Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book

by Sylvia McDaniel

  “No, they didn’t, but how long are you going to use that as an excuse for your own life? I’m not saying it wasn’t bad; it was horrible. But it’s time to move past your father’s death and show what kind of man you’re going to be. The choice is up to you. You’re being given a second chance. Use it wisely.”

  Another awkward silence filled the trail, and Zach realized that Mexico might be a quiet trip—a trip that either killed him or Simon.

  “If this is going to work, then you have to let me be myself,” Simon said.

  “I agree,” Zach replied, thinking they hadn’t even made it one day and already they were at odds. What would the next month be like? “But I’m not living my life the way you’re living now. Why should my morals become like yours when you’ve done nothing but get into trouble? Are you going to change?”

  Simon shrugged. “I could, but I don’t like to work. It’s labor and drudgery. I could be playing cards or drinking. Maybe we should open a whorehouse? You know run a brothel where cowboys can come across the border for their pleasures. We’d have girls always available for a randy cowboy. The girls would do the work, and we’d be making the money.”

  Zach shook his head. The boy told him what he wanted to hear, but gave it his own twist at the end that left Zach wary of what his intentions really were. Before the words left Zach’s mouth, Simon was already thinking of his response and how to make it fit his needs so he got his way. Why did Zach think Simon would ever change? “I don’t want to run a whorehouse.”

  “I don’t want to work,” Simon replied.

  With every mile, Zach realized more and more what he’d given up. With every word out of Simon’s mouth, he understood what he’d gotten himself into. How had he been so blind to his brother’s faults? Had he just wanted to remember the loving little boy Simon had once been? Was there a chance he would never change? Would he drag Zach down with him?

  “I need to tell you I spoke to the widow Lowell.”

  Simon turned in his saddle and frowned at Zach. “I should have killed that bitch.”

  Zach flinched at the venom in his brother’s words. “She told me the truth.”

  Simon shrugged, clearly not caring that he’d left a woman and her kids without their husband and father. “Her truth and my truth probably don’t agree.”

  “You killed that man, Simon.” There, it was out in the open. Now there was no more skirting around the issue that was sending them to Mexico.

  “We’re going to Mexico so we can start again. Leave the past in Texas,” Simon said, his voice cold, his eyes deadly.

  A chill spiraled down Zach’s spine and he shuddered. Simon’s attitude seemed careless, like he felt no responsibility for taking another person’s life. That he’d robbed this man of watching his children mature into adults, grandchildren, birthdays, holidays, and the years of growing old.

  “Is this the first man you’ve killed?”

  Simon shook his head, but didn’t look at Zach. He stared straight ahead. “Why all the questions? What does it matter how many men I may have killed? We’re going to Mexico to start over. Again, I recommend you leave the past here in Texas.”

  With startling clarity, Zach realized James Lowell was not the first man his brother had killed. There had been others Simon had gotten away with murdering. The shocker for Simon was that this widow had shouted from the rooftops the name of the man who’d murdered her husband. She’d stood up and drawn attention, until the law had been forced to charge Simon with killing her man.

  How many other widows were there who had quietly shrunk away letting the young man get away with the sacrifice of their husband and fathers?

  The sun was beginning to descend in the west, and Zach felt like the clouds in his mind were being burned away with the setting rays. Suddenly, he was beginning to see what the future would look like with Simon, and frankly, it wasn’t as rosy as it had first appeared.

  Some people didn’t deserve a second chance.

  “I think it’s time we stopped and setup camp.”

  Simon glanced at him. “But it’s just now getting dark. We could probably continue riding and make it to Mom’s.”

  Zach was worn out. The day had drained him, and he couldn’t let Simon arrive at their mother’s.

  “No way. We’re still a good three hours away, and besides, we could use the rest. The horses are beginning to tire, and we’re going to need to take good care of them to reach Mexico.”

  Simon shrugged and started to look around. “There’s a place under that tree that’s off the trail. Let’s set up there.”

