"I told you, I'm arresting you. Now that bullet was aimed above your head and you're fortunate it slammed into your leg. There is no telling where the next one will go," she said. "Sometimes when I get a little nervous, my aim gets off. Trent, would you please tie these gentlemen up."
Feeling like a fool, but happy to slip away from the offensive odor, he stood and once he had his balance, walked over, took their weapons, tied their hands and wrapped a tourniquet around the one man's limb.
"Consider yourself lucky. The last guy she went to nick she took off his skull."
The man's eyes widened.
"Okay, fellows, let's get out of this stinky ravine, grab their horses and ride into town. The sheriff is going to love seeing you boys."
One thing Trent had learned so far on this trip was that life was never dull around Caroline. Between the shooting, the accidents and the kisses, he was being fed plenty of fodder for his stories. Now to find the time to write them.
Chapter 7
"Who the hell let a polecat into my jail?" the sheriff of Cupid yelled.
Caroline wanted to cry. "It's me. I got sprayed out in the pasture."
"Take your smelly self and get out before you make us all sick," he shouted.
"Go on, I'll take care of this," Trent assured her. "Just wait outside."
The man on the wanted poster leaned in close to the lawman. "This one is loco. Look what she did to my partner's leg, aiming the gun over his head."
Walking out the door, she heard the outlaw's comment and all the doubts about what she was doing came rushing back. Maybe everyone was right and she had no business being a bounty hunter.
Obviously she must not be good at it and yet she now had captured four bounties and the cash on their heads. But her nerves still got the best of her.
"Don't say much about you getting caught by a woman that you can smell half a mile away," one of the outlaws responded.
Placing her hands on her hips, she turned and faced the men and in her strongest voice screeched. "Hey, you walked right into my trap. Besides, you're the one who was going to give me a five minute head start before you killed me. Next time, my aim will be between your legs."
The sheriff turned toward her. "Didn't I tell you to get out of my jail? Get out now."
With a sigh, Caroline walked out the door. Of all the things to happen to her, getting atomized by the smelliest creature in Texas was not part of the plan.
Ten minutes later, Trent hurried down the steps with a wad of bills and handed it to her. "Come on," he said. "Let's go."
They had left their horses back at the stable, but she still carried her saddle bags. Quickly she stuffed the money into a pocket. One step closer to being independent.
"Where are we going?"
He took her by the arm like he feared her reaction and that sent a scurry of apprehension down her spine.
"Let's go to the hotel and I'll take a bath there," she said,
"No hotel is going to let you in the door. You'll run off all their clientele."
"Oh, come on, it's after midnight. Do I stink that bad?"
What could she say, he was right. Just like in the sheriff's office, she'd be shooed out the door and told never to come back. What was she going to do?
Laughing, he glanced around. "Do you see anyone near us?"
"Decent people are in bed," she replied.
"Come on," he said.
It was then she saw the bath house up the street. An all men's establishment that specialized in bathing. No, she refused to go into that place and strip down naked with a bunch of dirty cowboys.
"Oh no. There's no way I'm disrobing in that den of men."
"We'll rent you a private room. No one will come in, because I'll be at your door," he said. "Unless you'd like for me to join you."
"No," she said, digging in her heels. "I'm not going in there."
Suddenly he scooped her up in his arms and threw her over his shoulder.
"Trent," she shrieked, pounding on his back. "Put me down."
How could a man with a limp be so strong?
"Woman, you don't know how hard this is on me. Quit your squirming, you're getting a bath."
A string of curse words flowed from her mouth.
"That's not behaving very ladylike," he teased. "Do I need to wash your mouth out with soap?"
"Just try and I'll put a bullet in you so quick," she said, noting his more-than-normal limp. Now the odor penetrated his clothes as well. Now they both would smell.
"I'm not getting undressed in there," she said.
"Honey, I can't take the smell off you, and no business is going to let you in their door smelling the way you do. You have no choice. Even if I have to remove your clothes? Are we clear?"
Big tears filled her eyes. She realized the stench was atrocious. She realized she stank to high heaven, but what was she going to do? This was her only set of clothes to wear.
"Please, no," she said, pleading with him.
As he opened the door of the bath house, a bell rang and a groggy man came out of the back to the counter. "Yes?"
"We need two baths - in two private rooms, but near enough, I can protect her."
The man looked at her. "Normally, I don't allow women, but I smell the problem."
"We also need clean clothes for each of us. Is that possible?"
The man rubbed his chin. "I'll see what I can do. That will be extra."
"Fine," Trent said. "No point in taking a bath if we put on the same stinky clothes."
The man handed them both soap and towels. "Give me a couple minutes and the tubs will be full of hot water."
When the clerk disappeared, Trent let Caroline's body slide down against the front of him. Once her feet hit the floor, he wobbled and had to put the cane out to support him.
Grabbing onto his arm, to steady him, she trembled, being in an all men's business where they were naked. Much as she fought him, it wasn't because she didn't want a bath, but rather, she had no clean clothes to wear. And she felt uncomfortable being where women were not allowed.
