"Emily! Times a wastin girl! " Helana shouted.
A chuckle bubbled from her throat as the other woman gave her a murderous glare.
"I don't see why we have to ride night and day. I'm tired and thirsty," Emily complained.
Helana's humor evaporated. "Well Em, why don't you tell them Pinkertons back there that. Who knows? Maybe they'll think robbin' five banks is such hard work that we desereve a rest and they'll stop chasin' us fer awhile," she hissed as she looked over at the mirror image of herself.
Her sister possessed the same curve of the jaw that spoke of her inner strength. The identical tilt of the nose, even the long waves of shimmer auburn hair were the same. The only thing that separated the two were their contradictory personalities. Helana lived her life behind the wall of independence she had erected as a youth, never allowing the walls to be scaled by indecision or self doubt. She calculated her moves down to the caliber ... gun caliber. Her talent with the peacemaker she carried was seldom equaled.
Em was the sister with an open and trusting nature and a flair for the dramatic. At one time her caring nature had kept her from harming even the most loathsome vermin. But that had changed. Her sister had seen to that. Bank robbing was as much a passion to Helana as it was a challenge to her sister. Emily handled the gun powder that blew open the vaults and safes. Helana rounded out the rest of the operation.
Emily huffed. "There's no reason to be nasty Lane. You can't tell me that you're not as tired and thirsty as I am. Besides, it's not my fault those Pinkertons are on our tails."
Helana quirked an eyebrow. "I see. Then I must be mistaken about who it was that blew up half a town on that last job."
"OK, fair enough. But you didn't have to go and shoot one of those Pinkertons, either," Emily argued.
"Hell, that ain't nothin'. I just winged him." Helana smiled.
"Come on ... if I remember right there's a town just a little farther ahead. And if I was you, I would think about puttin' on some trousers instead of those dresses you're so fond of. For the life of me I can't understand how you can stand to be all sinched up in those corsets and bustles." Helana shook her head in disgust.
Emily sniffed huffily. "I see no reason to be uncivilized! Seems to me you'd look a little more feminine in something a bit frilly." Helana burst out laughing. "Em, think about who you're talkin to! I'd as soon shoot myself than be put in one of those get ups." She turned to look at the horizon. "We seem to be in the clear for a bit. If we can get to town, we can lay low for a while." Emily followed her sister's gaze and quickly agreed. Sure wouldn't hurt to sleep in a proper bed like civilized people," she said as she smoothed her skirt. Helana snickered. "Bed, hell! I'm hankerin' for a drink, myself." She grinned at her sister's disapproving glare. "That a problem with you?"
"Don't you think it would be better if we kept our senses? The last thing we need is for the liquor to go to out heads!" Helana grimiced. "OUR heads? Seems to me it'd be a miracle for it to go to YOUR head since your lips have never tasted a drop in your life." Green eyes narrowed as Emily slowly simmered. "I like to make sure I have all my faculties in tact!" Helana's eyebrow arched delicately. "Like the faculties you had when you blew up that town?" Emily surprised her sister by losing her temper. "For goodness sake Lane, will you LET IT GO! So I used a tinsey bit more powder than I needed. I got the job done." Helana chuckled. "Yep. Sheriff couldn't get us, that's for sure! He got blowed up too good!" Emily rolled her eyes as the sisters rode in companionable silence looking over their shoulders every now and then to be sure of their lead.
~~~~~~~~
Helana patted her paint gelding roughly on the neck and turned to where her sister struggled with her heavy saddle. She could see the exhaustion that gripped her sister.
"Look Em, why don't you stay here in the livery until I find out if were in the clear here. Once I get us a room I'll come for ya." Without another word, Helana turned and strode from the livery.
"A few minutes older and she thinks she can boss me around" Emily hissed, looking to her mare, who looked decidedly bored with her mistresses chatter.
~~~~~~~~~~
Helana remember the town well and even decided to call on a friend of her fathers before she settled in. She had learned a few things from her father and one of them was to call in debts owed you when ever you found yourself against a wall.
"This is a helluva wall, "she whispered to herself as she entered the saloon.
Glancing slowly around the glum interior of the saloon she cautiously made her way across to the bar.
"Rye!" she barked at the elderly barkeep.
"Yes sir" he absently replied. Reaching behind him he pulled a corked bottle from the shelf along with what obviously passed for a clean glass in this town. Making his way down the bar to Helana he deposited his consignment on the bar in front of her.
The lapel of her dusty coat slipped over the gentle slop of her breast as she reached into her pocket and withdrew a small coin.
"Sorry ma'am. I didn't mean nothin' by callin' you sir." the barkeep nervously tried to explain.
Helana held up her hand, cutting the man off." It ain't the first time that mistakes been made and it sure the hell ain't gonna be the last time either."
Helana smiled to herself as the barkeep glanced around, looking as if he were searching for an escape route.
"Mr., I'm looking for a man by the name of Herred. You know where I can find him?".
The man's mouth gaped open. "He's dead miss. Shot and killed out there in the street. Was about time too. That son of a bitch took all we had."
"SHIT!" she spat. Pouring a generous shot of the amber liquid from the bottle she tossed it to the back of her throat without a second thought.
"Thanks for the information." she turned and was about to leave the saloon when a thought occured to her." Got any rooms to rent out around here?" she called back to the barkeep.
He knew not to make the same miscalculation twice in the same lifetime, the woman wasn't a whore. "upstairs, miss. You gonna be taken one?"
"Yeah, I'll be stayin' awhile". She continued on her way back to the livery. Her eyes slid over to where she remembered Herred's extravagant house to be but all that remained was a small pile of charred wood.
Helana's attention slipped farther from her surroundings as she wondered how Herred had managed to get himself killed in his own town. Without warning Helana's left shoulder slammed against a granite hardness. Instinct took over and she jerked her gun from the holster at her hip. Leveling the gun in front of her she finally she got a look at the man she collided with.
