Cowboy from the Future

by Cassandra Gannon

  Something inside of him snarled at the thought.

  Deke scowled. “You’d have to be a drooling idiot to let another man steal that girl away from you. Especially, that bigoted fuck Hugo.”

  “How do you suggest I stop it? Tie her to my bed?”

  “Well, it’s not a bad idea.”

  “Oh for gods’ sake…”

  “Cade, you deserve to be happy. It’s why I didn’t make my non-threats to her more threatening. Because, Adeline could be good for you. Just give her a chance to see it and she’ll see it. Jake and I both think so.”

  “And you two are such experts on women.” Cade scoffed.

  “I know you want more than just a couple of nights with the girl, so you need show her you’re not a complete jackass.” Deke retorted. “It’s the only way you’re going to win her over. Wherever she comes from, she’s used to a softer life. She’s going to be scared away if you shout at her. She’s not going to understand it’s just you, being you.”

  “Scaring Adeline away would probably be the best thing for her.” Cade let out a long breath. “Besides, Voltyn know nothing of softness.”

  “You’re half-human. Figure it out.”

  “Damn it, why are you pushing this?”

  “Because this girl is supposed to be yours, moron.”

  Gods, he wished that was true. “She’s not.” Cade said quietly.

  “She is.” Blue eyes gleamed with a not-entirely-sane light. “I’m sure of it. This woman’s been dropped here like a miracle from the gods.” Deke had always been the most religious of the brothers. “How else do you explain it? Your whole life, you’ve saved me and Jake. Now, she’s come to save you, Cade.”

  Deke had finally lost his mind. “No matter what you believe, she will never be mine. I just want to keep her here for a week or so more. It would be pointless to try for anything else.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Of course I do! Are you blind? Adeline could have anyone.”

  “So why is she all alone, then? Why isn’t this Michael Landon guy here, right now? Why is she so sad that she doesn’t have a family?”

  “I have no idea, but any man in the world would kill to have her at his side. She isn’t going to settle for a Voltyn.” Cade wasn’t kidding himself about this situation. “The woman already has more than I could ever offer her. Why would she need me at all, when she…?”

  Adeline’s panicked scream cut him off. “Cade, help!”

  ***

  Addy and Jacobi hit it off from the first.

  Jake was a surfer-looking teenager, who seemed to be in a perpetually cheerful mood. Back in the twenty-first century, he’d be studying for his SATs, saving for his first car, and dating the homecoming queen. Here in Shadow-of-the-Gods, his life was a lot less carefree, but he still had the boundless curiosity of a child. He lead Addy to the small building behind the saloon, showed her how to turn the sonic bathhouse on, and politely stepped back outside so she could use it in privacy.

  But he kept up a solid stream of questions through the door.

  How far had she traveled? What was her home like? What sort of foods did they eat there? Why were her clothes so different? Why did she talk so funny?

  He wanted to know everything there was to know about her, but he didn’t stop talking long enough for her to answer any of his excited queries. Not that she had any real answers. She would’ve tried to come up with some halfway convincing lies, though. He just didn’t give her a chance.

  Finally, out of desperation for him to be quiet, Addy called on the skill that had won her the fourth grade talent contest: She started belting out 99 Luftballons. She’d taken voice lessons during her “rock star phase.” She wasn’t gifted enough to stick with it for long, but she could still hit all the high notes. The peppy tune and German lyrics easily came back to her as she sang.

  Jacobi couldn’t have been more impressed if she grew wings and flew around the yard. “What does it mean?” He breathed when she was done.

  “I have no idea.” Addy stepped out of the bathhouse, shocked that she felt so clean, considering she’d just showered without water. Nothing would ever replace shampoo, but this sonic thing wasn’t half bad. “Something about red balloons and Captain Kirk. It was written in the ‘80s. Nothing back then had to make sense, just so it had a catchy tune.”

  “The ‘80s?”

  “Yeah. It was a very colorful and hair-sprayed decade, which I was born too late to fully experience. It had the most awesome music ever. And fashions. And movies.”

