by Vanessa Vale
That led me to wonder if she could track me down, why the hell couldn’t the colonel? Instead of waiting for us to escape with the money and ambushing us out on the prairie, this could have been finished last week if only those men would get their heads out of their asses. But no. They wanted proof. Stolen money. They wanted it neat and tidy, ready for them to claim they captured the notorious outlaw themselves. While the copper kings were willing to pay handsomely for Benson, they weren’t willing to get their hands dirty. So I stood at the window watching for the sheriff.
I wanted to grab Lily into my arms and carry her right out of the bank, right down the street and not stop until no one knew me, no one knew us and we were safe. Alone. I wanted to grab her into my arms and hug her and kiss her, breathing in her perfect scent.
“Open the safe!” Benson shouted, and I looked away from Lily. I gripped the gun in my hand so hard my knuckles were white.
He, Morgan and Crumb were energized and eager for this heist. That meant they were wound up enough just to kill someone for the hell of it. I couldn’t just stand in front of Lily protecting her. If they knew she belonged to me, everything would turn to fucking hell.
I went over to the window that faced the street, keeping Lily in my periphery. I wanted to go over to her and shield her with my body, but I couldn’t let the men know she was known to me. I couldn’t sure as fuck let them know she was my wife. I really did watch what was going on outside, for if the sheriff appeared, he might come in and shoot us all, perhaps hitting Lily in the process. We had to pull off this robbery and I had to help.
There were two tellers behind the counter and one customer besides Lily. All three were male; all three were quite pale and sweating. This was clearly their first robbery. Lily, however, was calm and while nervous—I saw her fidgeting from foot to foot—she was not the least bit surprised. Had she been sitting in the fucking bank all day waiting? How the hell did she get to Bozeman? Where the fuck was Dr. Bower? Jesus, that woman roamed the territory as if she were a queen.
When I got her alone, I swear I’d spank that attitude right out of her. Then I’d fuck her. I’d fuck her so hard she’d forget she lived in the territory.
“Pike! Get yer head out of yer ass and keep watch.”
Benson’s growl had me looking back out the window. I gritted my teeth against the need to rip the man limb from limb. No, shoot the bastard in the back. I glanced outside. No lawmen.
Crumb whooped when the safe opened and they spent a minute filling bags. While distracted, I glanced at Lily, who was staring right back at me. She arched one delicate auburn brow and I narrowed my eyes in return. When I got my hands on her… She, of course, narrowed her eyes right back. God, she was so fucking prickly without even talking.
The outlaws came around the counter and Benson waved the gun at the single customer. “You, you’re coming with us.”
The man’s eyes widened in fright and his lips thinned. Sweat trickled down his brow.
“No,” I said, before thinking. The three men whipped their head toward me. I tilted my chin toward Lily. “Her. If we’re taking a hostage, I want her.”
Lily’s mouth fell open and I heard a little squeak escape.
Benson took a step in her direction, but I beat him to Lily’s side. I gripped her arm and yanked her into me. I couldn’t be gentle, couldn’t lean in and kiss that plump lower lip I knew was soft and lush. I refused to revel in the feel of her soft curves pressed against my side. I had to fake disinterest in her as my wife, but interest in her as a woman I wanted to kidnap and enjoy.
“Good thinking. We could enjoy a pretty piece like her.”
I shook my head slowly and eyed Benson. “I like red hair. I’ve been waiting for a woman just like her.” I tugged on one of her curls, leaned in and sniffed it.
Lily cried out in surprise, then stepped back, but yelped when I still held onto her hair.
“This woman, hell, she’s my prize for helping you.” Grabbing the neat bun at her nape, I tugged on it, arching her long throat. She gasped and I remembered how she sounded the first time I entered her tight pussy. I leaned in and sniffed again and I swear I almost came. I could see her pulse thrumming.
