Wanted: Dead or Alive

by Faye Byrd

  I grab her and pull her close again, so close we’re breathing the same air. “Oh, Josie, I’m so ready. More ready than I ever been before.”

  She rolls her eyes and answers with a small huff. “I meant, ya wound ain’t healed enough.” Her eyes glance to my lap then back to mine. “I can see other things are ready.” Her playful look and the twinkle in her eyes brings reality crashing back down around me.

  “Josie,” I groan. “Please don’t tease me that way.” I look down, afraid to see her face fall as I say my next words. “I’m a wanted man. I can’t let ya get close to me.” I look back into her beautiful green eyes. “Trust me, I want ya more than anythin’, but I can’t let myself have ya. I can’t let ya get dragged into my way of life.”

  Instead of looking pissed like I expect, she looks smug. She sits up straighter and crosses her arms over her chest, one brow hitched up high. “Maybe you should a thought ‘bout that ‘fore you got yourself shot and landed in my barn. As it is now, I’m guilty as you are.”

  I start shaking my head, desperate for her to listen to reason. “No, Josie. You ain’t guilty of nothin’. As soon as I’m able, I’m gone get out of here, and it’ll be like we never met. No one has to know ya ever laid eyes on me.”

  “No one but that man buried behind the barn,” she declares defiantly, that fire I love so much burning bright.

  My eyes get so big that I can feel the tension from their stretching on my cheeks. “What!” I attempt to jump up, but all that does is have me falling back in a heap of pain on my hay bed. “No, Josie, no. Please tell me it ain’t true,” I say through moans as I grip my wound, hoping against hope that I ain’t set back my recovery. I got to get away from here ‘fore I ruin her life.

  “What was I posed to do?” She shrugs. “He came here all demandin’, and I let him check the cabin, but when he started for the barn, against my protests mind ya, well, he got what such a nosy man deserved.” Her eyes are focused in the distance as if she’s picturing the scene as she tells it.

  My heart is bleeding for what I’ve done here, broken in two for the strife my presence has caused. Feeling so overwhelmed, I lay my head back and close my eyes in hopes of convincing myself I ain’t already ruined her life.

  Gentle fingers move over my wound. “Let me see if ya tore ya stitches, silly man. I don’t know what’s got you so frazzled, it’s not like I ain’t killed before. Any man who comes here thinkin’ he’s gone run roughshod over me, don’t live to tell about it.” Her fingers remove the bandage in a juxtaposition to her words. They’re soft and gentle as she probes my side looking for damage.

  Looking down, I see that it’s red and angry, but all the perfectly aligned stitches are intact. And they some pretty ones, too. I don’t think even Roy could’ve done a finer job. I watch her quietly as she rubs on some stinking ointment then carefully rewraps the bandages to keep out the dirt.

  When she no longer has that to occupy her, she finally meets my eyes again. “Nathan, tendin’ to you has been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. Please, promise me you won’t try and sneak away when I ain’t lookin’.”

  And I can’t deny her anything when she begs me that way. “I promise.”

  “Good.” She smiles and what a smile it is. It’s a smile I could live for. “Now, drink that whiskey and get a good night’s rest. Maybe tomorrow we can get ya moved into the cabin.”

  She plants a quick kiss on my cheek and then she’s up and out of there so fast I don’t have time to respond. I lay there with my mind going in circles over the mess I done created. And after I fall asleep; my dreams are filled with ways I can keep her; ways that I want her.

  Only they not dreams at all.

  They nightmares.

  Chapter Ten

  The Clincher

  NATHAN

  The next evening, with Josie’s help and against my protests, I get moved to a warm bed in her small home. What follows is the most sensual bath I ever had and that was just with a sponge. I can’t even imagine what she’d do if I could get into a tub.

  This woman is driving me mad. Her strong exterior don’t take no for an answer. She says what she wants and then she makes it happen as if I’m some puppet on a string. Tough outlaw Nathan King can’t even tell a mere woman no.

  Every day that passes brings me closer and closer to what I know is got to happen. My strength builds, but my weakness for her knows no bounds. All she’d have to do is ask and I’d stay here with her ‘til my dying days, and ‘round these parts, that ain’t gone be far off.

