Word Count:  24,000

EXCERPT

 

CHAPTER ONE

“Say, little Missy, why don’t you untie me and let me skedaddle out of here? You can’t go bringin’ me in, no-sur-ree. It just ain’t gonna look right.”

Sarah Janes rode ahead of the man. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t block his continual blathering from her mind. His reins were tied around her saddle horn, so he couldn’t escape from her. Until they arrived in Cheyenne, he would be her only companion and an irritating one at that.

The sun glared in her eyes and she pulled her battered, dusty hat lower over her brows. It was summer and the sun hung in the sky. If she didn’t push on, they would have to stay out over night and she certainly didn’t want to do that, not with this weasel-like character behind her. He surely would attempt to escape.

“Come on now, Missy, you can’t be serious. We’re nearly to Cheyenne.”

Sarah turned in her saddle and glared at the man. “Pete, shut the heck up. I’m tired of listening to you.” She saw his hands were still tied behind his back. There was no way she was letting this scoundrel go.

 “But you can’t do this to me!”

“I said shut up! Now do I have to shoot you? You know you bring the same money, dead or alive. It doesn’t make a bit of difference to me, except you’ll be delightfully quiet if I kill you.”

Her words silenced Pete. Good thing because she’d do it, too. She’d never shot a man, but this one was getting under her hide.

They rode along for another hour and finally, they neared their destination. The closer they rode to Cheyenne the more apprehensive she became. She was going to be in so much trouble with Walker. He’d told her in very firm words, no more bounty hunting or their wedding was off. Well, she couldn’t very well see this man sneaking out of town and not follow him. She knew it would be an easy capture because Pete was so blamed stupid.

“Only jack rabbits and lizards inhabit this bleak land.” Pete muttered behind her. “And you want me to die here, Missy?”

Sarah turned and looked at him. He was a sorry excuse for a man. Fat. Dirty. Teeth rotten and black. “You didn’t have any qualms about killing that cattleman, now did you, Pete? Do you think he wanted to die out in the sagebrush? He had family and they put up a huge reward for you and I’m going to collect it.”

She could smell Cheyenne before she could see it. The reek of burning coal from the trains and the stench emanating from the thousands of cattle waiting to be transported made a lasting impression on the nostrils.

Pete began to squirm and buck in his saddle as they passed the McDaniel Theatre. Two buildings down the street sat the Sheriff’s Office, their final destination.

Sarah reined her horse and outlaw then called out, “Sheriff, I have a special delivery for you.”

Moments later, Sheriff Hackert poked his head from the door, then stepped out onto the boardwalk. He was a wiry fellow dressed in dark pants, a red shirt and brown jacket.

“What are you up to now, Sarah?” He shook his head in dismay. “Suppose you have another desperado for me to lock up?”

Sarah jumped down from her horse. “Yes I do, Sheriff. May I present Mister Pete Cloud to you? We’ve had a long ride and I want nothing better than a soaking bath and clean hair.”

“Sarah!”

She cringed. She didn’t need to turn around tell who was calling her in such a heated tone. “Well, well, if it isn’t Walker Andress. Why aren’t you out keeping the peace, Deputy?”

Sarah heard his irritation and anger as he stomped toward her. The hollow sound of his boots hitting the boardwalk made her cringe, but Lordy the swish of his gun against that muscled thigh settled like warm honey against her sexual core.

She slowly turned to look at him just as he came within inches of her face.

“I don’t have to ask where you’ve been for the last three days, now do I?” His light blue eyes filled with cold disgust and he pulled off his hat, running his fingers through the sweat dampened black hair.

The man took her breath, not from his angry stance, but from his nearness. “Now, Walker, what would you have me do? I saw Pete heading out of town and I knew you wouldn’t be too angry with me when I brought him in. Just think what we can do with his bounty. I’ll finally get that barn out at the ranch and we can…”

“Now, you listen here, young lady. I told you not to go doing this again. What if he’d killed you? What would happen to the ranch then? These are not nice people, Sarah Janes!” With that, he pulled down the outlaw from the horse and pushed him in the direction of the jail.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that jist cuz you’re mad at her!” Pete growled at Walker. “It’s bad enough having that girl bring me in. My friends ain’t gonna like this one little bit.”

“What friends, Pete? The friends you tried to meet up with outside of town? They left you high and dry.” Sarah said.

“Sheriff…” She turned and looked over her shoulder. “Walker…I’ll be at the Daisy Hotel if you need me.”

“No, Sarah. You don’t have to go there…” Walker sputtered.

Sarah shook her head in wonder. First, the man claims not to want her unless she stops bounty hunting. Then, when she offers to go it alone to the hotel, he gets all uppity. It was her hotel, after all. Well, maybe not exactly a hotel, but it was hers.

Taking the reins, she walked up the street, Walker’s voice hollering at her as she went. Sarah smiled. It wouldn’t be long and she would be soaking in the metal tub, with one of the girls pouring water over her head. And it wouldn’t be very long that Deputy Walker Andress would be in her bed, working her over with his wonderful body.

She smiled widely at the thought. Yes. Sex was defiantly on her mind.