Wanted: Dead or Alive

by Faye Byrd

  “Nathan,” she yells, lifting her skirts and scurrying straight for him.

  He dismounts just in time to open his arms and scoop her up in a big ole hug. “Aunt May,” he says as he spins her ‘round and puts her down. “I’m happy to see you, too.” He smiles real big and looks past her as Roy approaches, holding out his hand for a shake.

  “Forget that, boy,” Roy says, grabbing him in a warm hug too.

  May has already moved off and is approaching me. “Josie, ya better get down here right this instant,” she exclaims. I oblige, and as she hugs me, she says, “Thank you.”

  I pull back and look to her with furrowed brows. “For?”

  She tsks. “For makin’ sure my family was safe. All of ‘em.” Her eyes are so sincere that I don’t have the heart to tell her that it was all our fault for being here in the first place. While she don’t see that as dangerous, me and Nathan know all too well how we risk ‘em every time we come here. That’s why, this time, we’ll be gone ‘fore nightfall.

  Instead, I smile and say, “I’d do anythin’ for this family.”

  Her eyes scan past me and land on Minnie and Levi, who’s sitting quietly on they horses behind me. “Aunt May, Uncle Roy, this here’s Minnie and that one’s Levi. They saved our asses a few weeks back.” I point ‘em out as I motion for ‘em to join us.

  “Anybody who helped my family is welcome here,” May says as she greets ‘em both with a smile and the same goes for Roy. Both of ‘em just as warm and welcoming as they can be. I’m so proud to call ‘em family.

  “Where ya off to,” Nathan asks, coming over and placing his hand on my back.

  “Oh, no.” May gasps and looks to Roy. “What we gone do?”

  Roy frowns and grabs her hand. “We ain’t got no choice but go, May. That foal is stuck in the birth canal.”

  She nods and turns her sad eyes back to Nathan and me. “Sorry, we headin’ out to help deliver a foal. Y’all gone be ‘round when we get back, right?” Her eyes are hopeful, and all I can do is pray they can make it fast.

  My outlaw’s shoulders slump. “We pullin’ out at nightfall.” When she goes to open her mouth, he stops her. “Sorry, Aunt May, but we can’t risk it. Every time we come here, we bring bad news. It ain’t happenin’ this time.” His voice and face stay firm.

  Roy steps forward and grasps his shoulder. “We understand, Nathan, and we appreciate it. We’ll do our best to make it back before sundown.”

  “Good.” Nathan smiles. “Now get goin’ so ya can.” With quick hugs for all, they go their way, and we go ours, right on down to Birdie and Art’s place.

  Turns out, Art’s out on the ranch working, but that don’t stop Birdie from running down ‘em steps so fast when she sees us a coming. I smile so huge and dismount to greet her. Only, when my arms go ‘round her, and my body comes up flush, I feel it. A small bump at her midsection.

  I pull back with wide, happy eyes. “Congrats, Birdie.”

  I’m so excited. I pull her in again and hug her tight. A bit of melancholy in my touch ‘cause I know it may be a while before I see this one. These are the drawbacks of my life; I glance at Nathan watching us, the only drawbacks, though. My outlaw makes me happy in every other way.

  When we done, she finally hugs Nathan, and then Minnie and Levi get the introductions. She takes right to ‘em, and that’s how I know for sure we done picked up a good pair. Birdie has a knack for knowing who’s worthy of her trust and who ain’t.

  We follow her to the steps where Emma, Lil Art, and Lil Nate are all clamoring for attention too. It’s Emma that makes my heart crack a little when she hugs her Uncle Nathan tight and tells him how glad she is that her Ma and Aunt Josie saved him from that nasty man.

  Birdie feeds us a good lunch, and we chat and hang around, waiting for Art to come in and hopefully for Roy and May to make it back, too. We want to tell ‘em of our future plans all at once.

  But Birdie’s a bright one, and when she gets me alone in the kitchen, she asks, “What’s goin’ on, Josie?”

  I sigh and turn to her. “We headed to Nevada.”

  She shrugs. “And?”

  “Well,” I start, fidgeting under her stare. “First, we got a bank heist to take care of. But then we gone explore out that way some. See what else is out there.”

