by Faye Byrd
“Same here, Outlaw,” she avows. “Same here.”
“Now that’s settled …” I trail off, prodding her across the room and to the bed. From there we both proceed to claim the other in a way we ain’t done before.
It’s wild and passionate, but mostly possessive.
Each taking ownership of what belongs to them.
And when we done, panting and out of breath, we roll on our backs and stare at the ceiling. “I think I need a drink,” Josie admits, sliding her eyes to mine.
“I could go for a shot myself,” I agree. Kissing her plump lips hard, I rise from the bed and start dressing. She does the same, ‘cept it’s back to her breeches, the fancy clothes no longer needed.
We leave our room and make our way to the town saloon, arm in arm. Surprisingly, a few of the men from the train are already there and even raise their glasses when me and Josie enter. With a tip of my hat, I acknowledge ‘em and guide my cowgirl to the bar.
After having a seat, I expect to be served quickly but for some reason, the bartender ain’t where he ‘posed to be. I scan the room and see him in a discussion with a woman at the piano. She’s a small thing with hair black as night and grey eyes. They have an intense conversation, their heads close together, ‘fore the woman smirks at the bartender and starts to play.
Just as he’s about to turn and head back our way, Josie complains. “Why ain’t we been offered a drink yet?”
I smile, ‘cause she’s too cute, and mock gasp. “How dare they make my cowgirl wait to be served her liquor. Need me to shoot ‘em?”
She giggles and plays along, draping her arms across to my shoulder. “I don’t know ‘bout that, Outlaw. How would we get any service then?” She bats her lashes and looks utterly adorable.
I lean closer, feeling her breath on my face. “I’m sure I could serve ya just as well,” I say, smirking as her lids get heavy and her breaths speed.
“Maybe we don’t need a drink after a—”
“Can I help ya?” a voice cuts her off mid-sentence, and while we could a used a drink, I think we done ‘bout talked ourselves into retiring back to the room without one.
Setting a scowl on my face, I turn and prepare to give the interrupter a rude awakening for daring to speak over my cowgirl. Only, someone familiar is looking back at me. Someone I remember. Someone who helped me once.
My scowl stretches into a smile. “Well, I’ll be. If it ain’t Baby Face himself. What ya doin’ all the way down here?” I ask, since Yuma’s ‘bout as close to Mexico as ya can get.
“Excuse me,” Josie cuts in. “You two know each other?” She looks between me and Baby Face expectantly.
Baby Face ignores her and smiles at me, holding out his hand. “Nathan King, good to see ya all healed up.” His eyes flit to my cowgirl and back to me. “Need me to get rid of the leech for ya?” he asks, after a hearty shake.
‘Fore I can explain that she’s with me, she done pulled one of my Colts from its holster and has it pointed right between his eyes. “What’d you call me?”
I stare in shock for a few seconds ‘fore I get ahold of myself and rush to put my hand on the gun, lowering it very carefully with an uneasy chuckle. “He ain’t mean it, Josie,” I say soothingly.
She stares at him for a few more seconds ‘fore slowly cutting her eyes back to me. “Sure sounded like he meant it.” She pouts.
I chuckle and glance at Baby Face. “A couple whiskeys please?” Then I focus back on my girl. “Look, he’s the man who bandaged me up ‘fore I made it to ya barn. He just thought … ” I trail off not sure if I even want to share why he’d think that about Josie after her earlier ‘bout of jealousy.
She crosses her arms and lifts a brow. “Thought what?”
I sigh and come on out with it. “He thought ya was just another annoyin’ whore.”
“Another?” she prods, lifting her brow even higher.
“Come on, Cowgirl, it’s nothin’ really.” I rub the back of my neck, not wanting to get into this again.
Just then, two glasses of dark liquid appear on the bar top, and Baby Face breaks into the conversation. “Ya know Outlaw Nathan King got whores linin’ up for days,” he remarks, chuckling at his own joke.
But me? Nope, not me. My eyes go wide, and I do my best to convey how deep in the shit he’s getting me, ‘cause surely enough, Josie turns all her attention to him.
