He waited for a response. For some reason, he had expected tears or her to become agitated and yell and scream at him, but instead there was silence.
Raising up, he leaned over her. "Caroline?"
"Hmmm," she said drowsily. "Did you say something."
Well, crap, she'd been asleep.
"Goodnight," he said, knowing he would have a hard time sleeping. Too many troubling thoughts rumbled around in his head along with the fear of waking up to a gun in his face.
With a sigh, he tried to close his eyes. How foolish he'd been to sleep with this woman, because he didn't want to hurt Caroline. Or endanger her. Now it seemed he had accomplished both and yet he also didn't want to let her go.
Somehow soon he must walk away.
Before the sun rose, Caroline awoke to Trent saddling their horses.
"What are you doing?"
"Time to go."
"It's still dark," she replied, rolling over onto her side, ignoring the man.
Yesterday they rode until she was sore between her legs. The thought of spending another day in the saddle had her lingering in her blankets.
"We've got a two-hour head start on the man who wants to make you his. Let's get moving," he responded.
"Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you," she said, snuggling down deeper into the covers. What happened to her control? In the last twenty-four hours, Trent had asserted himself and there was no longer any hint of training - not that she believed for a second he needed any.
"No, we've got to stay together. Let's go," he commanded.
Glancing up at him, she stared. "What makes you so certain he's following us?"
"Men like him don't give up," he said. "Let's go."
How did he know this?
Slowly she rose from the ground, stood and stretched her arms toward the sky. "Thank you, Lord for the wonderful night of rest, and may the day's journey be safe. Amen."
When she turned, he was staring at her. "Didn't know you were religious."
"Don't you think praying is a good idea? Especially in our line of work."
Yes, she was including him because he might not be a bounty hunter, but being a criminal was even more dangerous. At least, she had the law on her side.
"Well, yes, I never thought about you."
Walking up to him. "I'm more than just a woman and a bounty hunter." With a smile, she cocked her head to the side. "Did you tell me something important last night?"
Right as she dozed off, she heard his voice in her dreams, but she couldn't remember what he said. The tone had been soothing, gentle, like he wanted her to understand and she wished she could, but she'd been exhausted.
Looking away, he sighed and then glanced back at her. "It wasn't important. Time to go."
"Can I at least relieve myself?"
"Only if you hurry."
Really not wanting to climb back on her horse and ride all day after they'd ridden most of the night, five steps outside their camp she quickly did her business.
As she adjusted her clothing, the sound of horses and riders reached her.
"Damn it, Smithy. In the darkness, I can't see their tracks any longer. Told you we needed to wait until the sun rose before we left."
Caroline's heart slammed into her chest, her blood racing. She froze, not moving, but listening.
The clip clop of their horses as they rode suddenly ceased.
"We've lost them."
"Are you sure?"
"No, I'm not certain about anything. But there are no fresh horse tracks that I can find in the darkness. We're going to have to wait until dawn before we go any farther."
The rustle of brush came from a few yards away and she wanted to scream. No, no, no, please tell her he didn't walk out in front of them.
"Hey, boys, you're getting started awfully early. Hell, the sun hasn't come up yet."
"I told you he was alive," Smithy said. "Damn shame he once belonged to the Jones Boys."
In her mind, Caroline cursed, her heart racing in her chest. All along, she'd known Trent was an outlaw, but she just hoped it would somehow go away. Oh no, he needed to confront them head on — alone.
Why hadn't the big louse waited for them to pass. What was he doing trying to do get himself killed? Moving as quietly and as quickly as possible, she moved to their camp and pulled out her Colts. If there was trouble, she needed to be prepared.
"No wonder you can't find his tracks. He's here."
"Where's the woman?" Smithy asked. "I've got a hankering that won't be denied."
Yeah, well once she got through with him, he wouldn't be hankering for a woman ever again.
"Like I told James, we parted ways the other night."
"Funny, the hotel told me you guys were sharing a room. Which will make it all the better when I take your woman from you."
Why did hotels think they could divulge information about their clientele? The temptation to return and make that clerk do the bullet dance was strong.
"Do you see her anywhere around here?"
"Haven't started looking," James said. "You came out of that grove of oak trees. Maybe we should check it out?"
"Go right ahead," he said. "Remember, my gun is pointed at your back and I won't hesitate to shoot you. In fact, my advice would be to mosey on down the road if you want to continue to breathe."
The two men looked at each other and laughed.
Trent was in trouble and she knew it.
"No," Smithy said, swinging his leg over his saddle. "Got's to find out if she is with you or not."
The outlaw moved toward the grove and in the darkness, she heard Trenton's gun hammer click. "Go any farther and you're a dead man."
"There are two of us and one of you. Your time is up. And this time, we're not leaving until your body’s cold," James said.
Caroline felt her chest tighten...this time? What could they be referring to? Somehow, Trent needed her help and she had an idea how.