  “Okay,” she says lightly. “So, you’ll be gone for a little longer this time.”

  I shake my head. “No … yes … I don’t know what to say, Birdie.” I look to the floor. “I ain’t sure we comin’ back.”

  When I don’t hear nothing after a minute, I look up. Her face is pale as she stares at me, shock written over her features. “Say something, Birdie.”

  She crosses her arms and turns to stare out the window. “What you want me to say? That I’m happy ya gone run off? That I won’t worry about ya? That I won’t miss ya?”

  I approach her and wrap my arms around her. “I’m sorry, Birdie. I’m gone miss you, too, so much. But, what if, what if we get there and learn we ain’t that big a deal in Nevada? What if we learn we might could have an almost normal life out there somewhere other than in the Territory of Arizona?”

  She sniffs and wipes at the tears flowing down her cheeks ‘fore turning to me and saying, “I don’t know how a bank heist is gone play into that theory”—she smirks—“but if you think you can go somewhere and leave all this outlaw stuff behind, then who am I to question it?”

  I hug her hard. “I love you, Birdie. Never change. Promise me.”

  She snorts. “Not a problem. Now, let’s get in here and figure out how we gone communicate, ‘cause ain’t no way you cuttin’ me out ya lives.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  And we do.

  We make a plan to stay in touch with telegrams and mail and alias names.

  When Art finally makes it in, he’s as happy as his wife to see us again. And when May and Roy join us for supper, we fill ‘em all in on where we headed and our new plan to keep in touch.

  Our goodbye is filled with hugs and warm tears.

  But we leave there knowing that we’re loved.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The Stakeout

  NATHAN

  After we pull out from Thomas Farm, we head west toward the state of Nevada and then north toward Reno. Leaving my family behind is hard to do, but I got to think of their safety and Josie’s. With us around, there’s always a chance they’ll get caught up in my mess. And I done gone too far to ever consider turning back now.

  As for Josie, she’s all in, no doubt about that, but I been thinking, and I’m hoping I can find us a different life one day. A life where she ain’t got to kill to protect me. A life where she can sleep in a bed every night and not have to keep her double barrel on constant stand-by.

  Not sure how I’m gone make it happen yet, but in my mind, that’s my new goal. I intend to marry Josie and live a long, happy, crime-free life with her, and ain’t no way that’ll happen as outlaws always on the run. I’m just gone have to figure out another way.

  And soon.

  Wanting to keep our journey as hush-hush as possible, we make our camp under the stars every night. We don’t know what it’s gone be like for us in Nevada. Are we famous outlaws there too? Have people never heard of us? Either way, the stint at the bank ain’t gone help none, but I’m pretty sure we’ll keep moving when that’s done anyway.

  “What’s goin’ on in that pretty head, Outlaw?” Josie asks, riding up close beside me.

  I shake my thoughts off and give her a side-eye. “You always know, don’t ya?”

  “Course I do. It’s plain as the nose on ya face,” she responds with a wink.

  I chuckle and shake my head. “Just thinkin’ about what’s next. Ya know, after the bank heist.”

  “Ahh,” she says, giving me a knowing look. “What ya want to be next?”

  I scan my eyes over our surroundings, giving her question some real thought ‘fore meeting her eyes again. “Well, I’d like
to make ya Mrs. Outlaw, except, not really.”

  Her eyes draw down into slits. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

  I heave a deep sigh and pull on Arrow’s reins to bring him to a stop. Course she stops right side me. “It just means I want to marry you more than anythin’, but I don’t want ya to have to live like an outlaw.”

  She crosses her arms with a huff. “Ain’t we done discussed this over and over?”

  I hold my hand up in an attempt to soothe her ruffled feathers. “That ain’t what I mean at all, Cowgirl. Ya fit perfectly in this life, and I love ya to pieces for it, but it’s me.” I tap my fingers on my chest. “I want to be able to settle us down somewhere safe and happy. Not just for you but for the both of us. Sleepin’ in a bed every night, Arrow and Star out in the stables, no fear of gunslingers or lawmen showin’ up tryin’ to take us in.”

