The Reluctant Outlaw

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?”

“What’s wrong?” Julianna tossed the remainder aside and jumped up to face him squarely. He was tall, but then so was she. Tilting her head back a fraction, she glared at him. “Oh, let me see … I’d intended to go shopping but instead interrupted a robbery. I had a gun held to my head. I was forced to ride for hours with a stranger to an undisclosed destination. To put it in simpler terms—you kidnapped me. Tackled me. Threatened me. Tore my favorite dress.” She indicated the hem with a sweep of her hand. “And worst of all,” she added, her voice wobbling, “you made me miss my mother’s birthday.”

One rogue tear slipped down her cheek, and she blinked fast to dry her eyes.

Before she could comprehend what he intended, he lifted his hand to her face and ever so gently wiped the tear away with the pad of his thumb. His touch was as delicate as a butterfly’s wing.

It confused her. There was more to this outlaw than she had anticipated.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing The Reluctant Outlaw. I hope you enjoyed reading about Evan and Juliana’s journey to love. My favorite heroes are like Evan—tough, determined and loyal—with a measure of tenderness thrown in. Like Evan, many of us struggle with fear in different seasons of our lives. We can find comfort in the fact that God is in control. Nothing surprises Him. I admire Juliana’s ability to cling to God’s promises even in the midst of her ordeal. As His children, we must learn to do the same when trials come our way.

East Tennessee is near and dear to my heart. Born and raised about an hour from Gatlinburg and Cades Cove, I visited the mountains quite often and worked in Gatlinburg for a time. The majestic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the abundance of animal and plant life, draws millions of visitors each year. It was a pleasure to write about such a special place and envision what it must’ve been like over a hundred years ago.

I would love to hear from you! You can write to me at Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279, email me at [e-mail], or visit my website at: www.karenkirst.com.

Best wishes,

Karen Kirst

The Reluctant Outlaw

Karen Kirst

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my husband, Marek—

thank you for your endless support and

encouragement. You are my voice of reason.

Without you, there would be no laughter in my life.

To my parents, Richard and Dorothy Kirst—

thanks, Mom, for all those trips to the library.

I wouldn’t be living this dream today had it not been

for you. And Dad, your generosity

is what I love most about you.

To my critique partners—

my sister Shelly Benson, niece Jessica Price,

and best friend, Danielle Mattson—thank you

for your insights and encouragement

on this journey to publication!

A big thanks to my editor Emily Rodmell!

You took a chance on me and I’m so thankful you did!

My ultimate thank-you goes to my Heavenly Father

God and His Son Jesus Christ!

Apart from Him, I can do nothing.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

—2 Timothy 1:7

Chapter One

Gatlinburg, Tennessee June 1880

Blocking the entrance to Clawson’s Mercantile, Evan Harrison tried to blend in with the overhang’s shadows. He’d dressed in head-to-toe black, his hat pulled low to shade his eyes. Leaning against the glass-paned door, arms crossed and one ankle slung carelessly over the other, he could’ve been waiting for someone or simply watching the morning rush of people. What passersby couldn’t see was his heart’s sharp tattoo against his rib cage and the sweat sliding between his shoulder blades to trickle down his spine.

His narrowed gaze flicked to and fro, his muscles bunched and ready to spring should anyone head his way. Hurry up, Fitz. He wondered how Art was doing in the back alley.

This wasn’t his first holdup, so why the unease? He scanned the crowd again, and the burning in his gut grew worse. He was worried about Fitz. The outlaw inside the mercantile was a wild card. Lenny Fitzgerald had proven time and again that he wasn’t afraid to spill innocent blood. And he wasn’t particular about his victims.

Evan had done his best to prevent the violence, but he could only do so much without arousing suspicion. He couldn’t take a chance of blowing his cover. He’d worked too hard and waited too long to have that happen now.

He closed his eyes, wishing he could put off the inevitable. Then he remembered the reason he was there and his resolve hardened. He was on a quest for justice, and he would get it. No matter what.

He snapped his eyes open at the sound of someone approaching. Shifting his head to the right, he caught sight of a young woman striding down the boardwalk in his direction, her boots clipping the weathered planks with determination. She was on a mission, it seemed.

