of beefsteak with his fork and turned to catch her gaze before she could look away. He gave her an infuriating grin. "What's the matter, Miss Pierce? Do I have gravy on my chin?"
    Gwin scowled. "No. Why do you ask? Do you normally dribble at meals?"
    He shrugged and turned back to his plate. "It's just that you've been staring at me ever since we sat down. Either I've got gravy on my chin or you've fallen in love with me."
    Before Gwin could retort, the blast of a train's whistle cut the air. She heard the rhythmic chufa-chufa of a locomotive's steam engine as it pulled into the depot and turned her head in time to see the Union Pacific Express come to a squealing halt in front of the open dining hall. The number on the side of the engine read 840. This was the train