Love's Sweet Revenge by Rosanne Bittner

you. Finish loading that thing and give it to me.”
    Randy slammed the cylinder closed and handed him the gun, keeping the barrel pointed down and her fingers away from the trigger. One of the men behind them groaned.
    â€œJake, one of those men back there is still alive.”
    â€œI doubt he’s in any shape to do us harm,” Jake answered, shoving his six-gun into its holster. “How about it, mister!” Jake yelled louder. “An even gunfight, me against the both of you!”
    Randy realized he was using his only option at flushing them out once and for all.
    â€œYou’ll lose, Harkner, and then your woman will be all ours, or at least at the mercy of which one of us is left!”
    â€œHank, that’s Jake Harkner you’re talkin’ to,” the other man yelled. “You shouldn’t have threatened his wife. He’s taken on a lot more than just two men on his own. Let’s just get out of here!”
    â€œI’m not leaving without taking that sonofabitch down,” the first man growled. “He killed Cal, and Cal was already wounded!”
    â€œThat’s the whole point! He don’t miss! You know his reputation! Let’s just go!”
    â€œToo late, boys!” Jake shouted. “You get up on those horses, and you’re dead! I said you could ride off, but I’ve changed my mind. You shouldn’t have threatened my wife! Your only chance now is to face me down fair and square.”
    There came a long silence. Randy noticed Jake grimace with pain, and perspiration began to bathe his face. “Jake, don’t do it! You’re hurt!”
    â€œNot bad enough to let either one of those bastards get to you. Remember what I said about that shotgun!” He shimmied up to the crack in the rock to keep an eye on the men lying beyond in the grass. “Make up your minds!” he yelled. “Sure death—or a tiny chance at living!”
    â€œThis ain’t fair! You’re Jake Harkner.”
    â€œAnd you made the decision to steal my cattle!”
    â€œWe didn’t know this was your spread.”
    â€œHank!” the second man shouted. “Somebody is riding toward us from the north. Let’s get out of here!”
    â€œHarkner ain’t gonna let us leave.” The one called Hank dared to stand up, his hands in the air but six-gun still in hand. “I’m callin’ you, Harkner! Fair fight, but Billy here gets to be part of it, just like you said.”
    â€œI ain’t drawin’ on no Jake Harkner!” Billy answered.
    â€œWe have no choice, Billy! Put your gun in its holster. Let’s get this over with!”
    Jake slowly rose, holstering the gun Randy had loaded for him.
    â€œJake, don’t!” Randy begged.
    â€œStay put,” he told her. He walked from behind the boulder, noticing riders in the distance. He could tell it was Lloyd because of how his long hair flew out behind him in the wind.
    The one called Billy slowly got to his feet. He carefully holstered his gun, as did Hank. They held their hands away from their holsters.
    Jake staggered slightly.
    â€œHe’s hurt!” Hank sneered. “I told you. We’ve got a chance, Billy.”
    â€œThen let’s get this over with. More men are comin’!” Billy answered. He went for his gun. Hank went for his at the same time, but before either of them could clear their holsters, Jake’s gun was blazing, and they both went down.
    Randy started to rise, not noticing until then that the man left alive behind them had gotten to his feet. She grabbed up the shotgun and fired.
    Jake whirled at the boom. Randy was sitting on the ground, still clinging to the shotgun.
    â€œJesus!” Jake holstered his guns and knelt beside her. “Randy?”
    â€œI’m okay. The shotgun knocked me down.”
    Jake helped her to her feet, pulling her close. He wrapped his arms around her. “You sure