Yes, catching James felt personal, though Wesley didn't want Clara back. No, their romance died that fateful morning. And soon James would be as well.
"I'll leave first thing in the morning," Wesley told his boss.
"While James is wanted, I would prefer you bring him in alive. Don't make me grill you on how he was killed."
"Yes, sir," Wesley said, reminding himself revenge could play no part in his investigation, but rather the need to catch a wanted man. But his heart refused to believe what his mind and mouth promised.
Addie spent two months training not for an occupation, but for her life's revenge. At this point, all she cared about was catching the murderers of her family. If she died in the process, then she would die trying to avenge their deaths.
Ruby Culver, the owner of the Lipstick and Lead Bounty Hunting school, talked to her about the benefits of earning a living bringing in outlaws. But she didn't care. Nothing mattered as her interest was focused on bringing the killers to justice.
As she walked from the main house to the shooting range, she stepped up to Dora, another student at the school. Both of them were in training. "There's a telegram waiting for you. Do you think it's from that investigator you hired?"
Her friend’s face grew excited. The woman recently learned her dead husband still lived, and she found a sleuth to search for him.
"Guess, I better go find out. What are you going to do?"
"Target practice. See that can sitting on the fence? That's for my brother. The second can is for my sister. And the third, my mother."
For the last sixty days, she had trained to find their killers. Until they were found, her life couldn't go on.
Dora touched Addie on the arm. "Kill those cans."
"Thanks," she said. "I think I will."
Turning to exercise her gun skills, she shot each one. When she turned around, Dora went into the house.
What neither her nor Ruby realized was Addie felt certain she was ready. She had been taught the art of tracking, shooting, the rules of bounty hunting, and knew it was time to begin. There were seven men she would set her sights on. First stop on her revenge tour would be the sheriff's office in Zenith.
Afraid to go to the police in Harper's Mill, she had gone to Zenith and spoken to Zach at length about the gang who murdered her loved ones. Together they made the decision she should remain in hiding so the band didn't hunt her down.
Now she would study the wanted posters and hopefully learn the identities of the men who killed her family.
The information about the Colonel she would keep to herself. Somewhere a man pulled the strings, and she wanted to forever sever his ties.
Chapter 2
Wesley sat at the bar in Bella Plain, Texas, and glanced around at the patrons. A seedy place that reeked of desperation. So far, he had identified two of the gang members from speaking to people caught in the holdup. His nemesis and now a new outlaw.
Oscar Schmidt, whose mother lived here. The reason for his visit to this out-of-the-way West Texas town where even the railroad had passed them by.
Glancing up in the mirror as a young auburn-haired woman, probably the saloon whore, flirted outrageously with the big man. The woman leaned over the table and whispered something in his ear. The man's eyes widened, and he slammed back his drink, stood and took the lady’s arm. They were leaving.
The outlaw gazed at the woman like he couldn't wait to get beneath her skirts, and she smiled at him in a way that lured him in even further. The man placed his hand in the small of her back like she was his prized possession. How many other men had she enticed into her bed?
As they left the building, Wesley laid a quarter by his empty shot glass and hurried out the door after them. Soon his prey would be behind bars.
When he walked into the bright sunshine, his eyes were blinded at the sight he saw.
The man sat on his horse, a rope bound around him, and she wrapped him up like a Christmas present. Stunned, the man yelled at her. "What are you doing?"
"Just prolonging the pleasure," she teased.
"Sugar, how can we have a good time if I'm all tied up?" the man said.
"Wait and you'll see," she said, taking the reins of his horse.
In disbelief, he watched as she climbed up on the back of her mare. The two rode through the small community, people stopping and staring, but no one dared interfere.
Eager to learn how this was going to play out, Wesley jumped on his trusted mare. Was the woman really going to have sex with the man or was she up to something more nefarious?
Just before sunset, she stopped and assisted the man down. Hanging back, Wesley made certain he was far enough away she didn't see him, but curious as to what she would do to the man. From his gaze, he was a little uncertain as to whether they were still going to engage in sex.
Once she helped the man to the ground, she finished tying him up, including his ankles.
"What are you doing? I've had enough of this rope. Take this off," he demanded.
The woman ignored the man and set up camp by starting a small fire, laying out her bedroll, and generally getting prepared for the night. After removing the saddles from their horses, she gave each a bag of feed before she turned back to her saddle bags.
Setting out her pistols, she picked up a stick she had laid in the blazing campfire. The whore walked in front of the man whose face turned white in the setting sun.
"Fire, a wonderful thing when used for heat, but when you burn someone to death, it's heart wrenching. All I would have to do is touch this flame to the rope and you'd go up like a candle."
The man swallowed hard, his eyes large with fright. "Who are you?"
Wesley wanted to ask the same question. What was she doing? Never before had he witnessed a woman interrogating an outlaw.
A sarcastic smile graced her face. "I'm a ghost. Answer my questions, and I'll consider not killing you."
The outlaw jerked back and tried to move his arms, but she had him hog-tied tighter than a noose.
"Oscar Schmidt, were you involved on the raid at the King farm?"
