A year ago, Luke had grown closer to a girl he’d known for most of his life. Jennifer Moss was the older sister of a boy that Luke used to skip stones with before they started going to school. She was a sweet girl with a cute face and a pretty smile. A few nights during the course of one spring, she and Luke had snuck up into the loft of an old barn to spend hours kissing and exploring each other with nervous hands. After that, Luke’s shyness had kept him from getting very close to another girl. He’d always consoled himself with the fact that he’d at least been with one in his lifetime. After spending less than an hour with Emma, he realized that he and Jennifer hadn’t had the slightest idea what they were doing in that loft.
The room Emma had brought him to was small, but cozy. The space that wasn’t taken up by the bed was occupied by one chair, a small dresser, a bathtub, and a tall oval mirror held in a chipped wooden frame. After shutting the door and locking them in, Emma had set him on the bed and slowly disrobed. Luke watched her, entranced by the slow dance performed by her swaying hips and expertly moving hands. She’d then turned her attentions to him, taking him to the tub, undressing him, and cleaning him off. Once he was mostly dry, she took him to the bed and made him forget all of the brutality that had so recently filled his life.
Her touch was constant and gentle, never leaving his skin or letting her warmth fade from him. She’d kissed him intently at first, but quickly adjusted to his hesitance and took a slower pace. When it came time to go further, she let him put his hands wherever he pleased. It wasn’t long before he reached the limits of his knowledge in regards to a woman’s body and when he got there, she took over without making him feel awkward or ashamed.
In that short span of time, Luke felt excited, worried, eager, timid, strong, and weak. The weakness he felt when she was through with him, however, was anything but bad. She lay beside him in the dark when it was over, resting her head on his shoulder as her hand slowly rubbed his chest. Luke stared up at the ceiling, illuminated by one candle that had been sputtering on the verge of going out, lost in the simple patterns of wood grain and the lines where one board met another.
There was no sorrow in his heart.
No killers in his thoughts.
No struggling to find his way.
No plans to make.
Just him and Emma, warm beneath a wrinkled blanket, their feet sticking out from the edge that had been pulled up from beneath the mattress somewhere along the way.
“How are you doing, honey?”
“Good,” Luke told her. “I’m doing . . . really good.”
Emma propped herself up on one elbow. Her hair was a mess and her cheeks were flushed. “You sound surprised by that.”
“It’s . . . been a while since I’ve felt good.”
“How long?”
“I guess it really hasn’t been much if you were to count the days. Still, it seems like a really long time.”
She nodded and traced a design on his skin. “I’ve had times like that. All things must pass.”
Luke blinked. “What?”
“It’s something my mother used to tell me. Good things, bad things, everything will pass sooner or later. I always thought it was a comfort. At least when she was talking about the bad things.”
“Good things shouldn’t last forever. I wouldn’t want them to.”
“Is that so?” she said while mischievously poking him with her finger. “Then I must not have done something right.”
Luke rolled onto his side to drape an arm over her and smiled when she didn’t pull away. “No,” he said. “You did everything right. It’s just that, if the blessings weren’t mixed in with the rest, you couldn’t really appreciate how good they are.”
“That’s beautiful.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said as he flopped onto his back. “It just came to mind.”
“So . . . do you think you’re ready for another go-around?”
Luke’s response came to him in an instant, but he still wasn’t fast enough to answer her before the door to Emma’s room was rattled by a key turning in the lock. He sat up and looked around for his gun. The holster had been slung across the back of the only chair in the room, which was just out of reach. The door swung open as he silently cursed himself for being so foolish as to get wrapped up in the moment at the expense of his own well-being.
Fortunately the only person standing in the doorway was the beautiful brunette that had drawn him to Stormy’s in the first place. “Are you two through?” she asked.
“I hope not,” Emma replied.
“Then you can pick up where you left off in a while. I’d like to have a word with our guest.”
Luke felt Emma’s hands on him before he was treated to the sight of her slipping out from beneath the blanket to get to the pile of her clothes. “We could both probably use a chance to catch our breath,” she said.
The brunette stood staring at him, reminding Luke of Mrs. DeLoach when she’d been displeased with a smart-mouthed answer or some other form of mischief in her classroom.
