“Well, there is some other things about it, like a hog and some land.”
“A hog? Who would kill over a hog?”
“Well, you’ve got to understand that Randall McCoy is not as well off as ‘Devil’ Anse. He ain’t got as much money, and a hog ain’t cheap to buy. He said that Anse stole the hog, but the judge (who is Anse’s cousin) ruled that the hog was Anse’s, and later on, a Randall McCoy’s wife’s brother tried to steal some land from Anse. His brother was the judge in that one, and the McCoy’s lost. So they just broke down and started fighting like a cat in water.”
“Wow…I never realized all that was going on.”
“Really? It’s been all over the national papers.”
“I don’t read much, to be honest,” he answered.
“That’s fair enough.” The conversation came easily between the two of them, and by the time they reached the Hanged Man Saloon, they both were beginning to think that it wouldn’t be so bad getting to know each other. Coleman wonders silently to himself if this could really be the woman to settle down with. He doesn’t have that strange feeling in his gut when he is around her, and he finds her less-than-ladylike temper—despite her soft, very prim and proper exterior—extremely arousing.
Chapter 9: The Morning After
The next morning, Coleman and Sarah Anne awake to a loud banging on the door of their room in the Hanged Man.
“God dammit, Dave! I said I would shoot your ass if you woke me up again!” Coleman says, getting up from the floor where he slept last night.
“Dandy, this isn’t Dave! It’s Travis, and you’ve got to open the damned door! Now!”
“Travis?” Sarah Anne asked sleepily, lying in the “the barman from downstairs?”
“Must be,” Dandy answered himself as much as her. Dandy knows that it is not like Travis to bang on his patron’s room doors early in the morning. This is likely a first.
Opening the room door, Coleman sees that it is, in fact, the saloon’s front man, still in his bed clothes. “Travis…what the hell is going on?”
“Dandy, thank God!”
“What the hell, Travis?!”
“Something terrible has happened! Big Dave is dead!”
“What?! How could Big Dave be dead? I was just at his ranch yesterday!”
“I know! And if you had stayed much longer, you’d probably be dead too!”
“What the hell are you talking about, Travis?”
Travis spilled the entire story in a matter of mere seconds, he was talking so fast. After Coleman and Sarah Anne had left the day before, the Garret twins had arrived as scheduled. Big Dave had explained in detail to them what Coleman’s instructions had been, and sent them out to ride the range, each of them carrying a shotgun. Well, apparently, the Garrets had not paid attention to Dandy’s instructions, and tried to ambush the rustlers that were rounding up Big Dave’s cattle, and had gotten their heads blown off their shoulders for their troubles. Their bodies were at Dave’s ranch house, while their rented horses had run back to their normal stable in the seat of the county.
Worse still, it seemed as if the gang had tortured them before finally killing the boys, so they went to Big Dave’s house, and shot him in between the eyes while he slept cozily in his bed, killing him before he could wake. The animals had then taken his head off his body, and left it in the street in a burlap sack in front of the Hanged Man before the sun came up.
“There was a note,” Travis said.
“Oh?” Dandy said, grasping the door-frame of his room for support. Knowing that his only good friend in the entire world had been brutally murdered made his blood run hot, and all he could think of was finding the animals who had done this, and killing them.
“Yes…it was for you.”
“For me? What the hell?”
“It was folded up, and the outside of the folds had ‘Dandy’ Coleman S. Darby written on it.”
“Where is it?”
“Here,” Travis said, handing it over. Dandy opened the letter, and could not quite decipher the letter’s meaning. Turning to Sarah Anne, he asks, “Could you…”
“Help? Of course I can…here,” Sarah Anne responded, taking the piece of paper from Coleman. Clearing her throat, she begins to read aloud:
Dear Mr. Darby,
I hate that I had to introduce myself to you this way, but it was the only way I could be sure of your complete, unadulterated, rapt attention. You see, Dandy (I hope you don’t mind me using your nickname), I have a problem. I have a problem that begins and ends with you.
Sure, I could continue rustling cattle, and making quite a bit of money doing it. I, however, have dreams and ambition. I believe that I have the talent and skill to become a living legend: to be known nation and worldwide as the fastest gunfighter in the world. And this is where you come in.
You see, I have never had a signature opponent that will give me credibility in addition to notoriety. Sure, the odd county sheriff, Texas Ranger, or U.S. Marshal will stand and fight me, but most cower and run away. The biggest problem with normal lawmen is that they tend to be slower on the draw than outlaws. People like me. And this is where you come in.
The entire reason that I began rustling cattle in Coleman County, Texas was you. I knew that eventually your buddy (what was his name? Big Dave?) would eventually turn to you to get me off of his land, and away from his cattle. And he did not disappoint! He played his part, so I disposed of him (more on that later though). Those two boys who tried to ambush my guys last night, well, you know they were stupid for trying to take on the fastest gun in Texas with nothing more than a shotgun a piece.