Stepping into the clearing with her Colt's hidden in the folds of her skirt, she saw Trent frown. "Darlin’, breakfast is ready. Oh... your friends showed up. Well, good, they can join us for a bite to eat. Though I may have burned the bacon just a little. Come on, boys, breakfast is wasting."
With a whirl, she hoped and prayed they would follow her.
Smithy didn't hesitate, she almost didn't have enough time to hide before she greeted him with the largest stick she could swing.
With a whack, he landed on the ground. "Oopsies,"she said with a laugh and quickly slapped the handcuffs around his wrists before he became conscious again.
James was a little more hesitant. "Smithy?"
"Better hurry if you want any of this bacon. Smithy's gobbling it down," she encouraged, hoping he would take the bait. Couldn't they smell they had no bacon smell? Stupid is as stupid does.
The creak of the saddle, let her know he was coming to investigate his friend.
"My guns are drawn," he warned as she stepped in front of him effectively hiding Smithy from his view.
"Take a seat on the log and..." when he passed her, she hit him on the head.
Sometimes criminals were really stupid.
He fell to the ground, but it didn't knock him out. Shaking his head, he tried to rise, pulling his gun out. With a yank, she pulled the Colt from beneath her skirt and leveled it on the man. "Don't make me kill you."
"Frank, stop her," he said as he buckled down to his feet holding his head.
Trent came up behind him, grabbed his wrists and pulled them together, she handed him the cuffs making certain she kept her distance from James.
Staring up at Trent, she smiled. "You're right. The early riser just captured two worms. Never too early to catch wanted men with bounties on their heads."
Trent had never been more afraid as when he watched Caroline come around and face those two men. And when she invited them for breakfast, he knew she was up to something. But had been shocked when he saw Smithy lying on the ground unconscious and
James staggering like a drunk.
"Frank, this woman almost killed both of us," James said grimacing.
His head must be killing him and yet Trent didn't feel sorry for him one bit. Glancing at Caroline, her forehead puckered in a frown. James called him Frank, his outlaw name.
Now she would start putting the pieces together. How could he warn her not to call him Trent? How could he stop her without her realizing the truth? Even though he didn't want these men to know his real name, there was no preventing it. Regardless, he was screwed any direction.
"What are you going to do with us?" the outlaw asked.
"See if there's money on your heads," Caroline said, sliding her guns back in the holster as she buckled it around her waist. "Let's go."
Her demeanor was curt and to the point. Why did he get the feeling she was angry at him?
"What if we just left them tied up," Trent said not wanting to take them to a sheriff's office, because then he would also be in danger.
She gave him a glare that clearly said not going to happen.
"My job is what pays the bills. No, we're taking them in."
He glanced at James and shrugged his shoulders. "You heard the boss lady. She says we're going to collect."
Walking away, she went after their horses.
James spit a wad of spittle onto the ground and Trent turned to face him and put his fingers to his lips. As much as he hated the fact, he had to help these boys escape. They couldn't go to jail or he would go with them.
"Keep your mouth closed and trust me," Trent warned James who frowned at him.
Somehow he needed to release them, make it appear like an accident and then slip away before they came after him again. Yet, letting them go was an invitation for them to come after himself and Caroline again.
Still, it was better than sitting behind bars.
As she came back into the clearing with their horses, she gave him a less than friendly look. "Let's go."
Placing her boot up in the stirrup, she threw her leg over her horse's back and slid into the saddle.
Trent helped James into the saddle and then a groggy Smithy slide onto the back of his horse.
"Next stop, jail," she said, "where I will acquire the bounty."
Terrified, Trent didn't have any good options. What were his choices? Go to jail or face these boys, and in the process, Caroline possibly being harmed.
Chapter 12
Did men really believe she was so stupid? Sitting on her horse, she glanced at Trent wondering if he would ever tell her the truth. Didn't he realize she heard the name they called him? His outlaw name. The criminals confirmed that once he did indeed belong to that gang. Maybe not now, but clearly, he had ridden with them.
If she turned them in, Trent would also be arrested. Did she want him to go to jail?
Though they shared the most intimate act on earth, Trent told her very little about his past. But why should he? She tried to arrest him in Castle Gap when they first met. Doing her job, she should have taken him to another town where he would now be residing behind bars and her soul would still be intact.
Again, did she want him to serve time or possibly hang for his crimes whatever they were? Never had she felt more conflicted. And she didn't want to think about the feelings gathering around her heart like a storm building on the prairie.
Every day, this job seemed to become harder and harder, and part of her wanted to return home and consider marriage to the pig farmer. Her life would be boring, but with a roof over her head and plenty of food to eat. Gazing at the man riding beside her, she knew she would never marry Levy.
Not after how she felt about Trent.
She would never let Trent go to jail. As much as she didn't like his lifestyle, as much as she disagreed with his actions, she could not be the one to put him behind bars or die because of her. The thought terrified her.
