Read Long, Tall Texans: Calhoun for Free Online

managed to knock her drink over onto him. He cursed a blue streak and stood up, holding her by the wrist, homicide in his drunken eyes.
    "You did that on purpose," he shot at her. "You soaked me deliberately! Well, let me tell you, lady, no broad pours liquor on me and gets away with it!"
    Abby felt even sicker. He was hurting her wrist, and there was a deathly hush around them. She knew that most people didn't involve themselves in this kind of conflict. She couldn't fight this man and win, but what else was she going to do? She wanted to cry.
    "Let her go."
    The voice was deep, slow, dangerous and best of all, familiar. Abby caught her breath as a tall, heavily built blond man came toward her, his dark, deep-set eyes on the man who had Abby's wrist. He was in a gray vested suit and a dressy cream-colored Stetson and boots, but Abby knew the trappings of civilized company wouldn't save this ruddy cretin if he didn't turn her loose. Abby had seen Calhoun lose his temper, and she knew how hard he could hit when he did.
    "What's she to you?" the drunken cowboy demanded.
    "My ward."
    Calhoun caught the smaller man's wrist in a hard, cruel grasp
    and twisted. The man groaned and went down, holding his hand and cursing.
    "Hey, you can't do that to Tom!" one of the man's cronies protested, standing up. He was almost Calhoun's size, and a lot rougher-looking.
    "Want to make something out of it, sonny?" Calhoun asked in a soft drawl that was belied by the dark glitter in his eyes.
    "You bet I do!"
    The younger man threw a punch, but he was too slow. Calhoun's big fists put him over a table. He reached down and picked up the Stetson that the man's blow had connected with and looked around the room as he ran his fingers through his thick, silky blond hair.
    "Anybody else?" he invited pleasantly.
    Eyes turned the other way, and the band started playing again. Then Calhoun looked down at Abby.
    She swallowed. "Hi," she said, and tried to smile. "I thought you were out on a date."
    He didn't say a word, but his glittering eyes told her every single thing he was feeling. He wouldn't admit for a minute that his dinner date was strictly business, or that he'd expected something like this after the argument he and Abby had had. She was giving him fits, but he didn't let his expression show how concerned he really was.
    "Did you see Misty?" she asked hopefully.
    "Lucidly for her, no," he said in a tone that could have boiled ice water. "Get your purse."
    She fumbled on the chair beside hers for it, weak and shaky. He had a gift for intimidating people, she thought, watching him slam his Stetson over his eyes at a slant. The men who were picking themselves up off the floor didn't seem anxious to tangle with him twice. It was amazing, she thought, how unruffled he looked for a man who'd just been in a fight.
    He caught her arm and propelled her out of the bar and into the night air. Misty and Ty were standing just outside, both looking faintly apprehensive.
    "It wasn't all my fault, Cal," Misty began in a subdued tone.
    Calhoun eyed her coldly. "You know what I think of this

    so-called friendship. And I know the reason behind it, even if she doesn't."
    Abby was puzzled by that remark. The cold, level look in Calhoun's dark eyes and the uncomfortable flush in Misty's pretty face didn't add up.
    "I'd better go get Shelby,' Ty said quietly. "I was going to offer to take Abby home, but under the circumstances I'm a bit relieved that you came along," he told Calhoun.
    "If Justin finds out you were in the same room with her, there'll be hell to pay," Calhoun agreed. "But thanks all the same." He turned Abby toward his Jaguar. "I assume you rode into town with your girlfriend?" he added.
    "We came in Misty's car," Abby murmured. She felt weary and a little sick. Now she really looked like a child, with all the concerned adults making a fuss over her. Tears burned in her eyes, which she was careful to keep hidden from the angry man beside her.
    "Honest