Arizona Ambushers by Jon Sharpe

shoes.”
    Geraldine arrived out of breath, leading the Ovaro and her sorrel. She took his rope from his saddle, handed it to him, and squatted. “Let’s have a look at the—” She stopped in surprise. “It’s a woman!”
    Fargo drew his toothpick to cut the rope. “The first of many surprises to come, I reckon.”
    â€œ
She’s
one of the outlaws?”
    â€œUnless she mistook us for deer.” Fargo set to binding the woman’s wrists.
    â€œI never heard of a female outlaw. Who do you think she is?”
    â€œI left my crystal ball in my other saddlebags,” Fargo said.
    â€œWant me to wake her?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    Geraldine shook her head in amazement. “This defies belief. Why did the other outlaws ride off and leave her?”
    â€œThere you ago again,” Fargo looped rope around the woman’s ankles. Better safe than kicked where it hurt most.
    â€œLook at her face,” Geraldine said.
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œShe has carmine on her lips. And blue eye shadow. What kind of outlaw gussies up like that?”
    â€œShe must want to look pretty when they put her on trial.” Fargo motioned. “Fetch my canteen.”
    â€œWhy am I doing all the work? Can’t you do it yourself?” Geraldine stepped to the Ovaro. “Or is it that you’re mad at me for almost shooting you and this is your way of getting back at me?” She brought the canteen back. “Here.”
    Fargo took a swallow. The water was warm but relieved his dry throat. He poured some into his other hand and lightly splashed it on the woman with the red lips. “Rise and shine, lady.”
    The shooter moaned and muttered but her eyes didn’t open.
    Fargo wet his palm and pressed it to her forehead and her cheeks. “If you’re playing possum, I’ll gag you and drag you along behind us.”
    The woman opened her eyes. Given that she had been hit over the head and tied up, she was remarkably calm. She looked Fargo up and down, then did the same with Geraldine.
    â€œWho are you?” Geraldine asked.
    Those red lips curled in a cattish smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know, dearie?”
    â€œYou’ll tell us sooner or later,” Geraldine said. “You’ll tell us who you are and how you’re involved with the payroll robbery and who the men are you’re riding with.”
    â€œMen?” the woman said, and laughed.
    â€œTheir names,” Geraldine said. “All of them.”
    â€œYou silly, silly goose,” the woman said. “The truth isn’t what you think it is.”
    Geraldine glanced at Fargo. “What is she talking about?”
    â€œWhy ask him?” the woman said. “He doesn’t know, either.” She wriggled and rose onto her elbows. “So what now? You take me to Fort Bowie and turn me in?”
    â€œI’d just as soon shoot you,” Geraldine said, “but I want information first.”
    â€œYou’re no killer,” the woman said. “You’re a whore who got lucky, is all.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œYou heard me,” the woman said. “That major fell in love with you and proposed. You saw your chance to get off the line and jumped at it. Now that he’s dead, what will you do? Go back to spreading your legs for money?”
    Geraldine struck her. It happened so fast, there was nothing Fargo could do. She hit the woman flush on the cheek hard enough to rock her head. “You miserable bitch!” Geraldine raised her fist to hit the woman again.
    Lunging, Fargo grabbed her wrist. “No.”
    â€œYou heard her,” Geraldine said, trying to wrest free. “She can’t talk to me like that.”
    The woman regarded Geraldine with amusement more than anything else. “Feel better now?”
    â€œHow did you know that about me?” Geraldine said. “I’ve never met you