I Ran Off With An Outlaw

By John J. Law

"Good day, Mrs. Hennig!"
It was Old Man Stacey. Stacey was the closest thing that passed as the town's wise man, and he was always up and about, early in the morning. Stacey always had a ready smile and a cheerful wave of the hand for anyone who was up for it.
"Good day, Mr. Clacy!"
Karen waved back at the old man, and he smiled at her, revealing a large gap where one front tooth should have been.
"Goin' down by the inn, eh? I reckon Maude's got something there for you!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.C. Hulsey Books
• Release date: Mar 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224495818

Book preview

Prologue:

Karen Hennig walked over to the town's inn. It was not a very short walk to the inn from her property that was located on the outskirts of the town. It was also not a very long one either. Even if it had been long and treacherous, however, Karen would gladly take it, just to get to what was waiting for her in the inn.

Good day, Mrs. Hennig!

It was Old Man Stacey. Stacey was the closest thing that passed as the town's wise man, and he was always up and about, early in the morning. Stacey always had a ready smile and a cheerful wave of the hand for anyone who was up for it.

Good day, Mr. Clacy!

Karen waved back at the old man, and he smiled at her, revealing a large gap where one front tooth should have been.

Goin' down by the inn, eh? I reckon Maude's got something there for you!

Karen was slightly taken aback by the old man's words. Did he know why she was headed for the inn? It appeared so. That seemed troubling considering that she had sworn Maude to secrecy about all of this. If a town regular like Stacey Clancy knew about what was happening, then perhaps most of the town already did. That would not be good for Karen.

Karen took a moment to consider this, but she easily regained her confidence. After all, it would only be a matter of time now before she left this place for good.

She did not answer the old man, and merely smiled at him and kept walking. There would be no point in casual banter now. It would be best to get to Maude, after all, today was the day that the letter from James arrived. It always arrived at this time of the month, like clockwork. The Pony Express always made sure of that.

Karen approached the steps at the front of the town inn and entered the front door. The chimes on the top of the door jingled, and she made her way to the front desk. Maude Adams was behind the desk, as she always was. Karen and Maude had contrasting appearances to say the least. While Karen was a blonde with a curvy and fit body that was chiseled from so much hard work farming, and tending to their livestock, Maude was a black-haired lady who was large and could barely fit through the chair and the desk in front of her.

Hello Karen! It's so good to see you today! Expecting another letter? Well, it's here now, as always.

Maude winked at Karen, through her round cheeks. Maude seemed to resemble a healthy babe every time she winked that way, and Karen knew what that wink meant. The letter from James was here again.

I am happy to see you as well, Maude, but I am more than a little dismayed at Old Man Stacey.

"Old Man Stacey? Did