“Does he now?” she asks all sweet-like, eyes batting.
I slap myself in the forehead and hang my head. “No, he doesn’t,” I say to deaf ears.
Josie done leaned closer to Baby Face and is acting like she’s hanging on his every word. “Please, tell all about it,” she says sweetly, too damn sweetly.
Baby Face’s ears turn pink from the attention, and he still don’t shut his trap, even with me giving him the death glare behind her back. “It was nothin’, ma’am. I just had to run a wayward whore away from him last time he was in my bar.”
“And you are?” she asks, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers.
He smiles real big and holds out his hand. “The name’s Levi Mayfield, ma’am.”
“Nice to meet ya, Levi. I’m Josie.” She proceeds to shake and smile and spin her web ‘til he’s just a puddle of goo like the rest of us.
I take this opportunity to intervene. “That’s right, Levi. This here’s Josie, my woman.” I give him a pointed look.
His eyes widen, but at least he shuts the hell up about whores. Me and Josie drink a few shots of whiskey and catch up with my old friend ‘fore making our way back to the room.
And when the door closes behind us this time, it’s she who pushes me into the bed. “I think my outlaw needs some punishment.” And whether I do or not is besides the question ‘cause I’ll take whatever she’s giving.
“I think so too,” I agree readily, already ridding her of her shirt.
Josie rides me slow and rough, dragging out my punishment as long as she can ‘fore her body gives in and comes undone above me. And when she can move no more, I take over, giving out some punishment of my own.
We retire for the night, naked and spent, entwined together as one being.
But sleep don’t last long. In the dead of night, a shove against my leg jolts me awake. I jump, my hands automatically reaching for my Colts that are on the bedside table.
The cock of a hammer freezes me in my tracks, and I try to make out the dark silhouettes beside the bed. The strike of a match illuminates the figures as a lantern is lit.
What I see makes my blood run cold.
Ranger Frank and a sidekick are standing there, guns trained on Josie and me.
Chapter Nineteen
The Interruption
NATHAN
For the first time in forever, fear grips my heart so I tight I feel as if I might crumple under the weight of it. My eyes land on my cowgirl, completely unaware of what’s staring straight at us. Naked and content, she still draws deep, even breaths.
I push the blanket up a little higher, attempting to cover as much of her creamy skin as possible from their prying eyes. My heart hammers in my chest at the thought of her being mixed up in this mess that’s done caught up with me.
With one last, longing glance at her beautiful, peaceful face, I turn back to our capturers. Moving real slow-like, I hold my hands in the air. “I’ll go willingly, just let her be.” My head nods in Josie’s direction.
Frank’s sidekick has the nerve to eye her, and not only a glance, he runs ‘em beady eyes all up her naked form that’s only covered by a thin blanket. My jaw clenches, and my muscles ready themselves to attack.
Seeing my ire rise, Frank shakes his head. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warns, but at least has the decency to elbow Beady Eyes in the ribs, effectively making him avert his stare.
“Just take me,” I say, and it’s almost a plea. Can I dare to hope that he’ll steal me away in the dead of night and leave Josie in peace?
“What’s gone happen to her?” I ask, and I’m that scared, seventeen-year-old boy again, facing those gunslingers trying to save someone I love.
“You headed to Texas to face ya crimes. She’ll stay in the Arizona Territory,” he explains mater-of-factly.
“But I got crimes all over. I’d even venture to say more dead bodies lie around here than Texas,” I say, hoping somehow that we can least stay together.
“That may be true, but Texas got first dibs. You murdered an important man in cold blood, not to mention ya own parents. It’s highly likely ya won’t live to face ya other crimes.” He looks to the floor, leaning down to grab my button up, tossing it on the bed. “Now, put that on and slowly get out of the bed. No funny business or ya woman’ll pay for it. Got me?” His gun moves from me to Josie.
My mind churns over every possible scenario. ‘Em Colts is so close but yet so goddamn far. Somehow, though, I can’t let this happen. I can’t let Josie hang for wanting to be by my side, for wanting to be free in a world that wants to stifle her and every other woman out there. No, she has to live, even if I have to die to make it happen.
