To Tame a Renegade by Connie Mason

wanted was to frighten the boy. It was a damn shame his mother was too proud and obstinate for her own good.
    “We’re not really arguing, Abner. Your mother doesn’t agree with what I’ve done, that’s all. Don’t worry about it. Are you hungry? I’ll bet that stew is done. What do you say we go in the kitchen and dish us up some?”
    “I am hungry,” Abner admitted. “Can Mama eat with us?”
    “Of course.”
    Without waiting for Sarah’s permission, he scooped her from the bed and carried her into the kitchen, placing her in one of the rickety chairs. Then he dished out the stew. He and Abner made a game of feeding Sarah and soon all three had eaten their fill.
    “You make a tolerable stew, Mr. Delaney,” Sarah said. “A few herbs and a smidgeon more of salt would make it even more palatable.”
    It was a backhanded compliment but Chad let it pass. “You may as well call me Chad.” He gave her one of his rare smiles. “We’ve come to know one another quite well for strangers.”
    Sarah flushed and gazed down at her bathrobe tellingly. “You’re no gentleman to remind me of … of…” She looked at Abner and fell silent.
    “I never said I was a gentleman. I seriously doubt you’ve ever met a real gentleman.” The moment the words left his mouth he wished he could call them back. He had hurt her. The anguish on her face told him exactly how much.
    Sarah arose abruptly and limped back to the bedroom. “I’ll bid you goodbye now, Mr. Delaney, to save you from saying it later. Come along, Abner, it’s time for bed. You can crawl in with me tonight.”
    “What about Chad?”
    “He can stay at the boardinghouse.”
    “Goodbye, Chad. I’m gonna miss you,” Abner called as he disappeared into the bedroom with his mother.
    “I’m going to miss you too, kid,” Chad muttered to himself.
    Chad bellied up to the bar and ordered whiskey. He chugged the generous shot down quickly and poured himself another. His room at the boardinghouse seemed empty and cold and he had wandered down to the One-Eyed Jack Saloon to pass the time until bedtime. Since he was still in town he decided it couldn’t hurt to ask some questions about Freddie Jackson. A few weeks ago Chad had met a man who knew Jackson and didn’t mind talking about him. That’s how Chad had learned that Jackson hailed from Carbon.
    Fortified by a second swig of whiskey, Chad engaged the man next to him in conversation. They chatted a few minutes about the town and then the man, who said his name was Cal Bork, asked, “You new in town, mister?”
    “Just rode in yesterday,” Chad said. He stuck out his hand. “The name’s Delaney. Chad Delaney.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Delaney. My folks own the general store. Lived here all of my life. Did you come to Carbon for any particular reason?”
    “I’m looking for man named Freddie Jackson. You know him?”
    “Sure do, but he ain’t been around in a long time. At least five or six years. Rumor has it he’s wanted for bank robbery.”
    “Does he have family in town?” Chad asked.
    “Not anymore. His parents are dead and his sisters married and moved away.” He scratched the dark stubble growing on his chin. “Funny thing about Freddie. Always wondered why he up and left town so sudden like. It wasn’t long after that we heard he’d turned outlaw.”
    “Freddie Jackson is wanted for bank robbery in both Montana and Wyoming.”
    “You a bounty hunter?”
    “Yeah, I’m looking for Jackson. But I’ll be moving on tomorrow. Looks like all my leads have grown cold.” Chad grew thoughtful. “Did Jackson have any friends in town?”
    “Freddie was a ladies’ man. I heard he was involved with a woman before he left. Freddie was a secretive sort, he didn’t say much about his private life. A friend of mine said he saw Freddie with the same woman on more than one occasion, but he never did see her face.”
    “No one ever saw her?”
    “Naw. Like I said. Freddie was close-mouthed