“I guess you could holler for help?”
“And be robbed of the chance of helping out a pretty lady?”
He blushed red and smiled. Gemma grinned back.
“I’m most obliged, good sir.”
“If you could just tie me up and make it look like I was overcome by a gang of horse thieves, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing.” Gemma caught the shirt he threw at her and ducked behind some hay bales. A pair of pants landed on her head a moment later and then two boots flew in her direction. She caught them both and shoved them on her feet; surprised they actually fit. Luck was usually not this forthcoming.
Fully attired, she went about tying up the boy, making sure the ropes wouldn’t rub his bare skin too harshly. Stepping back, she eyed up the poor kid in nothing but his drawers and apologized.
“You have kind eyes. I figure you’re doing this for a good reason.”
“A very good reason.” She nodded with a smile.
Taking a step towards him, she reached for his hat then took a moment to place a long and gratifying kiss on his stunned lips.
She hoisted herself onto the horse and tipped her hat to the boy.
“I won’t forget you.”
“Neither will I.” He sent her a stunning smile, which she stored away in her memory banks. She grabbed the reins of the second horse and kicked her own into action.
Time was now against her. It wouldn’t take long for the boy to be found tied up in the barn and for a hot pursuit to follow. Steering the horses into an outcrop of trees, she tied them securely and decided to go the rest of the way on foot. The jog into town only took five minutes, but she was pouring sweat by the time she arrived. Pulling in breaths of air, she slowed her heart rate and approached what looked to be the jailhouse. Moulding herself to the outer wall, she slinked along the bricks and crouched just beneath the bars, listening for any talk of the new prisoner. She could hear some muffled voices from within, but nothing substantial enough to confirm Coyote’s presence.
She bit the inside of her cheek as she contemplated her next move. The only way to truly know was to get inside. Grabbing her hair up, she quickly braided it and shoved it beneath her hat.
What does Dom say? It’s all about confidence, right?
Drawing her body tall, she strutted around the building, sauntering up the stairs and over the wooden veranda. A young woman with a pink bonnet and a sultry gleam in her eye shot Gemma a seductive smile. Controlling her urge to wince, she tipped her hat genially and thanked her lucky stars she had a woman fooled about her gender.
This just might work.
Pushing open the door of the Sheriff’s office with force, she wandered in and surveyed the space. Sitting with his ankles crossed on the desk, was a man who had obviously been roped in as deputy, which meant the Sheriff was not in. Gemma swaggered towards the fresh-faced boy.
“Can I help you?” His tough façade was transparent. The man looked to be Gemma’s age and way out of his league.
Gemma kept her hat low over her eyes and approached the desk in silence, continuing to assess her surroundings.
The desk was on the diagonal, taking up a large portion of the room and facing the door. Behind it was a wooden filing cabinet and another cupboard that looked as though it might house a shotgun or two. The back of the room was taken up with a large archway that Gemma ascertained must lead to the cells. She could see a few metal bars peeking out from around the corner.
“I hear you got yourself a new prisoner.” Gemma kept her voice gruff and drawly.
“That’s right.” The young man puffed out his chest with pride. “Back there is the Coyote.”
Gemma snorted, trying to sound unimpressed in a masculine kind of way. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Well, Sheriff says no visitors, so you’re plain outta luck, mister.”
With a swift move, she brought her foot up on the desk with a bang, making the deputy flinch and drop his feet. Leaning forward, she kept her face shadowed and her voice vicious.
“I wasn’t asking permission. I wanna see the Coyote and I wanna see ‘im now.”
The young man’s eyes jittered from side to side as he tried to weigh up his opponent. The longer he sat judging, the quicker Gemma felt her loss of power. His eyes were narrowing as he leaned closer towards her, no doubt sensing an air of femininity. Stealing her nerves, she stood tall and came around the desk. With one swift punch, she had the man’s head lolling backwards before landing with a plop on the desk.
“Sorry,” she whispered into his ear as she nimbly extracted the key from his limp fingers.
Rushing through the archway, she stopped short at the cell door, finding herself face to face with an ugly man. His thick beard was matted with sweat and his grimy skin looked in desperate need of cleansing. Worse still was the acidic anger emanating from him. Gemma was surprised the cell bars weren’t melting.
“I know you! You’re one of them that turned me in!”
“Yeah, well I’m here to get you out.” Her fingers shook as she wrestled with the keys, feeling the weight of her plan beginning to unfold. When she’d talked about it with Gabe, they had mentioned scouting out the place in the afternoon and sneaking in at night, but with one tied up boy and one knocked out deputy, she didn’t really have time to do that anymore.
Finally fitting the right key into the lock, she heard the metal clunk with satisfaction and threw back the bars. Coyote stepped past her and headed for the archway.
“You got some kind of plan here, sweetheart?”
“Of course I do! The horses are just a mile out of town.”
He twirled on his spot and grabbed her collar, nearly lifting her feet from the floor. “You expecting me to run a mile before even getting to a horse?”
Gemma made her gaze steely as she eyed him. “I’m expecting you to be grateful that I’m risking my ass to free you.”
