Page 1 of Outlaw

Prologue

Branwen

The smell of hay, cigars, and sunshine still haunted my dreams all these years later. My dad’s deep belly laugh, his big smile, and thick Southern drawl were also weaved within them. Reminding me of a time when everything had seemed simple. Perfect. Easy. If only it were just my father’s memory that came back to me when I slept, then I would wake up with a warmth in my chest instead of an ache that had become my constant.

Eyes the color of the sky as a storm churned; dark brown hair, left long enough to pull it back at his nape with string from a feed sack; a black cowboy hat on his head; dirty, worn snakeskin boots; and a crooked grin that was mine alone. He’d never smiled at anyone else like he did me, and it’d made me feel special.

Linc Shephard had stolen my six-year-old heart from the instant he walked into the stables at my daddy’s new job andlooked down at me.

He had smiled and reached for one of my wild curls that were never tamed. Wrapping it around his finger, he chuckled. “Well, hello, Ringlets. I didn’t know Demeter had such a pretty little helper.”

It hadn’t taken me long to realize he was important. Him and the others who were always around. They were kings, and for a brief part of my life, I was allowed to live inside their kingdom. The way others respected them wasn’t lost on me. When they arrived, the workers at the stables all quieted with a reverence as they went about their jobs more diligently. Even my daddy, who was the head horse trainer and told the others what to do, treated them with a respect he didn’t show anyone else.

When I got a glimpse of them, no matter how far away they might be, my eyes would search him out. Looking for the face that outshone the rest.

That was what I’d lived for. Seeing Linc smile at me.

He would always wink, and I’d go running to him. His amused laugh as he waited for me would make my heart flutter like a swarm of butterflies in my chest.

A memory flooded my mind, and I let it play out, knowing I shouldn’t…

“Miss me that much, Ringlets?” he asked me, dropping down to his haunches so he could look me in the eye instead of towering over me.

“You’ve been gone for days,” I accused him, not realizing why he would go missing for gaps at a time.

He reached behind him and pulled out a yellow daisy. “But I came to check on my favorite girl as soon as I had the chance,” he told me, then tucked the flower behind my ear. “Remember what I told you about boys and flowers?”

I nodded. “That even an outlaw can give a girl flowers. Butnot to trust one because he brings them to me,” I replied. “But I trust you, and you always bring me one,” I added. Because I did trust him. Maybe even more than my daddy.

He shook his head. “See now, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m the worst kinda outlaw, Ringlets.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think you’re an outlaw. I think you’re a king.”

He smirked, and I heard laughter behind me, but I ignored it.

“You can fool them at any age with that fucking charm of yours.” The voice that I knew belonged to Creed Kingston sounded gruff and sarcastic.

I didn’t turn around and glare at the giant man. I kept my focus on Linc.

Linc’s eyes flicked up to him. “Not this one. She’s too smart.”

“Let’s hope so and that her taste changes with age,” he drawled, then nodded his head toward the big house. “Garrett is waiting on us. We need to go.”

Garrett was the boss. I’d heard Daddy say that many times. They were all scared of him, even if they didn’t say it. Everyone at the stables would speak about him as if he was to be feared. He looked the same age as Linc, but he owned all this. The stables, the big house, the land that Daddy said went on for miles.

Linc’s eyes met mine again. “I’ll be back later, and you can show me the new colt.”

I nodded my head vigorously. Wanting nothing more than a reason to have Linc all to myself. When I had his full attention, my world was complete.

“Boss called. Everyone, up to the house now!” Kenneth Houston shouted from the entrance on the other side of the stables.

Linc tapped a finger to the tip of my nose, then stood up. “You take care of that colt for me, Ringlets,” he said.

Then, I watched as he walked away with Creed, wishing more than anything that he could have stayed a little longer.

I touched my bright yellow daisy and smiled. I’d add it to my others tonight when I got home. I kept every single one that my outlaw had given to me.

One

---