Piercing blue eyes bore into hers with the same suspicion that lurked in the depths of her eyes. Reluctantly Helana holstered her gun.
"Sheriff" she tipped her hat in greeting.
"Cort. It's just Cort." A growing sense of deja vu washed over him as he starred at the woman in front of him.
"Do I know you?" Cort asked ,his voice dropping to just above a whisper.
Helana felt his voice roll through her veins like warm bourbon on a cold night. "No....No you don't know me"
Cort gave her a speculative appraisal, unable to banish the growing feeling that he knew the woman. "My mistake". He stepped passed Helana and proceeded towards the saloon.
Turning she watched him go. Helana's eyes were glued to the ripple of muscles just below the thin cotton of his shirt. Her eyes traveled the plane of his back to the low slung gun belt that wrapped around his tight waist. She let her mind drifted with the thoughts of how a man like Cort could make a woman feel; the things he could do. Before she knew it she was holding her breath at the very thoughts that ran rampant through her brain.
"Lane!...PSSST....LANE!". Emily stuck her head around the corner from the allyway. She waited impatiently for her sister to answer. Her agitation with her sibling made her want to reach out and drag Lane back into the alley but she knew not to take that approach.
"Lane! Don't you make me scream it!" she hissed.
"God Dammit it Em! Can't you see I'm busy?" Helana growled.
Busy doin what?" Emily asked.
"Enjoying the view" Helana answered absently. Turning she gave her sister a wicked smile and stepped out of the way giving Emily a clear view of the man walking away.
"Lane!" Emily giggled. "You know that's nothin' but trouble".
"Yeah. But it sure is nice to look at," Helana sighed.
Emily rolled her eyes. "As long as look is all your thinkin' about"
Emily suddenly found that the sight in front of her had been blocked by her sister again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Cort could feel eyes on his back like tiny pins of light, making his skin hot from the invisible contact. He had a passing notion who the eyes belonged to but he wanted to know for sure.
Slowly he looked over his shoulder and found he'd been right. The woman he'd bumped into moments earlier was lounging against the rough wood building that lined the boardwalk. He could see she was tracking every step he took and the look on her face gave him the impression of a cat stalking a mouse. Not that the notion of a woman looking at him like that wasn't appealing, hell it'd been to long in fact but he just couldn't shed the eerie feeling of knowing her.
Suddenly he realized he didn't even know her name. Stopping in his tracks, he turned, eager to remedy the oversight.
~~~~~~~~~~
Emily could see the man from a narrow space behind her sister and she gave a sudden gasp. "Lane," she barely whispered, "that's HIM!" Helana looked confused as she followed her sister's eyes. She felt a twitch in her stomach as she realized Emily's eyes were focused on the same view Helana herself had been enjoying. "Him WHO?" Emily turned her gaze to her sister. "HIM! The stranger!" Helana glared at Emily. "Oh, no Em! You're not starting up with that handsome stranger mess. I've heard it for ten years and I'm not listening to it anymore!" Emily followed her sister as Helana began to march to the hotel. "Lane, I mean it this time. It really is him!" Helana raised her hand to silence Emily. "You've been spouting on about this man since you were sixteen, Emily! Every time you see a man who is easy on the eyes you dream up this mystery man. I tell you, I'm not listening to it anymore! Now, stay here and shut up!" And with that, she walked up the stairs to their room leaving Emily to follow behind in frustration. "It IS him, I tell you!" She breathed. "It IS!"
Moments later, the two sisters were in their room, quietly contemplating separate thoughts. Ironically, they were thoughts concerning the same rugged sheriff.
~~~~~~~~~
Emily smoothed the folds of her green muslin skirts after shaking her petticoats into submission. She gave her stylish ribbon a tightening tug and finally deemed herself respectable to walk the street of Redemption. The breeze felt refreshing as she looked at the businesses. She was looking at the millenary when she felt the familiar tug at her heart. In the reflection of the window, she saw him. How silly that she should be so affected by this man, and she didn't even know his name! Oh Sweet Jesus! He was looking at her! "Morning, Ma'am." Slowly she turned. Dear Lord, his voice was exactly the same. Soft, soothing, and warm - just like velvet. As her eyes met his, she noticed a slight confusion knit his brow. She had seen this confused look before on so many other people. She decided to ignore it. Her eyes fell on the silver star that adorned his chest as a smile played across her face. "Good morning Sheriff. A glorious day, isn't it?" She felt her heart in her throat. The confusion in his eyes deepened. "Uh, yes ma'am. Very nice." He tipped his hat slightly. Have a nice day." And then he was gone. She forced herself to breathe. Biting her bottom lip, she peeked over her shoulder. Horrified, she saw him staring right at her. She quickly turned her head and almost ran down the street. "Oh dear," she thought, "I've just turned sixteen again!"
~~~~~~~~~
Helana tilted her head forward from it's resting place against the wall as Emily rushed into the room. A half -smoked Cheroot was clamped between her lips. Reaching up she, removed the cheroot and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Helana gave her sister a wide smile. Emily looked for all the world like Satan himself was right on her heels.
"So you met your phantom horseman?"
She watched as Emily fumbled for the right words. "Oh Lane! He's just like I remember. Older perhaps but still the man I saw that night".
"Look Em, If your thinking about going chasin' after the sheriff you better think again. You ain't got a chance in hell with a man like that."
Emily stomped towards Helana. "You just shut up!" she shouted. "Besides I seriously doubt he'd give you a second thought. I mean look at you. You look more like a ranch hand than a woman and I would wager the sheriff wants a real woman in his bed."
Helana shot from the bed coming toe to toe with her sister. "You best watch your mouth girl, before I have to help you with it. I've just about had enough of you sass."
A mixture of suprise and pride welled up in Helana as her sister held her ground. "Not this time Lane. You're not making me feel like a scared little church mouse."