“Get your filthy hands off me!” she cried, pushing against me. She was quite an actress and my cock seemed to enjoy her pretend struggle. It was something we might have to try, when I got her alone and guns weren’t being waved around—this whole outlaw and prisoner play. Hell, it might not be all that pretend since I was planning to tie her to our bed and keep her there.
The men chuckled at her fight.
“She might be a little wildcat, but I don’t share,” I said the last through clenched teeth.
“I’m not going to fucking argue with you about a stiff and frigid miss standing here. If you want her, bring her.”
Benson stormed out, the others following and I had no choice but to drag Lily after me. Now what the fuck was I going to do?
CHAPTER EIGHT
LILY
I’d never been in a bank robbery before and had to admit it was quite exhilarating, although the only reason I thought so was because Jack was there. Otherwise, it was a terrifying incontinence-inducing nightmare. I’d waited on Bozeman’s main street for over two hours, watching for Jack to come. I knew he would, for I was very sure of my investigation. In the past few weeks, I wasn’t the only Matthews who could play the detective. While Jack had grown a beard and his hair was overlong, I knew him anywhere. From the way his shoulders were back to the way he sat on a horse, even the angle of his hat, I recognized him. I didn’t remain and linger on the boardwalk, but entered the bank just a few minutes ahead of them, taking a seat at a small bench. When a teller came out to offer some assistance, I fanned myself, pretending to take a moment to cool down as I waited for my husband. The man made the assumption that my husband was a customer of the bank who did not allow his wife access to funds without him, not one of the soon-to-enter bank robbers.
It happened quickly, too quickly, although my mind was completely distracted at the sight of Jack. It had been six damn weeks and my body came alive being in the same room with him, even with guns waving in the air. When the outlaws argued over a hostage and Jack had grabbed me, I’d been momentarily stunned. It had been Jack’s rough handling that made me remember myself. I’d feigned anger and upset, and Jack had forced me—I went willingly so there wasn’t much true force—out into the late afternoon sunshine. He’d lifted me easily, unceremoniously dumped me upon his horse and climbed up behind me. I had barely time to set my dress to rights before we were moving.
As Jack had pointed out, I liked to chatter when nervous so I intentionally bit my lower lip to keep silent. I just reveled in the feel of his arms about me as he held the reins, although I had no idea where we were going. I’d half expected the cavalry, at least the town sheriff to be waiting outside for the outlaws, but that was not the case. The street was busy, but surprisingly no one paid us much mind. I knew it wasn’t smart to bring notice to us, for I knew Benson was one to shoot people without reason.
Jack had always been gentle with me—except the second time he’d fucked me when I told him not to hold back—but he wasn’t now. I felt fury vibrating from where his body was pressed against mine. His arm shifted about my waist and he held me snugly as the horses picked up their pace at the outskirts of town. His palm was large enough so his thumb brushed the underside of my breast with each bounce.
He didn’t speak at all and I didn’t dare say a word.
Bozeman was well behind us and we’d cut across the open prairie, avoiding the trail that led from town to town and the railroad line. I looked around Jack’s solid body and didn’t see anyone following. Jack’s arm tightened about my waist, keeping me facing forward.
“Fuck her already,” Benson said as he slowed and Jack came up beside him.
Bert Benson looked just like his wanted poster, for I’d studied it the past few weeks. Just being in his presence I knew ther
e wasn’t a kind bone in his body. Just looking into his dark fathomless eyes gave me the willies. He was as big as Jack, with a burly physique and a disgusting habit of spitting out his chewing tobacco in the grass and using his sleeve to wipe up the dribble.
Benson looked me over and I felt dirty. It wasn’t play acting that I turned my head away from the man.
“She’s a much better hostage than a man. I’ve heard redheads have a hot nature.” He pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it at us. Jack stiffened and I turned my face into his chest, but I knew that would do nothing to shield me. “Let her down and we can all find out.”
Crumb and Morgan laughed. I heard the sound of tobacco juice being spit.