“Mind if I get dressed?” he asked.
The brunette sighed. “I’ll wait outside. Please hurry. I’d just like to have a word with you.” She took a step back and closed the door.
Jumping from the bed, Luke gathered up his clothes and started pulling them on. While hopping on one leg to get into his pants, he nodded toward the room’s only window. “Get that open for me, will you?”
Emma stayed put and shook her head as if she suddenly didn’t know where she was. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “What are you doing?”
“Getting out of here, that’s what.”
“Why? Because of what Stormy said?”
“Stormy?”
Emma nodded. “That woman who was at the door just now. She’s Stormy. This is her place.”
“That’s just great.” Now that he was partially dressed, Luke pulled his gun belt around his waist and buckled it. Before he could take a step toward the window to open it himself, he was stopped by Emma, who’d crawled over the bed to get in front of him.
“She just wants to talk to you,” Emma insisted.
“Are you certain of that?”
“Yes.”
The tone in her voice left no room for misunderstanding. Emma was as certain of what she’d just told him as she was certain that the sky was blue. Luke looked at her carefully as he asked, “How are you so sure that’s all she wants?”
“Because if there was any trouble, she wouldn’t have come here alone. There are some men who work here that are a whole lot bigger than you who would have introduced you to a shotgun or club before you had a chance to skin out through a window. And even if none of those fellas were around, she surely wouldn’t have stepped outside to give you a chance to get away if she wanted to do you any harm.” Placing her hands flat on his chest, Emma said, “She’s a good woman and if she tells you she just wants to talk, that’s all there is to it. Please, just give her a chance.”
Against his better judgment, Luke gave up on trying to escape. Now that he had a chance to think, he realized that not only would he be scurrying off like a coward, but he’d also be abandoning Red in the process. “What does she want to talk about?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve been a little preoccupied for the last hour or so.”
He waited for a few seconds while mulling over what she’d told him. What put his mind somewhat at ease was the fact that nobody had made another attempt to get into the room. Luke was being given some measure of trust. It only seemed right that he return the favor.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll hear her out. It’s not like I’d get very far anyway.”
“You got that right,” Emma told him with a relieved smile. “The last man to try jumping out one of these windows broke both legs when he hit the ground. I’ve got plans for you, cowboy. Best keep yourself intact.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Once he’d buttoned his shirt, Luke walked over to the door and opened it just enough to get a look outside. The pretty brunette stood there with her hands clasped in front of her in a way that reminded him once again of his schoolteacher. There was nobody else with her. No armed men waiting to pounce. Not even any other girls trying to get in or out of one of the other rooms. Gathering his strength with a deep breath, Luke pulled open the door while wearing the sternest expression he could manage.
“You’re Stormy?” he asked.
“That’s right. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Not as such. I just didn’t know I had to clear out of the room so quickly.”
She smiled, but it was nothing like the beaming display she’d put on when was sitting on the front porch. “Like I said before, I’d just like to talk to you for a moment. When we’re done, you can go right back and keep Emma company.”
“All right, then. Go ahead and talk.”
“Not here. Follow me.” With that, Stormy turned and walked down the hall without once looking back.
Luke followed before he had a chance to think otherwise. Once he realized how easily he’d fallen in line, he stopped and asked, “Where’s Red?”
“Is that your friend?”
“Yes. Where is he?”
Stormy turned back around and said, “Room Four, but I don’t think you want to go in there without knocking first.”
“Mind if I see for myself?”
“Be my guest. I’ll be right in here,” she said while motioning toward a door marked OFFICE. “Come right in when you’re through with your friend.” Stormy used a key to unlock the door, stepped inside, and shut it behind her.
Luke stood in his spot for a few seconds. All he heard was some music and voices from downstairs as well as some scuffling from one of the nearby rooms. His hand rested on his Colt, only this time it was there on purpose. Instinct had become habit in no time at all. Since it seemed to be just him in that hallway for the time being, Luke checked the numbers on the doors and moved along until he got to room number four.