Turning towards the window Helana pulled the worn curtains aside and stared down on the dusty street below. "I ain't doin' that Em. I just think your settin' yourself up for a hard time. That's all but if you want this man so damn bad. Then a wager it is."
Helana turned to Emily. "The first one of us to be bedded by the sheriff will get everything. The whole stash from every one of the bank jobs and the loser walks away. Em here's your chance. I'm damn sick and tired of hearing about this fantasy man of your so put up or shut up."
Helana waited as indecision crossed Emily's face, but in the end, Emily couldn't resist the challenge.
"Fine. But it's not much of a bet. I WILL WIN."
"We'll see Emily. But, just to make this a little more interesting, at no time is he to see us together. Got it?"
Emily nodded her head as Helana pushed passed her. "Where are you going?"
"Down stairs, to the saloon."
The stranger ran a hand through his long hair as he spoke. "It's now or
never. If I don't get outta this while I can, I'm gonna end up a corpse. We
all know it. You gotta help me. Hell, you OWE me!"
Her father looked nervous. "How did you know where to find me?"
A rough chuckle emerged from the stranger. "Are you kiddin' me? I followed
you. Not easy. You coverd your tacks pretty good." His look turned
serious. "All I need is a little money. Then I'm outta this town. I'm away
from Haredon. And you never have to let on that you knew anything about it."
His eyes were so wild. Like a caged animal. "Come on Masterson. Forget
that I saved your life when that lawman almost shot you. Forget I took the
bullet for you." His eyes softened. "How about what we meant to each other?
You've been like a father to me. You want me outta this as much as I want
to be out. HELP me!"
Her father stared into the stanger's eyes and slowly turned. He looked at
her mother for amoment. She was standing by the table with her hand over her
mouth. A million different emotions were competing for space in her eyes.
He touched her arm and went to the servery taking out several bills. He
walked over to the stranger and handed them the money. "Three hundred
dollars. It's all I got." Her Papa's eyes were misting. "I only ask one
thing of you Cort. Get out of it. You get out of this and you SURVIVE!"
With that, her father clasped his arms around the stranger. The tight, hard
hug lasted a very long time. The men were filled with unspoken emotion.
Finally, the stranger extracted himself from the embrace.
"I will. I'll make you proud, Masterson." He put the money in his shirt
pocket and wiped his face. He nodded his head to her mother. "I'm grateful
for everything Mrs. Masterson."
She smiled a watery smile. "I don't know you, sir. But you must be a fine
man if my husband thinks so highly of you." She walked over and hugged the
stranger. "God be with you."
Aother harsh chuckle. "Well, if He is, that'll sure be a first. Good bye
ma'am."He turned to her father. "Good bye Masterson. Be careful." And he
put on
his hat, left the house, mounted his horse, and rode away. Emily ran to the
loft window and barely saw his outline as he rode away. Helana stirred.
"What are you doing?" she whispered. Emily continued to stare. "Oh Lane.
He was
perfect."
"Who?" Helana said, rubbing her sleeply eyes.
"The stranger."
Helana punched her pillow and whispered, "Go back to sleep Em. You were
dreaming." In a few moments, Emily heard the steady breathing again. Helana
was asleep. And Emily was obsessed.
Slowly Emily opened her eyes and looked around. She was back in the room
above the saloon. She smiled. Her father had called him Cort. He WAS the
same man! And if she felt like this, surely he would in time. Oh this bet
was going to be a piece of cake. They were kindred spirits. They had to be!
Emily had to tell Helana. She smoothed the folds of her promenade gown as
she ran down the stairs. She stumbled on the bottom stair lunging herself
forward. Luckily, she fell right into strong, male arms. She looked up with
a dazzling smile expecting to see Cort's familiar face. Instead she saw the
deep, mesmerizing eyes of a very tall, very handsome stranger. "Watch that
last step ma'am. It's pretty dangerous." He swung her to an upright
position as if she weighed no more than a ragdoll. He tipped his hat and
smiled. "Don't suppose you could point me to the the sheriff's office?"
Emily took a long time to find her voice. "It's that way . At the end of
the street." The man nodded. "Much obligled." As he started to walk off,
Emily was horrified to find herself yelling after him. "May I know your name
sir?" She blushed as he turned to look at her with a knowing grin. "So that
I can thank you, I mean." He smiled again. "Name's Larabee. Chris
Larabee."
Emily swallowed hard. "Well, Mr. Larabee, thank you. Without your assitance
I surely would have ungracefully found myself face first in the dirt."
Mr. Larabee grinned a secret grin. "Ma'am, you couldn't look ungraceful if
you tried." Again, he tipped his hat and walked away. Emily stared after
him, shook herself out of her daydream, lifted the hem of her skirt, and
briskly
walked to find Helana. Heaven help me, she thought. How many strangers can
one woman handle??
Helena sat restlessly at a dimly lit back table of the saloon, carefully
watching the door. The last thing she could effort was to become careless.
As it
stood, she felt like a sitting duck with the pinkerton's on their trail.
Taking her eyes from the door for a fraction of a second, she poured herself
another glass of the bitter amber liquid she favored. When her eyes returned
to the door she noticed the sheriff stirding towards her table.
"Shit" she whispered, trying to look disinterested.
Cort stopped beside the table,smiling down at her. "Mind if I sit for awhile?"
Helena Shrugged her shoulders. "Suit yourself sheriff," she said, kicking the
ladder back chair opposite her way from the table. When the chair would have
toppled to the floor Cort's lighting hand caught it. Righting the chair, he
sat down.
"I didn't get your mane when we bummped into each other this afternoon," he
commented.
"That's right Sheriff, you didn't," she smiled smuggly at him.