Please let her be headed anywhere else but here, he thought.

As she neared, he couldn’t help but notice her bold beauty. Sleek red hair peeked out from beneath a navy-and-cream floral-print bonnet framing an oval-shaped face. He admired her ivory complexion, so rare in redheads, and the pert nose, regal cheekbones and generous mouth. Her sturdy navy dress outlined a pleasing female form, tall yet graceful.

She must’ve noticed him staring, for she quirked a cinnamon eyebrow, her lips firming in disapproval. Her eyes raked him before meeting his gaze head-on. One jerk of her chin hinted of a stubborn streak.

“Excuse me.” She speared him with her gaze. “You’re blocking the entrance.”

Her eyes were green, not the expected blue. Deep green, the color of spruce trees streaked with sunset gold.

Straightening, Evan plucked the hay from his mouth and tossed it to the ground.

“You can’t go in there.”

A line of confusion formed between her fine eyebrows. “Why not?”

“Mr. Clawson had to step out for a few minutes. He asked me to tell any customers who happened by that he’d be right back.”

Annoyance flickered in those gorgeous eyes. “That’s impossible. Mr. Clawson is dead. His son-in-law, Larry Moore, is the owner now.”

Swallowing his frustration, he struggled to maintain an air of indifference. Could she see the vein throbbing at his temple? “My mistake. Guess I mixed up the names.”

A loud shout, followed by a heavy thump, sounded through the door. Evan cringed, resisting the urge to turn and look. She craned her neck to peer beyond his shoulder, and he sidestepped to block her line of sight.

“Someone is in there,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing. “What kind of game are you playing?”

“Trust me, I’m not playing—”

“Is there a problem, Miss O’Malley?” a male voice interrupted from the street.

This situation was going from bad to worse. Evan turned to see a well-dressed man observing them, his curious gaze shifting from the young woman to settle on him. As a stranger in town, Evan would naturally be regarded with a certain amount of suspicion. He had to fix this. Fast.

“Good morning, Lane,” the young lady greeted the man with a slight smile. “This gentleman and I were just discussing—”

“How rude I was for not opening the door for her,” Evan finished. Grabbing the door handle, he made a slight bow. Surprise flashed across her face. “I do apologize for the oversight, ma’am.” Evan pulled the door open and with a light hand on her elbow ushered her inside, calling over his shoulder, “I apologize for the misunderstanding. Good day, sir.”

“Yes, goodbye, Lane.”

The door closed with a final whoosh, cutting off her farewell. Through the window, Evan watched the man hesitate a moment before planting his hat back on his head and walking away. One problem taken care of. One to go.

“What was that all about?” she demanded.

Evan scanned the room. Fitzgerald was nowhere to be seen, which meant he was probably in the back, tying up the owner.

He took hold of her arm, speaking in low, urgent tones. “You’re in a situation way over your head, lady. I need you to walk back out that door and as far away from this mercantile as you can. Talk to no one. I can’t guarantee your safety if you alert anyone to what’s happening here.”

She stared at him. “What—”

“No questions. There isn’t time—”

“What’s that girl doing in here?”

Evan stiffened at the sound of Fitzgerald’s cold voice behind him. “Keep quiet,” he murmured in her ear. Without releasing her, he faced the outlaw whose features were concealed by a red bandanna.

“She was determined to do her shopping,” Evan drawled. “Looks like her impatience has earned her a stint in the storeroom with the owner. I’ll tie her up.”

“You will do no such thing!” she cried, attempting to pry his hand loose.

Fitzgerald shook his head. “Forget it. She’ll have to come with us.”

“No.” Her chances of survival were slim to none if she went with them.

“She’s seen your face. We can’t leave her here.”

“I thought we agreed—no hostages. I don’t like this—”

“Then you should’ve done your job and kept her away,” Fitzgerald snapped. “Let’s go.”

Evan hesitated in order to give Fitzgerald a few second’s head start.