Seeing no other choice right now, I follow his orders. I don my shirt and hope like hell an opportunity presents itself. We got a ways to go, anything can happen, and I’ll keep telling myself that ‘til it does.
Just then, Josie moves beside me. Her arms stretch over her head and her lashes flutter. My heart drops to my stomach. This is it. In a matter of seconds, I’ll have to see her face fall as she realizes what a mess I done dragged her into.
Green eyes peep open and a smile forms on her lips, but then it freezes as soon as she sees the expression on my face. Her brows furrow, but then, her eyes slide beyond me to the two men standing with their guns trained on her.
She sits up suddenly, holding the flimsy blanket close to her chest. “What the hell?” she exclaims, her eyes thinning into slits.
Frank chuckles. “Glad to see ya decided to join the party, Miss Josephine.” He nudges Beady Eyes. “Find her clothes.” It’s a good thing too ‘cause wrapping my hands ‘round his neck and squeezing is becoming more and more likely if he keeps ‘em beady eyes on my cowgirl’s body.
Consequences be damned.
Beady Eyes throws Josie that hoity-toity dress and quickly averts his glance when he catches the scowl on my face. She hesitates, but then just shrugs and pulls it over her head and down underneath the covers. When she’s covered by clothes, she tosses the blanket aside and crosses her arms with a huff.
“Now,” Frank starts, “let’s slowly get up from the bed and come ‘round here.” He points to Josie with his gun and motions where he wants her.
She eyes me, and I see the fire brewing. With an imperceptible shake of my head, I try to warn her—no, plead with her—not to do anything rash. But this is my cowgirl we talking ‘bout here, and I’m terrified she’s gone act without me.
Her shoulders slump, and she rises from the bed, following Frank’s instructions. “You think ya just gone waltz in here and take us both?” she asks as she moves ‘round the foot of the bed. “Ya think ya got the”—she stops in front of Beady Eyes and snorts—“balls to accomplish the job?” she taunts, giving him the once over with her lip curled.
If I know my cowgirl, her mind is a whirling. She’s calculating every single scenario her brilliant mind can come up with and deciding if they have any merit. Silently, I pray to myself that she’ll see no escape for now and just do as she’s told. I couldn’t go on living if something happened to her.
Suddenly, the doorknob rattles. Every one of us snaps our heads in that direction, but then we duck for cover just as fast ‘cause a blast echoes through the silent night, blowing a whole slap through the previously locked door.
My desperate eyes seek my cowgirl. She’s dived for cover and is crawling across the floor, headed straight for her double barrel. Two bodies burst through the door at the same time I reach for my Colts.
Frank plants his pistol right between my eyes. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he snarls.
Behind him, I see two things happening. First, Beady Eyes has a hold of Josie’s legs, preventing her from reaching her shotgun. And second, well the second ‘causes a huge smirk to lift my lips.
“Yeah, why not?” I ask the ranger, my grin growing bigger as a sawed-off shotgun pushes up against the back of his head.
He freezes in his spot, so I push the pistol away and peer ‘round him, hoping to see Josie. When I finally do, I see that Piano Girl has a gun pointed at Beady Eyes, while he helplessly watches Josie lay hands on her double barrel.
Standing, she points it at him and motions for him to stand. He does, but then, like an idiot, he charges her. A hole rips clean through him, and Frank winces at the sound of his body thumping to the floor.
“Sorry, he should a knowed better than to do that,” I tell him with a shrug.
Frank’s head falls to the edge of the bed, defeated.
My eyes wander to the man standing behind him with the shotgun and a huge smile forms on my face. “Baby Face,” I say on an exhale of relief. “You don’t know how happy I am to see ya.” I stand to embrace him, ‘cause damn, this man done helped me twice now.
Only, I forgot I was just wearing a button up.
“Holy hell.” I hear mumbled from across the room.
“Excuse me,” Josie snaps, stepping closer to Piano Girl. “That’s my outlaw ya gawkin’ at, and I got another bullet in this here shotgun if ya don’t tear ya eyes away.”