  Addy adjusted the clothes Jacobi had lent her. Flannel had apparently come back in style, although the pattern was less Kurt-Cobain-lumberjack-checks and more interconnected circular-diamonds. How did you weave a circular-diamond? All things considered, her outfit could’ve been worse, though. Her least-favorite bra was still cutting into her shoulder, but she did smell better.

  “I’m telling you, Jake, nothing beats an ‘80s movie. Dirty Dancing should have won every award that… Shit!”

  Addy broke off with a panicked scream as three dirty-looking men rounded the corner of the tavern and grabbed Jacobi. The kid struggled, but he was quickly overpowered.

  “Stop!” Addy cried as they knocked Jake to the ground and started kicking him. “Cade, help!”

  One of the men turned to snarl something at her. She had a feeling that it was a warning to stay out of it. Addy ignored that (probably good) advice and grabbed his arm, trying to wrench him away from Jacobi. Whoever these assholes were, they were full-grown men and Jake was a teenager. It wasn’t fair. Knowing nothing about what was going on, her loyalty instantly and totally swung behind Jacobi. Addy always sided with the underdogs of the world. Especially when they were Cade’s little brother.

  The man shook her off, intent on killing the boy. Addy fell backwards, swearing a blue streak. “Get away from him!”

  Jake rolled into a ball, trying to protect his head as they stomped on him. “Addy, run!” He got out between blows

  She ignored that (probably good) advice, too. She needed to do something. Judo. Yes. Addy staggered back to her feet, finding her center of balance. She needed to use Judo and…

  The gunshot caught her by surprise. It actually didn’t sound like a gunshot or anything else she’d ever heard before. It sounded sort of like the ping of fine crystal mixed with a vacuum cleaner’s whrrrrr. She knew it was a gunshot though, because a Star Wars-y laser blast caught one of the guys in the shoulder. He toppled away from Jake, clutching his scorched arm and screaming in pain. One of the other men dropped to his knees to help him, while the other guy took off running.

  Addy looked over to see Cade holding a weird rifle/crossbow. With his angular cowboy hat and the weapons in his hand, he looked exactly like a gunslinger. A really, really hot gunslinger. All the hormones in her body gave a cheer at the sight of him.

  Wow.

  “Are you alright, Adeline?” Cade asked, stepping off the back step. His attention stayed on the attackers, even as he reached down to help Jake to his feet.

  “I’m fine,” she swallowed hard, “but I think those guys just tried to mug Jacobi.”

  Cade sent his brother a sideways look, his expression dark. “If this is about a fucking card game…”

  “I won that hand fair and square! I swear to the gods, I did.”

  Somehow, Cade didn’t seem appeased by that vow. “You played with the Caroillos? Are you out of your mind? They don’t give a shit about ‘fair and square?’” Addy had never seen him so agitated. “What if I wasn’t here, Jake? What if they’d caught up with you alone? Or what if they’d taken it out on her?” He gestured towards Addy. “Damn it, I told you to look after her!”

  “I would never put Addy in danger, Cade! I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “You just did, Jake! Where the fuck is your head?!”

  “I’m fine.” Addy repeated. She moved so she was standing between the brothers. “Don’t yell at him, Cade. It’s all
over, now.”

  “It’s not over. Because of Jake, I just shot Orly Caroillo. You think that won’t lead to a lot of badness?”

  “It wasn’t his fault.”

  “It was my fault.” Jacobi interjected, looking like he was about to cry. “Cade, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.”

  Addy flashed him a quick glance, surprised that he didn’t see what she did. It seemed so obvious. “Sweetie, Cade’s not mad at you. He’s just lashing out, because he’s scared.”

  “Scared?” Jacobi echoed like he couldn’t imagine anything scaring his brother. He swiped a hand under his bleeding nose. “Of what? The Caroillos? No way. Cade could take Orly and Branson and Werd all at once and not…”

  “No.” Addy interrupted, cutting off his fervent defense of Cade’s fighting skills. “He’s scared that you might’ve been hurt. Give him a minute and he’ll calm down. He’s just terrible at showing how much he cares, so he’s bellowing at you instead of giving you a hug.” One look in Cade’s eyes told her all of that, so she wasn’t sure why Jake still looked worried. “His grouchiness is just part of being a cowboy, I think.”