“A hostage will only slow you down, you know,” she argued, her eyes large in her pale face. “Leave me here. I’ll tell the sheriff I didn’t get a good look at you. You have my word.”

He didn’t reply. What could he say at this point? His mind was whirling with too many scenarios—all of them unpleasant—to attempt rational conversation.

“You’re making a huge mistake! As soon as people realize what’s happened, they’ll organize a posse and come looking for you.”

He sensed her mounting desperation, but was helpless to do anything about it.

“Isn’t the cash enough? Do you really want to add kidnapping to your list of crimes?”

Ignoring her questions, he forcibly led her past the stockroom and the floor-to-ceiling shelves overflowing with goods, past the storekeeper’s office and, finally, to the private quarters. At the rear entrance, he warned her to keep quiet.

“Where’s Mr. Moore?” she demanded. “Is he okay?”

He slipped the Colt Peacemaker out of his holster, making sure she got a good look at it. He wasn’t above intimidation to keep her in line. Her life depended on it. “Whatever you do, stay close to me.”

For once, she didn’t utter a word. Evan hoped that she wasn’t too strong-willed to do as he said. He didn’t know what Fitz would do if she made a scene.

He grabbed the bandanna bunched around his neck and tugged it up to cover his face. Opening the door a crack, he checked the alleyway. Fitz and Art were already saddling up. He hurried her down the wooden stairs to where his horse, Lucky, was hitched, prodding her forward with a hand on her back.

“Get on the horse.”

She dug her heels in the rocky dirt. “Uh-uh.”

“Do it or I’ll toss you up there myself,” he growled from his position directly behind her, letting her feel the tip of the gun barrel near her shoulder. Her resistance irritated him—didn’t she have the good sense to be scared?

With a huff, she grabbed the saddle horn, placed her foot in the stirrup and hauled herself up. He replaced his firearm and swung up behind her.

Art’s eyes bulged when he spotted her. “Who’s that?”

Fitz barked, “Never mind. Let’s ride.”

“Might as well relax,” Evan told his hostage, signaling Lucky to head out. “It’s gonna be a long ride.”

Juliana O’Malley seethed with anger. As the miles between her and Gatlinburg stretched endlessly into the distance, she passed the time dreaming up ways to get even with the man holding her captive—everything from pushing him off a cliff to hog-tying him and leaving him at the mercy of wild animals.

It was either that or succumb to mind-numbing fear. She was familiar with firearms all right, but never in her life had she had one waved in her face.

Lord Jesus, please help me, she prayed. I’m in a bit of a situation here.

If only she’d heeded her instincts. The moment she became aware of the man in black’s blatant scrutiny, she’d known that he was no gentleman. Her cheeks burned even now as she recalled how his intense gaze had taken in every inch of her. Scandalous!

She squirmed in the saddle. His muscled arms tightened in response, imprisoning her against his rock-hard chest. His warm breath stirred the hair at her nape and prickles of awareness danced along her skin.

Juliana squeezed her eyes tight and tried not to dwell on his disturbing nearness. At least he smelled pleasant enough, she consoled herself. Beneath the smell of horse and sweat, she detected the clean scent of soap.

They would have to stop soon, she reasoned. They’d ridden for what seemed like an eternity, yet her kidnappers had given no sign of slowing the horses. She was hot and thirsty, her mouth gritty from the dust clouds stirred by the horses’ hooves.

As desperately as she wanted to get off the horse, however, she wasn’t eager to find out what they planned to do with her once they reached their destination.

As she saw it, she had only one option. Escape. She’d have to try to outrun him, because she was no match for his physical strength. Luckily, she was a fast runner. Just two weeks earlier, her cousin Caleb had challenged her to a footrace and she’d won. Not by much, but she’d won fair and square. He’d been hoppin’ mad—

She gasped. Her mother and sisters would be wondering why she hadn’t returned with the supplies. It was her mother’s birthday, and they had a full day of work to get ready for the big celebration dinner that night. They wouldn’t worry too much at first, but with each passing hour their concern would grow until finally someone would go looking for her.

