Lady Gone Bad by Sabine Starr

silver buckle. Stiff and pricey, but right as rain. He hoped Mrs. Harris picked the correct sizes because he wasn’t trying on anything else.
    Tugging the Stetson down tight on his head, he glanced impatiently at Lady as she toyed with one bit of fluff and then another, probably delaying going to jail. He got hot at the idea of seeing her wearing nothing but underwear, hard thinking about stripping off her finery, and finally burned imagining his hands on her luscious, naked body.
    Trying anything to get his mind off Lady, he opened a jar of peppermint sticks and sniffed the tangy aroma. “I’ll take some of these.”
    “Just a moment and I’ll be happy to help you,” Mrs. Harris said. “How many do you want?”
    “Couple dozen ought to do it. Three boxes of .45 ammunition, too. Better throw in some beef jerky, coffee, cheese, and crackers.”
    “Certainly, sir.”
    “I need something practical, too,” Lady said as she looked in the glass-fronted cases of merchandise. “I’ll take that forest green split riding skirt with the matching blouse. And I need a new hat.”
    “Perfect for horseback.” Mrs. Harris picked up Lady’s choices.
    “She may not be riding horses for a while,” Rafe said, “but she’ll look good in it anyway.”
    “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Lady snapped, trying on a beige hat. She exchanged it for a bright red one. “Oh, look at that ruffled crimson blouse. I must have it, too.”
    “Excellent taste.” Mrs. Harris quickly stepped away from them as she sorted and added up merchandise. “Just one moment and we’ll be all done here.”
    By the time she had all of their purchases wrapped in paper and tied with string, Rafe wondered where he was going to put so many packages. He supposed he could tie them to the saddlebags till they reached the jail.
    “Sir, the total is—” Mrs. Harris said.
    “Almost forgot.” Lady set down a bar of lavender soap, tossing him a quick grin. “I’m paying.” She struggled to pull a coin purse out of her pocket.
    “No, she’s not.” Rafe shouldered Lady aside and set several gold pieces on the counter. “That ought to cover it.”
    “Yes, indeed, sir.” Mrs. Harris smiled, sliding the gold pieces toward her. “Please come back often to shop. I get in new merchandise weekly.” She nodded toward Lady’s handcuffs. “I carry some lovely jewelry you might want to consider on your next visit.”
    “Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.” Lady tossed Rafe a narrow-eyed look. “You can carry our packages, too.” She walked to the front of the store, flung open the door, and stepped outside.
    He grabbed their merchandise and followed in Lady’s wake. He knew she was mad at him for buying her clothes, but he liked the idea of dressing Lady Gone Bad on his dime. Maybe one day he’d buy her a gold locket or something pretty, but he had to admit, no two ways about it, she looked mighty fine in handcuffs.
    He stopped in the doorway, looked carefully down both sides of the street, didn’t see any trouble, and stepped into the sun.
    Lady waited for him a few paces away. She was reading wanted posters stuck to the building wall. Maybe looking for her own. Suddenly, she jerked down two posters. She glanced at him, then down at the posters as if comparing his face with what was on the paper.
    “You’d better take a look.” She held out the wanted posters.
    “You still trying to buy time?” He clattered down the steps, tied half the packages on his horse and the other half on her mare.
    She followed him. “I’m serious. Take a look.”
    He turned around, grabbed the posters. “Okay.” He might as well keep her happy a little longer, so he read, “Wanted Dead or Alive: Lady Gone Bad.” He looked from the drawing to her face. “You don’t admire your likeness? I admit it doesn’t do you justice.”
    She glanced about, edging closer. “The other poster!”
    “Wanted Dead or Alive: Rafe Morgan.” He stopped, looked hard