  Cade slanted her a glare. “You understand me so well, huh?”

  She fixed Cade with an exasperated frown. “Don’t be more of a jackass than you can help. Look at how upset the boy is. How about just a pat on the shoulder?”

  His scowl got deeper.

  “Please?” She tried.

  Cade let out a frustrated breath at the simple word. “This is ridiculous.” But he reached over to slap Jake on the back. “I’m glad you’re not dead.” He told him gruffly.

  Jacobi’s eyebrows soared at that Hallmark moment. Clearly he didn’t expect much in the way of brotherly affection. Just as clearly, he reciprocated Cade’s feelings, with far less awkwardness about showing them. His arms wrapped around Cade in a bone-crushing hug.

  Cade sighed, his eyes rolling towards the sky.

  “See?” Addy beamed up at him, ignoring his sour mood. “Emoting isn’t so hard, is it?”

  “Voltyn don’t have emotions.”

  She touched his arm and adopted a wise tone. “Of course you do. This one is called love.” How could the moron miss the fact that he adored his little brother? Just the fact he wasn’t shoving Jake away should prove that. “Enjoy it. A lot of people would die to have a family who cares for them.”

  Cade studied her for a long moment. “What the hell am I supposed to do with you, lady?” He finally asked.

  Addy grinned, sensing victory in that tired question. “Well, you could tell me my sonically-cleaned hair looks nice.” She teased.

  “I could leave you out in the snow and save myself a lot of headaches. Jake,” he nudged Jacobi towards the house, “take Adeline inside and make sure she stays there. I’d rather deal with Branson and Orly, than more of her craziness.”

  “Sure, Cade.”

  Once Jacobi had caught hold of Addy’s arm and was tugging her towards the back door, Cade glanced back at the Caroillos. The wounded one, Orly, was still on the ground with Branson trying to bind his injury. Cade snapped something at them, apparently telling them to get off his property.

  That suggestion was met with more guns. Branson Caroillo stopped caring for his brother and pulled his weapon out, aiming it at Cade. He screamed out something, preparing to fire more laser blasts.

  “Cade!” Addy shouted in panic, when he didn’t duck.

  Then again, he didn’t have to. A loud report sounded and Branson fell backwards with a singed hole in the middle of his skull. He sprawled in the snow, his hand still clenched around the gun he never had a chance to fire.

  Addy looked up at the ceiling. She guessed that Deke had killed fifty-seven men, now.

  Cade glowered at the rooftop, where Deke was watching over his brothers like a sniper. “Did you have to aim for his head? Now, Branson’s dead, you idiot. Werd is going to demand a honuel.”

  “So you’ll kill Werd and there’ll be one less asshole in the world.” Deke retorted. “Problem solved.”

  “Shit. You know I hate killing people. Their auras go flickering off and it’s fucking creepy.” Cade stomped up the porch steps, pissed at the world. “Jake, I told you to take Adeline into the house. Why does nobody listen to me? I’m the only sane one here, so you’d think somebody would listen to me.”

  “You talk too much for anybody to listen to you.” Deke called back.

  Cade shook his head. “Gods, I should leave all three of you in the snow and finally have some peace and quiet.” He slammed through the door. “Where do we keep that damn honuel. band? I’m about to need it.”

  “Closet.” Jacobi reported, tagging along behind him with a concerned frown.

  “Of course. Right where it was the last time you got me into one of these things.”

  “I’m sorry, Cade. Really. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

  “You never do.”

  Addy followed Cade into the saloon, even though she knew she should stay out of it. She should go back upstairs, lock her door, and wait until the western pass opened. Engaging with the Westins would just lead to trouble.

  “What’s a honuel?” She asked anyway.

  “It’s like a…” Jacobi hunted for a translation. “Duet? Dude? …Duel? Yes, duel! After a feud, the heads of two families must meet in combat and fight to the death.” He looked more upset over his brother’s irritation than that amazingly horrible news. “Cade always wins them.” He tacked on, as if that might improve the situation.