"It's Cort. I thought I made that clear." he frowned
"Maybe you did or maybe I just don't care, SHERIFF." Her eyes slid away from
Cort to lock on the door as a black clad figure came through the door, taking
carful stock of the room. Dread rolled over Helena as she watched the
preditory gleam of the strangers eyes. He was searching for someone or
something. She knew it just as surely as she knew her own name. Her head
spun as the room began to close in on her. Helana stood from the table ready
to retreat from the room when she remembered the man across from her. Cort's
fist instinct was to turn and search out the source of the tension in the
woman. He watched and waited for her to tip her hand and he was rewarded as
she stood from the table. It was then that he followed her eyes and saw the
dark figure at the bar.
Helana glided around the table. Her hands came to rest on Cort's wide
shoulders as her cheek brushed against his. "The names Lane, Cort. It's
gettin crowded in here. Mind if we find somewhere a little more private?" she
whispered into his ear.Cort was momentarily struck speechless,completely
forgetting about the stranger. The last thing he had expected when he'd come
to the saloon was to
be leaving with this particular woman. He nodded his head "Yeah, I have a
room above the office." Helena reached down and tugged on his hand. "Good I
assume you won't mind showing me." Cort stood and turned to her. "After
you," he gestured for her to lead the way from the saloon. As Helena neared
the batwing doors of the saloon she saw the familiar eyes of her sister
peeking over the doors. She shot her a withering look and the other woman
seem to get the message. Helana pushed through the doors and glanced around.
Emily was no where to be seen. Helena
breathed a sigh of relief.
Stepping around her, Cort took her by the hand and lead her down the
boardwalk to the allyway beside the sheriff's office. Helana pulled against
his hand as he took the first of the steps leading to the room above. He
looked questioningly at her. "Change your mind?"
"No" she whipered seductively. Helena could feel herself blushing from head
to toe. "I just want you to know I'm not in the habit of doing this."
Cort lowered his foot back to the hard packed ground and turned to her. She
sighed as his hand came up to caress the smoothness of her cheek. Ever so
gently his lips captured hers. Pulling a heated moan of excitment came from
Helana as his tongue slipped betweem her lips. She wanted the molten heat to
continue, but without warning shots rang out through the stillness of the
night.
In the alley beside the saloon, Emily jumped in terror at the sudden
gunshot. She controled her initial instinct to run toward the sound chosing,
instead, to peek into the streets and find the source of the disturbance. A
sigh of relief escaped her as she saw the intoxicated man shooting at an
empty bottle he tossed into the air. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that was enough
to stop her heart. She continued to watch as the sheriff and Lane ran from
his office to the saloon. She nibbled at her bottom lip as she kept low,
sneaking carefully past the scene. She stopped only for a moment when she
saw the man in black. The impressive figure stood at the door of the saloon.
An easy smile touched his lips as he rolled a cigarette and lit, throwing
the match to the dirt. Emily shook her head to clear it and hurried to the
safety of her room.
As Cort spoke softly and carefully to the inibriate, Lane took a
precautionary step backwards. She saw the stranger at the saloon entrance
and almost stopped breathing as he began to approach. She prepared herself
for the worst and was stunned when he looked boldy at her, but addressed
Cort. "Need a hand there, sheriff?" The lawman looked toward the voice
smiled. "Chris Larabee!" The men shook hands forcefully. "I was wondering
when you'd get here." Chris shifted his weight onto on foot. "I'm here
now." He nodded his head in Lane's direction. "Ma'am." Cort chuckled.
"Lane, this is an old friend of mine, Chris Larabee." Cort smiled. "We've
gotten out of some pretty tight jams together. Chris, this is Lane
Masterson." Lane felt a twinge of apprehension at the stanger's gaze. She
pressed close to Cort's side and nodded. "Mr. Larabee." She didn't like the
way he looked at her. Like he knew her. She raised to her tiptoes and spoke
into Cort's ear. "We'll pick up later." She threw a stinging look to
Larabee. "When it's not so crowded." And with that, she walked toward her
room, leaving both men confused and bewildered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lane watched from the darkened street until Larabee left the sheriff's
office. Straightening her gun belt on her hip, she made her way to the
building and slowly opened the door. The glow of the lantern light
added to the allure of the sheriff.
"Hey, Lane," he said, never once looking up from the paperwork spread
across his desk. She swallowed hard. It's a bet, Lane. Just a bet, she
reminded herself as she walked across the floor, trying to mimic the
movements of
the saloon girls. Half way to him, she gave up on the illusion and plopped
onto the corner of the desk, her normal personality resurfacing.
"Hey there, Cort." She grinned as he looked up and smiled. "Shoot
anybody tonight?"
Cort chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Nah, but the night's not
over yet."
Lane moved closer to him, noticing the steamy look in his eyes. "Listen,
Cort, I want to apologize for running off on ya like I did."
He looked down, a boyish expression spreading across his face.
"Understandable. Some things are best left to two people when they're
alone."
Noting the perfection of the timing, she slid from the desk to sit
seductively on his lap, entwining her arms around his neck.
"Well, we're alone now, lawman." Slowly, she moved her lips to his and
kissed him gently, letting the passion swell. She knew she would have
him wanting her. She knew she would feel his desire. She knew she would
seduce him. There was just one thing she didn't count on. Her body's
reaction
to him. The heat that ignited in her stomach quickly spread to the most
intimate parts of her being. Her tongue moved with his in an erotic
dance of sensuality. As his hands began trailing her arms, legs, and hips,
she
felt herself drowning ... beginning to lose control. With a sudden movement,
she jerked her head away and looked him dead in the eyes. "Holy shit," she
breathed.
Cort's eyes went from to confused, to understanding. A smile tugged at
his lips. "Don't fight it. Just let it happen."
Lane moved carefully off his lap, eyes never once leaving his. "Oh,
it's gonna happen, sheriff." She smiled provocatively. "Just not tonight."
She patted him on the cheek and turned to walk out the door, reveling in her
ability to control the situation. But she was stilled at the sound of his
voice.
