Wanted: Dead or Alive

by Faye Byrd

  But, holy shit, them.

  Josie has her shotgun planted right in Birdie’s side and is leading her over by a fistful of hair. Birdie’s acting like she’s never been more scared, and Art’s standing there staring at ‘em in shock, not sure what to do.

  “Ya, better release that outlaw, Ranger. He belongs to me,” Josie states, giving Birdie an extra tug, causing her to yelp.

  Art snaps out of his trance and takes a step toward ‘em. But no, oh no, Josie ain’t having none of that shit. She pushes her gun deeper into Birdie’s side. “Hold it right there, unless ya want me to cut her in two.”

  Arthur freezes in his spot, not sure what the hell’s going on, and I’d feel the same if I didn’t know my cowgirl so well.

  Frank’s just standing there, his eyes flickering between all of us. Finally, he smirks. “Ain’t no way ya’d kill ya outlaw’s family, Mrs. Hess,” he tells her.

  “Don’t call me that!” Josie snaps, her fist tightening in Birdie’s hair, pulling her face-to-face with her. “Is that what ya really think, Ranger?” Birdie yelps in pain, but all Josie does is slide that double barrel right up under her chin and plants her stare back on Frank. “Are ya willin’ to test that theory? Ya see, I don’t care ‘bout nobody but my outlaw. I’ll kill every one of ya if I have to. Now hand him over, or she dies … first.”

  Birdie squirms and looks like she’s trying to fight while also looking like she’s terrified for her life. Arthur’s just standing there not sure whether to risk it and tackle ‘em to the ground or pray that Josie really won’t kill his wife.

  Of course, she won’t, but I guess he ain’t sure … or he’s acting a good game, too.

  Frank finally starts lowering his weapon, and as soon as it’s away from my head, I draw and have him in my sights. “Ya was wrong ‘bout one thing. I ain’t no cold-blooded murderer. I don’t kill unless I’m provoked, so I’ll tell ya what ya told me. Don’t make me have to kill ya.”

  From the corner of my eyes, I see Art try to approach Josie again, but she ain’t having it. “Don’t move and ya wife may make it out with her life.” Then she tosses him a rope. “Now tie that ranger up so we can be on our way.”

  Art’s brow furrows, but then I see a silent conversation pass between him and Birdie. My cowgirl got smarts for days. She knows in front of this ranger we got to keep up the pretenses. No way is my family gone be implicated in this mess at all.

  Once Art’s done, she looks to me. “Go get our things, Outlaw. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  I give her a side-eye but do as she demands, seeing as she’s running this show. When I return with our bags and both horses, she has ‘em all tied up and propped against the house.

  She smiles when she sees me approaching and brushes her hands together. “There. That ought a give us a good head start.” Then she mounts Star and looks to me from her throne. “Let’s ride, Outlaw.”

  I shake my head and chuckle but do exactly as she tells me. Giving Art and Birdie an apologetic look, I follow Josie down the same long drive that brought us here just a few days ago.

  When we make it out to the trail, I ride Arrow up past her and slow to a trot, waiting for her to join me. “How’d ya even know, Cowgirl?”

  “Pfft,” she starts. “Ya think I’m gone let some ranger come in and take my man?” She shakes her head. “No way, sides, Emma was still outside and saw him put a gun to ya. She ran straight to her ma.”

  “Doggone it. I hate that. See, this is what I was ‘fraid of. I don’t want my life ruinin’ that of my family. Hell, we’d been gone in a day or two anyway,” I say already feeling regretful for poor Emma seeing a gun put to my head.

  “Naw, Outlaw, don’t be sad for it. She knows she got a tough ma, and she surely came in expectin’ her to go save ya. Ya should a seen her all indignant ‘bout it,” Josie explains, trying to ease my conscience.

  I chuckle and shake my head still a little sad about it all. “I was tryin’ to get him to take me so he wouldn’t know ya was with me,” I admit.

  Josie pulls the reins up and brings Star to a halt so fast I done moved a few feet ahead ‘fore I even realize it. “What?” she asks incredulously. “Why would ya do that? I done told you, silly man, I’m all in.” She moves Star closer so she can give me the stink eye.