  We can’t just kill everyone who comes looking; eventually, someone’s gone get suspicious. The only way I know to save her is to leave her, and that thought alone destroys me. Every day I learn something new about her and each day, it’s better than the last.

  Not only is she fierce and brave, but she’s smart as a whip and cunning as well. She can easily shoot a gun half as good as me, and that’s saying a lot. Most men don’t fare that well. She’s everything a man like me could want … ‘cept for that pesky little outlaw part.

  Two weeks into my stay and I’m feeling almost one hundred percent. Josie took the stitches out three days ago and the scar’s holding tight. I’m able to ride Arrow without too much discomfort, and I can still draw faster than a normal man. All in all, I’m a healed man which means I got to break us both. There ain’t no other choice for me.

  I find her in the kitchen, taking a pan of bread out the cast iron oven. Something that smells like stew is a brewing on top. Circling my arms ‘round her waist, I place teasing kisses on her neck. “Smells mighty fine in here,” I say lowly in her ear, causing her to shiver.

  She turns in my arms with a hum. “Everythin’s perfect now that you’re in here. Ready to eat?”

  “Oh, I’m ready to eat all right.” I smirk and plant my lips on her exposed collar bone.

  She giggles and pushes me away. “That’s dessert, we need a have supper first, build up our strength.” She winks and goes to grab a couple bowls.

  When her back is turned, I can’t help but let my face fall. I won’t be making it to dessert. During supper, I intend to tell her I’m leaving. I know she’s gone kick up a fuss, but this is the one thing I have to stand firm on. Her life is worth more to me than anything, and if leaving her will save it, then that’s damn well what has to happen.

  She sets out the bowls filed with stew, and I guess my face isn’t as passive as I’d have liked ‘cause she moves to my side. “What’s goin’ on, Nathan? You ain’t lookin’ like a man who’s waitin’ on dessert.”

  I sit down and focus on the food before me. “Have a seat. We’ll talk while we eat.”

  “I can see your mind whirlin’,” she snaps, hand planted on that hip. “You already done moved away from me in your head, ain’t ya? Well, I got news for you, Outlaw Nathan King; it ain’t gone be that easy!” She slams down the pan of biscuits and snatches out her chair, huffing as she plops down.

  I meet her angry eyes. “Josie—”

  “Don’t you Josie me, you, you dirty rotten scoundrel.” Fire glints in her green eyes, but I also see torment. The same torment I’m sure is reflecting in my own. “You think you can decide whatever ya want and I’m ‘posed to just accept it. Well, you can forget that, mister! And if I catch ya tryin’ to sneak out in the middle of the night, I’ll shoot ya myself!”

  I get up and go to her, dropping to my knees at her side. “Please, Josie. Ya got to let me go.” I lower my head in her lap and grip her breeches-clad legs tight in my arms. This is the closest in my life I ever felt like crying. I can almost feel my eyes stinging.

  Her hand lands in my hair, soothing my weary soul. “I can’t,” she says, her voice cracking. “You were meant for me, Nathan King. And whatever that means, then so be it.”

  I nuzzle into her lap once more before raising my head. What I see there tears me to shreds. Tears are running down both cheeks, but her jaw is set, hard, unrelenting.

  She ain’t ba
cking down.

  Knowing I got no other choice, I prepare to say the words that’ll break us both.

  To save her, I got to hurt her.

  I clench my jaw and ready myself to spew the most blasphemous lie I ever said, but before I can get the words out, hoofbeats thunder outside.

  Josie jumps up. “Stay here,” she orders, leaving the room with her double barrel already in hand.

  Knowing those men are here for me, I attach my holster and sling my shotgun over my shoulder. Sneaking out the kitchen door, I take up a spot where I can eye what’s going on with Josie.

  I can’t make out what’s being said, but I can tell by her posture that she ain’t happy. She’s still got her double barrel aimed at the lead guy, not relaxing her stance one bit. When I notice one of the latter guys twitch toward his weapon, I don’t hesitate.

  He falls to the ground with a bullet between the eyes. Same for the guy standing next to him. Not missing a beat, Josie blows a hole through the guy she was talking to, and then takes a shot at the last one. He barely makes it behind the outhouse with his life.

