Longarm and the Wyoming Woman by Tabor Evans Page B

nice.”
    Longarm started to ask the know-it-all Irishman if he’d ever been in Santa Fe, but he knew the man would say he had and Longarm knew it would be a lie, so he just nodded.
    They collected their newly purchased supplies, weapons, ammunition, and all the rest of their provisions and the bill totaled exactly $125. There was a nice-looking woman now behind the counter beside the store owner, and she was sure giving Longarm and Addie secretive looks, but trying not to stare.
    â€œI told you,” Longarm said as he tied down their newly purchased provisions and mounted the tall buckskin.
    â€œTold you what?” Addie asked, swinging up on her red roan.
    â€œThat he’d tell his wife right away. And I’ll bet you we don’t get to the end of the street corner before that woman scoots out of the store and rushes off to tell all her female friends.”
    â€œYou’re cynical, Custis. Give us ladies a little credit for discretion.”
    â€œWhatever you say,” Longarm replied. “But when we hit the end of the street, turn around in your saddle and I’ll bet you a dollar that woman is out the door and on her way to gossip up a storm.”
    Addie didn’t say anything, but when they reached the end of the street, she did twist around in her saddle for a moment.
    â€œWell?” Longarm asked as they rode out of Cheyenne. “Was I right or not?”
    â€œDon’t get me riled up,” Addie warned. “Because you’re going to need a doctor, friend, and straight shooter before this is over.”
    Longarm suppressed a smile. He was right about the store owner’s wife, of course. But Addie was also right about him needing her to watch his backside when they hit Buffalo Falls.

Chapter 7
    Longarm and Addie really pushed their horses for the first two days, but on a cold and blustery third day while galloping across the rolling hills, Addie’s roan mare stepped in a badger hole and did a complete somersault. Addie was pitched down hard on the prairie grass, and the mare had to struggle just to get back on her feet.
    Longarm had been galloping stirrup to stirrup with the young woman, and when she and her horse tumbled, he reined up and then hurried back. Dismounting, he ran to the girl’s side. “Addie!”
    She was dazed, hurt, and moaning in confusion. Longarm cradled Addie’s head in his lap and held her close, hoping that she hadn’t sustained a fatal spine or internal injury. This was a bad place to have a wreck. There was a storm bearing down on them and not a farm or ranch house as far as the eye could see. If Addie was badly hurt, he had no idea where they could get medical help.
    â€œAddie!” He shook her gently.
    After a few minutes, she finally stirred, but when she looked up at Longarm, she seemed unable to focus.
    â€œAddie, it’s me, Custis! Can you hear me?”
    â€œYes,” she whispered, sounding very tired and more than a little confused. “What . . . what happened?”
    â€œYour mare went down into a badger hole and did a complete flip. I was riding just ahead and didn’t see it happen, but you must have hit the ground very hard. Maybe your horse landed on you. I don’t know. Can you move your hands and feet?”
    Longarm’s greatest concern was that Addie had suffered a terrible spine injury, leaving her paralyzed. But to his great relief, Addie was able to move her extremities. However, she said that her vision was blurred and she felt sick to her stomach.
    â€œYou’re the doctor, but my guess is that you’ve suffered a real bad concussion,” he said. “I’ve had a few of my own and I know that this will pass after you’ve had rest.”
    Addie tried to look around. “What about my poor horse?”
    The mare had struggled up on three legs, and was hobbling over to join Longarm’s buckskin. “Addie, I’m afraid that your mare is also