  “I know that, Josie, I do, but I had a chance to save ya. Ya ain’t gone hang for my crimes,” I insist.

  She smirks. “Well, I got my own crimes now, don’t I?”

  I take a deep breath and accept what I ain’t got no choice but accepting. “Ya do now, that’s for sure. Where’d ya come with a plan like that anyway?”

  “What?” she asks with a shrug. “Ya think I don’t know what’s important to ya? I knew you wouldn’t want ya family to be a part of our escape, so me and Birdie did what we had a do.”

  I chuckle. “Sure did. I was worried poor Art was gone have a heart attack or tackle ya to the ground one.”

  “Well, I may a had to shoot him if he’d tried that,” she says, face serious as she can be, but I know better.

  “Well, lucky for us, he didn’t,” I reply just as serious.

  She rolls her eyes then. “Oh, Outlaw. I’d never shoot ya family.”

  I smirk. “I know ya wouldn’t.”

  She laughs out loud and kicks Star into gear. “Good,” she calls, her voice trailing back to me.

  I prod Arrow and we take off, following my cowgirl wherever she wants to lead.

  The weeks pass with me and Josie constantly on the move. Sometimes we sleep out under the stars and others we ride into a town and get a room at the local boarding house. We never stay anywhere too long ‘cause we expect Ranger Frank is out there somewhere, chasing our tail.

  For the first couple of weeks, everything is smooth sailing. Just me and my girl, living life and enjoying each other. It ain’t ‘til we head into one small town near the border of the New Mexico Territory when realization strikes me cold and hard.

  Right there next to my wanted poster hangs one just for Josie. I can feel the blood drain from my face at the sight of it, even though she’s hardly recognizable in that awful picture they done chose. Her hair looks black hanging down her back and her eyes look gray and beady. No way someone will see that and think it’s my cowgirl.

  A nudge to my shoulder snaps me from my thoughts. “What ya lookin’ at, Outlaw?” Then she peers over my shoulder and peals of laughter escape. “Well, they could a chose a better picture, that’s for sure.”

  I look to her wide-eyed. “Ain’t nothin’ funny ‘bout this, Josie.”

  Her giggles die and she lifts a brow. “Why so serious? Ya knew it was bound to happen after my stunt at ya family’s place.”

  I sigh. “I know, Cowgirl.” Then I lift my own brow. “Or is it Miss Outlaw now?”

  She rounds her arm through the crook of mine and starts to lead me away, then she peers at me sideways from under her lashes. “Well, I don’t know ‘bout all that. But Mrs. Outlaw has a nice ring to it. Don’t ya think?”

  I stop cold in my spot and bring her ‘round to stand in front of me. “I think Mrs. Outlaw’s the most perfect words ya ever uttered, but are ya serious? Would ya do that? Be my wife?”

  She steps closer, her green eyes alight and sparkling. “Are ya askin’?”

  I take a deep breath and order my thoughts. Am I? I ain’t even sure. I mean, hell yeah, I want to marry Josie, but right now? I’d like to be able to give her more than this life we leading ‘fore she’s my wife, but on the other hand, she seems content just as things are.

  But as I stare into her beautiful eyes, I know there ain’t no way I’d ever turn down her open offer to ask. I drop to my knee before her, right there on the walkway, and take her hands in mine. “Cowgirl, I know I ain’t able to offer ya a real life, but I can offer ya me. I promise to love ya more than anyone ever has. Will you be my Mrs. Outlaw?”

  She grabs my shirt and hauls me up from the ground ‘fore planting her lips on mine so hard,
I almost go dizzy. When she pulls back, she’s beaming. “Course I will.”

  Then she turns and starts us right back down the walkway, headed to the saloon. “I think this calls for a celebration,” she declares.

  “I think ya right,” I agree.

  When we enter, the place falls silent, which I’m accustomed to, but Josie’s not, so she stops and runs her shrewd eyes over the silent patrons. I guess she’s satisfied with what she sees ‘cause she barks out a laugh and holds her hand up in front of her.

  “Nothin’ to worry ‘bout here folks. Just a man and his woman celebratin’ they engagement. This here round’s on us,” she calls to the bartender.

  Patrons hold up their glasses, some full, some empty, and shout, “Hear, hear.”