  Josie goes in, slamming the door behind her and it ain’t but a minute ‘fore she’s joining me at my post. “What the heck, Nathan?” she whispers. “I had them men right where I wanted ‘em.”

  I shake my head. “Naw, that one guy was gettin’ ready to shoot first and ask questions later.” I grab her cheek in my palm. “And I ain’t lettin’ no man extinguish what belongs to me.”

  She closes her eyes and a serene expression takes over. When she opens ‘em up again, that fires a burning. “Damn right, Nathan King. I’m yours.” Her lips mash to mine in a kiss so fierce, I almost go light-headed … ‘til that bullet ricochets off the cabin.

  “Let’s move!” I whisper-yell.

  Following my lead, we make our way to the barn and saddle up Arrow and her horse, who I now know is named Star. I turn to Josie. “If we got any chance of gettin’ far enough away, he’s got to die.” I press a hard kiss to her lips. “I’ll be right back. Be ready.”

  “Wait,” she calls, grabbing my arm.

  I look to her and smirk. “No worries, Josie. This is what Nathan King does.” With a wink, I’m out the barn door and hunting down the last man to stand between me and Josie’s freedom.

  Chapter Eleven

  The Temporary Landing Spot

  JOSIE

  Watching my man run off, knowing he’s gone kill someone should make me wary, but it don’t. It does nothing but set my juices on fire. Those men came here with intent to do harm, no sense in letting ‘em get away with it.

  As hard as it is, I stay back at the barn and let Nathan do what he does ‘cause I know he’s good at it. When I hear the exchange of gunfire a few minutes later, I won’t lie, a little thrill runs up my body.

  Leading both horses out in the open, I go in search of him. “What the hell ya think ya doin’!” I hear yelled at me from across the yard. I turn to the voice and see him stalking toward me, all manly and intense; makes me tingle even more.

  I shrug. “What? It ain’t like ya was gone be dead.”

  Nathan stalks up, right in my face, puffing out an angry breath. “Ya could a came out here and got yourself killed!” He grabs my shoulders and gives me a little shake. “What if I had a got shot, Josie? You’d be a sittin’ duck.”

  And while I can see why he’d be worried, somehow I can’t reconcile him actually thinking he was gone lose this shootout. I roll my eyes and shrug his arms off, stepping even closer to him. “Ain’t no way my outlaw was gettin’ shot … again. He’s a smart, sexy man who knows who he is and what he’s capable of.” I reach up and press my lips to his softly. “Sides, now that he’s mine, ain’t no way he gone let himself be shot.”

  His eyes soften and he leans closer, whispering against my lips. “Are ya sure, Josie? You can still get out—“

  My lips cut off his words, hard and demanding. He better know when I’m done that my choice is made—and it’s him, one-hundred ten percent.

  Pushing harder and gripping him closer, I devour him. Forcing his lips apart, I twine my tongue with his just like I’m twining our lives. He falls head first into the kiss, grasping my shoulders, this time, to anchor me to him. His hat falls to the dirt and my fingers roam his straw-colored curls.

  When he pulls away, panting, he presses his forehead to mine. “Goddammit, woman. We ain’t got time. We got to get out of here.”

  I smirk and scratch my nails on his scalp. “Ya sure we ain’t got a few minutes to spare?”

  He growls and disentangles himself from my clutches, turning away to breathe deeply. When he’s gotten his composure, he turns back to face me. “Go pack a bag, we need to get goin’.”

  I pout just to mess with him ‘fore turning toward my cabin. Stepping over dead bodies, I make my way inside and throw some clothes in an old leather bag. Then I eye my cowgirl hat, sitting on a shelf. Putting it on my head, I take one more glance ‘round my room.

  Noticing Chester’s doctor bag on the floor, I figure it might just come in handy, so I pick it up and head back outside where my outlaw awaits. As soon as he sees me coming, his shoulders soften, and he hurries my way to grab my bags.

  When everything’s loaded, he turns to me. As soon as his jaw drops open, I hold out my pointer finger. “You better not even say it, Nathan King.” I sway my finger back and forth between the two of us. “This here’s a done deal. Now help me on that horse.”