"Woman, untie me this minute," he yelled.
The whore shoved the stick in his face and the man visibly recoiled. In her other hand, she pulled back the gun’s hammer. The woman handled her Colt forty-five like the weapon was a part of her.
"Look, I have no reason to live. If you don't tell me, the first bullet goes in your hand, the next one, your leg and then I will light you up."
She didn't mess around.
The man's eyes grew large as she stepped over and placed the point of her gun on the outlaw's hand. Wesley had to stop her, but he wanted to hear his response.
"On the count of five, I'm firing," she said.
Why would a whore be doing this? Who was this woman?
"One. Two. Three. Four..."
"Yes, I was there," he said. "Why do you care?"
She leaned in close and said something to the man. His eyes widened and her words left the outlaw afraid.
"Tell me who else rode in the gang."
"I can't tell you that. I can't. They'll kill me," he said pleading.
"Do you think I care? After what I witnessed, why is your life important?"
Once again, she placed her gun on his hand and begin to count.
"One. Two. Three. Four..."
"All right. Rufus Backus, James Clemens, Walter Dietz, Al Jacobs, Earnest Moll and Clyde Tillman. Now are you happy? My life ain’t worth a nickel."
"What about the King's lives?"
"We were paid to do a job."
The grin on her face sent a trickle of unease down Wesley's spine. Her eyes cold and calculating. What happened at the King's farm?
"Where are these men?"
"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you..."
A bullet sent dirt flying at the base of his feet and the man jumped.
"I'm telling you the truth. When Rufus contacts us, we ride."
"He's the leader?
"
"Yes."
"What's the Colonel's name?"
"I don't know."
Another gunshot landed at his feet and the man cursed.
"Look, you bitch, I don't know."
Tears sprang up in the man's eyes and Wesley believed him. Before this went any further, maybe he needed to interfere before she killed the outlaw. But Wesley was learning valuable information. He'd never heard about a man called the Colonel.
"Rufus is the only one who knows who the Colonel is. He gives him the orders."
"So you kill people and rob banks to satisfy this Colonel?"
"We get paid very well working for the Colonel. Why wouldn't we."
She kicked him in the shin and sent the man to his knees. He tried to reach out and grab her legs, but only rolled onto the ground.
"Because that was my family you killed."
He grinned at her in such an evil way, it was a wonder she didn't kill him.
"No, it was an Indian massacre."
For a moment, Wesley thought she was going to shoot him, but then she took a deep breath and glared at the man. "That's what you wanted the world to believe, but I told the sheriff the truth."
The man's eyes widened. "You're going to kill me."
Laughing, she said, "Oh, how I would love to put a bullet in you, but I was taught respect for human life. But don't worry, there's a price on your head and I aim to claim that cash. In the morning, we leave for Zenith. And if you attempt to escape, you're a dead man. That will be all the excuse I need. Whether you're dead or alive, I'm going to collect."
Wesley hid back in the bushes. Collect? What the hell was she collecting on? What could a whore want with this man?
Addie couldn't believe men were so gullible. All she had to do was flirt with the outlaw, whisper in his ear that they go somewhere alone, and he would follow her anywhere. What the man didn't expect was for her to insist they ride out to her cabin. While he climbed on his horse, she roped him like a calf and hog-tied him.
But last night, he had given her all the information she needed, except the name of the Colonel, and once she found Rufus, she would learn his name.
This afternoon, she would turn in her first bounty, one of the men who killed her family. Part of her said she should be elated, but sadness and anger fueled her. The innocent girl who wasn't dead only because she stuck her brother and sister with doing the dishes was no more.
Now she lived for only one thing. Revenge.
"Hey, I want a cup of coffee," the man said.
"Too bad, I'd like to have coffee with my mother," she responded. "Or my brother and sister. You do realize two innocent kids were in the house that night?"
The man frowned. "It was a job. Nothing personal, just a way to earn a living."
"Well, your work destroyed my life," she said.
The sound of rustling in the bushes had her reaching for her gun and rope. If this was one of his buddies, then she'd be prepared to capture a second man.
A man walked into their camp as she whirled her lasso through the air, catching him perfectly around the shoulders.
"Stop," he commanded. "I'm a Texas Ranger."
"And I'm Pocahontas," she said. "You don't walk in unannounced unless you have bad intentions.”
"Remove this rope immediately or I'm going to be forced to arrest you," he said.
Quickly, she wrapped the rope tighter around him. "Most lawmen know to call out before they show up."
"Then check my pockets and you'll find my badge," he said as she continued to wrap rope around him.
"Sorry, but I'm not touching you. Where is your horse?" she demanded.
"As a Texas Ranger, I'm demanding you remove these ropes," he yelled at her.
She gazed at him and shook her head. "And I'm not taking a chance you're friends with Oscar here."
"I'm here to arrest him," he said.
A frown filled her face. "Can't you see I have him secured. He's going nowhere except to Zenith, Texas, to jail."
"I'll take him for you," the supposed Texas Ranger said.
