Read Nights with the Outlaw for Free Online

closer. “Remind me to never make you mad.”
    She giggled. “I will, if the need ever arises.”
    When he took a chair at the table that night, it was once again opposite Doreena. This time, he caught her gaze and winked. The blush of her cheeks tickled him, and later, after he’d said good-night and walked to the bunkhouse, he wondered if she’d join him on the little porch. He sat down and waited.
    It wasn’t long before she arrived, still wiping her hands on her apron. “I just wanted to say thank you, again, for finding those men.”
    He stood, waiting for her to sit in the other chair before he took his seat again. “I figure we should ride out there again tomorrow, just give them something to watch.”
    â€œOkay,” she said.
    Serenaded by crickets, they sat, without really saying anything, yet Clint felt as if they conversed deeply, profoundly, and that was something he pondered most of the next day, until the sun set and the two of them were sitting on the porch outside the bunkhouse once again.
    â€œI think we’ll replace those shingles on the barn tomorrow,” he said as she took the chair next to his.
    â€œAt the rate you’re going, Joe and Dobbs won’t have anything to do when they return.”
    A cinch tightened in his chest. “Sure they will,” he said. “Most every building here could use a coat of paint, and the hay field is about ready for cutting, and—”
    Her hand fell on top of his, halting his speech. “I was just teasing,” she whispered.
    He rolled his hand, so his palm met hers. Their fingers entwined, and he felt something trail up his arm. It was under his skin, a gentle but strong sensation that entered his veins and filled him with a deep tranquility.
    â€œI appreciate all you’ve done, Clint, and that includes making Tristan interested in helping out around here.”
    His throat felt a touch raw. He cleared it. “He’s a good kid.”
    â€œYes, he is, but he needed some guidance to bring it out. You’ve done that.” Her hand tightened around his.
    He caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, and wondered about telling her about the Harmon brothers. Explain how he’d hated riding with the gang, but had been afraid of what they’d do to him and to his mother if he didn’t obey. The stars twinkling overhead and the grunts of sleeping pigs encouraged him to remain silent. He didn’t want to spoil the evening, spoil the peacefulness of the night. Of the world.
    Doreena held her breath to completely focus on the vibrations of Clint’s thumb tracing a lazy circle on the back of her hand. It was silly how deeply such a simple caress touched her heart. The past two days had been magical. Not just because of the amount of work that had been done, but what was happening inside her. She found herself smiling all the time, and finding beauty and grace in everything. The magic really happened at night. Right now. While they sat on the porch. Together. Alone. She wished time would just stop, keep her right here, holding his hand, forever.
    Yet time didn’t stop, and Doreena found herself happy about that, for each day she found life to be more enchanting. Clint encouraged Tristan to help with every chore, and her heart swelled at how her brother flourished beneath Clint’s tutelage. She found time to complete things she’d set aside the past year, but was never so busy she couldn’t take refreshments to the men, or ride across the plains with Clint. The evenings, though, remained her favorite time, when they’d sit on the porch.
    Tonight as they sat side by side, holding hands, thick clouds hid the stars and lightning flashed on the horizon. Her insides held a storm of their own. She let out a pent-up sigh. “Joe and Dobbs should arrive home tomorrow.”
    â€œIf they don’t drown in the storm that’s rolling in,” Clint