“Mmm,” Jack replied noncommittally. “I agree. Redheads are usually… prickly. You have to stroke them carefully.”
I stiffened at his words, especially the fact that Jack was agreeing with Benson. Jack had told me I was prickly before, even to my face. He’d said he liked me that way. As for stroking me, well, Jack knew how to do that quite well. I just didn’t want him to do it in front of Benson and his men.
“That gun is pointed at who, Benson, her or me?” Jack growled. “Put that away before you shoot either of us. If you shoot me, I won’t be able to help you with stealing that strongbox planned for the train to Salt Lake next week. If you shoot her, I won’t be able to fuck her.”
I dared a glance at the other men. Benson lowered his gun and looked to Morgan and Crumb. “We’ll keep her alive and we can all fuck her.”
I held my breath, waiting for Jack’s response. He shook his head. “I told you, I don’t share.”
I could feel the dark rumble of his words against my back. He wasn’t happy. Neither was I, for that matter. I had no intention of fucking the other men. That was not part of my plan. They were disgusting in every way.
“You should know that by now, since I didn’t join your little party with the brunette back in Townsend.”
Benson chuckled and I fumed. Morgan held up his cupped hands indicating the size of the woman’s breasts and Crumb grabbed his crotch. They’d been with whores in a saloon?
“True. I bet that blond you picked got worked real hard. I just wonder… is your pecker that small then that you have to hide it?”
Morgan and Crumb howled with laughter at Morgan’s barbed words.
I knew male posturing when I heard it and while I was sure Jack wanted to rip Morgan’s head off for threatening his manhood, he remained calm.
I, however, was just downright angry. I’d only seen his, but I was sure Jack’s pecker was bigger than those three men’s combined. Maybe that was why they had to share a woman for it to all add up. I knew better than to mess with a man with a gun, so I didn’t offer insinuations to such.
Jack stopped his horse. “If you want me to fuck the woman, I will.”
With too much ease, he lowered me to the ground and I glanced about. He was going to fuck me out in the open with these men watching? Not a chance. I shook my head and slowly backed away from them. I didn’t have to feign fear and embarrassment. I knew Jack wouldn’t hurt me, but I didn’t know his intentions. Was it better to be fucked with the men watching than risk dying?
The other men laughed. “She’s getting away, Pike. Think she can outrun you?”
Jack slid from his horse and stalked in my direction, his eyes dark and predatory, his scruffy jaw clenched. He was going to do it. He was going to fuck me. Now. I gulped, turned on my heel and ran, the other men’s laughter following me.
I heard Jack as he followed me, his boots heavy on the hard packed ground. His legs were so much longer than mine that he should have caught me quickly, but I made it further from the others than I expected before his hand gripped my arm, tugged me back into him. I screamed and struggled as I felt his hard cock against my lower back.
“This is where we part ways, Benson,” Jack called, turning himself so I was shielded by his body. “No matter the size of my pecker, I don’t fuck with an audience.” He stroked a hand over my hair. “‘Sides, you don’t want to have any part in this. She’s a witness and can’t be allowed to blab. One less body on your hands.”
I struggled again and Jack pulled me up into him, hard. Now, I faced the others. I knew Jack wasn’t going to kill me, but I was scared. If Jack didn’t talk the other men into leaving, they might want to fuck me too, or force Jack to kill me. For real. Seeing the others, even at a distance, made me remember how ruthless and sinister they really were. I thought of other women they may have raped and murdered out on the prairie.
“If I didn’t know you had a dick, I’d say you were as modest as a little girl,” Crumb commented.
“His pecker must be tiny,” Morgan added and all three of them laughed.
“I told you, Pike, redheads are little wildcats,” Benson commented, with a crusty laugh. He eyed me with complete dispassion. I was looking forward to knowing the man would hang. “Do what you want with her. We never saw a thing.” He spat a wad of chewing tobacco into the grass, his arm resting on the pommel of his saddle. “We were going to separate anyway. Now’s as good a time as any. We’ll meet up in Helena as planned.”