  “I’ve had a lot of practice.” Cade muttered. “Just go upstairs and let me handle it, Jake. Adeline, you go with him. I don’t need either of you underfoot.”

  Jake retreated with an abashed expression.

  Addy wasn’t so obedient. “Are you kidding me?” She hurried after Cade. “A duel? Who are you, Clint Eastwood, now? You cannot possibly be considering something so stupid.”

  He stopped in the hallway outside the kitchen and yanked open a closest door. The whole thing popped off its hinges the moment he touched it. That must’ve been a regular occurrence thanks to Cade’s carpentry skills, because he impatiently dragged the door aside and braced it against the wall like it was no big deal.

  “Because, I’ve been making such smart choices lately?” He grabbed some kind of leather holster thing from a shelf and fastened it around his waist. “And who’s Clint Eastwood?”

  “It doesn’t matter, because you’re not living in a Spaghetti Western.” She really did intend to stay unengaged from the Westins’ problems, but she couldn’t just stand aside while Cade risked his life in a showdown. “Whatever that gun belt do-hickey is, just put it back.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Of course you can. Just forget this whole thing and…”

  “No, I mean, I can’t.” He cut in. “There are laws. If I don’t fight in the honuel, my family’s property is forfeited to the other side. The Carriollos will take everything. Any idea where we’re going to sleep tonight without this tavern?” He arched a brow. “Believe me, you’re not going to like camping in the woods, Adeline. I don’t think you’re the type.”

  “They’ll steal your house?” Jesus, who invented the stupid rules of this stupid place? “That’s the most asinine law I ever heard!” She paused. “Well, maybe not as asinine as the Voltron discrimination stuff, but pretty close.”

  “It’s Voltyn.” He corrected. “And since a honuel is the one instance where I’m allowed to fight back against a human, I think it’s far less asinine.” He headed for the front door, grabbing his coat from a hook. “Don’t worry. No one’s stealing our house.”

  Addy’s stomach dropped. He was really going to go through with this. “Wait! I just remembered I like the camping. I joined the Girl Scouts and everything.” She’d been expelled after one meeting for eating all the troop’s fundraiser cookies, but he didn’t need to know that.

  …And did he just call it “our house”?

  “Girl Scouts? Wh
at is that? A military unit?”

  “Not exactly.” Addy was growing increasingly panicked over the possibility of a shoot-out. “The point is, I think you should just give these Carriollo guys the bar. It’s not even that nice a bar, Cade. You can find someplace way better. Like with indoor plumbing.”

  He reached for the knob. “I don’t know what indoor plumbing is, so I doubt I need it.”

  “If you knew what it was, you’d already know you need it. Damn it, just stop.” She caught hold of his arm and he obediently halted. She stared up at him, breathing hard. “What if you get hurt out there?”

  “I heal fast.” His said vaguely, his gaze locked on the spot when her hand touched his sleeve. He seemed fascinated by the polish on her nails. “Voltyn were bred to be stronger than…” Something new occurred to him and he hesitated, purple eyes flashing up to hers. “Wait, are you worried about me?”

  “Yes!”

  “Oh.” That seemed to confuse him for a beat. Then, the corner of his mouth curved ever so slightly. “Well, don’t. Everything will be okay. I promise. These fights happen every other week, with my brothers around.” His voice turned suddenly serious. “Just stay in the house. I mean it. I don’t want you to see this.”

  Addy swallowed. If this man got himself killed, she would never recover. It didn’t make any sense to be so invested in someone she barely knew, but she couldn’t argue with the facts. Something about Cade blasted through her intentions to stay distant and unengaged, making her care about him. A lot.

  This wasn’t good.

  “If you die out there, I’m screwed.” She informed him, because it seemed like the safest argument to make. “I’ll be homeless. Deke will kick me out before your body’s even cold.”

  “No, he won’t.” Cade sounded very certain and annoyingly reasonable. “My brothers will look after you.”

  “Look, I don’t want you to die, okay?” Was it really so hard for him to understand that? “While you’re playing OK Corral out there, just think about me and don’t die.”

  Cade’s expression softened. “Haven’t you noticed? I can’t think of anything but you, Adeline.”