Piano Girl pales and snaps her head to Josie. “S-sorry,” she stutters but gathers herself. “But he was just lettin’ it hang out for the world to see. Can’t blame a girl for lookin’.”
Josie’s eyes turn to slits, but she don’t aim her gun. “I’ll let that slide ‘cause y’all just saved us, but don’t think I’ll ever let it slide again. Got it?” At Piano Girl’s nod, Josie turns to me. “And, you, put some damn clothes on!”
I scurry ‘round the room and snatch up my jeans, putting ‘em on faster than I ever done before. And then, I turn my eyes to Frank, who’s propped against the bed, taking in the scene playing out before him.
He smirks when I make eye contact. “Looks like badass, Outlaw Nathan King ain’t the one who wears the pants in this relationship.”
I match his smirk. “I am now.” I motion the jeans I just slid on.
“Not what I mean and ya know it.” He sighs. “Now what?”
“Now we gone take ya to the desert and dump ya ass somewhere so you won’t be findin’ us again,” Josie chimes in, walking to stand beside me.
A movement by the door catches my attention. It’s the old negro man who runs the place. He’s looking into the room, taking in the hole in the door and the dead body lying on the floor.
I sigh but keep my voice firm so he knows it ain’t a request. “Come on in, sir.”
He enters warily, eyes flitting ‘round at everybody. “We’re sorry ‘bout the damage and will surely remove the body. I’m also gone pay ya for having to clean up behind us. Okay?” I ask, clearly telling him what’s gone go down instead of getting permission.
He nods silently, and I grab some cash from my bag, tossing it his way. “Now that’s taken care of. I’m sorry, but I’m also gone have to tie ya up. It’s nothin’ against you personally, but we gone be needin’ a head start.”
Piano Girl produces a rope from her hip and holds it out for Baby Face to take. He does and steps up to the old man. “Sorry, sir,” he apologizes ‘fore turning him and twisting the rope ‘round his wrists.
“How we gone get away from here?” I ask my accomplices since my horses are off in another town.
“Me and Minnie got horses,” Baby Face explains. “We can share one, and you and Miss Josie can share the other.”
I think it over and nod.
“Yeah, I guess that works.”
“How we gone transport the ranger?” Josie asks.
I take a deep breath and turn to her. “We gone tie him up here just like the old man. Not my best solution, but in this situation, we ain’t got no other choice.”
“And the first person who walks past that door gone see ‘em and let him loose,” she argues.
I sigh and rub my head, knowing she’s right. “I know, Cowgirl, but what else can we do?”
“I say we smuggle him out a town and tie him to a cactus instead. It ain’t that far to go, and if I have to, I can walk.”
“What if we get seen taking a ranger hostage?” Piano Girl, whose name is Minnie, I guess, asks. “We already got to move a dead body.”
The little old man clears his throat. “Just leave it,” he declares. “Leave the dead body, and I’ll get it taken care of. Just take the ranger and go. I want no part in that business.”
My brows rise, but I nod, conceding. “Yes, sir. If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” he agrees. “Not everyone ‘round here thinks ya ought a hang.”
My cowgirl lights up at those words, and she leans down to give him a big ole smack on his wrinkly cheek. “Thank ya, sir.” Then she eyes me. “See, you do good, and people know it.”
Frank chuckles, bringing Josie’s attention to him. She drops down ‘fore him. “Maybe if you’d do ya job and check things out instead of just eatin’ what they spoon feedin’ ya, you’d know this already. So maybe you ought a return to Texas and investigate my outlaw’s crimes a little deeper. Never know what ya gone find then.” She smirks and turns to Baby Face. “Tie his hands together and let’s go.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, saluting her with a pink tint to his cheeks.
I roll my eyes and think to myself, God, I hope he don’t make me have to kill him.
Chapter Twenty
The Posse
NATHAN
We ride to the outskirts of town, using the cover of dark, and pick a nice little spot to settle the ranger. Following a well-worn path through the dusty earth, Josie choses a nice size cactus, strong enough to hold his weight, but also, close enough he can yell to a passerby after we good and gone.