by Ivy McAdams
“Take a seat,” the thief roared.
When the passenger didn’t budge, the man in black took two long strides toward him and swung the revolver into his face. The handlebars on man’s face quivered as the gun struck him, and he sank into his seat.
“Now,” the bandit barked. “Hand over your goods, and we won’t have to search you.”
He turned fierce eyes on the mustached man, and the passenger yanked a pocket watch from his vest. He handed it over without another word.
"Thank you, kind sir," the man in black growled with an amused twinkle in his eye. "You next." He pointed to the next seat and moved on.
The second thief was making his way up her side of the aisle, holding an open saddle bag out for passengers to drop items in. He brandished no gun but grunted a deep growl when anyone hesitated.
“Drop it in,” he huffed at a cowboy she recognized from Emerald Falls.
“Who do you think you are, just swiping our things like this?” The passenger said, shoving his hands into his pockets defiantly. “The sheriff will be on your tail in no time.”
The man in black wasn’t as tall as the cowboy, but he outweighed him. He had wide shoulders and a solid build. Like he could take that cowboy out without a weapon at all.
“I’m not afraid of no sheriff,” the thief hissed.
“You should be.” The cowboy glowered, pushing his hands deeper into his pockets.
The outlaw lowered the saddlebag, caught the passenger around the throat with his other hand, and pressed him against the car wall. A woman next to them shrieked and shied away. The cowboy fell back with wide eyes, hands leaping from his pockets to the vice on his neck.
“You think a sheriff is gon’ save you right now, boy?” the man in black growled.
Despite the jut of his chin, the cowboy’s nostrils flared, and he blinked wide eyes. The fingers on his throat flexed, and he shook his head with a bleat of apology.
“No, no, sir. Ain’t no one out to help me here.”
“Didn’t think so.”
“Clay!” the thief with the gun grunted from the center of the aisle. He’d gone through half the car already. “Quit making friends and let’s get out of here.”
His partner narrowed his eyes and released the cowboy. Then he shoved the edge of the saddlebag into the man’s chest.
“Don’t make me come get it.”
The passenger fumbled into his pocket and produced a money clip. Clay nodded his approval as he took the cash and tossed it into his satchel. Then he moved on.
The thieves advanced to the front, seat by seat.
Sadie's chest felt tight. She didn't have anything of value on her. Would they believe that? She wore a simple dress, leather boots, and a few barrettes in her hair. It'd only been a day trip, so the small bag she brought only held a catalog she'd picked up and a book.
The armed man struck a short man across the temple with his revolver, and Sadie jumped. A commotion followed, drowned out by the thief’s roar.
“Now, I said!”
Sadie glanced toward the front door of the car where Papa had disappeared. She was only two seats away from it. She might be able to make it out of the car before the thieves caught her. Papa would protect her.
She silently swung her boots down to the maroon carpeted floor. The idiots were so greedy that they might not even notice her leave.
As a woman in the back began to cry, Sadie got to her feet and braced a hand on Papa’s seat. Neither man looked in her direction. She eased a boot into the center aisle.
One of the robbers grunted, and she froze. But they weren’t looking in her direction.
The armed man nudged his companion and nodded toward the rear of the car.
“Someone’s heading this way. Let’s go.”
A storage car followed them, and Sadie could see it bumping along in the back windows. A train worker was walking through the car. He stopped to check a box here and there, in no rush. Yet.
“Move up a car,” Clay’s deep voice rumbled.
The two men took a few long strides down the center aisle. Sadie ducked back into her seat.
“Cough it up,” the armed man grumbled as he stopped. His voice wasn’t as deep, but it was raspy. Like he was fighting a whisper.
The man he’d stopped at handed over a few bills.
Clay stopped once more for a pearl necklace before stepping up alongside Sadie. His face was half covered by his mask, and the low brim of his black hat did well to hide the rest of it, but his eyes caught hers before he spoke a word.
A soft blue popped from the darkness. Like the depths of the lake in wintertime. Vivid and sharp. A hidden cavern you might get lost in if you swam too far.
She stared as her fingers trembled on the back of the chair.
“Valuables?” he murmured. His voice was so low she thought for a moment she’d only imagined he’d said it.
Her head shook just a fraction. “I have none,” she whispered.
Eyes still locked on her, he nodded. Then he was gone.
The men rushed to the front of the car and disappeared through the door into the cool air.
A man shouted in the back of the car after the thieves were gone. Women called out and whimpered, hugging onto one another. Sadie collapsed into her seat, pressing a hand to her chest as she gulped down a breath of relief. She’d made it out of the encounter without an issue.
Except she’d never seen eyes so captivating. So raw and fierce. Eyes that had probably seen people die and live to the fullest all in one day. There was nothing mundane and wanting in those eyes. They were alive.
And the way they’d held hers so tightly. The memory stole her breath away.
Sadie leaned out into the aisle once again, hoping to catch one more glance at Clay’s solid blue stare.
What she found instead made her gasp and rush for the door.
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Thanks for reading!
I’ve known from the beginning that I wanted to do Bridget and Mason’s story. They’re so cute and in love in the other books. I couldn’t wait to dive into their little world, especially with the two gangs being at odds.
For those of you that are starting your journey in Emerald Falls with the prequel (makes perfect sense to me!), a huge welcome! My first readers made it through book three before they got to read the prequel. I couldn’t wait to give them Bridget and Mason’s origination story.
If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review! I love to hear what my readers have to say!
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More outlaws are up ahead! Book one starts us off with Mason’s friend Clay and a little abduction turned romance.
Also by Ivy McAdams
Emerald Falls Series
Kidnapped by an Outlaw
Seduced by a Wrangler
Captivated by a Gunslinger
Emerald Falls Novella
Rescued by a Desperado (prequel)
About the Author
Ivy McAdams wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up.
She may reside on the beaches of Florida, but her heart lives in the wide open spaces of Wyoming. She grew up dreaming of horses, playing cowboys and indians on her grandfather’s farm, and curling up on the couch with him to watch westerns. Cowboys have been her heroes ever since.
Ivy loves the warm feelings and happily ever afters of a romance novel and has married her passions together to bring you historical western romance stories.
When not writing, she’s taking care of two beautiful girls and teaching them to adore books as much as she did growing up. She can’t wait until they’re big enough to dress in cowboy hats and ride horses with her.
https://ivymcadams.com
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