Wanted: Dead or Alive

by Faye Byrd

  I shrug and shake my head, hoping like hell she knows that girl ain’t got nothing on her. Her lips pucker and a kiss sails through the air. I relax in my seat and try to pretend I care about nothing, when really my everything is in sight but just out of reach.

  Golden Curls sashays past me once or twice, trying to get my attention, but I ignore it. I keep my eyes averted from her as much as possible ‘cause I’m trying to save her life. My cowgirl’s done drawn a bead and has her in her sights.

  Suddenly there’s a commotion running through the car. People’s a whispering and murmuring amongst themselves. I perk up, looking to Josie to make sure she’s paying attention. Course, there’s no need to worry, green eyes spark with barely restrained excitement.

  Golden Curls takes advantage of my alertness and plops in the seat beside me. “Those ya buddies come to rob us?” she asks, tilting her head at the window.

  “What?” I slide my hat back where I can see better and look outside. There’s four men on horses, and they attempting to catch the train. I focus back on her. “Nope, not here to help ‘em. Here to stop ‘em.” I stand and motion for her to precede me. “Get back with ya family and stay down.”

  She stares with wide blue eyes and doesn’t move. “Move it!” I demand, pushing her back the way she done came. “I can’t be worryin’ ‘bout passengers gettin’ in the way.”

  I step into the aisle behind her and draw my Colt. Gasps move through the crowd. “Listen up!” I yell over the noise. “There’s some men out there who wish to rob ya blind. Everybody needs get down and stay there. I don’t want nobody dyin’ needlessly.” I stare through the passengers and see the fear. But I also see that they’d much rather me face the men than them.

  All except for one.

  My cowgirl.

  She smiles and rises from her seat, coming straight to join me. And when she gets there, she does two things.

  First, she grabs her double barrel from my back.

  And second, she plants a fast, hard kiss on my lips ‘fore turning and seeking out Golden Curls, only to give her the most devious smirk I ever seen.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Robbers

  JOSIE

  After I give that no good harlot a look that lets her know just whose man she’s fooling with, I give Nathan his Colt back and make my way to the very back row next to the car’s door. “Excuse me, sir,” I say real polite like. “I’m gone need you to move up to my empty seat.”

  The eyes of the woman beside him go wide and she rushes to stand, obeying me almost immediately, while the man remains in his seat. I lift a brow. “I ask ya nicely, sir. Now don’t make me ask ya not so nicely,” I say just as polite, but the look on my face and the shift of my gun say I mean business.

  He gasps at my inference, but stands next to the woman, who I assume is his wife. With his haughty chin held high, he takes her arm and leads her past me and up to the seat I was sitting in before.

  I watch ‘em go with a smirk on my face, and just before I take my seat, I catch Nathan watching me with a sparkle of pride in his eyes. I tilt my head and situate myself, looking like any other proper lady on the train, my double barrel discreetly hidden beside me.

  My outlaw’s eyes scan from me over the rest of the passengers. “Listen up,” he calls to the already silent crowd. “There’s men out there who want what ya got. All ya riches, and it’s my job to make sure they don’t get ‘em. I need every one of ya to stay low in ya seat and let me and my cowgirl handle this. Maybe we can all get out of here alive.”

  “Ain’t ya the Outlaw Nathan King?” someone asks from the crowd.

  Nathan plants his eyes on the person and gives one firm nod. “I am. But things ain’t always as they seem. I’m here to help if ya let me. As I said, maybe we can all live, and you can keep ya pretty baubles.”

  A loud bump on the side of the train makes all eyes turn that way. Nathan tenses and props his hands on his Colts, his ears in tune with every noise coming from outside the car we’re in. When a thump comes from the doors right behind me, I try to act as scared as every other passenger.

  Nathan casually props himself against the very first seat and waits. The tension is thick in the car as we all hear the sounds and await the entrance of the men. Suddenly, the door slides open. I don’t even look; afraid they may see the anger boiling in my veins.

  One, two, three men pass me in an attempt to cover all the passengers. “Hands up, everybody,” one of them yells, swinging his pistol ‘round. “This here’s a holdup.”