  She studies me for a moment before nodding softly. “Kay, Outlaw, if that’s what ya want then let’s do it. After this bank heist, let’s get married and find that place where we can live quietly.”

  My lips turn up at the corners, and I reach for her hand. “Are ya sure ya okay with that?”

  She rolls her eyes and squeezes my hand tighter. “Outlaw, I was livin’ a quiet life ‘fore ya barged in and turned my world upside down,” she says easily. “But here’s the thing, it’s bein’ with you that makes me happy, not all this outlaw business … though sometimes, it is fun to let loose.”

  “Then it’s a date,” I say, my smile wide. “I’m gone make an honest woman out of my cowgirl, and I’m gone do it soon.”

  “Can’t wait.” She smirks.

  “While this is all lovely, you could a called us to a halt,” Levi breaks in. “We was way down the trail ‘fore we realized ya wasn’t with us anymore.”

  Josie giggles and turns her sparkling eyes to our posse. “Sorry, Levi, Minnie. We was just workin’ on a plan.”

  “I thought we had a plan already,” Piano Girl says, looking at Josie with furrowed brows.

  Josie waves her off. “We do. We was just plannin’ what comes after.”

  “Care to fill us in?” Levi asks, his curious eyes glancing between the two of us.

  I shrug. “Sure, let’s find somewhere to set up camp, and we’ll let ya in on what we done decided.”

  Turns out, Reno knows all about the Outlaw Nathan King and his sidekick Josie, but what’s more, they even know ‘bout Baby Face and Piano Girl, too. Not their names or who they are, but they know we done collected two more members.

  So, to keep our presence on the down-low, we stay on the outskirts of town and let Levi do most of the footwork. He moseys into town every evening to take a look around and learn the schedule of the bank.

  Piano Girl hangs back, weary of running into Head Whore. That’d blow up our whole plan. Sure, she’s seen Levi before, but only to book him into Piano Girl’s room. Next thing she knows, they gone.

  The sun’s already set and the fire’s just starting to roar when we hear the hoofbeats approaching. I give Piano Girl a nod to go make sure it’s Baby Face, and then I turn to Josie, motioning for her to set the pot of beans over the flames.

  After she does, she makes herself at home, right where she belongs, nestled between my legs. “You think we gone have enough info on the bank after tonight?”

  “Let’s see what Baby Face has to say.” I motion to where he’s tying his horse. “Hopefully, we can get a plan together and be done. I don’t know ‘bout you, but I’m ready for what comes next.” I close my arms ‘round her and pull her back against my chest.

  She sighs that content, happy sigh. “I’m so ready, Outlaw. Ya think our plan’s gone work?”

  “I think so,” I try to assure her. “Especially after this bank heist. Everyone will know exactly who our posse members are. If Baby Face and Piano Girl head to Mexico, making sure to be seen here and there, our path north ought to be clear, long as we stay out of sight.”

  “How we gone ever find ‘em again, though?” she asks, worrying her bottom lip. “What if they get caught? I don’t want ‘em payin’ for our crimes.”

  “Now, don’t ya be worryin’ ‘bout us, Miss Josie,” Levi says, taking a seat across from us and pulling Piano Girl down with him. “We’ll owe you after this heist, and no way we ain’t gone repay ya.”

  Josie shakes her head. “I just wish there was another way. I wish ya could come with us even.”

  Piano Girl clears her throat. “We’ll find out where ya end up from Roy and May, and we can make our way up and join ya … after we make sure ya trail leads to Mexico that is.” She gives Josie a pointed look.

  My cowgirl studies the both of ‘em for a minute without saying anything, then with a small nod, she says, “Okay.” After a deep breath, she continues, “Get anythin’ new today Levi?”

  He nods. “Sure did, ma’am.”

  I sit up straighter and lean my head beside Josie’s, curious now. “Yeah?”

  “Wait,” Josie says, halting the conversation. “Let’s all get some beans, and we can discuss it while we eat.” She starts passing out tin cups while I ponder what Baby Face has to share.