"What if I don't like the clothes they bring me?" she said quietly.
"Tomorrow, we'll find you a new skirt and blouse," he promised. "For now, we can at least sleep a couple hours after we bathe."
Caroline knew he was right, but still uneasiness permeated her at the thought of getting nude in a public bath house.
The man returned. "Okay, I moved the tubs into one room, but put a screen between the two of you. This way you can protect her."
Mustering up her meanest frown she stared at him. "Remember your promise."
With a chuckle, he shook his head. "How could I forget?”
Trent stood on the other side of the screen calling himself ten times a fool. Why had he made such a ridiculous promise to her, when now he was faced with an opportunity. His morals may have been compromised when he rode with the gang, but he was a man of his word. As much as it pained him, he would honor his oath.
"Take your clothes off, and then toss them over," he said.
"Absolutely not," she said. "Don't look at my under garments."
"Honey, yours are not the first and we need that odor out of here."
Mumbling came from across the room, but he couldn't understand what she said.
"Toss them over, or I'll come around and retrieve them."
"Don't you dare," she said, “unless you want to meet the barrel of my Colt."
Chuckling to himself, he deliberately riled her, but those clothes had to go. Regardless, he would do whatever was necessary to eliminate that smell.
"Yeah, I'm afraid of your shaky trigger finger."
"Are you making fun of me?"
Smiling, he wanted to laugh out loud, but couldn't. Of course, he was, but he couldn't let her know that or she would make his life even more difficult. Or not even let him ride with her any longer.
"Never. Now pitch me your stinky clothes."
Just then her shirt came flying
over, barely missing him.
"Hey, are you trying to hit me?"
"You said throw my clothes over and that's what I'm doing. What's the problem?"
The woman might be goofy but she had a sharp wit and that small voice could zip a zinger faster than her bullets.
"Where's the rest?"
"Hold your horses. It's coming," she said suddenly gagging.
"Are you okay?" he asked wondering if he should go over and check on her, worried she was sick.
"Watch out for my skirt. The skunk sprayed me there. This was my favorite. I should have shot that polecat."
The garment landed at his feet and he understood her gagging. The stench was strong. Next came her chemise and finally her pantaloons.
These clothes should be burned and soon. Along with his own.
"That's it."
"Take a bath and when you're done, they will bring us fresh clothes."
"It will take more than one tub," she said.
"That can be arranged."
At the sound of water sloshing, he recognized she'd gotten in the tub. A sigh came from the other side of the screen. The urge to shred his clothes and join her was overwhelming.
As his imagination ran wild with the image of her being nude, his chest clenched. Caroline's pert breasts, small waist, and legs that could wrap around a man had him seeking his own bathtub. Anything to keep his mind off Caroline.
"Thanks, Trent. I didn't realize how nice this would be."
"Told you so," he said gruffly, thinking of how much he would have loved to be with her. Scrubbed her nude back, her front. With a groan, he hurriedly finished shedding his own odoriferous clothing. Then he crawled into the hot water and sank down enjoying the enveloping heat while his manhood throbbed.
"This is our first bath together," he called out to her, knowing it would cause her to respond.
"Don't ruin it by talking nonsense," she said. "Remember I laid my Colts where I can easily reach them."
A smile crossed his face. The woman probably had.
"Sure you don't want me to come over and wash your back?"
"Only if you want my shaky trigger finger pointing a gun at you."
Now that he was leery of Caroline, he became all jittery whenever she pointed her Colt at anyone. Leaning his head back against the rim, the sound of splashing, even humming to herself, drifted in the room.
"What are you singing," he asked.
"Buffalo girls," she said. "Such a catchy tune."
"That it is," he said, smiling as he began to sing the song, and she joined in. When the tune ended, they both laughed.
"Let's have a sing-a-long right here," she said giggling.
"Except that they like you to be quiet, especially when it's midnight."
He enjoyed hearing the laughter in her voice. The relaxed tone, her spontaneity and humor, the way she intrigued him. What would she look like dressed in a ladies’ gown, attending a ball or a fancy dinner? Would she be as entertaining as she seemed now?
Yawning came from behind the screen.
"So are you ready to call it quits on bounty hunting," he asked.
"Oh no," she replied. "I'm just getting started, and when the marshal comes to town I'm collecting on you."
A little tremor went through him. Somehow, he had to be out of town when the lawman came back because he really wanted his past to remain hidden.
"How could you put an innocent man behind bars?" he asked.
"If I believed you were innocent, I'd be upset, but you're Frank Colten."
Inside his frustration grew, but he laughed and tried to make light of her comments. "You're going to be disappointed."
"Doubtful," she said.
"Where are we going next?"
"You're going with me?" she asked. "Even after I keep threatening to turn you in?"
"For awhile," he said, needing more fodder for his story. Just a little more of her crazy antics and he had enough to write the first five installments.
His editor would either hate or love the story, but he didn't know of anyone else who was writing tales about women. Most of the novels were about men.