All of this, to get at you. “Why?” you ask? Because you are the most feared gunman in six counties, that’s why! How can I become known as the fastest gun in all of Texas, if there is a thorn in my side that is known as the “fastest gun in Central Texas?” Of course, by killing you, the other gunmen in the state will be so fearful of me, that they will run the other way.
So…what do you plan to do? Either meet me in front of the courthouse in Coleman at two o’clock this afternoon, or be revealed as a coward. I doubt that you will do that, because (after all) I killed your only friend. That’s right, I only killed David to get you to face me. And if you don’t, that pretty little number that’s in your room right now will be the next to go. So choose wisely…
Sincerely and Most Cordially Yours,
Dr. Clifford J. “Doc” Dawson, M.D.
Sarah Anne looks over at Coleman, whose eyes are glued to the floor, at a loss for words. His best friend has already been killed, and Doc Dawson has already set his sights on her to be his next victim. Unless this man whom she just met is willing to lay his life down, and potentially be killed for her.
Sure, she dropped everything and came to Texas, looking for love like a child. This poor fellow has absolutely no reason to risk his life for her, however. Coming to Texas on a whim is no reason to actually risk your life…or is it?
Coleman is thinking fast about what move he should take. He knows that he wanted a chance at the $9,000 in reward money, and now, he has a scheduled chance in less than eight hours. And Big Dave is dead, which alone makes him want to kill Doc Dawson…reward or no reward. And then there is Sarah Anne. She stands no chance of escaping Coleman County if he doesn’t show up at two o’clock to face off with Doc. Sure, he feels absolutely no connection to her at this point in time, but he feels that it is his duty as a man to stand up for her.
“Well,” Dandy says, breaking the silence. “I suppose I should clean my guns.”
Chapter 10
The Showdown
According to Coleman “Dandy” Darby’s pocket-watch, Doc Dawson should be showing up in the main street in front of the courthouse in ten minutes or less. Both of his peacemakers have been thoroughly cleaned and oiled, and are resting in the holsters on his hips, ready for action.
Dandy feels that his entire life comes down to these last, precious moments before facing
off with Doc Dawson. His dreams as a young boy were to be the most feared gunslinger in Texas. To have his name whispered in the same breath as other famous gunmen. And here he stands on the precipice of greatness.
He has put on his top hat and double breasted vest over the white long-sleeved shirt again. He has not worn this ensemble since the days when he was riding with the rangers, six years ago.
At the far end of the street, Coleman can see the figure of his opponent approaching, on the back of a coal-black mare. Getting up and walking out into the street, he faces off with his opponent.
The first thing Coleman notices is how old Doc Dawson is. Sure, he was already a practicing surgeon by the time that the war broke out, making him no less than forty-nine years old. Wearing a black duster style coat and matching black velvet hat, he certainly looks the part of an outlaw. He parks his horse in front of the courthouse, and ties it off at the hitching post.
“So, you came, boy,” Doc says, without looking at Coleman. “How does it feel knowing that you are about to die?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” Dandy answers.
“Such hubris in the face of death,” Dawson answers, a note of amusement in his voice. “You must really think you stand a chance of ending me today. What made you come?”
“The promise of the money.”
“Ahh, that’s right…I hear that there’s a reward of $9,000 out there on my head. And that’s the only reason you came here today?” Dawson asks, finally raising his eyes and looking up at Dandy. Stepping out into the street, Doc is now less than ten paces from Dandy.
“No, but it certainly helped. What do you think I should spend it on?”
“A casket,” Doc replies, no longer hinting at a joke. The two men look at each other for a long moment, waiting for the other to blink, to move, to give a reason to draw their weapon.
Suddenly, Doc’s hand flies for his revolver, only to have the bullet from Dandy’s Colt .45 tear into the muscle of his right shoulder, tearing sinew, and shattering his bone. Quickly grabbing for his left hand pistol, Doc feels a second bullet from Dandy’s other Colt tear through the side of his neck, inflicting a mortal wound.
Still standing, however, Dawson manages to level his own weapon well enough to fire, but Coleman is too quick, diving to the left, and shooting out Doc’s left knee, sending him to the ground.
As Dr. Clifford J. “Doc” Dawson’s lifeblood is pouring out of the gaping hole in the side of his neck, he realizes that he never was the fastest gun in Texas…that title belongs to Coleman S. “Dandy” Darby.
Dandy walks over to survey his kill, and looks down into the eyes of his prey. Suddenly, a sharp burning pain registers just above his right knee, and he goes down to the dust, and he realizes that Doc is not yet dead, but is laying in the dust, suffering. Pulling his weapon out once more, he puts a third bullet into his quarry’s head…right between the eyes. I’m a rich, rich man he thinks to himself just before the pain causes him to lose consciousness.