"No, I'm collecting the bounty on this murderer," she told him. If the man was a lawman, she might be in a lot of trouble, but what if he just wanted for her to let down her guard. If he released Oscar, she would be open to attack and Oscar could inform his friends.
No, it was best if she took no chances and took them both to Zenith. Zach could help her and make certain that her prey did not escape.
"No one is getting my bounty. No one, not even a lawman."
The man's face turned red and his eyes sparkled with anger, but she didn't care. Maybe she would regret her actions later, but right now, she was too vulnerable to let the outlaw loose.
"Why do you want this man?" he asked her. "Why are you so insistent on taking him to jail."
A smile crossed her face as she remembered Ruby's motto. "Because I'm a bounty hunter. I always get my man."
The woman was crazy. Loco. For the last four hours, she kept him, a Texas Ranger, trussed up like a bird at Christmas time, not listening to a word he said.
After the first hour, he stopped using threats and waited, knowing once they reached Zenith, he would get his revenge.
To show his authority, he would throw her in jail.
Sitting on a horse, in front of him, he watched the swaying of her womanly body for hours, her long red hair flowing down her back. The saloon girl outfit from the day before was gone and she wore a skirt made for riding. A gun belt accentuated her small waist and a blouse clung to her breasts.
If he was interested in a woman, she would have been his type, but frankly, he still hated all women and avoided them and their cheating ways.
Yet, part of him couldn't help but notice her full lips were ripe for kissing.
As they rode into the town of Zenith, Wesley had never been more humiliated. A lawman all trussed up, being taken in by a woman bounty hunter, like there was such a thing. He didn't believe her for a minute.
When they pulled up to the Zenith jail, the sheriff stood on the porch waiting for them.
"Congratulations, Addie, your first catch," the man said. "And two at once."
"One and possibly two. The second one keeps swearing he's a Texas Ranger," she said, glancing over at Wesley. "But I wasn't taking any chance he was a friend of Oscar's."
The lawman helped him from his horse and Wesley stood there, waiting. They led the two of them into the jail. First the sheriff checked in Oscar and put him behind bars, then he moved to Wesley. "Check my pockets. You'll find my badge."
The man pulled out his star, looked it over carefully and glanced at the woman. "He's a Texas Ranger."
Quickly, he untied Wesley as he pushed the ropes off his arms. Turning, he walked over to the woman and took her by the arm.
"Let me go," she said.
Without a word, he shoved her into the cell next to Oscar who burst out laughing.
"You're under arrest for detaining a peace officer. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"When you came strolling into my camp, what if you were Oscar's friend? Did you tell me you were a Texas Ranger? Did you say that before you walked in unannounced?
“No, you wanted to take my bounty and at all costs. I protected myself and my prisoner. If the men I'm searching for found out I am still alive, I'd be a dead woman within a day."
"She's right," Oscar said. "The Colonel will put out the order to kill her."
If Wesley hadn't been so angry, he would’ve listened to reason, but at the moment, he wanted her to experience the humiliation he suffered.
"What makes you think you can catch these men?"
The sheriff stood back and smiled, not saying a word.
"Because I'm a trained bounty hunter. Oscar is behind bars. And now I know the names of everyone but the Colonel, but don't worry. I'll find him as well."
"Yes, I heard how you interrogated Oscar. You threatened to kill him to get the information," Wesley said, knowing he was pulling at s
traws. "Maybe I should arrest you for threatening murder."
"A wanted man. Wanted dead or alive, and yet I brought you both in here still breathing."
While he would never admit she was right, she could have killed him and gotten away it. Instead, she had hauled them into the sheriff's office.
"Women are not bounty hunters," he said.
"Who says?"
"It's just not done. Go home and play with your dolls."
A painful look crossed her face. "I can't. Thanks to Oscar and his gang, I no longer have a home. Why haven't you been out there investigating the bank robberies these men committed? The murders? Have the Texas Rangers been waiting on me to do your work?"
How could he answer without giving a worthless excuse? "We are on the case and keeping it quiet."
Oscar started laughing.
"Tell me who the Colonel is."
A frown furrowed his brow. Until last night, he had no idea who he was searching for and no one mentioned a man named the Colonel until today.
"That's what I thought. You don't know."
"Well, you can't be a bounty hunter. This is now being handled by law enforcement."
She laughed. "Why can't I be a bounty hunter? I just brought in my first man. Seven more to go before I can stop."
"Lady, you won't live that long. End this before you get killed."
A sad smile filled her face. "That doesn't matter. Catching these killers is all that matters."
Stunned, Wesley stared at her. So she was being cautious? Because he didn't expect her to react the way she had when he didn't announce he was a Texas Ranger. He assumed she would be grateful to see him, not protective of her capture.
As much as he hated it, his conscience reminded him he was wrong.
"Let her out," he said to Zach. "But if I find you searching for this gang again, I'll arrest you with no leniency."
The door swung open, she glared at him. "Your threat means nothing to me. I'm going after these men and nothing is going to stop me until they are all behind bars."
Now what did he do? She was calling his bluff, and he knew she had every intention on keeping her word. A fire seemed to burn inside the red haired woman that could not be quenched.
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 119