  Some of the passengers freeze and gasp while others turn their eyes on Nathan expectantly. One of the robbers follows their line of sight and stops short. My outlaw is standing with ease, leaned up against a seat, seemingly paying ‘em no mind. When in reality, I know they’re all that’s on his mind.

  “Well, what do we got here,” the robber finally says, sauntering up the aisle toward Nathan.

  My outlaw moves so fast no one can even register his movements. One minute he’s cool, calm, collected, and the next, he’s tense and ready, two of his Colts trained on two of the robbers. I can’t see their faces, but I can sure tell when they halt in they tracks.

  “Whoa, there,” one of the robbers says. “Take it easy, man. We can split the loot.”

  Nathan shrugs like he ain’t got no worries in the world, never mind for all appearances it’s three to one right now. “Who says I’m lookin’ to split anythin’? I’d even venture to say I was here first.” He lifts a brow. “Wouldn’t you?”

  Robber one chuckles like he’s trying to appease my outlaw, but really, he’s thinking over his options, hoping to hold him off for a minute. But robber two’s a little more impatient and a little bit bolder.

  He steps forward, even with Nathan’s Colt aimed right at his chest. “Look,” he says tersely, his shoulders tense. “We ain’t made this effort just to walk away empty handed.” He chuckles when he’s done, but the implication’s there. He thinks he’s willing to walk over my outlaw and take what he wants.

  Nathan chuckles right along with him, for ‘bout two seconds, then his face sobers instantly and he pulls the trigger. Robber two falls to the floor clutching his leg and screaming. The other two idiots just stare in shock.

  My outlaw approaches and kicks robber two’s gun away from him and focuses on the other two, stepping over the ailing man in the aisle. “Now, any more questions?”

  Robber three, who’s been silently taking everything in, snatches up the blonde who was making eyes at my outlaw earlier, putting his pistol under her chin. Nathan stops in his tracks, his eyes cold, calculating.

  But me? I kind a like seeing her that way, so I take a minute to enjoy the scene taking place a couple feet in front of me. But a grunt from Nathan pulls my eyes back to him, and even though his face is serious, the twinkle in his eye don’t escape my notice. He knows exactly what’s going on in my head.

  Nathan flits his eyes back to robber three and sighs heavily. “I wasn’t gone kill ya, but now ya treadin’ on dangerous ground. Let the lady go,” he tries to coax the man with a death wish.

  Robber three shakes his head frantically. “I’ll pull the trigger. Don’t come any closer.” He’s a nervous wreck which is what makes him so dangerous. He’s liable to kill her on accident if we don’t do something ‘bout it.

  Begrudgingly, I decide to act. Meeting my outlaw’s eyes, I give him a wink ‘fore gripping my shotgun tightly. When I make my move, robber three has two barrels pointing at the back of his head before he even realizes I done stood up.

  “Drop ya gun and let the girl go, or I’m gone drop you,” I say in a cold, hard voice. Can’t have these men thinking I’m playing games.

  Robber one’s eyes land on me and go so wide, I fear his skin’s gone split. “I-I kn-know”—he glances back and forth between me and Nathan a couple times—“who y’all are.”

  Nathan smirks at him. “Then maybe ya ought to drop ya weapon?”

  He does too,
he lets that pistol fall right to the floor. But robber three’s still tense as a board at the end of my shotgun. “I ain’t gone speak again,” I warn, pushing my double barrel firmer into his skull.

  Nathan takes the rope from his hip and passes it to a guy in the seat beside him. “Tie him up,” he orders, nodding to robber one then he moves past ‘em, closer to where robber three’s holding the blonde girl hostage.

  All of a sudden, he pushes the blonde girl right at my outlaw. She falls into him, tears leaking out her eyes and all over his—my—chest. My fingers tighten on my gun, trying not to aim it at her. Nathan looks helplessly at me over her pathetic head.

  My jaw tightens, and he immediately starts guiding her back to her own family. While he does that, I keep my shotgun trained on robber three. But with robber two’s keening and blonde girl’s whimpering, I miss something very important.

  The door to the train car done opened again.

  And how I know this?

  ‘Cause cold steel pushes against the back of my own head.

