Chapter 11

“Mr. Bonner,” she said with forced Eastern poise, “Shiloh, Blaze, Sund—”

“Get inside,” Jude barked, not letting her finish her greeting.

She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “What?”

“I said get inside.”

“Why?”

“The sun’s goin’ down, that’s why. I don’t want you on the street unless I’m with you. This is a wild town, and you shouldn’t be out alone. You might not like what you find.”

“I was talking to a young woman. What’s wrong with that?”

“There’s plenty wrong with that. You don’t know these people, and they don’t know you.”

“But the only way I can get to know anyone is to talk to them. Besides, she just wanted to know how I keep my skin so soft. It was nothing.”

“Don’t do it again.”

“And what gives you the right to tell me what to do?”

“What gives me the right, boys?” he said, talking to the three behind him.

“Because you’re the boss,” they said in unison.