  Not even waiting for him, I slide my foot in the stirrup. His hands are fast, though, and they close ‘round my waist, lifting me up so I can straddle my mare. “Thank ya, sir.” I smirk.

  He tilts his hat and deftly mounts Arrow, steering him over beside us. “We got about a day’s ride to where we headed. Think ya can handle that?” he asks, brows furrowed.

  “To be with you, I can handle anythin’,” I reply, already kicking Star into motion.

  His chuckle is loud and he rushes to get in front, leading me away from my home and into our, well my, new life—a life on the run.

  A life with him.

  The next evening, Nathan brings us to a halt at the beginning of a long, winding drive. The sun’s just sailing above the horizon, reflecting a pinkish-orange light over everything, including my outlaw. He’s atop Arrow, his face shadowed, but even then, his beauty can’t be quelled.

  The sharp shape of his jaw juts out in line with the rim of his hat, and even now, his deep blue eyes beckon me. His lips quirk up at my blatant staring. “See somethin’ ya like, Cowgirl?”

  I lick my lips and do another once-over from his feet all the way up his strong thighs that grip to Arrow’s sides. When I land back on his face, I match his smirk. “Oh, ya can bet on that, Outlaw.”

  He rides closer, pulling up right beside me and leans in for a sweet kiss, which is just the opposite of what I was expecting. When he pulls back, he says, “This here’s my family’s place.” His eyes go to the ground. “The only family I got left.”

  My heart breaks for him. Of course, he done told me his past, or at least the important parts, but it looks like coming here’s brought it all to the forefront of his mind again. Thoughts you’d think he’d long buried, but he ain’t.

  Not by a long shot.

  I reach over and brush my hand along his arm, drawing his attention back to me. “Oh, baby. If it hurts too much, why ya come back here?”

  He shakes his head. “It ain’t that. It’s been a long time since I seen my family, and I wanna see ‘em. Looking forward to it. I guess I didn’t realize how much it’d make me miss my parents.”

  Twining my arms ‘round his neck, I pull myself over and straddle Arrow, facing Nathan. His arms wrap around me by instinct and pull me closer, burying his face in my neck. I hold him tight and let him feel whatever he needs to settle his mind.

  With a big ole sigh into my neck, he lifts his head and says, “Cowgirl, ya couldn’t possibly understand what it means to be sittin’ here, ready to visit my family a
gain with you by my side. It’s somethin’ I never thought I’d have when I was last here.” His voice is wondrous, almost as if he can’t believe his luck.

  I decide to lighten the moment. “I always did have a soft spot for wounded outlaws, lucky you.”

  He chuckles and tickles my sides. “I am a lucky outlaw, Cowgirl. The luckiest!”

  “Long as you know it.” I smile at the improvement in his mood and tilt my head at the drive. “Ya ready for this?”

  He kisses me … hard, and when he pulls back, his blue eyes are dancing in the pale light. “I love you, Josie. I know this may be fast, but I mean it, I feel it every time I look at ya.”

  Not even shocked ‘cause I feel it every time he looks at me too, I giggle. “I already knew that, Nathan.” I put my arms up to encircle his neck. “But the question is, do ya feel my love? ‘Cause it’s there just the same.”

  Not giving him time to answer, I push my lips against his, hungry and searching. He don’t disappoint—never has. He pushes his tongue through my lips, thrusting and sliding against my own with the fervor I done come to know and love.

  So lost are we in each other and sealing our declarations, that we miss the approaching hoofbeats and the throat clearing that comes after. It’s only when someone speaks that we jump apart, wide-eyed, one of Nathan’s Colts already drawn.

  “No, continue on, don’t let me interrupt,” the huge man says with a wave of his hand.

  A big ole smile breaks out on Nathan’s face, and he nudges me to get back on my own horse. I pout, only a little, and make the transition seamlessly, steering Star ‘round where I’m met with the sight of my outlaw’s head encased in a pair of buff, beefy arms.

  I stay back and watch, and what a sight it is. I ain’t seen Nathan look this content in, well, ever. His hair’s a mess and his cowboy hat’s on the dirt, but he don’t seem to care. He’s roughhousing ‘round with who I can only assume is Arthur.