Nicademus: The Wild Ones by Sienna Mynx Page B

running to him?”
    “Let me go, Ben,” she replied.
    He slammed his pelvis against her. He kissed her harshly and she refused to part her lips. He dropped his forehead against hers trying to steady his breathing to find the strength to pull back. But she made him weak with need. And it was a terminal illness. He lay in bed so many nights dreaming of her. Not since his dear dead wife Essie left this Earth had he wanted another woman so desperately. “Answer me, dammit! Why Red Sun and not me?”
    She grabbed his face with both hands and lifted it to look in his eyes. “I care for you, Ben. You know I do. But I loves him. And that has nothing to do with you. He’s the only man who never wanted anything from me. Can you say the same?”
    The spell broke. The sheriff released her and she eased down the wall fixing her dress. “You came to town and made a proposal,” he said. “You set up this saloon. Got out there and got these girls to whore for you. And I let you do it for—”
    “For a price! A price! Don’t you understand I know I’m a whore? I was born from one. I know what I see in your eyes. It’s the same hunger I saw in Shepherd’s when he wanted to control me. I’m sick to death with men and their wants! Nothing happens here in my saloon for free. Not even my damn heart is free. I will keep Honey hidden and keep this place in line. But I will not fuck you to do it!” she said.
    The sheriff sighed. He put his hat back on his head. “That Indian can’t keep you safe. No one can but me. I’ll forget your words when you come to realize it and return to me.”
    Cora watched him go. She turned and knocked over a chair. Her heart raced so fast. She hadn’t seen Tyler Shepherd in over six years. Like Honey, she had her scars. But her bravery didn’t run as deep as Honey’s. No. She was terrified of the man, the past, and she couldn’t relive it again. Shepherd didn’t know she was in Nicademus. She had hoped if he did he didn’t care. She put her hand to her forehead. This was someone else’s nightmare. The outlaw wasn’t here. There was no reason for Tyler Shepherd to come to town.
     
    Four Days Later –
    Annabelle carried the water pail with two hands and a curved back. Her slumped wide-legged walk was the best way to manage the weight. Filled to the brim with fresh rainwater from the night before, it felt like a ton of bricks. She had plenty of washing to do before sunset. As she rounded the cabin to the front porch she heard the hard pounding of hooves galloping toward her and she lifted her head.   She dropped the pail and spilled the precious water into the grass. A posse was headed straight for her in a cloud of dust. Annabelle picked up the rifle from the side of the porch. She stepped out to the front of her property with it pointed south. There were six of them, and all of them looked like trouble.
     
    Jeremiah reached for his shirt and found that Annabelle had mended the patch where the bullet had torn through. Easing into his shirt he stood. He rotated his upper arm. It worked the muscles in his side, which only ached every now and then. For the most part he was stronger, better.
    She told him to stay put. But he had lived a life of restriction and carnage for three years. He needed to be outside, he needed to feel like a man again. Buttoning his shirt he was going to venture out and tell her so, when he heard something or someone outside.   Curious, he peered out of the window. He’d know Tyler Shepherd anywhere. And the sight of him on Annabelle’s land sent him into a rage. Turning in his panic, he got his guns. Then it hit him: Annabelle had his bullets .
    “Well looka here, boys.” A man leaned forward on the front of his saddle. His dusty black hat tipped over to cover his mean eyes. He would appear handsome if it weren’t for his sun-bleached skin and the sneer he gave her, revealing teeth stained from too much tobacco chewing.
    “What can I do you for?” Annabelle