going for you and didn’t see anyone else.”
As she removed the pistol from his holster, Kiera swallowed against the lump that threatened to form in her throat. Her Shoshone name as well as Muh’Weda’s solid presence reminded her of how much she had to be thankful for. Life for her was much more than the threat of bounty hunters and hangings. She had friends. Friends who would help her in just about any difficulty. She ignored Boyd’s remarks. “I missed you too much.”
“I am sorry, but I wanted to be certain I could take at least one of them captive. Thank you for helping, even though you did not know you did so.”
“The other man is Marshal Evrett Quinn.”
Muh’Weda’s expression turned grim. “No wonder they found us. We covered our tracks pretty well. We’ll just have to be extra cautious.”
“Boyd?” The Marshal’s voice carried over the trickle of the creek.
Muh’Weda placed his gun to Boyd’s temple and spoke low. “Tell your friend you’re on your way back to camp from the creek. Be natural. Do nothing to alert him to my presence. Understand.”
“On my way back from the creek. Had to escort the lady on a private matter.”
“Very good,” murmured Muh’Weda. “Now stand up and keep hold of that rope. Lower your hands and walk naturally into camp. Kiera, go ahead of him, as if he still guards you. When you get to camp walk past the Marshal then turn Boyd’s weapon on Quinn.”
“Got it.”
Ev was about to start into the woods, when the Wildcat walked out. He could see Boyd’s tan hat behind her. “You should have waited for me.”
Kiera walked past him arms, manacles and all, crossed beneath her modest chest, as if he were something slimy she didn’t want mussing her clothes. It irritated him that she would act so proud and defiant, as if she’d never committed a single wrong. Petty as it was, he wanted to take her down a notch. He reached out to grasp her arm so she would remember who held the upper hand.
Before he could speak, she drew a six-shooter from under one arm, pointed it in his face and cocked the trigger. “Let. Go. Of. Me.”
Out of self-preservation, he released her and raised his hands palms outward. “Now don’t go getting all excited, ma’am.”
She moved back and to the side, out of arm’s reach to where she could cover both him and Boyd.
Ev kept her in his peripheral vision and turned to Boyd. “What the hell happen … ” He caught sight of the tall Shoshone holding a gun to Boyd’s neck.
“Damn. We thought she was alone.”
“Big mistake, Marshal. Kiera’s my friend, and I’m not letting you arrest her. She’s innocent, and I’m betting those who aren’t would see her railroaded straight to a hanging to hide their own crimes. Now pinch the butt of your pistol and toss it over there, then lay face down right where you are.”
Ev had little choice but to comply. One glance at the Shoshone showed the man wasn’t bluffing. He’d shoot if he had to. And the Wildcat’s hands were shaking. She was wound tighter than a short fuse on a powder keg. Anything might set her off. Slow and easy, he rid himself of his six-shooter then lay down.
“Boyd,” said Wildcat. “Toss me the key to these manacles. Then you lay down too. Right where you are.”
Ev watched as the gunman followed instructions and as Wildcat’s moccasins strode over to the key now lying in the dirt.
She picked it up, removed the chained cuffs, and walked back to stand a bit more than an arm’s reach beside him. “Put your hands behind your back.
Ev considered grabbing her the minute she came close, but she was smart enough not to get into the Shoshone’s line of fire. The manacles closed over his wrists and determination overtook him. She’d live to regret the day she treated him like the criminal he was coming to think she wasn’t.
However, Wildcat hadn’t finished. She left Ev’s line of sight, and seconds later, he felt a rope knotted tight around his
As she removed the pistol from his holster, Kiera swallowed against the lump that threatened to form in her throat. Her Shoshone name as well as Muh’Weda’s solid presence reminded her of how much she had to be thankful for. Life for her was much more than the threat of bounty hunters and hangings. She had friends. Friends who would help her in just about any difficulty. She ignored Boyd’s remarks. “I missed you too much.”
“I am sorry, but I wanted to be certain I could take at least one of them captive. Thank you for helping, even though you did not know you did so.”
“The other man is Marshal Evrett Quinn.”
Muh’Weda’s expression turned grim. “No wonder they found us. We covered our tracks pretty well. We’ll just have to be extra cautious.”
“Boyd?” The Marshal’s voice carried over the trickle of the creek.
Muh’Weda placed his gun to Boyd’s temple and spoke low. “Tell your friend you’re on your way back to camp from the creek. Be natural. Do nothing to alert him to my presence. Understand.”
“On my way back from the creek. Had to escort the lady on a private matter.”
“Very good,” murmured Muh’Weda. “Now stand up and keep hold of that rope. Lower your hands and walk naturally into camp. Kiera, go ahead of him, as if he still guards you. When you get to camp walk past the Marshal then turn Boyd’s weapon on Quinn.”
“Got it.”
Ev was about to start into the woods, when the Wildcat walked out. He could see Boyd’s tan hat behind her. “You should have waited for me.”
Kiera walked past him arms, manacles and all, crossed beneath her modest chest, as if he were something slimy she didn’t want mussing her clothes. It irritated him that she would act so proud and defiant, as if she’d never committed a single wrong. Petty as it was, he wanted to take her down a notch. He reached out to grasp her arm so she would remember who held the upper hand.
Before he could speak, she drew a six-shooter from under one arm, pointed it in his face and cocked the trigger. “Let. Go. Of. Me.”
Out of self-preservation, he released her and raised his hands palms outward. “Now don’t go getting all excited, ma’am.”
She moved back and to the side, out of arm’s reach to where she could cover both him and Boyd.
Ev kept her in his peripheral vision and turned to Boyd. “What the hell happen … ” He caught sight of the tall Shoshone holding a gun to Boyd’s neck.
“Damn. We thought she was alone.”
“Big mistake, Marshal. Kiera’s my friend, and I’m not letting you arrest her. She’s innocent, and I’m betting those who aren’t would see her railroaded straight to a hanging to hide their own crimes. Now pinch the butt of your pistol and toss it over there, then lay face down right where you are.”
Ev had little choice but to comply. One glance at the Shoshone showed the man wasn’t bluffing. He’d shoot if he had to. And the Wildcat’s hands were shaking. She was wound tighter than a short fuse on a powder keg. Anything might set her off. Slow and easy, he rid himself of his six-shooter then lay down.
“Boyd,” said Wildcat. “Toss me the key to these manacles. Then you lay down too. Right where you are.”
Ev watched as the gunman followed instructions and as Wildcat’s moccasins strode over to the key now lying in the dirt.
She picked it up, removed the chained cuffs, and walked back to stand a bit more than an arm’s reach beside him. “Put your hands behind your back.
Ev considered grabbing her the minute she came close, but she was smart enough not to get into the Shoshone’s line of fire. The manacles closed over his wrists and determination overtook him. She’d live to regret the day she treated him like the criminal he was coming to think she wasn’t.
However, Wildcat hadn’t finished. She left Ev’s line of sight, and seconds later, he felt a rope knotted tight around his
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