Even before he was close enough to knock, he could hear more than just scuffling coming from inside. Initially, he wanted to move away and let Red have his fun. Then he reminded himself that he couldn’t be absolutely certain who was inside that room. There was always the chance that Stormy had sold him a bum steer just to put his mind at ease.
Tapping his knuckles against the door, Luke said, “Hey, Red. You in there?”
The only sounds he heard were grunting and groaning. A man and woman were in there all right. As for who they were was still anyone’s guess. Wincing in embarrassment, Luke knocked harder. “Hey, Red!”
“What?” a man roared from the other side of the door. Luke still couldn’t be sure it was Red since the voice was strained and breathless.
“It’s Luke.”
“Whatever you’re after, it’d better be good.”
After hearing a complete sentence, Luke was able to recognize his friend’s voice. “You all right in there?” he asked.
“He’s just fine,” a woman replied. Luke recognized it as the redhead who’d corralled Red at the very start. “And he’s about to get a whole lot better.”
There was some giggling and laughing from both of them, followed by more scuffling.
Luke had heard plenty and didn’t want to hear whatever was coming next. “Just checking. See you later.”
“Don’t wait up!” Red said.
More than happy to leave them be, Luke walked back down the hall. When passing Emma’s room he felt a pull to go back inside and forget the rest of the world existed for a while longer. As tempting as that was, he was fairly certain that Stormy would only come along to collect him again. She had a sternness about her that spoke of a woman who was accustomed to getting her way. She wasn’t a sweet talker like the other women in the place, but someone who carried herself with genuine strength. If there was one lesson Kyle Sobell had taught him, it was that genuine strength should always be respected.
Luke made his way to the office door, reached out to knock, and then retracted his hand so he could just open the door and step inside. The room was smaller than Emma’s bedroom, containing a desk, several small cabinets, and a few chairs. Two oil lamps lit the confined space, and their dark green shades made Luke feel as if he were stuck several feet underground. Stormy sat behind the desk without so much as flinching at his unannounced entrance.
“Glad you decided to see me,” she said while standing up.
“I said I would, didn’t I?”
“There was always the chance that you might leave as soon as you had the chance. I appreciate you giving me your time. Please sit down.” When Luke sat, he watched the brunette for any hint that he might be in harm’s way. The only move she made was toward one of the cabinets beside her desk. She removed a pair of glasses and a small, strangely shaped bottle.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked.
“Sure.”
After pouring out two measures of liquor, she handed one glass to him and then sat back down. Stormy raised her glass and took a drink. As soon as Luke brought the glass near his lips, he could tell it wasn’t whiskey. Not wanting to make himself look foolish or timid, he took a drink. Luke’s wishes to maintain his composure went out the window when he almost coughed up every drop of liquor that had trickled down his throat.
“It’s brandy,” she told him. “The taste takes some getting used to.”
“Never heard of it,” Luke said.
“It’s not a common sight in most saloons around here. I don’t even serve it downstairs. I save it for special occasions. I can have some beer or whiskey brought up if you’d prefer.”
Luke looked her in the eye, took another drink, and forced himself to maintain a straight face. Not only did he keep from coughing again, but he actually found himself enjoying the taste. “You’re right,” he said with a bit of a rasp left over from the first sip. “It does kinda grow on you.”
She smiled at him and sipped from her glass. Closing her eyes, she savored the taste of the drink as well as the heat it brought.
“So, you own this place?” Luke asked.
“I have partners, but yes. I run the day-to-day operations.”
“Is your name really Stormy?”
Her eyes opened and locked on to him. “As far as you’re concerned, it is. But I’m guessing someone in your line of work is accustomed to folks living under assumed names.”
Luke took another drink. His mind filled with possibilities of what she was talking about. Rather than show how desperate he was for a hint of what he should say next, he bought himself some time by mimicking the way Stormy had lingered over the exotic liquor.
Finally she asked, “You are a bounty hunter, right?”
Lowering his glass, Luke felt his temper flare. “Where did you hear about that?”
“From Wayne. He’s the man who looks after our stable.”
Luke’s teeth ground together and a curse rumbled up from the back of his throat.
“Before you get too riled up,” she said, “let me assure you he didn’t come running to me with this. I understand you wanted to tend to your affairs without everyone knowing who you are.”