She sent a short punch into his arm that had him dropping her with a wince.
He grabbed his bicep and looked ready to verbally rip into her, but he obviously changed his mind as she walked straight past him to peek out the window.
“All we need to do is get around this building unnoticed and just pray the Sheriff doesn’t come back anytime soon.” She turned to make sure the man was listening and was annoyed to find him around the back of the desk, pulling out a shotgun.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Just making sure I get free this time.”
Rushing around the desk, she made a grab for the gun and wanted to swear when he ripped it from her reach.
“You’re not killing anyone, do you understand me?”
“Look lady, I’m grateful you got me out of the cell and all, but I don’t need your help anymore and I’ll be damned if I’ll let some woman tell me what to do!”
Gemma’s nostrils flared. Conjuring images of her mother when pissed off, she stood tall and placed her hands on her hips.
“Coyote, I mean it. If you don’t put that gun away, I’ll wrestle you back into that cell and you can just forget about your freedom.”
She knew the threat was empty. That was the last thing she wanted. But she wouldn’t have him killing anyone and if she could stamp her authority on the situation now, then they might just make it.
His laugh was rich and toxic. “Just try it, sweetheart.”
She tipped her head to the side and quirked her eyebrow. Placing a sweet smile on her lips, she stepped towards him and shot out a powerful right jab. As his head rocked back, she grabbed his collar and pulled him towards her, bringing her knee up to his stomach with a swiftness that had him gasping for air.
Bending down to his current ear level, she made her voice a menacing whisper. “They’re going to hang you in less than a week. You’re gonna dangle from a rope and kick and struggle until there is no life left in you… or your neck might snap. Either way, you’re dead. Now you can either stand your sorry
ass up, put that gun away and come with me or you can die, because don’t think for a second that you can make it out of this on your own.”
Moving away from him with a disgusted snort, she went and stood by the door. The anger that radiated from the outlaw was so potent it nearly made Gemma’s eyes water. If it hadn’t been for images of sweet Harrison filling her mind, she may have suffocated from the black stench rippling in the air.
For a moment, she thought he might actually use the gun on her as he let it jiggle in his fingers, but a second later he was knocking out the rousing deputy with its butt then dropping it next to the fallen man.
“Let’s get the hell outta here.”
She swung back the door and they edged around the building without incident. They jogged in silence. Gemma could see the humiliation of what she had done to him in his set jaw, but she refused to apologize. She’d probably just saved his life!
They reached the horses without any trouble. Untying hers, she placed her foot in the stirrup and turned to tell Coyote where they were headed.
What she got was a metal fist in the face that had her head rebounding off the saddle and landing in the dust.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Canon City, Colorado – 1885 AD
Gemma winced as she lifted her head and coughed. Her cheekbone burned and her head was beginning to pound. Standing on shaky limbs she watched Coyote and his horse barreling north.
Screaming the worst expletive she could think of. She gritted her teeth and jumped into the saddle cursing men and everything they stood for.
With a quick hiss, she set her horse galloping, pushing it to its limit until Coyote came back into her sites. He noticed her approach, but there was nothing he could do about it. Gemma was fueled by pure rage and desperation.
Bringing her horse up beside him, she reached for the reins and was shoved away. She tried again, using her shoulder to push Coyote off balance. Her horse complained and tried to veer away, but Gemma forced it back to Coyote’s side, bringing her boot down on his leg.
He let out an indignant wail.
“Stop the horse!”
“Not on your life, sweetheart. I got places to be.”
“Yes, you do, but you’re going the wrong way, you arrogant prick!” Gemma followed her insult with a solid fist to the face. Much to her pleasure, it connected well. She relished the sting in her knuckles as Coyote pulled his horse to a stop. She yanked on the reins and rounded back to where he stood.
Her insides were seething as she approached him, her mouth filled with black words. She didn’t have a chance to utter any of them as Coyote let out a war cry and spurted towards her. She fell off her horse with a thud.
He tried another attempt at escape, but Gemma leaped from the ground and grabbed his ankle. With a burst of strength that came from a stubborn tenacity to win, Gemma tugged. A cloud of dust jumped into the air around Coyote’s fallen body.
Gemma stepped back as he rose, crouching into a fighting stance. If he looked pissed before, he looked ready to kill her now.
His boots crunched over gravel as he approached her.
“Now look here, I appreciate you breaking me out and all, but I got my plans and you’re now getting in the way of that.”
“No, I’m trying to save your life. I got plans too and you need to follow ‘em.”
“I ain’t taking orders from some girl.”
“You’ll take my orders or I’ll knock you out and drag you where I want you to go.”
His eyes were molten as they bore into her. She lifted her chin and put on the most defiant face she could. Coyote’s fists bunched as he stepped towards her. Gemma resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
His blows came hard and fast, but she blocked each one and had him eating dust within minutes. Jabbing her knee between his shoulder blades, she yanked his arms behind his back. He grunted at the pain.
“It doesn’t have to be like this. I’m trying to help you.” Gemma felt her voice starting to waver and forced some steel into her tone. “Now get your ass into that saddle and stop wasting my time.”