Chapter 11
The Recovery
A week has passed since Dandy Darby rid Texas of the scourge that is Doc Dawson. Ol’ Dusty Simpson, the Marshal over in Brown County, had come over and verified the kill, and that Doc was wanted, dead or alive. Then a group of rangers from McCullouch County to the south had come and presented him with his reward money from the state, and the chairman of the G, C, & SF Railroad had brought him the reward money they had raised, all totaling $9,500, making Dandy a very rich man.
Additionally, they had found Big Dave’s will, and he had (very surprisingly) left his ranch house and 200 acres to Dandy, but had given the rest to his brother-in-law and sister, the parents of the young virginal girl who had been in Dandy’s bed the last morning of Dave’s life.
As a result of this, his possessions had been moved from the Hanged Man in Atoka to Big Dave’s place in Voss. Things were really looking up for Dandy, but there was one person who was not around him to tell him what she thought of these developments… Sarah Anne.
Truth was, Sarah Anne did not know how to feel about the man she had moved to Texas to marry. He is every bit as dangerous as the men she had known back in Kentucky and West Virginia, albeit much more attractive than they. Convinced as she was that she did not want to live a dangerous life, it was with complete conviction that she calls on Coleman in the bedroom of his new residence.
“Hey, Dandy.”
“Well, hello, darlin’.”
“We need to talk,” Sarah Anne says.
“Yes, we do,” Dandy answers her, sitting up in the bed to speak with her. “Please, sit on the bed.”
Sitting down at his behest, Sarah Anne begins to explain to Dandy that she does not think that any relationship will work out between them, and that she wants to go home. He listens intently, and finally says, “Well, that is a shame.”
“Shame? How so?”
“Because I’ve got a lot of time to think, laid up in this here bed. And one of the things I’ve been thinking about quite a bit is our life together.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. The sheriff stopped by yesterday, and he wants me to become a deputy. That has always been my dream, and I am newly rich, for having brought Doc down. I could give you a good life out here.”
“Why?”
“Well, isn’t that what you came out here for?”
“Well, yes,” she replies, frustrated. “It’s just that I don’t know if I can marry a man who lives such a dangerous life, like what you do.”
“Dangerous life? What are you talking about? This?” He asks, indicating the leg wound.
“Well, yes,” Sarah Anne responds.
“This almost never happens around here. We are a really quiet community. Most of what the sheriff does here is put the drunks in the cage long enough to dry up. And that’s only if they are causing a disturbance.”
“But it happened.”
“Yes. Once. Besides, considering that I kind of saved your life, I would have thought that you would be begging to marry me!” Dandy says with a playful grin.
“Coleman,” she says, “I just can’t stand all the violence that I’ve seen in my life. It’s why I was so ready to leave Kentucky, and I’ve only been here for two weeks, and..”
“Listen to me,” Coleman interrupts her. “Before you came down here, every woman I came around, all I could think about was how best to get her into my bed. What I could get out of her. How often I could get it. That isn’t the case with you. We’ve never once had relations with each other, and yet I’d rather be around you than any woman I have ever been with. Sarah Anne, I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Completely taken aback by his sudden declaration, she answers:
“I don’t know what to say…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he answers softly. “Just kiss me.”
Sarah Anne leans in and their lips meet for the first time, and they both feel as if there is some unknown force that is drawing them together again and again.
Coleman has always been most attracted to the fact that Sarah Anne is very different from the other women in the county, and now he likes it for a very pragmatic reason. Sarah is not wearing normal women’s clothing, but rather is wearing one of his own long sleeved shirts, and a pair of his pants (that she has hemmed to length). This allows him the ability to simply grab the front of the shirt, and pull the two halves of the shirt front in opposite directions, instantly revealing her magnificent breasts.
Sarah Anne lets out an unconscious exclamation of pleasure, “oh!” when Dandy takes one of her buds into his mouth, and begins to taste of her flesh, greedily savoring the moment, as he watches his lover writhe in his arms.
Moving to the next, he continues to stimulate her arousal by skillfully swirling his tongue, causing her bosom’s to further enlarge as she desires him more.
Suddenly, Sarah Anne pushes him back onto the bed, and expertly removes his trousers from his body in a matter of s
econds, freeing his manhood from the confines of his breeches.
As soon as he is free, she proceeds to tantalize the end of his member with her lips, before finally taking it into her mouth. Coleman is immobilized by the intense pleasure that he is receiving from his lover, as she continues to explore him with her mouth.
Finally, just as he is about to achieve a release, she stops, and in a commanding tone tells him that it is her turn. She removes her pants and undergarments, and lays down on the mattress, completely nude. Coleman leans over her, and begins to taste of her wetness, enjoying the sweet nectar that comes forth.
As he teases her button with his tongue, she begins to writhe with pleasure, and the extreme moistness that follows signals that she is about to have a release.
ROMANCE: Badass Boss (Billionaire Alpha Bad Boy Romance) (Western Mail Order Bride Calendar Contemporary) Page 54
