Double Jeopardy




PART 1:

The bright afternoon sun washed Helana Masterson's back in a blaze of swealtering heat. Reaching up, she wipped away the salty droplets of sweat that seeped from under her hat. She turned in the saddle, searching behind her for her companion.

"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."


PART 2:

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.

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.


PART 3:

Emily watched her sister leave, slowly exhaling the breath she hadn't know she had been holding. Chris Larabee was the lawman that had almost caught them that first time in Four Corners? She leaned her forehead on the neck of the chestnut mare she was brushing. It had been a long time ago and Emily had remained carefully hidden from the people of Four Corners. She had never seen the seven men who had been hired to keep peace there. Upon reflection, Helena had said their names quite often, but not having faces to remember, they had disappeared from her mind. She sighed. Why did this particular lawman have to be so hypnotic? And how was she supposed to concentrate on winning their bet?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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"


PART 4:

Cort watched in erotic fascination as Lane slowly stepped out of the wooden tub. Try as he might, he couldn't make himself move closer, the hardening of the bulge in his trousers causing an almost painful sensation. She seemed to understand. With a sensual smile on those full lips, she moved forward one step, then another, until she almost stealthily brought herself within his reach. That was all he needed. His arm quickly snaked around her waist, pressing her soft, damp body to the hardness of his chest and thighs. The feel of his rough clothes against her satin nakedness was a titillating experience for Lane. In an unabashedly wanton fashion, she wrapped her arms around his neck and devoured his lips ferociously, her tongue fighting with his for possession of the kiss. A noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl flew from Cort's throat as his mouth left hers and trailed down the graceful line of her neck. He covered her throat with passionate kisses until his mouth lowered. She shivered as his tongue flicked over the hard, pink peaks of her nipples. A low moan escaped her as his mouth hungrily dew in first on, then the other, until they were wet, stiff, and sensitive to even the air that surrounded them. Her hands began to roam his shoulders and his back, feeling the hardness of the muscles under the shirt he wore. His hands moved to the length of her thighs, and then to the sensual curve of her behind. In an instant, he lifted her to him, her legs straddling his waist as he carried her to the bed and unceremoniously laid her on the aging mattress. He knew he should be more gentle, more careful, but god he wanted her!

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.


PART 5:

The oil lamp on the rickety bedside table sputtered in the humid room casting shadows across the two slumbering bodies entwined around one another in the sagging ancient bed. A bet had been one and lost in the room, lives changed forever in the inexplicable way of love. A love unrealized, untested, but a strong an abiding love nonetheless.

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