  Part of Zach knew exactly what he was doing, and some part of him still refused to acknowledge what his subconscious was screaming at him.

  Chapter 14

  “They’re not moving. It looks like they’re asleep,” Annabelle whispered in the darkness. The sisters had caught up with Zach and Simon’s camp over an hour ago, and Meg was just waiting for them to fall into a deep, deep sleep before they attacked.

  Their trail had been obvious, and Zach hadn’t tried to hide their camp. He’d had a blazing fire you could smell for over a mile, and the glow had been easy to locate. In some ways, it felt like he wanted them to find him.

  Meg pulled her hat down over her eyes and leaned back against her saddle, which was propped on the ground. “It’s not time, Annabelle. Close your eyes and get some rest. We’ll attack before dawn.”

  “I can’t sleep. I’m wound up tighter than a bucket in a well,” she said. “I just don’t want them to get away.”

  Though Meg was having the same problem, Annabelle wouldn’t get any sympathy from her. Her instincts were telling her to wait, and that’s what she was going to do.

  “They’re not going anywhere. Deep slow breaths,” Meg said, closing her eyes again.

  “How do you do this all the time? How do you stay so calm? Aren’t you afraid of being shot?” Annabelle asked.

  “Right now, I’m afraid you’re going to wear my ears out with your yammering.”

  Annabelle sighed and leaned her head against her knees. “Hmph. Sorry, but it’s my first time. Even Ruby is all laid out resting.”

  “She knows that it’s going to be a long day. And no, I don’t fear being shot. But I’m ready to end this career. It’s tiring.”

  At times like this, Meg thought about her dreams. Her dress shop. A husband and family of her own. Her wants and desires weren’t excessive. Just a chance for happiness doing something she loved. She feared she’d never have the opportunity.

  Annabelle stretched out beside Meg. “Do you remember Mom?”

  The question took Meg by surprise. She pushed back her hat and glanced at her sister in the dark. What had sparked this question?

  “Of course, I do,” Meg replied. “Why?”

  “I just keep thinking about the three of us and wondering when one of us is going to get married. We’re in our twenties. Most girls are married by now. Don’t you worry about never meeting the right man?”

  Zach’s face swam before her eyes, and Meg’s chest ached with a longing she’d never felt before. She’d given him every opportunity to show her he loved her and wanted her to be his wife. She was done. Seriously done, as in no more.

  “Are you worried about being alone?” Meg asked, wondering what had prompted Annabelle’s concern. She’d never been the one who openly wanted romance, but she was a woman.

  “Kind of.”

  Now more than ever, Meg could see the importance of finding the right man. The one who she dreamed about, who had the same wants and desires as her. Who woke up each morning and was happy she was there.

  “Don’t be. How many women get to live the life they want without a man telling them what to do? How many women our age don’t already have babies? We have to hang tough and find men who will love us for who we are. Not expect us to be wives they can boss around.”

  They lived their lives their way on their terms. Meg could never see herself bowing down to a man’s
wants. She hoped her sisters would never settle for anyone, unless they were absolutely certain he was the right man. And that advice went to her as well. Right now, she was certain Zach was not the man for her.

  “Don’t you want kids, Meg?” Annabelle asked.

  The thought of being pregnant right now with Zach’s baby thrilled and frightened her at the same time, even though now was not the time for children. “Someday. But first, I have to find a man who I would consider marrying.”

  With each beat of her heart, sorrow paralyzed her at the thought of Zach. There had never been another man she’d ever even considered besides Zach Gillespie. Once she opened her dress shop, maybe then she’d look around and see who else might be available. Or maybe she’d just send off for a mail-order husband. That’s what she could do. Man needed, please come, don’t expect to boss me around.

  But then again, who would want an independent thinking woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed in. Even a mail-order husband would have to learn, they were either a team or he was going home.

  Annabelle was quiet for a moment. “You’re done with Zach?”

