Read The Brides Of Tombstone 01 Mail Order Outlaw for Free Online

attention.”
    “No, Mal, I—” She smiled, excited about the material and hopeful that Atina could make her a dress right away. She suddenly felt she’d like to be thought of as a woman, by Mal.
    “You need pretty things like every woman and besides I’d like to see you in a dress made out of that material. How much do I owe you Sally?”
    “Well, with twelve yards of that silk, it comes to forty-eight dollars and twenty-five cents.”
    Mal pulled the wad of bills out of his pocket and handed Sally three twenties. “Here you go. Oh, I forgot. I need some clothes, too. This is the only set I’ve got to work in, and I shrunk my suit. And, of course, a new hat. Got to look good for my best girl.”
    Sally went and grabbed a tape measure from next to the cash register. “Let’s measure you and see what size you need.”
    She quickly measured him and then pulled two pairs of denim pants off one shelf, two shirts, one plaid and one solid blue, off of another. “Do you need socks and drawers, too?”
    Lizzie watched him blush at the mention of men’s under-clothes and couldn’t help but smile.
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”
    “Here you go. Now I’ve got your measurements and can order you a Sunday suit. I don’t have one this big in stock here.”
    “That would be great. I need one to wear at our wedding.” He looked over at Lizzie. “Maybe a dress of yellow silk will be your wedding dress.”
    Lizzie shook her head. “You keep getting way ahead of yourself, mister. Better slow on down.”
    Mal grinned. “We’re getting married Lizzie. The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.”
    “I’m not sure I’m going to marry at all, much less you. Don’t push me. You’ll be sorry, because I will push back.”
    “Noted.” His voice was cold.
    Lizzie didn’t care. She was tired of being told what she was going to do. She’d been making her own decisions too long, to let someone else start making them now.
    “Don’t forget the hat,” she said to Sally.
    “Heaven’s no. Come with me,” she walked over to a shelf full of hats. There were top hats, bowlers, caps and Stetsons.
    Mal reached for one of the black wide brimmed hats. It was a little small. He grabbed another and it fit correctly.
    “What do you think?” he asked Lizzie.
    She nodded her head. “Much better. You’ll be happier too without a sunburned neck.”
    Lizzie tried to let it go, but she couldn’t. “Don’t be telling everyone we’re getting married. I agreed to call you my fiancé so there’d be a reason for you to live in the house, but I won’t be pushed into a marriage. We have a lot of getting to know each other to do. You understand?”
    “I understand.” He grumbled and wasn’t happy, but that was fine with her. He needed to be taken down a peg or two.
    * * *
    When they came into town, Ed was on guard. He expected to see Harvey around every corner. He’d only been in Tombstone for a few days, but he’d been gone from the gang for more than a week. Harvey had to know he wasn’t coming back by now.
    If Ed knew Harvey he’d be looking for Ed until he found him, just so he’d have the pleasure of killing Ed himself. Cautious, he needed to remain cautious. If Harvey found him, found out about the money, or that he cared about Lizzie, everything and everyone would be in danger.

CHAPTER 4

    Ed was thankful once again to Mal Brandon. His death had brought forth new life—Ed’s new life—and he was thrilled with it.
    Once they got back to the ranch, Lizzie had Jamie and Atina meet them in the kitchen.
    “Mal has something he wants to say.”
    Ed put the packages on the table. “Atina and Jamie, I want to thank you for allowing me to court your daughter and your sister, respectively. These gifts are a token of my thankfulness for your welcome.”
    “That’s a lot of words just to say ‘thank you’,” Atina said as she opened the first of the packages, which happened to be the heavy