“But you found out anyway,” he snarled.
“That’s right. Only because I overheard you two talking when you were outside.”
“So you eavesdrop on the folks you call guests?”
“In case you didn’t see the name on the sign, this is my place,” Stormy told him sternly. “I can come and go as I please, wherever I please, on this property. But no, I wasn’t eavesdropping. Your friend had already been brought inside and you were lagging behind. I came out to see if you required anything, only to find you and Wayne engaged in a rather heated discussion. I stayed put in the event you drew your pistol and Wayne needed my help.”
“All right. So you heard me talking. Now what?”
Stormy poured another portion of brandy into her glass. “Would you like some more?”
“No,” Luke replied.
Holding the glass a few inches beneath her nose, she swirled the liquor around while staring over her desk at him. After a few seconds, she said, “You look rather young to be a bounty hunter.”
“Do I?”
“Of course, we get young men in here all the time. Mostly, they want to get their first taste of a woman or feel what it’s like to indulge in some of the finer things. Lots of times, it’s the sons of rich landowners or ranchers.”
“The ones without all that money probably just go to a saloon for their women, right?”
“That’s right. To a saloon or an establishment without my high standards. That being said, I still say you seem too young to be the man you claimed to be. Was that just some tough talk to a frail old stable hand or are you truly someone who hunts men for money?”
“What’s it matter to you?” Luke asked indignantly.
“How many men have you captured?”
Throughout the years, Luke found that he had a penchant for lying. Although he didn’t have the stony face of a poker player, he could weave his words around his situation and surroundings to seem as convincing as possible. He didn’t lie unless it was necessary, but so far, Red had been the only one to ever catch him in one. He thought about what Stormy had heard, what she probably knew, and what she could see. Since she already doubted him, he figured trying to talk himself up wasn’t the way to go.
“I’ve brought in a few,” he said.
“Who were they?”
“Nobody you would have heard of. I’m just getting started in my line of work, but I’ve brought in some dangerous men.”
“How dangerous?” she asked.
“Dangerous enough to have a price on their head,” he told her with a healthy amount of anger in his voice. “If you brought me in here to call me a liar, then I don’t have to sit here and take it. All you should be concerned about is whether or not I can pay for what I’ve gotten here.” Standing up, he added, “I assure you I can, so I’d like to get back to some more pleasant company.”
“Please, sit down.”
There was respecting strength and then there was being shoved around by someone who thought they were stronger. Luke had spent too much of his life being on the receiving end of the latter, and when he heard the tone in Stormy’s voice just now, he was ready to show her just how much he hated it.
“You won’t tell me to do anything,” he snapped. “I don’t care how many men you’ve hired to watch this place. None of them will be able to get into this room before it’s too late to make any difference.”
Even though he hadn’t made a move toward his gun, Luke’s voice alone had an effect on the woman in front of him. She wasn’t petrified, but the superior glint in her eye was gone as she said, “I’m sorry. It’s just that . . . you do look rather young. Most bounty hunters tend to be more experienced.”
“And how many bounty hunters do you know?”
“A few.”
“You want to know something? The men I did get the drop on made the same mistake you did. They underestimated me on account of how I look. They stood just as tall as you please until I burned them down.”
“Have you killed men?” she asked.
“What’s it to you?”
Stormy was more shaken than he’d previously thought. She did a good job of keeping her chin up, but when she picked up her brandy glass, her hand was trembling just enough to create ripples in the liquor. She took a sip, set the glass down, and folded her hands on top of her desk. “I didn’t mean to offend you. You just are not like most men in such a dangerous line of work.”
“I can pull a trigger just fine.”
“That’s good to hear.” Clasping her hands a little tighter, she looked him dead in the eye and said, “I have a business proposition for you.”
“Business?”
Stormy nodded. “There’s a man in town, not from around here, who owes me a good deal of money. He’s apt to leave any day now and doesn’t intend to pay. I’d like you to collect it for me.”
“And you think a bounty hunter needs to do this?”
“Not a bounty hunter specifically. Just someone willing to shoot this man if push comes to shove. Is this the sort of business you’re interested in?”