  Meg thought about Zach and knew with certainty there was little hope for the two of them. He’d chosen what he wanted, and it wasn’t her. “I’d never marry a man who wasn’t on the right side of the law. Zach hasn’t proven to me he’s one of the good guys. He’s shown he could be persuaded to do wrong.”

  “But it’s his brother,” Annabelle said quietly.

  Yes, but family didn’t protect family forever. In order to belong to the clan, you needed to do what was right for the clan. “Remember that ham I stole when we were starving. How did you girls react? I think the only reason you didn’t turn me into the law was because Zach paid for the meat. I have no doubts neither one of you would ever be on the wrong side of the law. I need to know that about Zach.”

  Sadness crept over Meg, filling her with a feeling of ineptitude. Like a silly girl drunk on love, she’d believed in Zach right up until he’d disappeared with Simon. Then she’d known he would choose his brother over her. That was completely unacceptable.

  She pushed the pain deep inside her, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

  “This morning when we found the two of you together, he acted like he had every intention of meeting you in the café. With the way he looked at you, I believed he was in love with you. I should have made him marry you.”

  “No,” Meg said, shaking her head, her throat closing up tight. “I’d never force a man to marry me. Never.”

  Annabelle’s statement had hurt, rising up inside of Meg, crushing her chest, and making her breathing painful. Never had she ever felt so betrayed. So lost and alone. “Well, he certainly doesn’t appear forced or held hostage by his brother, does he?” Meg said, bitterness almost closing her throat.

  “No, but sometimes we make rash, foolish decisions and then regret them,” Annabelle whispered in the dark. “I’m not standing up for what he did. I’m just trying to understand him.”

  “Go to sleep, Annabelle,” Meg said sternly. She didn’t want to consider that Zach was regretting his decision. She didn’t want to feel any sympathy when she rode into his camp in the next few hours. She wanted to ride in with her heart filled with hatred, her soul seeking vengeance. She wanted him to feel busted up inside like she did.

  The moon rose high in the sky, and she slept fitfully until a coyote howled, the loneliness in his voice echoing through the prairie. Meg’s eyes popped open, and she knew the time had come for them to attack. Time to show Zach that he couldn’t deceive her and get away with the reckless abandon he’d discarded her heart.

  She shook Annabelle awake and then Ruby. Quietly, they packed up their bedrolls and saddled their horses.

  Meg checked her guns, found her rope, and nodded at Ruby. She was ready.

  “Ruby, you take Simon. Annabelle, you get his horse and saddle the animal. Zach is mine.”

  “Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Meg,” Ruby said quietly. “You still care about him even if he’s hurt you.”

  Shaking her head, Meg knew her sister was right, but there was still that part of her that burned with the need to retaliate. To get retribution. “You’re right. Never will I regret my actions of tonight.”

  They walked their horses the short distance to the men’s camp and staked them. Quiet as church mice, they crept in, their guns drawn and their ropes ready. Meg watched as Ruby, once again, put a gun to Simon’s head while she stood over Zach. He lay sleeping peacefully, his chest rising and falling in slumber. She picked up his gun that lay near his head. She stared at him for a moment longer. Then she pointed her gun at his privates.

  “Zach!” Simon screamed in the night.

  Ruby shoved her pistol in his ribs and yanked his arm behind his back, pulling the man roughly to his feet. “Shut up and get on your horse.”

  Zach sat up groggily, and Meg cocked her pistol. “One wrong move and I promise you, you’ll be a eunuch for the rest of your short life.”

  The way she felt right now, his life could end this very night. She should put a bullet in him, but she never would.

  He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “We’re back to this.”

  “You choose this path, cowboy, not me.”

  His eyes darted from her to Simon.

  “One wrong move and this time, I swear I will shoot you and walk away. I won’t stick around to play your nursemaid,” she threatened, her hands shaking with anger.

  He stretched and reached for his gun.

  “It’s not there. I have it, and no, you’re not getting it back.”

