Elise

by Bobbi Smith

  Harris looked up at him, his lips curling into a hateful sneer. "I'lll see you in hell, lawman," he said harshly as the last of his life's blood drained away from him.

  "Trace!" Elise could no longer restrain herself. She came flying out of the house, her derringer in hand.

  "I'm back here," he called out to her.

  She was trembling visibly as she reached his side. She looked down at the Harris's lifeless body and then back up at her husband. "You were right all along! He did survive that fall into the river!"

  Trace nodded, but didn't say anything. He just held her close, knowing that his only haven was in her arms.

  Several of the neighbors came running to see what was going on. "What happened?"

  "It's Matt Harris," he answered tightly, gesturing toward the body.

  "We thought he was dead!" They were shocked at the news.

  "He is now."

  One man ran to get the marshal.

  Trace drew Elise with him away from the scene of the carnage.

  "You're all right?" she asked, still trying to understand all that had taken place.

  "I am now that you're with me," he told her solemnly. "It's over, Elise. It's finally over."

  TRACE JACKSON GETS HIS MAN! MATT HARRIS DEAD!

  Previous reports stating that Harris had been killed during the shoot-out with Marshal Trent and the posse were in error Harris returned to Durango late last night in an attempt to murder Trace Jackson. There was a shooting at Jackson's home, and Harris was killed by Jackson during the incident.

  With Harris's demise, all known members of his gang are now dead. The state is well rid of their violence.

  "Amen," Elise said as she finished rereading the article. "What do you think?"

  "I think that's the best headline I've ever read," Trace told her, coming to read over her shoulder.

  "I'm glad you approve," she turned toward Trace and smiled archly up at him as she rested one hand on his chest. "I like it when you approve of my work."

  "I always approve of your work," he growled as she let her hand drift a little lower to rest near his belt.

  "You know, it's rather late, and we are alone here in the office right now," she said suggestively. "I don't expect Andy back until tomorrow morning."

  "I'm glad he's going to be busy all night," Trace said, needing no further encouragement from his wife. "You know..."

  He paused to kiss her passionately.

  "You were saying?" she asked with a grin.

  "I've gotten a lot of use out of Ben's desk, but I always wondered..."

  He pushed the door to his office shut and lifted Elise up to sit her on his desktop.

  "Wondered about what?"

  "I always wondered how it would feel to make love to you here."

  "Let's find out, shall we?" she offered, lifting her arms in welcome to him.

  He answered her with a kiss.

  And then they did their research.