  With everybody settled with their food, Baby Face begins, “You know I been seein’ that whore comin’ into the bank every evenin’?” At our nods, he continues, “Well, today I decided to wait and follow her to see what else she’s up to.” He chuckles in that not so nice way. “Turns out, I should a stayed ‘fore now.”

  My brows rise, and I swallow my beans. “Why’s that?”

  He smirks in the firelight. “See, the bank closed, and she was still in there. I watched and watched, and everybody left, but no whore. Finally, over an hour later, guess who comes sashayin’ out?” It’s a rhetorical question ‘cause he keeps on going. “Her and the bank manager. They was a laughin’ and jokin’, and he walked her all the way back to her brothel, even left her with a kiss to the cheek.”

  “So they got a thing goin’?” Cowgirl asks, more interested now than ever.

  “Seems so,” Baby Face responds. “Looks to me like we can kill two birds with one stone if we time it just right. We can take her down a notch while she watches.”

  “How we gone get into the bank after it’s locked, though?” I ask ‘cause we was just gone bust in at closing time.

  Piano Girl smiles wide. “Livin’ in a whore house might’ve taught me a thing or two. I can get us in just using a hair pin.”

  Josie laughs loud at that. “Shoot yeah, Minnie. Atta, girl.” She gets up and grabs our empty cups and heads down toward the water to clean ‘em. Piano Girl follows suit.

  I chuckle and shake my head. “We got some women, don’t we?”

  “Don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trade mine for anythin’,” Baby Face agrees.

  I feel somber thinking ‘bout leaving ‘em behind so we can make our getaway. “How ‘bout we stop at the first chapel we can find so Josie and me can get married. I want you and Piano Girl there,” I suggest sincerely.

  He smiles. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, long as that’s Miss Josie’s wishes, too.”

  “Ya think I’d suggest it if it weren't?” I let out a laugh. “She’d skin my hide.”

  He laughs right along with me.

  And we still laughing when the women make their way back to the fire. “What’s so funny ‘round here?” Josie asks, looking between the two of us.

  I pull her down back between my legs. “I asked Baby Face to follow us to the first chapel we see so they can be there when we marry,” I explain.

  She turns to look at me, her face lit by the fire, a wrinkle between her brows. “How’s that funny again?”

  “Oh.” I laugh. “He thought I was askin’ somethin’ you hadn’t approved of.”

  She snickers and smacks me on the chest. “I ain’t that bad.”

  I catch her hand. “You ain’t bad at all. But I ain’t dumb either.” I place a kiss on her palm and pull her close. “I love you, Cowgirl, just like ya ar
e. Don’t ever change.” I press my lips to hers softly, reveling in the feel of her against me.

  It’s been too long, I need to be with my women.

  Throats clear, and I pull back begrudgingly.

  Soon, I promise myself.

  As man and wife.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The Heist

  NATHAN

  As the sun fades over the horizon, me and the posse are keeping close eye on the bank while attempting to remain as hidden as possible. Course everyone’s gone know who’s responsible after it’s over, but for now, we keeping a low profile.

  Baby Face is closest, and me and my cowgirl are on the outskirts of town with Minnie just a waiting on the flash of his mirror. Piano Girl has her hairpin in hand, and as soon as we get the signal, she’s gone move in while me and Josie mosey ‘round to the rear of the bank.

  “Minnie ya sure ya gone be able to get that door open?” Josie asks for the tenth time since we been sitting here. It basically all hinges on that one fact.

  Piano Girl huffs. “I done told y’all over and over that it ain’t gone be a problem. Just trust me on this.”

  “No need to be snippy,” Cowgirl snaps. “You know it’s all our hides on the line if ya can’t.”

  “And I done said—”

  “Now hold it just a gosh darn minute,” I interrupt, holding my hands up to hush ‘em both. “We got enough to worry about, and you two arguing ain’t gone help us none.” I turn to Josie. “Cowgirl, I know ya just worried, but we gone have to trust Piano Girl to do what she says. Besides, she’s the one who wants this taken care of the most.”

  “I know, Outlaw,” she says, and her shoulders drop from their defensive position. “But we got a lot more to lose than them.”

  “Josie,” Piano Girl says softly. “I’d never put ya at risk like that. Okay? I promise I can get that door open.”