This story had the feeling of being a smash hit in the making. Maybe he was dreaming or maybe he was wacky, but Caroline's tale had drama and action and everything that readers enjoyed.
"Understand, I don't want to. Actually, you're starting to grow on me. We make a good team."
The door on her side opened. "Miss would you like a cistern of clean hot water?"
"Oh, yes, please," she said.
The maid drained the water and poured fresh while his own tub became cooler. Finally, she walked out the door and a splash of water, let him know Caroline had settled in.
"You'd split the bounties with me?"
Trent didn't need the money, but he couldn't let her know that. Besides, he wanted to continue traveling with her as long as she didn't turn him in.
"How about a seventy - thirty percent divvy. My part would be seventy, since I'm more experienced than you."
Laughing, he suddenly understood Caroline was no different from the members of the gang. One person always thought they deserved more.
"Well, that's mighty generous of you. But I'm going to need a little more before I consider your proposition."
"How much more?"
Right now, he didn't care how much more when his thoughts were filled with the woman behind the partition.
This woman was driving his body over the edge. Thinking of her sitting in that bathtub, in her birthday suit, had him harder than a bull. Yet, there was nothing he could do.
No matter what, he aimed to honor his word if it killed him. Being around her every day was going to lead to places he wasn't quite sure she wanted to go.
The water in his vat was cold and had a rank odor. There was a clean one next door with hot water and a beautiful woman. Business associates should begin with sharing a bath.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he peeked around the screen and bubbles covered the top of her tub. Not a single breast or nipple, nothing was showing. Her head lay back against the rim, her eyes closed and her Colts within reach.
"Are you going to answer me?”
Tiptoeing toward her, holding the cloth in front of his privates, he stepped into her water.
Blue eyes flew open and she stared at him, her mouth open. "What are you doing?"
"My water is cold and you have a heated new batch. If we're going to be collaborators and divide the money fifty-fifty, then I didn't think you would mind sharing your hot water with me."
"You promised."
"Yes, tell me not to make that kind of promise again. Don't get your lack of knickers in a twist. I'm going to uphold that oath, unless you've changed your mind."
She yanked her legs tightly against her body as she gave him an evil eye. Yet, she didn't protest like he thought she would. No guns, so far.
Bubbles covered all the parts he longed to see and his blood heated with the awareness they were both naked. Was it possible to want her any more than he did at this moment?
More than any woman he'd ever had intimate knowledge of and even the ones he didn't. With a look, Caroline had the ability to make him react in ways he never dreamed.
"Because we're business partners doesn't mean we're going to be partners in life."
"Agreed, but partner, your water is clean and warmer," he said, letting his legs slide around her, enfolding her warm silky butt.
Maybe he should have thought of the consequences as his member rose to full salute, sending him a signal that his body definitely liked what he was seeing and touching.
What was it about this woman? Dark, glossy, damp, curls framed her face and he wanted to bury his face in her hair.
As his feet pulled her scrunched up body toward him, she gasped. Grasping her, his arms clasped her moist silken skin and dragged her close as his penis brushed her leg. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock.
Laughter bubbled up fro
m him at her expression. "Sorry, darling, but John Henry likes the touch of your soft skin."
"What? Did you just call your male part a name?" she asked outraged.
What could he say?
"Yes, I did," he said proudly.
Her sapphire eyes darkened and from her breathing, he realized their joint bath was having some sort of effect on her. If only she perceived the effect she had on him.
If only she would let him pull her body against his and rub her dewy supple skin across his own. The throbbing between his legs gave him a warning and he took a deep breath.
"Miss McKenzie, I do believe you like sharing a bath with me," he said.
Her brows drew together in a frown. "What are you talking about? I'm sitting here pondering how can I leave without exposing everything."
"You can't. Yes, you're welcome."
"Again, you promised," she reminded him.
"Stop reminding me. This would be much more comfortable if you were to spin around lean against me. The temptation to kiss you would be less with your back to me. Now I'm tempted to layer my mouth over yours in such a way you'll never come up for air."
"You wouldn't."
Oh, if she only knew what he wanted to do, what he would do given the opportunity.
"Why not? We kissed before and I found it quite enjoyable. Tell me you didn't enjoy my kisses?"
A grimace reflected on her beautiful face as she stared at him and he witnessed the consternation.
"Be truthful. A man can tell when a woman enjoys his kisses."
"Yes," she said in a rush of breathless air. "Yes, the kiss was great."
The woman felt the same sparks of desire he felt and he longed so badly for her to give in.
"Want to go for a third one?"
"No, I want to finish in peace," she said, her dark eyes frowning.
"Sorry, we're sharing this tub until the water turns cold."
Though as hot as he was at this moment their bath water may never be cool again.
"If I kiss you, will you leave me in peace?"
While he would stay until dawn lounging with her, they still needed some sleep. The hour was late. And besides, he would get a naked kiss. Only one thing could be better than a smooch without clothes.
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 95
