Knight on the Texas Plains

by Linda Broday

  “You’ll probably learn soon enough.” He propped himself against his saddle, stretched his long legs in front of him, and tugged his hat down farther to hide his eyes so she wouldn’t see his pain. “They’re family. I didn’t know until a few years ago that the big, powerful Stoker Legend was my father; Sam and Houston Legend are my half brothers.”

  “That must’ve been a shock.” She studied him, trying to draw out his secrets. Damn if she wasn’t good at that.

  “In a whole lot of ways. My mother kept the secret until she lay on her deathbed. She begged me to forgive him.” Luke snorted. “That was near impossible. I boiled with anger, the kind that scars your soul, and I stayed that way until two years ago when I finally went to the Lone Star. Then I learned the truth. Stoker never knew about me. He hadn’t left my mother and ridden off to marry someone else as I’d always believed.”

  He stared into the flames, remembering how devastated Stoker had been to learn what had happened to his beautiful Elena Montoya. After Stoker had left her bed that final morning, Elena’s brothers had come and forced her into a wagon. They took her to San Antonio and Stoker never knew what had happened to her.

  “Stoker accepted me right off as his son, giving me a portion of everything he owns. He said it’s my birthright.” Luke shifted and rotated his meat.

  “Why aren’t you there?” came Rose’s hushed cry. “Why are you so unhappy?

  “I’m a wanted man with a price on my head. I won’t bring trouble to them. At least I can do that much. Do you want to know what I was doing this morning when I ran across you?”

  “I know it was something important.”

  “After all this time, I’d finally gotten a solid lead on the man who framed me for the murder of a federal judge. He’s like a damn ghost and I had a short window of opportunity to catch him.”

  “Only I got in the way. Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry.” Rose touched him. Warmth seared his flesh through the fabric.

  He longed to hold her in his arms again, but the danger had passed and she didn’t need comforting. “I’ll find him eventually, and when I do, I’ll get what I need to clear my name. Of that charge, at least.” Luke let out a troubled sigh. “My…Stoker offered to help. Sam and Houston too.”

  “But you won’t let them.”

  “I created this mess and it’s mine to fix. I told them I won’t take the Legend name until I can do it with honor. No matter how long it takes.” They’d argued with him until they were blue in the face but it hadn’t done any good. Once Luke made up his mind about something, he wasn’t changing it.

  “Did you know this judge?” Rose asked.

  “Sort of. I went that night to pay him. He said five hundred dollars would buy my amnesty. I had warrants out for me for some other things and he vowed to get them erased. I had won that much money the previous night in a poker game. When I got there, I found the judge bleeding on the floor. As I knelt over him, someone struck me from behind. I must’ve only been out for a minute.”

  Luke paused, wondering for the thousandth time how the man he now knew only as Ned Sweeney had gotten wind of his whereabouts.

  “When I came to, I was lying on the judge with my Colt in my hand. I was still groggy but saw a dim figure over me. He thrust his hand into my pocket, took the five hundred dollars.”

  Took his freedom from him. The killer had made sure Luke would never know a moment’s peace.

  “You didn’t recognize him?” Rose asked.

  “My head was pounding and everything was blurred. But he muttered something about how easily I fit into his plans, thanked me for taking the blame for his crime.”

  “So, someone saw you before you could get away?”

  “The bastard ran out the door, yelling that the judge was dead. I staggered to my feet, almost made it to a door that led to a garden, but not before men poured into the room and saw me.” Luke turned abruptly. “Time to eat.”

  “I’d like to hear more,” Rose said softly. “Whenever you feel up to talking again.”

  “I’ve said too much and you have problems of your own. You don’t need mine too.” He poured a cup of coffee and settled back to eat.

  “Not having a memory seems both a blessing and a curse. Maybe I’m on wanted posters too.” Rose put a piece of meat into her mouth and chewed. “This is really good.”

  “I’m sure you were starving.”

  “I was. Who knows when I last ate.” She licked her fingers.

  They finished the meal in silence, sitting side by side. The flickering flames added the only cheer as Luke stared out into the darkness through the cave opening.

  At last he spoke. “I apologize for going on about my sorry-assed life while you have no clue about yours.”

  Rose shifted, getting comfortable, and gave her blond curls an impatient shove. “Just because I have no past to talk about doesn’t mean you should keep silent. I like hearing about you, and your problems take my mind off mine.” She lapsed into silence. They sat listening to the crackle of the fire for several moments. Finally, she spoke quietly. “I wonder if I have children somewhere. If they’re crying for their mother. If they’re being cared for.”

  “It’ll come back to you.” Luke’s shoulder brushed hers and the contact sent a jolt through him. He realized he loved being with her. Rose had to be scared and lost but she tried not to show it. Reno Kidd and his gang had stolen everything from her. Yet, she still had this amazing fight in her.

  Despite that she’d caused him to lose Sweeney, he felt more at peace with himself than he had in a long time. And it was because of her.

  Somehow, someway, he’d not stop digging until he found her missing self.

  Doan’s Crossing seemed a logical starting place, since it was where Reno and his men had abducted her. Surely someone had seen something. Jonathan Doan, who ran the trading post there, was an honest, hardworking man. It was a popular place for fording the mighty Red River, so there were always people milling about. If Doan hadn’t seen her, Luke knew others would have.

  Or they’d know Reno Kidd.

  The hired gun drew a crowd wherever he went. Reno was a braggart and a bully, a dangerous combination that left lots of bodies in his wake.

  Luke blew out a huff of frustration and turned his thoughts back to making plans. Get Rose to the canyon first, then since the crossing was near the Lone Star, he’d ride over and return the stolen horses. Maybe Stoker and Houston could shed light on who’d taken them. Yep, he had a plan. He breathed a damn sight easier. But Rose’s situation reminded him that happiness was fleeting at best with anyone.

  Life could seem almost perfect until it suddenly wasn’t.

  Until darkness blocked out the sun.

  Until violence touched safe little corners of Texas and reminded him evil existed everywhere.

  For more Linda Broday check out

  the Men of Legend series

  To Marry a Texas Outlaw

  On sale November 2017

  Acknowledgments

  To GiGi and Lee for creating the first Marley Rose. She, LeAnna, Angelina, and Natalie enrich your lives beyond measure.

  About the Author

  Linda Broday resides in the panhandle of Texas on the Llano Estacado. At a young age, she discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. There’s something about Stetsons, boots, and tall rugged cowboys that gets her fired up! A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold Award. Visit her at LindaBroday.com.

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