“Good,” Jack replied, nodding. “They’re going to be following our trail, so I’ll head south. Go find your own women in Helena, you’ve earned it.”
Crumb whooped and spurred his horse to the west, clods of dirt kicking up from his horse’s hooves. Morgan followed. With one last look, Benson tipped his hat to Jack, then joined the others.
Neither of us moved as the men got smaller and smaller on the prairie. Sure they weren’t going to turn around, I said, “They’re going to get away! You spent all this time hunting them down and you’ll just have to go after them again.”
I didn’t need Jack to leave this job unfinished. I was selfish and wanted him all to myself.
“You want them to stay?” he asked, releasing me, then turning to face me. He put his hands on his hips. “They’d rape you and then shoot you in the head.”
I realized he had a valid point.
“But—”
“They’ll be in custody before they reach Three Forks,” he added. “I was able to wire the colonel with the plans and they’ll be caught with the money red-handed. They’ll be rightly punished.” He released his hold on me and spun me around to face him. My hat, which had been so carefully set on my head, fell off into the tall grass. “As for you, you’re going to be rightly punished, too.”
I took a step back, then another, for instead of the happy reunion I’d envisioned, before me stood a furious version of my husband I’d never seen before. I gulped at the intensity of him. Had he always been so big?
“Punished? Why?”
He was walking forward as I retreated, but my question had him stop. “Woman, are you insane?” His voice boomed across the valley and surely the departing men would hear.
Tilting my chin up, I replied, “I married you, didn’t I? I’m thinking it’s certainly possible.”
With his long legs—damn them—he reached me before I could move away from him any further. He grabbed my hand and lifted it up.
“Where the hell is my ring?”
He’d been angry when he first saw me in the bank, but that had been nothing compared to how upset he was now. The tendons in his neck were corded and his eyes were narrowed. He looked ruthless and lethal.
I undid one button at the top of my dress, then another, reached in and tugged out the chain about my neck. Dangling at the bottom of it was his ring. Grabbing the gold necklace, Jack tugged hard and it broke. Ripping the chain from the ring, he tossed it behind him, unceremoniously lifted up my hand and worked the ring back onto its rightful place. It felt warm and heavy.
“Never take the ring off, Lily.”
I shook my head, for I could tell that this was important to him. Crucial. “I won’t,” I vowed.
“You take it off, I will find it and I will find you. You belong to me.”
I coul
dn’t have agreed with him more, so I replied with a simple, “Yes.”
He sighed, as if reassured once the ring was back where it belonged. “This ring says I’m your husband. I left you in Butte so that you would be safe.”
I tried to tug my hand away, but he wouldn’t relent. “You left me in Butte!” I shouted.
“To keep you safe!” he repeated. “I should have taken you back to your mothers’ ranch and let all those brothers-in-law you told me about watch you.” Dropping my hand, he walked in a circle, pacing in the tall grass. As he did so, he bumped the hat off his head and ran his hand through his dark hair, then down over the back of his neck. “Damn it, Lily. You think I wanted to leave you?”
“Six weeks.” I stomped over to him and started poking him in the chest. “You’ve been gone six weeks without even a word. You said you’d be gone two at the most.”
“I told you I had a job to do. I had no idea it would take so long. You promised you’d wait for me.”
I laughed, but my hackles were raised and it sounded somewhat maniacal. Perhaps, I was. “Yes, I promised I would wait for you because of your job. Robbing trains and killing people, Mr. Pike?”
“Do you honestly believe that I would do something like—”
“No,” I replied, cutting him off with that one decisive word.
My reply must have surprised him, for I saw a flicker of doubt, of fear in his eyes.
“No. I don’t believe it. I did,” I admitted, “when I first saw it in the newspaper, but I had plenty of time to think. Weeks, in fact.”