The horses in front slowed and their mount did the same, veering off the trail into the dense woods. She straightened, nerves taut, thoughts of home scattered. What now? Would the brute release her? Here in the middle of nowhere to fend for herself? Or did he have something more sinister in mind?

“Where are we?” she demanded. They’d used the trail along Baskins Creek heading southeast out of Gatlinburg, but she was in unfamiliar surroundings now. “What are you going to do with me?”

The man dismounted without a word. Reaching up, his hands spanned her waist and swung her down as if she weighed no more than a sack of feathers. The imprints of his fingers against her rib cage were like branding irons.

Fear shot through her, leaving her dizzy and weak.

He stepped away long enough to take hold of the horse’s bridle. He tugged his bandanna down and gestured toward the other men already entering the forest. “Now we walk.”

Juliana resisted, unwilling to blindly follow him. “I’m not moving from this spot until you answer me.”

He spun on his heel and brought his face close to hers, his grip on her arm firm but not bruising. She’d noticed his eyes right off. A brilliant shade—dark, almost purple-blue—put her in mind of the poisonous larkspur blooms that dotted the meadows each spring. Beautiful yet deadly.

“Do as I say, Miss O’Malley,” he said in a near whisper, “and I just might be able to get you out of this mess.”

“You need help, Harrison?” The man who’d robbed Mr. Moore had stopped and was watching them. Something about him disturbed her. “Looks like a handful to me.”

Her captor, apparently named Harrison, didn’t turn around. His eyes never wavering from her face, he drawled, “Good thing I like my women feisty.”

Juliana stiffened. She opened her mouth to protest, but faltered at the almost imperceptible shake of his head. Strangely, his suggestive words were at odds with the grim light in his eyes.

“Not me,” the other man snorted. “I like mine submissive.”

Harrison’s mouth flattened, his features hardening to granite. He was angry, perhaps even disgusted, by the other man.

To Juliana, he said, “There’s a stream straight ahead and some shade. We’ll rest long enough to eat a bite before heading back out.”

Juliana felt a spark of hope. “You can leave me here. We’re not so far from Gatlinburg, after all. Might take me a while, but I can make it back before nightfall. I don’t mind walking—”

He held up a hand. “That’s not an option. Come on, I’m parched and so is my horse.”

“But I want to go home! My mother and sisters will be desperate to find me!”

He glanced over his shoulder. The others had disappeared into the woods, leaving them alone. His eyes bored into hers. “Trust me. I’m going to think of a way to get you home.”

Trust him? A common thief? He was the one who’d forced her from the mercantile and ordered her onto his horse. No, his words were empty, as substantial as a fistful of air.

This was her chance. It might be her only one.

Grateful that she’d chosen to wear her brand-new, hard-soled work boots, Juliana did what she’d done as a child tousling with her cousins—nailed him in the shin with the toe of her boot and with her free arm elbowed him in the ribs. He grunted in surprise and relaxed his hold.

Juliana slipped out of his grasp and sprinted away, uncertain which direction to take. She found herself following the hard-packed dirt trail on which they’d just traveled.

Her bonnet hung by its strings around her neck, and her hair, loosened by the jarring ride on horseback, uncoiled now to stream down her back.

Heavy footsteps sounded close behind and a small scream escaped her lips.

Faster! She pushed her legs to take longer strides. Her temples throbbed. Her side ached. The chase was over as suddenly as it began.

Bands of steel encircled her waist and down she went. Her captor twisted beneath her and she landed on top of him, his body a cushion against the rocky ground. The wind was knocked from her lungs. His arms locked around her.

“That,” he puffed angrily, “was a stupid stunt.”

Using her hands on his chest as leverage, she arched away from him, trying to break free of his hold. Her struggles were useless against his brute strength. He held fast. With a grunt, he rolled over so that he hovered above her, hands pressing her shoulders into the dirt. His face was inches from her own, his breath mingling with hers.

“Listen to me,” he warned through gritted teeth, “if you want to survive the night you’d better do exactly as I say.”

His dark blue eyes turned stone-cold and the look on his rugged face bordered on menacing. She trembled involuntarily.