"Lane, if I wanted you that way, I'd have you. NOW. But when we're
together, there's no control gonna be had. Just you and me and complete
abandon."
She closed her eyes, squared her shoulders, and walked out the door.
Shit, she thought, I am in trouble!
************
The ring of spurs striking on the warn floor boards followed Lane into
their shadowed room. She slammed the door closed behind her. "Hell fire and
damnation!"
Grabbing the hat from her head she flung it on the sagging mattress.
"Trouble! That's
what I said all right. They're nothing but trouble, men. And now here I go
feeling
this ... this ...oh whatever the hell it is, for a sheriff no less. Might as
well let Em stick
dynamite between my ears and just get it over with!" she shouted at the walls
as she
paced the small confines of the room. Her hands shoved into her hair and
rubbed at her
scalp in aggitation."OK, Lane. You always got it figured out, so now what?"
A light knock at the door interrupted her rambling. "What?" she shouted
at the intruder.
"Ma'am, the bath you asked for," a small voice replied.
Lane jerked the door open and stared that the skinny waif of a girl on
the other side. "What about it?" she replied, her voice softening so as not
to unduly
frighten the girl.
"The tub's right out here if you could help me drag it in and I have the
heated water too." The girl motioned to the two steaming buckets beside the
door.
"Sure," Lane agreed, stepping from the room.
"My name's Mary Sue. The tub's right over there." She pointed to a
slatted wooden tub leaning against the wall near the stairs.
Lane took one end of the rickety wood vessel and Mary Sue took the
other. Lane had just begun to maneuver the tub through the door when rough
hands snaked around
her waist from behind, another hand coming up to close over her mouth.
"Now what have we got us here?" a drunken male voice asked from behind.
" Looks like an awful good time to me," came a second slurring voice.
"Virgil!" Mary Sue screamed. "You best let go of her. She gets loose and
she'll take your head clean off. She ain't no whore!"
A round of lewd laughter came from the two men. "We'll just see about
that"
******
Emma worked at the knots in the mare's mane. It soothed her nerves,
keeping her hands busy. Her mind continued to drift back to Larabee. The dark
form
of a man stared down at her in her mind's eye. The intensity of his eyes
nearly burned a person
from the inside out. She was distracted as the big black in the stall next to
her
began shuffling restlessly, blowing great lungs full of air as its ears
pricked up. It
was then that Em heard the distinct sounds of spurs. They weren't at all like
Lane's,
light and quick with a pleasant jingle as she walked. Instead, they were
heavy with a wide
gait. There was no pleasure to the sound. It was a warning that echoed in the
still livery. A warning Em realized to late. Larabee moved along the row of
stalls.
Em eased back into the shadows praying she went unnoticed. There was no
doubt that Larabee could turn a woman's head more than once. Em had certainly
learned that
quick enough. For as much as her heart yearned for Cort, the man she dreamed
of, the
center of girlhood fantasies, Larabee was much more. The sight of him made
her blood pound
through her veins centering at he core her femininity.
"You gonna hide back there all night?" came Larabee's deep voice, as he
offered the black a palm full of oats.
Looking over his shoulder, he waited for Em to show herself.
************
Lane struggled against the filthy hands that held her tight against the
doughy body at her back. She almost to gag at the noxious smell of the two
men.
"I get her first," the one the girl had called Virgil said. His beefy
hand slid upwards along her rib cage.
"You ain't either! I'm gonna get the sheriff," Mary Sue yelled.
"I don't think you are little girl. He gets her and I reckon I'll take
you." The slimmer of the two men snagged the girl's arm pulling her to him.
The girl opened her
mouth and released a wild shriek.
"Shut her up Horace. She's gonna bring the whole town runnin," Virgil
barked.
"God damn it, I'm tryin but she's as slippery as a sow," Horace shot
back.
Lane used their distraction to her advantage. She bit down viciously on
the hand covering her mouth, tasting the vile saltiness of the man's warm
blood.
Her teeth sank deep into his flesh. He howled in pain shoving Lane away from
him. Hitting
the rough plank wall opposite Virgil she spun, the peacemaker was already
clasped steady in
her hand. Raising the sleek black barrel she leveled it at the man's head.
Suddenly Mary
Sue's screams died away and were replaced with the unmistakable sound of a
pistol's hammer
being drawn back.
Lane cut her eyes in the direction of the other attacker and there he
stood, Cort. His eyes came to rest on her in the same moment. " You OK? They
hurt you?"
he asked, his voice filled with heart felt concern.
"We're fine." Lane responded, nodding her head at Mary Sue. The girl
launched herself at Lane wrapping her arms around her middle. Slowly Lane
lowered her
revolver, returning it to the snug holster at her hip. Lane then enfolded the
girl in a
reassuring embrace. "It's OK honey, they're not gonna hurt ya now" Lane
smiled. "For a little thing
you sure are brave."
"Leave. Get outta my town. Your days of terrorizing town folks is over
Virgil. I see ya here again I'll shoot you where ya stand," Cort told the
slovenly man with a
voice as hard as forged steel.
Lane watched the tension in his body slowly draining away as the two men
scurried outta site down the stairs.
"I'm gonna make sure they leave town," he told Lane, following after the
men down the stairs.
Lane brushed mousy brown hair out of the Mary Sue's eyes. "I should
take you home and explain to your folks what happened."
The girl dropped her eyes to her feet and shifted uncomfortably under
Lane's probing gaze.
"Mary Sue, where's folks?" Lane asked, a strong suspicion growing
as the girl avoided looking directly at her.
"I don't have no family. My pa's dead. Mr.Herred shot him for butcherin
a range steer. Said he was rustlin his stock but it weren't true." Mary Sue
said in sad desperation.
Lane's heart opened for the briefest of seconds and she was lost. The
fragile spirit of Mary Sue touching her in a way she never thought possible.
She had the unreasonable urge to shelter and protect the girl.