  I just chuckle and shake my head, following my cowgirl right on up to the bar.

  When everyone’s glass is filled to the brim, my girl holds hers up in the air, the patrons follow suit. “To Mr. and soon to be Mrs. Outlaw,” she yells to the crowd that’s hanging on her every word.

  I bump my glass against hers and we down ‘em in one go, and when we done, I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder. Giggling like mad, she leans up and waves to the patrons as she passes ‘em on the way out the door.

  I take her to our room and show her just how happy she makes me.

  We ain’t got no specific plan, but just knowing the commitment’s there is enough for us. And when the time’s right, we’ll become husband and wife.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Train Ride

  NATHAN

  Josie and me meander ‘round the countryside slowly making our way toward Tucson. It’s there we plan to meet the family Uncle Roy said needs our help. They’re traveling to Yuma and decided to let their fate rest on the railroad instead of the four-day ride on a stagecoach.

  I can see where they might have concerns, as train robberies are becoming more commonplace with the spread of the railroad. It’s a new target for those who want to take something instead of going out and earning it themselves.

  Not on my watch.

  Me and Josie have discussed it a lot over the last week and come up with a plan. As much as I fear for my cowgirl, I also know she can take care of herself. It’s just scary for me to think of her amidst a gunfight. I just hope the whole trip goes smoothly and the robbers are busy doing something else.

  Probably not my kind a luck, though.

  “What ya thinkin’ ‘bout so seriously?” Josie asks, breaking me out of the thoughts I’m having.

  I shrug. “Nothin’ really.”

  “Outlaw,” she says and pauses until I look at her. “Ain’t no way I’m buying that line. Are ya stressin’ over this job again?”

  When I don’t really answer her, she brings Star to a stop. “Come on. Let’s let the horses drink at the river and rest. Me and you gone talk … again.”

  “I know ya right ‘bout this, Cowgirl, but I’m just scared,” I say, leading Arrow down the small hill.

  She doesn’t say anything right then, but waits ‘til the horses are watered and tethered to a tree limb close by. Then she silently takes my hand and starts leading us toward a clearing on up the bank.

  There’s a small patch where the grass is greener and wildflowers sprout up everywhere. When we reach the middle, she pulls me down beside her.

  “All right, Outlaw. Tell me what ya thinkin’,” she demands, her voice soft but direct.

  I look down at our hands that’s twined together and focus my attention there as I really consider her question. Once I got the answer she’s digging for, I say, “I’m scared I’m gone lose ya. I’m terrified that somethin’ is gone happen to ya, and I ain’t gone be able to live afterward.”

  Her fingers tighten, prodding me to look up at her. “I think that’s gone always be a fear … for the both of us, livin’ this kind a life. But, Nathan, I was born for ya. Surely the Lord wouldn’t put me on this path if I wasn’t ready to handle it.”

  “But what if he did. What if losin’ ya’s gone be my punishment for all the things I done did?” I ask, desperate for her to convince me it ain’t possible.

  “Oh, baby,” she says, laying her palm on my cheek. “Ya ain’t did nothin’ but what ya had to do to survive. Ya been out helpin’ people, not killin’ folks.”

  “But, Josie, ya can’t deny I done took a lot of lives,” I argue.

  She nods. “Ya have, I know ya have. And we gone probably take more, but ya hear that? I said we. ‘Sides, ain’t no way my outlaw gone let anythin’ happen to me. I know it in my bones,” she declares with the confidence and fire I love so much burning in her eyes.

  “Ya right about that.” I nod, matching her confidence. “Ain’t no way I’d ever let anyone hurt ya.” Just saying the words aloud breaks through some of the fear filling my chest, and I can feel it ebb away. “I love ya, Josie, and I trust ya to be a help instead of a hindrance. I think, maybe, it’s ‘cause it’ll be the first time we workin’ together.”

  She shakes her head and looks as if she feels sorry for me, her finger trailing along my hairline. “You poor man. I didn’t realize ya was sufferin’ from amnesia, too.” She keeps a serious, concerned expression as she studies me.

  A wrinkle forms between my brows. “Huh?”

  “Well, had I known ya was forgettin’ stuff then maybe I’d suggested we postpone this job,” she explains, but not really ‘cause I still don’t know what she’s on about.

