Read Xenia’s Renegade for Free Online Page B

the fact this rude man was talking to her sister in such a way. “I wonder what kind of parents you had since you turned out to be such a terrible man.”
    “Listen, Missy. You need to be a little more careful what you say about my folks as well as the way you’re working on my head. You were easier with Eldridge’s shoulder, and anyone with any eyesight at all can tell he’s got some Indian blood in him.”
    “Oh, I didn’t notice anything Indian. His blood looked just as red as yours, to me. Now, sit still—or I’m going to have it so tight around your head that you pass out again, and when you wake up, you’ll never get over the headache.”
    “You better not.”
    “Listen, you bigoted man, nobody here cares what you think about Indians—and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your opinion to yourself.”
    “That’s telling him, Miss Xenia.” Ray strolled into the room and sat on the bench beside Mea Ann. “How’s the little one doing?”
    “He’s asleep right now, but we’re out of milk and I’m afraid he’s going to wake up hungry.”
    “Maybe Eldridge will find the milk cow while he’s out.”
    Xenia finished Lou’s bandage then walked away. “What is Ty doing, Ray?”
    “He told me to come on in here and rest up my side so I can drive the stage. He’s trying to catch as many of the outlaw’s horses as he can. We’re going to tie the bodies on them and take them to the undertaker in town.”
    “Do you think there’ll be a reward for us catching them?” Lou asked.
    “Ty and I discussed that. There probably will be, and we decided that if there was anything on the heads of the ones we killed, we’d give it to the baby. He deserves it, since they took his parents.”
    “I’ll be damned if my share will go to some half-breed brat.”
    “I don’t see how you can claim anything, Bullins. There were eight of them. Two rode away. I shot two, Ty shot three and the gang killed one themselves. Of course we decided since Miss Xenia put the first bullet in him, she gets the reward on him, if there is one.”
    “But I helped hold them off.”
    “Quit whining, Bullins. You’re alive, ain’t you?”
    “Ty said I didn’t kill the man and I’m not taking any money for his death. You can give it to the baby, too.”
    “You people are crazy. We could share…”
    Ty came into the room. “I caught four horses.”
    Mea Ann looked at him. “Did you happen to see the milk cow?”
    “Yes, it’s wandering around in the garden area.”
    “Do you think you can catch it so we can get some milk for the baby?”
    “Sure. Can you milk a cow?”
    “No, but I’ll try.”
    Ty chuckled. “Don’t bother. I’ll milk her.”
    “Oh, thank you, Mr.  Eldridge,” Mea Ann said.
    He smiled at her. “Don’t you think after all we’ve gone through here today that we could be on a first name basis? Xenia has slipped a few times and called me Ty a time or two.”
    “Then I’ll call you Ty, but I refuse to call Lou Bullins by his first name. He talks mean about the baby, and I don’t like him well enough to call him anything except Bullins.”
    “I understand that.” He glanced at Xenia. “Want to go help me milk a cow?”
    “I don’t know how to milk a cow, either, but I’ll do what I can.” She followed him out of the room.
    When they reached the kitchen, he grabbed a bucket and threw a wet rag in it. He handed it to her. “Head toward the barn and I’ll bring the cow.”
    She took the bucket and started across the back yard. She was sure the bucket was to collect the milk, but she couldn’t help wondering what he was going to do with the wet rag.
    It was only minutes later when Ty walked the cow into the barn and tied her to one of the stall doors. He grabbed some hay and placed it in front of her, then reached for the three-legged stool hanging on the wall. He put the stool in place and sat. “May I have my bucket, please?”
    “Here.” She wanted to fling it at him because he sounded