"Where do you stay then?" Lane asked, dreading the answer.
"I stay in the back room of the saloon. I work for my meals." Mary Sue
smiled, proud of her accomplishment. "I best get back to".
"Oh no you're not! How would you like to stay up her with me and my
sister?" Lane asked.
"Really? You'd let me?" excitement shinning bright in the young girl's
gaze.
"Sure. Now help me get this in the room." Lane picked up one coarse side
of the tub laughing as Mary Sue began to hum contentedly.
After settling the tub in the middle of the room she sent Mary Sue to
gather her things from the saloon. Her thoughts went to Em as she poured the
buckets of
temperate water for her bath. She had know idea how Em was gonna take the
addition to their sisterly
duo. But no matter. She couldn't turn her back on the child. Quickly
removing her dusty
clothes she slid into the steaming water. She closed her eyes letting her
head fall back to
rest against the hard wooden edge of the deep basin. The relaxing water
worked it's magic and
she drifted into a light slumber. Cort's image drifted in and out of her mind
as she hung
suspended between dreams and the world beyond. A quick rap at the door
brought her back
to the present. Thinking that it was only Mary Sue returning with her
belongings she
called. "Come on in. No need to knock." She stood from the tub the cooling
water leaving her body chilled.
Cort smiled at the warm honeyed sound of her voice, more relaxed than
he'd had the pleasure of hearing before. His hand closed around the door's
knob and
turned. The smile died on his lips instantly as he stepped into the room.
Desire
poured through him settling in the swelling flesh of his shaft. His eyes
drank in the
sight of her wet body glistening in the lamp light. Deep green eyes dropped
to the
tiny droplets of water that slid between Lane's rounded breasts. Cort's
tongue flicked
from his mouth to lick at his lips, nearly able to taste the drops that slid
to the small
indention of Lane's stomach. Lower still and his eyes were greeted with a
dark auburn thatch
of hair that hid her feminine core. The thudding rhythm of his heart could be
felt all the
way to the soles of his feet. His eyes traveled slowly back up her body,
their eyes
locking in surprised fascination.
Lane had been horrified for the fraction of a second it took her to
realize it was Cort standing in the doorway and not Mary Sue. But the feeling
was quick to
leave as she knew this moment was inevitable. Maybe not the way she had
thought of it
but here it was. She watched as his eyes devoured her body, caressing with a
single
glance. And there was no doubt the effect it had on him. The protrusion at
the front of his
trousers told the story. She wanted to feel him, taste him. She wanted all of
him
with and urgency she had never felt. And then their eyes met.
************
Em took a shuttering breath and stepped around her mare, not sure what
to expect from the brooding figure of Larabee.
"I wasn't hiding. I was just waiting for you to leave so that I may once
again enjoy the solitude," she sighed, feigning indifference.
"Looked like hidin to me," Larabee replied, a smug smile tugging at his lips
as he
turned to her. "Just can't figure out why."
"I already told you. I WAS NOT HIDING," she hissed, color rising to her
cheeks.
Larabee shrugged."I know what ya said. And I know what I saw and the two
don't fit."
His devilish grin seeped into the lush green orbs of his eyes. Withdrawing a
dark cheroot from
his shirt pocket, he put a match to it and the smoke trailed from his lips as
the glowing end of the cheroot came to life in
an orange glow.
Em waited for him to continue, shifting nervously in the circle of his gaze
from one foot to
the other.Tortoure. He was torturing her on purpose. Leaving her hanging on
his every word.
Making her wonder what was running through that shaggy blonde head.
"Well, if you're going to be a while, I should be leaving. It's not proper
for us to be alone
at this time of the evening in a livery," Em said, squaring her shoulders for
a graceful retreat.
She hadn't gotten more than a few steps when his voice washed over her,
leaving her with a
sinking dread.
"I've seen ya before. I don't know where. I don't know when, but I've sure
the hell've seen
ya before. That's a face that ain't easy to forget" His laugh was short and
cool. "A mystery I
look forward to solving. And soon"
Lane's tongue moved across her lips, moistening the sudden dryness there.
She had been with men before, but never had she felt this heated rush ...
this absolute need to be taken NOW. Her eyes fixed on his as she quickly
began unbuttoning his shirt. Tossing it onto the floor as if it were no more
than a cleaning rag, she slid her hands under the half unbuttoned longjohns
he wore, eager to connect with his sensual skin. Velvety hard. That was the
only way she could describe it. Rippling hard muscles covered by a smooth
layer of beautiful skin dusted with male hair over his chest. She was going
crazy! She began to frantically tug at the fastens of his trousers. She
moved them down until the barrier of his boots prevented them from sliding
off completely. Cort chuckled at the disappointment in her eyes. He slowly
moved to the edge of the bed and began to remove the boots. Lane moved to
press her breasts against his back, unwilling to release any of the physical
contact they shared. With the boots thrown in the corner, he stood and
slowly shed the remaining underclothes. She scanned his beautiful body, her
eyes widening as they locked on the swollen member that seemed to be growing
even more. Holy shit, she thought, how can it ever work? He seemed to read
her mind as he moved to her with catlike motions. "It's all right," he
breathed into her ear as his body covered hers, his hard shaft pressing
against the softness of her stomach. "I'll be slow and easy." She wanted to
scream No, I can't wait, but her words caught in her throat as she felt his
body slowly entering hers. She breathed in a deep intake of breath as her
body began to stretch allowing entrance to the hard, thick member. She
arched her hips to bring him more deeply into her, not able to conceive the
length of him. Would he never fully inside her? And then she felt it. That
glorious moment when he penetrated her fully, almost reaching to the other
side of her. "Slow and easy," he said with a smile. Then it began. His
hips moved rhythmically and began a dance of passion and sexuality. His
lips, his mouth, his legs, his thrilling hardness all combined to throw her
into an orgasmic frenzy that only he could produce. In a moment sweet and
erotic simultaneously, the two behaved in an almost animal fashion ending as
Lane arched her hips to feel every particle of his seed filling her with warm
liquid, sensual liquid. He held in a growl as he body pumped into hers over
and over, until they both fell, sweaty, panting, and completely sated.