“I’m not the one you need to worry about. Fitzgerald and the others will not have patience with your antics. They would’ve shot you dead the instant you bolted. In fact, I’m going to have to do some fancy talkin’ to explain why I didn’t.”

At her swift intake of breath, his voice gentled somewhat. “I’m not trying to scare you into cooperating. I’m trying to keep you out of trouble. Understand?”

Juliana nodded.

“No, I wanna hear you say it.”

“I understand,” she managed.

“No more stunts?”

“No more stunts.”

“I sure hope you mean that, lady.”

He stood and pulled her to her feet. Then he marched her back to where his horse stood grazing and guided them both into the woods.

Twigs cracked beneath their boots. Far above them, birds twittered a cheerful song in their nests. Juliana was grateful for the shade. Her neck was damp from the weight of her hair, and the bodice of her dress clung to her skin. Her heart thumped against her rib cage. He’d frightened her there at the last, more even than when he’d aimed a gun at her. His forbidding expression still burned in her mind.

When she finally saw the stream up ahead, she resisted the urge to run and lie down in it.

Two of the bandits turned to stare at them. The skinny one seemed nervous, his gaze shifting between her and the other two. The man she assumed was Fitzgerald looked hard at her. He was not an unattractive man, average really, and built like a bull.

Juliana resisted the urge to hide behind Harrison.

“I thought you said you could handle her.” The words came out as an accusation.

“She didn’t get away, did she?” Harrison shot back.

“We’ll have to get rid of her at some point, you know. She knows too much.”

The cruel words, spoken so casually, washed over her like a wave of icy water.

“Not yet.” Harrison stole a glance at her. “I want some time alone with her first.”

Juliana faltered, suddenly sick to her stomach. After all his promises to get her to safety, she hadn’t expected that. She lowered her gaze to the ground.

Fitzgerald barked a laugh. “Good for you, Harrison. I was beginning to wonder about you. Six months on the trail and you never once joined us at the saloon.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve always been a sucker for Irish beauties.”

Juliana’s head shot up, but he kept his face averted from her searching gaze. A red flush climbed up his neck, indicating what? Embarrassment? No, that would mean he possessed a conscience.

Moving to dig in his saddlebags, he brought out a small tin cup and held it out to her without sparing her a glance. It chafed to have to accept anything from him, but thirst drove her. Careful to avoid his fingers, she grabbed the cup and hurried to the water’s edge to fill it. The cold, crisp water washed away the film of dirt coating her throat.

“Take this.” He appeared beside her with a bulging handkerchief. “We’re only going to be here about fifteen minutes, so if I were you I’d eat fast.”

“I don’t want it.” She stood abruptly and stepped back, wary of his intentions.

“Take it.” He closed the distance between them and loomed over her. “You’ll need your strength.”

She was hungry. Snatching the bundle from him, she marched over to the nearest tree and, moving beneath the branches into the shade, sank down in the soft grass and smoothed her dress to cover her pantaloons.

She watched Fitzgerald and the young outlaw, who were crouched downstream and cramming food into their mouths as if it were their last meal. Harrison didn’t join them. With clean, precise movements, he crouched and dipped his canteen into the stream. Lifting it to his mouth, he swallowed long and deep, his corded neck muscles visible. After refilling and capping the canteen, he retrieved his lunch from his horse’s saddlebag and ate standing up. His hat hung on the saddle horn, providing Juliana with a clear view of his profile.

She noted his strong jawline, stubborn chin and grim mouth.

He wore his sleek, ebony hair short. The conservative style suited him. His clothes weren’t of the finest quality but were in good condition. No missing buttons in the black cotton shirt, no patches or holes in the black pants. The fact that he was dressed in black from head to toe seemed to fit his personality.

He was, in a word, formidable. Impenetrable. Hard. Callous.

He glanced her way and caught her studying him. Juliana felt her cheeks flame, and she immediately dropped her gaze to the food in her lap.

Her lavish breakfast seemed so long ago, although in reality it had only been about five hours. The sun was almost directly overhead, so she guessed it was nearing noon. Unexpected tears came to her eyes as she ate the slabs of ham and hard biscuits, and she had a difficult time swallowing.