  “Cowgirl,” I say a little harsher than intended. I take a deep breath and try again. “What exactly are ya on about?”

  “Well, it ain’t like this is our first … adventure together. It ain’t even close. We done handled two tense situations together, aside from the one I handled just fine while you was knocked out.” She bats her lashes innocently as she explains exactly what she means.

  And doggone it, she’s right.

  This ain’t gone be our first rodeo.

  Not even close.

  The fear subsides as the thoughts of all our exploits fill my mind. In every single one, not only did Josie handle her own, but she excelled. She even saved my ass back at home with the family, while also making sure they were left free from any accusations, besides allowing me to visit, but I can’t see no charges coming from that.

  Her ability to handle me and all the situations we faced so far does nothing but fill me with pride. So much so in fact, that a smirk done curled my lips involuntarily. Her thumb slides down to trace it, her eyes a twinkling.

  I suck it in my mouth and watch as her eyes become hooded. In no time at all, we naked under the bright light of the sun as I show her just how confident I can be, and when we done, we mount our horses and continue on our way to Tucson. I’m surer than ever my cowgirl can handle whatever kind of hassle we might face.

  We arrive in Tucson late in the evening the night before our train is set to depart. Me and Josie both are a little awed by the gaslights illuminating the streets. They cast a soft glow over the buildings even as the skies are black as night.

  “Wow,” Josie says as we trot through town, taking in everything ‘round us.

  “It’s a sight ain’t it,” I agree with her. We’d heard ‘bout the lamps ‘fore coming here, installed when the railroad completed, but seeing ‘em in person sure is a treat.

  We follow Camp Street through town and find the local boarding house. While I get the horses settled, ‘cause they gone have to be looked after for a couple days, she goes in and gets us a room for the night while also inquiring on where she can shop for a dress.

  We may be taking this trip together, but I want Josie to blend in with the rest of the folk who’s traveling. If we enter the train as two separate people, there’s a better chance of taking a would-be robber by surprise. We ain’t got no certain idea that the train’s gone be robbed, and then if it is, we don’t know if it’ll be an inside job or some bandits jumping on board. This way, we’ll have both situations under control, or at the very least, I’ll
have a surprise up my sleeve.

  The next morning, Josie goes and buys her some fancy duds while I visit the saloon and meet with Mr. Davis. It’s him and his wife who hired us for this job. We drink a shot of whiskey while he slips my payment discreetly over the table, and we part ways like it never even happened. He don’t wanna interact, he just wants to make it to Yuma with all his worldly possessions still in hand.

  I meet Josie back at the room and admire her while she dons the dress and hat she bought. I especially admire her creamy thigh as she slips one of my Colts into a holster that’s hidden there.

  “I’d feel better if I had my shotgun,” she says.

  I pat both shotguns laying on the bed beside me. “It’ll be strapped to my back if ya need it. I just don’t want ya on that train as an outlaw like me. People treat ya differently, and for this job, I might need the element of surprise.”

  She comes over, looking so much like a fancy lady that I hardly recognize her, and steps between my thighs, her hands landing on my shoulders. “Ya do know that even if they try and catch the train, ya ain’t gone be alone.” She looks at me with a lifted brow, daring me to argue.

  I run my hands up her legs and grab her slim waist, pulling her even closer. “I do know that.”

  “Good.” She smirks and leans those luscious lips down to push against mine. All too soon, though, she’s taking ‘em away. “Now, I got a train to catch, Outlaw. See ya soon.” She winks and picks her up her small bag, sashaying out the door.

  In no time at all, I’m boarding the train myself. Well-dressed ladies and gents fail to meet my eye as I walk down the aisle to my seat. I smirk and continue my path. Little do they know, I just may be the one to keep ‘em from handing over their cash and shiny jewelry.

  The locomotive starts moving, blustering and rocking on the tracks. I tilt my hat low and pretend not to see or care, when in reality, I’m seeing it all.

  The rich do what they best to side skirt me every chance they get, ‘cept this one young woman. Golden curls frame her face and flirty blue eyes study me. Almost every time I look up, her eyes are on me, but when I slide past her so are Josie’s, under two raised brows.