"Lane," he whispered, "you're perfection." As he nuzzled her neck, she
closed her eyes. Shit, she thought. What the hell have you done, woman?
**********
Emily moved to the darkened ally beside the stairs leading to the room she
shared with Lane. She leaned against the wall for support as her mind
reeled. How was she going to go through with this bet? Try as she may to
keep her mind on the beautiful and mysterious man of her dreams, the man of
her fantasies kept intruding. She slowly moved up the stairs. As her hand
went to the knob, she heard her sister's voice. She froze as she realized it
was followed by the deep richness of a male voice. His voice. Sweet Jesus,
she did it. Her sister bedded Cort. She let herself fall to the top step,
tears forming in her eyes. What am I going to do? What in the name of all
that is good and holy am I going to do now? She buried her head in her hands
and sighed in frustration.
Lane woke thinking she had heard someone at the door, self conscious
about being discovered with Cort. But the quiet of the room remained and
she relaxed, drowning in her own thoughts. The bet had been won. She
should feel smug and self assured. But instead, she felt guilty and
confused. Being with Cort wasn't supposed to feel this good, this safe.
The fact that it did shook Lane to her very core.
Run, Lane! Run. That's easiest. At least it'll be true to form for you,
the voice in her head screamed. She could, she knew she could. "Just
saddle my horse ride outta this town and never look back," she
whispered.
It wouldn't be the first time love had spooked her enough to leave a
future behind. She'd never even confided that to her sister but there
had been one other. The one in Four Corners. Larabee's friend, the
tracker, Vin Tanner. But she hadn't given him much of a chance either.
She'd reasoned he would be her down fall and she couldn't let that
happen. It wouldn't have been fair to Em. But the truth was she was just
plain scared, scared to love, scared to be loved. So, she had run out on
Tanner and never looked back, not until tonight. Cort stirred in the bed
next to her and she ran her hand reverently across his chest, feeling
his strong steady heartbeat.
"What's got you looking so worried," Cort asked in his soft, southern
drawl, his hand gliding across her naked hip.
"Life," she simply answered staring into the deep green of his eyes.
"To much of it, or not enough. Sorta a hard thing to think on."
"Lane, it can't be that bad." He suddenly had the sinking feeling there
was a hidden meaning in her words. That there was something she was
hiding and hiding well.
"You have no idea," she whispered, easing from the bed. "I think you
should be goin. You can't stay here all night. That little girl will be
comin back real soon. Seems I've picked myself up a stray."
"You wanna know what I think, Lane? I think you're the stray. I've seen
your kind before, always looking for something but afraid to actually get
their hands on it." He growled, stomping his foot into his boot and grabbing
his gun belt from the end of the bed. He strode towards the door but at the
last moment paused and turned moving back to her. His lips crushing
hers in a soul searing kiss. A kiss Lane felt all the way to the tip of
her toes.
As Cort kissed her his hand caressed the softness of her golden cheek.
His thumb followed her jaw line to her ear. And there, just out of
sight was a small jagged scar. Cort's thumb traced its contour,
finding it a small endearing marking that was unique to Lane.
He was lost and he knew it. It had started with that first look outside
on the boardwalk, and his life had tumbled out of control with no hope
for being the same without her.
*******
Silent tears tumbled down Em's cheeks as she set at the top of the
dilapidated stairs. Her fingers twisted in the gingham of her day
dress and she fought against the bile that rose in her throat as her dreams
of Cort were torn to shreds. "Why did I agree to that stupid bet? Why,"
she sobbed, wanting to erase it all. Erase the bet, erase the memory of
Cort, and the hurt that sliced through her heart. The sound of footsteps
on the other side of the door sent Emily racing down the stairs and into
the shadows of the alleyway.
Cort glanced over his shoulder as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Lane took center stage in his head, fire and ice all rolled into one
amazing women. He turned with a sigh cinching his gun belt tight across
his hips.
Em held her breath hoping that Cort didn't turn in her direction. She
wanted to look away so as not to see the sated desire the clung to him
like a second skin. But try as she might she couldn't force her eyes
away from his silhouette. She'll only toss you aside, he ached to
scream, to warn him. She loved her sister but she knew any man that got
too close would end up burned by her. And the thought of Cort meeting
that fate was nearly her undoing. She watched him cross the ally and
head in the direction of the jail. She bolted from the dark recess of
the ally and down the boardwalk, running blindly. Her flight ended in
the last place she expected, the livery. She jerked the heavy door open and
rushed inside, only to be met by the ominous sound of a gun's hammer
being cocked.
Larabee had heard the foot falls far before his visitor reached the
livery. Taking up a defensive position near the door, he waited. In his
line of work he knew he could never be to careful. Hell, a moment's
carelessness meant death and he'd learned that from experience. Friends
had come and gone in such moments, leaving Larabee to wonder what
separated their lives from his. What made him worthy of living and their
lives extinguished like a low burning candle. Fate? Funny thing fate,
how it never quite touches you till you least expect it. Larabee never
put much stock in it. He believed what he could see, touch, and smell,
plain and simple. Until the cloud of auburn hair rushed through the
livery doors. His gun raised and cocked before he even realized it. Then
it suddenly hit him. This woman, the mystery of her, the light and shadows
she created in his mind. It hit him like a well aimed slug. He knew her,
dreamed of
her. Suddenly months passed by in the blink of an eye. It was Tanner that had
first noticed her in Four Corners, the usually shy tracker taking it in
his head that he wanted her. But what Vin didn't realize was that Chris
had a healthy appreciation for the girl, too. Now, as he looked at her
tear stained face, he saw she was a little older, a little more refined,
a woman instead of a girl.