She pushed his face into the dirt as she rose. All she could hope for was compliance, she wasn’t sure she had enough fight left to deal with anything else. An image of Harrison coursed through her brain. Her jaw locked as she watched Coyote rise and walk towards his horse. She’d find it somehow. If he tried to bail on her again, she’d tie his hands and make him walk the entire way to damn Colorado Springs.
She was about to say so when the sound of approaching horses made Gemma’s heart leap into her throat. Coyote whipped around to glance at her and she spotted a flash of fear. Jumping into her saddle, she grabbed the reins and looked over her shoulder.
“Let’s go!”
“Where’re we going?”
“Colorado Springs,” she hollered over her shoulder. “We need to get there tonight.”
Coyote galloped up beside her as they raced over the dusty roads.
The hoof beats behind them grew louder. Gemma nipped a glance over her shoulder. The Sheriff and two riders were converging on them with speed. She spurred her horse on and was pleased to feel Coyote keeping time with her.
Veering their horses towards the river, Gemma felt a spurt of hope as they lost sight of their pursuers. A searing pain melting through her shoulder made that hope dwindle. She let out a sharp cry and grabbed at the fire. Her hand was red with blood when she pulled it back for inspection.
“Is it bad?”
“I’ll live, but I don’t know if we can outrun these guys. We need a diversion.”
Pulling on her horse’s reins, she steered it into the gorge and drew it to a halt. Coyote skidded up beside her.
“What are you doing?”
“Give me your hat and jacket.” Gemma whipped off her hat and passed it to him. “Now listen carefully. I need you get to a brothel in Colorado Springs. There’s woman there named Mary. You need to bed her tonight, you understand me?”
“Why are you talking crazy?”
“Just listen!” Gemma grabbed his coat and tried not to wince as she pulled it over her wounded shoulder. “Find Mary! Bed her, fall in love with her, marry her and move to Montana.”
“But what-”
“Don’t ask any questions! Just promise me you’ll do that, okay?”
He looked at her with dubious eyes as his horse jittered beneath him.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to ride across their path and lead them away from you.”
“It’s suicide.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just get to Mary tonight. That’s all I need you to do.”
For the first time since meeting him, she saw his eyes soften with what looked like admiration.
She shot him a fleeting smile as she collected up the reins. “No more stealing, William. You’re going to be a good man and you’re going to have an amazing family.”
She didn’t stick around long enough to see his stunned expression. Instead she road towards the Sheriff, gifting herself one last glance over her shoulder to make sure William Granger was heading the right way. All she saw was dust.
With a triumphant smile she turned back to her task and within moments was shooting past the three horsemen.
She nearly laughed when she heard the Sheriff yell, “It’s Coyote! After ‘im!”
With a forceful kick, she spurred the horse around the corner and out of line of another bullet. Then she vanished, hopefully leaving behind three bewildered men who would spend the next few years trying to fathom what had happened to the infamous bank robber.
Chapter Thirty
St Augustine, Florida – 2011 AD
Gemma winced as she re-adjusted her body to the present day. Reaching for her shoulder, she squeezed the wound and felt tears forming.
“Don’t touch it,” Gabe’s firm voice was balm in itself.
She opened her eyes and looked at his pinched expression.
“It’s fine. I
think it just nicked me.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Placing a hand under her arm, he gently hauled her towards his caravan and within minutes had a towel wrapped around her body and her bottom nestled into the bench seat.
With tender fingers, he cleaned and mended her wound while she rushed through the story. Her leg jiggled beneath the table as her thoughts raced to Harrison.
“You probably made the boy’s dreams come true, getting his first kiss from some mysterious woman.”
Gemma grinned with a blush. Glancing down at her shoulder, she watched him apply the last band-aid.
“These butterfly stitches should be enough to hold it. Thankfully the rapid healing will close up that wound nice and quick, but you’ll still be left with a scar.”
“That’s okay.” Gemma reached for her shirt and pulled it over her head, trying to hide the pain of the movement.
Gabe’s eyes narrowed.
“Hey, I’m still in one piece, aren’t I?”
He snorted and shook his head with a smile as he tipped her head to examine the bruising around her eye. “Do you think it worked?”
“I’m not sure.” Gemma’s stomach ignited with jitters. “I got him out of town, but not all the way to Colorado Springs. He may not have made it to Mary, I just… I just don’t know.”
Gabe placed his hand on Gemma’s head and ran his palm over her shiny locks. “There’s only one way to find out, kid.”
“Yeah.” Gemma gave him a nervous smile and bit the inside of her cheek.
Holding out her bike key, he let it dangle in front of her for a moment. “If I don’t hear from you in half an hour, I’ll know it’s worked.”
Wrapping her fingers around the key, she stayed where she was and looked at him. “Even if it hasn’t worked, I won’t regret any of this summer.”
Gabe’s eyes slicked over with an instant sheen. Blinking rapidly, he swallowed with a silent nod of thanks.
Placing a sweet kiss on his cheek, she slid past him and walked for the door, stopping one last time before leaving.
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