Somehow she needed to let the prisoners go without him knowing she saved him. The notion of letting them loose to continue creating havoc left her insides recoiling. No way would she ever let these outlaws go. The gang would never leave them alone, but persist in hunting her and Trent until they killed or captured them.
That Smithy guy made her blood run cold and her stomach cringing with disgust.
There had to be another solution, but what?
Zenith. They must go to Zenith and Meg's husband, Zach. The local sheriff would help her. If anyone could assist her in learning the facts, it would be Zach.
"How many miles from Zenith are we?"
Trent turned and looked at her. "About a day's ride. Why?"
"Because that's where we're headed."
Zach would know what to do to aid Trent, but first he should come clean and tell her he'd ridden with the Jones Boys.
Riding into the town of Zenith, Trent was resigned to his fate. Prison. For being a member of the Jones Boys gang and there was nothing he could do. If he let the two members go free, they would harm Caroline and he wouldn't be here to stop them. By taking them to jail, they would be behind bars, but so would he.
Over and over, he carefully considered his options and this was the best for everyone.
There was no getting around how they would inform the sheriff and the wanted poster would confirm he rode with them.
After this adventure, if he managed to live, he would return to New York. At least on the East Coast, his reputation remained intact and he could write without fear of some outlaw challenging him. But first time in jail...
The clip clop of horses’ hooves in the middle of town caused people on the sidewalk to stare. Yet his focus was on the sheriff's office and how quickly time was running out.
All he wanted was five minutes alone with Caroline. Five minutes to tell her the truth and realize he would accept his punishment and repay his debt to society. Five minutes to ask for her forgiveness for not being honest about his past.
But there was no opportunity for just the two of them without their bounties.
Pulling up in front of the city jail, his chest tightened and his stomach roiled with nausea. The end of the line. The end of his time with Caroline. A tall man wearing a badge came out the door.
"Caroline, what do you have here?"
"These are my prisoners, Zach. These two men are part of the Jones Boys gang and I'm claiming their bounty."
The man grinned. "Ruby's been worried about you. She'll be glad to see you're back."
Obviously, they knew each other well and now he understood why she wanted to return to Zenith.
"Who is this fellow?"
"Trent Holmes, I once rode with the Jones Boys. My criminal name is Frank Colten," he said.
With a gasp, Caroline cried, "No, Trent, this is not how this ends."
"Sheriff, may I use your office to speak with Caroline alone?"
This was for the best. He just needed to tell her the truth.
Zach glanced between the two of them. "Sure, I'll give you five minutes."
"No. That's why I came here, so you would help us. Zach, please do something," Caroline pleaded.
“Stop, Caroline,” Trent pleaded. “You can't ask him to ignore the facts." He turned to the town's sheriff. "I'm surrendering."
"Talk to Caroline while I check these two in," he said.
"You're a sack of horse hockey," James called after Trent. "You're a dead man and this time it will stick."
"As soon as I get out, Miss Caroline, you will be mine," Smithy promised.
The urge to turn around, pull his gun, and end it for both of them all but overwhelmed him. That would only bring him down to their level and he refused to be like them. How foolish to believe he would be untarnished by riding with outlaws. How had that turned out for him? Not good.
Sliding off his mare, he went around and helped Caroline dismount. Reaching for her hand, she batted him away not letting him touch her.
When they stepped into the office, he noticed the tears running down her face. "No, Trent, just no. This was n
ot supposed to happen."
"Shhh..." he said, wiping tears from her eyes. "Look, I never killed anyone, I never robbed any banks, but I was young and stupid and thought being with them I would get some good stories. And I did."
"Stories?"
"Yes, I published articles in the newspaper back east talking about living with a group of gunslingers. Plus, some other works," he said not wanting to mention the serials he recently submitted about her.
"Tell, Zach. I'm certain he will help you. He's a good, decent man."
Even if the man was the best lawman, Trent felt sure it would be his word against those two outside. It would come down to who he believed and still his sins would put him in prison.
"Caroline, I'm sorry I lied to you about who I am, but I didn't want those boys to learn their attempts to kill me failed. They thought I died and I was trying to run from my past. Then I met you and now the running stops here. It's time to face what I've done."
"Trent," she wailed, "no."
His hands cradled her face as he drew her lips to his and breathed in her scent. For the first time, he wished his life were different. Why couldn't he have been a normal man? Never worry about this price on his head and lead a clean, wholesome life with a wife and family. Walk without a limp.
Too late. He'd already missed his chance. Now, he had to let her go after one last taste.
His mouth covered hers and he kissed her like they would never see each other again. As he crushed her body against his own, his mouth consumed hers, his tongue slipping between her lips and tangoing with her own.
What a senseless waste. All because of his reckless youth, he would lose this woman whose embrace he craved. Who had somehow slipped inside his heart holding it hostage.
If only they had one more night. One more opportunity to be together.
The sound of the door had them breaking apart, as his hands pushed the hair back away from her face.
"Find a man and marry him. Have children and forget about me."
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 99