  By the time Nathan faces me again, I’m no longer in the position of power. Panic flits through his eyes so fast I almost miss it. But he don’t miss, he never does. A bullet whizzes past my ear and makes contact with the body behind me.

  Robber four is gone so fast, I’m not sure robber three even had time to recognize he had a helping hand. His eyes move to the floor behind me and land on the dead man, his partner. They widen and he drops his gun to the floor.

  Facing Nathan, he holds up his hands. “I ain’t come here to die.”

  I shove the shotgun into his back and give him a little push. “Well, get movin’,” I demand, prodding him up the aisle past Nathan to where robber one sits tied up.

  “Shackle ‘em together,” I tell the man who roped robber one.

  Nathan joins me and lays a soothing hand on my shoulder from behind, allowing my body to relax slightly. He leans closer and whispers, “Good job, Cowgirl. Love ya.” Then he lifts his head and scans the passengers. “Is there a doctor here? This man’s wound needs tendin’ so he’ll quit all that wailin’,” he says, motioning to robber two and shaking his head at all the noise he’s a making.

  At first, no one responds, but then slowly, a man farther back down the aisle stands. “I, uh, I’m a doctor, sir.” He’s nervous, fully afraid to meet my outlaw’s eyes.

  Nathan senses this and slowly walks in his direction, holstering his Colts. When he’s standing before the nervous man, he raises his hands. “The danger’s passed. Ya ain’t got nothin’ to be worried about now. I ain’t out to take nothin’ from any of ya.” He stares at the doctor man, waiting on him to meet his eyes entirely.

  Finally, he does. He studies my outlaw, looking for the truth of his words, and I guess he sees it ‘cause he nods and grabs a small bag from under his seat. He heads to robber two and kneels down, getting to work on his leg.

  Nathan makes his way back up the aisle, stopping to collect all the wayward pistols along the way. When he leans down beside that stupid blonde girl, she reaches out to touch his shoulder. My jaw tightens, but I stay still, watching the scene with interest.

  His eyes rise to see who’s touching him, and I can tell the moment he realizes it’s her. His shoulders tense beneath her fingertips. But her? She’s an idiot. She throws herself into his arms almost knocking him on his ass.

  Over her head, his wide eyes frantically seek me out. Blonde girl is a blabbering away and my outlaw is frozen in his spot. Too afraid to move and too stunned to push her away.

  But that’s okay, I ain’t.

  Stiffening my shoulders, I make my way down the aisle to where they at. Every eye in the car is on me ‘cept maybe the doctor who’s working on robber two. As I get closer, her words become clearer.

  “Thank ya so much for savin’ me. I don’t know how I’d got away if ya hadn’t acted. Ya ain’t no outlaw, ya my hero. Thank—” I cut her off by fisting her hair and snatching her up.

  When she’s upright, I pull her in real close; face-to-face. “Listen here, girl, ‘cause I’m only gone say this once. See that man right there?” I tilt my head in the direction of my outlaw, still stunned, squatting down on the floor. When she goes to glance his way, I yank her back in my direction. “Don’t look at him. He’s mine, ya got that, girl? Mine. He ain’t saved ya life, I did. Now tell me I’m ya hero.”

  I pause, waiting for her to kiss my ass and when she don’t say nothing, I give her head a shake. “What, ya don’t feel the same for me?” I ask all innocent and hurt acting.

  Tears spring to her eyes and she moves her mouth but nothing comes out, so I wait patiently. Finally, she stutters, “Th-thank ya.”

  And I laugh. I laugh loud and sarcastically. “That all ya got, girl? Ya was down there fawnin’ all over my man and that’s all ya got for me?” I lay my hand on my chest, this girl’s making me madder and madder.

  Her eyes go big and those tears flow faster, but I only grip her hair tighter, but ‘fore I can inflict any real damage, Nathan comes to his senses. He stands and lines his body behind mine then reaches out and encloses my hand in his, slowly releasing my fingers from their tight fist.

  With soft, sweet kisses to my neck, he relaxes me instantly. “Golden Curls don’t mean nothin’, Cowgirl,” he whispers into my ear as I allow my body to melt into him. “I think she’s learned her lesson, eh?”