  “I don’t need my gun,” he said, slowly standing. “I guess you’re taking Simon.”

  “The girls have him on his horse and ready to go. Annabelle is tying him up even as we speak,” Meg said, her voice cold, her heart almost frozen. Her finger felt twitchy on the trigger.

  A laugh escaped from Zach’s throat. “We’re not making up?”

  “You know the answer to that one, cowboy. You owe me some answers to my questions. Careful how you answer as I’ve yet to decide if I’m going to let you live.” Her heart called out liar, but her head ignored the damaged organ.

  “Ask away. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  “Why did you tell me you’d meet me at the restaurant and then leave before I got there?” Of all the things he’d done, this one hurt the most. He’d been so caring, so loving the night before and then he’d just left her waiting for him to show up. Waiting for them to find Simon together.

  “Honestly, Meg, I had no intentions on leaving you this morning. Hell, I never wanted to pull out without you. But then Simon walked into the restaurant, and I knew if I was going to save him, it had to be right then. Because once your sisters arrived, he’d be in the county jail.”

  She didn’t say a word. He was right. Her sisters would have hauled Simon’s ass over to the sheriff. And in fact, she would have helped them.

  Zach took a step toward her. “I’ve been eaten up with guilt since I made that hasty decision to run out on you. All day, I’ve called myself every kind of fool for making the wrong decision.”

  She fired her gun right above his head, the sound echoing in the night air.

  Ruby came running toward her. “Is everything okay?”

  “Go away,” she said. How could he lie to her with such a sincere tone in his voice? It infuriated her since she was certain he didn’t mean a word of what he was saying.

  “Damn it, Meg. If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with. I feel bad enough as it is.”

  “Oh no, I want you to suffer the same way I’ve been hurting. I want you to know how it feels to think someone cares about you, and then he disappears. Do you know how badly my chest was aching from thinking our night together meant nothing to you? I have been a complete and utter fool to have trusted my heart with you, Zach Gillespie.”

  She watched as he ducked his head, his eyes closing before he raised th
em up and stared her straight in the face. “I’ve been confused. He’s my brother and I know he’s guilty. Worst of all, I threw away what we had together for a man who doesn’t know right from wrong. And I do. He wasn’t worth losing you over. I don’t blame you for being angry. I’ve been wrong.”

  Meg stopped and stared at him. This wasn’t what she expected, but could this just be another way Zach was manipulating her? Oh no, he wasn’t getting off this easy. His bailing on her had broken her trust, damaged her heart, and left her reeling. She’d fallen deeply in love with him, and he’d betrayed her.

  “Go ahead, he’s guilty. I won’t follow you. I won’t come and take him back. You’re actually doing me a huge favor by taking him in.” He reached down and picked up the rope and threw it to her. Then he held out his hands.

  She felt like he’d slapped her. He was telling her to take Simon. It seemed way too easy. Reaching down, she picked up the rope and wrapped it around his wrist, not tying the rope so tight that he couldn’t get out of it. For once, she wanted him to follow her. She wanted to see if he was lying to her yet again. All the fight seemed drained from Zach, like he’d given up.

  Stepping back, she admired her handiwork. It would take him a while to get out of the knots, but it was doable. “We’re leaving.”

  “I’ll see you back in Zenith,” he said.

  “Don’t come looking for me,” she replied, her heart breaking, tears threatening to spill. She turned and walked away. Zach seemed defeated. It seemed as if he were truly handing Simon over to her. And yet, that didn’t set well with her either.

  She crawled on her horse and gave the command. “Let’s ride.”

  As the sun began to rise, Simon started singing to them. At first it was ballads, and then he broke out into religious hymns. Maybe he knew he was getting closer and closer to when he would spend some time with God and he wanted to start practicing his religion now. But whatever it was, he was driving them crazy.

  “Simon! Enough,” Meg finally said as the sun burned away the clouds, warming up the sky.