Outlaw Hearts by Rosanne Bittner Page B

to help once?”
    â€œWhat the hell do you care!” Jake gave her the fiercest look he could muster. He hated personal questions.
    Miranda stepped a little closer. “Because of the way you spoke her name. I didn’t think you were a man capable of deep feelings, Mr. Harkner, but last night I saw a side of you I’m sure few people see. I guess that’s the main reason I’m not sure I want to turn you in.” Did this man really kill his father? “You also spoke the word Pa, but I couldn’t determine if it was with hatred or affection.”
    Miranda watched his eyes. Again she saw the look of a little boy. “There are some people you can love and hate at the same time.”
    â€œIs it true you killed your own father?”
    Jake just stared at her, looking surprised at first, then taking on a look of almost pitiful remorse. “Jesus, you’ve even heard that already?” He closed his eyes. “It’s a long story,” he said quietly, “and none of your damn business. If others say I killed him, then I killed him. Who the hell is going to believe my side of anything? And who the hell cares about what might have made me do it? Folks don’t want to hear reasons. They’re quick to judge without knowing the facts.”
    Miranda bent over and picked up the soiled blankets. “Maybe you just hang around with the wrong people, Mr. Harkner. I’ve never thought any man should be judged by other people’s gossip. And I saw a side to you last night that tells me there are things buried inside of you that need digging up, but this isn’t the time. You’re hurting. Tell me what hurts the most, and I’ll see if I can find something among my father’s medicine to help.”
    Jake scowled at her. “You’re a strange woman, Mrs. Hayes. I do remember your name right, don’t I?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhere’s your husband?”
    â€œKilled in the war.” Miranda knew she should feel uneasy when his eyes moved over her then, but instead she felt self-conscious, only then realizing how wrinkled her clothes must be and how disheveled she must look. She absently put a hand to her hair, realizing it must be in terrible disarray.
    â€œThere’s nobody else?” he asked.
    â€œA brother. He’s in Virginia City, Nevada. As soon as I figure out what to do with you, I’m leaving here to go and find him. He’s all I have left since my father was killed. My mother died six years ago.”
    â€œPretty dangerous for a woman out here all alone, what with all the raiding.” Jake watched the hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.
    â€œYes, isn’t it?” she answered sarcastically.
    Jake couldn’t help a slight grin of his own. “Even more dangerous to set out all alone for Nevada.”
    â€œI’ll find someone reputable to take me there. I’m no fainting daisy, Mr. Harkner.”
    He let out a little laugh, then winced with the pain it brought. “I’ll agree with that,” he told her, his voice gruff with pain. “You say…you’ve got medicine? My head feels like it’s coming right off my shoulders.”
    â€œMy father was a doctor. I learned a lot from him. That’s how I was able to take that bullet out of you last night. I’ll see what I can find to help the pain.”
    Jake watched her slender body, heard her skirts rustle as she moved out of the room. She returned carrying a brown bottle. She handed it to Jake. “Just a couple of swallows. Too much isn’t good. A man can get as dependent on this stuff as whiskey.”
    Jake reached out and took the bottle. Their fingers touched, and a strange warmth moved through him. He could tell by her eyes and the slight blush in her cheeks that she had felt it too. He uncorked the bottle and took a couple swallows of the bitter liquid, grimacing at the taste. Then he handed the bottle