  I’m barely able to think much less speak, so I give him a slight nod. He fixes his eyes ahead on the blonde girl who’s gaping at us. “Get lost, ‘fore I change my mind and let her finish what she started.”

  I don’t even notice what she does or where she goes ‘cause my outlaw spins me ‘round in his arms and plants his lips on mine so fiercely that I forget my own name or where we are.

  He kisses me like I’m his whole world, like I’m the very air he breathes; like he’d die if he could never kiss me again.

  And I guess maybe he would.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Drop

  NATHAN

  As the train rolls into Yuma, the passengers have control of the prisoners, and Josie and I ready ourselves to disembark. We slip off as soon as it stops, making every attempt to get out of there quickly and discreetly. Word spreads fast, and ya never know who’s waiting in the wings to try to claim that bounty.

  We’ll catch the train back to Tucson first thing in the morning and be back on Arrow and Star by nightfall. Free again. ‘Til then, we need to be on the lookout, suspicious of everyone. I feel bare without my steed and the freedom of the open prairie.

  Mr. Davis was nice enough to pay for our overnight accommodations and provided the return trip tickets for tomorrow. Other than that, he’s done with us, although he did pull me aside ‘fore we made it to Yuma and thank me profusely.

  As soon as the door shuts behind us, my back is against the wall, fire radiating from my cowgirl’s eyes. “Did ya enjoy that girl fawnin’ all over ya, Outlaw?” she asks in a tone that tells me I better have the right answers.

  “What?” I try to play dumb, brush it off as nothing since Golden Curls is nothing to me.

  Wrong tactic, apparently, ‘cause Josie scowls. “Ya ain’t no idiot, and now sure ain’t the time to start actin’ like one.” She presses her body closer, her blazing eyes inches from mine. “Now, I said, did ya enjoy that hussy fawnin’ all over ya?”

  I’m like deer facing a mountain lion, not sure whether to run or stand up for myself and hope it goes away. I gulp and let out a nervous chuckle. “Ya know better than that, Cowgirl. Golden Curls—”

  “Golden Curls,” she repeats snidely, her lips curling into a snarl. “She done earned herself a nickname, did she?”

  “I, uh …” I trail off, my jaw still moving but no words coming out. I mean, anyone I ain’t bothered to get a real name for has one in my head; it’s just what I do. And now my ass better get to explaining, or it’s gone get whooped. I try again. “That’s just what I called her in my head,” I say weakly.


  She snorts. “Cause her hair’s all golden and curly. Do ya like blonde, is that it? It catch ya eye?”

  Now she’s just getting ridiculous. I roll my eyes and push her back just a bit so I can look her in the eye. “Have ya done lost ya damn mind, woman? Ain’t no way Golden Curls or any other woman has anythin’ on you, Cowgirl, so stop this nonsense right now.”

  I watch as several emotions flit over her face. First, I see the fire increase, but then, she starts considering my words and finally, she settles on chagrin. “Sorry, Outlaw. It just made me so mad to see her all up on my man like that,” she says apologetically.

  I shake my head. “Aint nothin’ to be sorry for. I am ya man and you can bat those lovesick fools away all ya want. Just don’t be thinkin’ I like their attention. ‘Cause, believe me when I say, I ain’t got eyes for no other woman alive. Just you from now ‘til I’m dead. Got that?”

  She nods but her expression is curious, I can just see the wheels a turning. So it’s no surprise when she says, “And about how often can I expect these lovesick fools to try and attach themselves to ya?”

  I smirk. “I’d say ‘bout as often as I’m gone have to shoot a man who tries to put the moves on my cowgirl.”

  “Stop it,” she says, swatting my chest with a giggle and turning to face the room.

  I grab her arm, spinning her back to face me, happy to have diffused what could’ve been a bad situation for me. “Don’t for one minute think I’m jokin’. You a beautiful woman, Josie, and there’s gone be men out there who’s gone want to take what’s mine. And they’ll die for it,” I declare, making sure she understands how serious I am.

  I’d say she does, ‘cause she pushes me back against the wall so hard, a loud thump echoes through the room. Then, her lips push against mine. It’s a possessive kiss—from both participants. We lay claim to each other in a way so intense that we’re left gasping for breath when it’s over.