He holstered his revolver as instinct seized him. His eyes locked with hers
and with lightening speed his arm snaked out grabbing Emily around the
waist. He pulled her hard against him so that not an inch separated their
bodies. His lips gravitated towards hers forging an unbreakable bond
in the space of a kiss.
Emily was shaken to the soles of her feet as Larabee's arm crushed her
to him. Her heart threatened to burst at the first feel of his tongue
seeking entrance to her mouth. She opened to him willingly, knowing she
shouldn't. She should at least protest but her limbs seemed forged from
steel. No matter the roar in her head to bring this encounter to an end,
her body wouldn't do her bidding. Instead, her arms entwined around his
neck, clinging to him as if he might disappear at any moment.
Calloused hands glided along Emily's rib cage as she grew bolder, her
lips pulling and sucking at Chris' invading mouth. The taste of sweet
brandy clung to his mouth, exciting her all the more. Her hands slid
down his muscular torso to the hollow of his back pulling the black
cotton shirt he wore from the waistband of his trousers. Chris had
waited too may lonely nights to have this woman in his arms but he had to
know, know if she wanted him. He lifted his head from hers.
"I'm not good with fancy words so I'm just gonna say this plain out. I
want you, have since the first time I laid eyes on you. But if you won't
have me say so now and I'll walk away." He waited, staring into her
confused eyes.
"Really? Me? You wanted me?" A hopeful smile complimented the perfection
of her oval face.
"Yeah, nights are hell just thinking about you."
"I ... I want you, too. More than anything I've ever wanted," she replied.
The image of Cort hovered at the edge of her mind, calling her a liar.
But looking at Chris, it suddenly didn't matter. Cort wasn't the man she
had thought him to be. She could learn to except that. And tonight she
would take the first step in that journey. Bold with Chris' declaration,
she stood on her tip toes, her lips gently glided across his. She grew
restless wanting the passion he had promised moments earlier.
Chris needed no other encouragement as he lifted Em off her feet, arms
wrapped around her waist. He carried her to a nearby stall filled with
fresh sweet smelling hay. Their lips
worked feverishly at each other.
In the dim light of the stall Chris' nude body rested between Em's
silken thighs. His tongue lapped at the tight pebble of her nipple in
the same instant that his palm caressed the underside of the milky
globe. Em arched her back bringing his mouth more fully against her. A
knowing smile graced Chris' face as he moved across the valley of her
breast to give equal attention to the twin mound. Squeezing gently he
pulled the nipple into his mouth, rolling the tight bud between his
lips. Em suppressed the urge to beg him for more as her body burned with
need, a need that eluded her, without a name, without a purpose. But a
need that ached to be filled.
Chris' hands slid between them to her opening and slowly pressed inside.
His head spun as her hot wetness coated his fingers. He began pushing
the digits in and out of her rubbing his thumb across the sensitive
button above her opening. Within the space of seconds she was withering
beneath him, her sheath clutching his fingers tightly. As her climax
began to ebb Chris' entered her with one hard thrust.
Em felt as is she was being ripped in half, the pain between her thighs
much worse than anything she could have imagined. Blood flowed into her
mouth as she bit down hard on her lower lip to keep from crying out. If
Chris hadn't noticed her pure gift then she certainly wouldn't be the
one to draw his attention to it. And then, ever so slowly the pain vanished,
replaced by the amazing feel of the man that rode her, bringing her to
the brink of ecstasy once more.
Chris's drove into her tight interior with a frenzy he felt to the very
depths of his soul. He marked her body by claiming it with each stroke.
Her muscles pulsated around him, squeezing him almost painfully. His
head fell to her shoulder as he plunged into her eager body one last
time before spilling the warm thickness of his seed into her waiting
womb.
Chris dressed quickly in an attempt to spare her the embarrassment of
being discovered in such a compromising position. The livery was much to
public a place to linger long. He wanted her in his room all to
himself. He glanced at her just before she smoothed her dress back in
place and couldn't miss the crimson stain that smeared across her inner
thighs. Larabee froze, confused at what he had seen. Tanner had been with
Lane, he'd known that, practically walked in on them once. But the woman
he'd made love to was obviously a virgin. No matter how he tried to
reason it out, there was no explanation for what he'd seen.
"Larabee, you in here?" Cort called peering through the darkness.
"Yeah. Be right there," Chris answered, rushing to button his shirt. His
eyes shifted to Emily. Then he realized, she had appeared with Cort earlier
outside the saloon. Her clothes very similar to what she had worn
while in Four Corners, but now here she was all soft and feminine. He had to
wonder if he had walked right into another Tanner situation. But his
curiosity would be fatefully unsatisfied.
***********
Lane wiped away the salty tears that slipped down her cheeks and onto the
pillow below her. Cort's words had cut deeper then she thought possible.
Everything he had said was right. She was afraid, afraid of herself
most of all. A soft sob broke from her throat and the girl pressed
snugly against her back stirred.
"Did I wake you up," Mary Sue sleepily asked.
"No, Hon. Just go back to sleep. Everything's gonna be okay."
The girl pressed herself more securely against Lane's back, if that were
possible, and hugged her as best she could. "I love you," Mary Sue
whispered.
TBC
Emily chewd at her full bottom lip as she lay on the old bed and thought
back. Memories flooded her mind as she became sixteen again.
She was in the loft listening to the even breathing of her sister in the bed
next to hers. Suddenly, she heard hoofbeats. Then a loud knock at the door.
The voices that followed seemed anxious, almost desperate. One voice
belonged to her father. The other, she did not recognize. Curiousity
engulfed her. She eased off of her bed and padded quietly to the edge of
the loft, looking between the wooden rails. She could hardly contain a gasp.
The man in front of her father looked beautiful, rugged, mysterious, and
desperate. She craned forward a bit more to hear better.
**********