Page 42 of Love’s Silver Bullet

Pure hate radiated from the lowlife’s eyes as he slowly stood up, hands in the air. Jake frisked him real good, jaw calcifying when he found an envelope in his vest pocket with Miss Cramer’s name on it.

“Well, well, looky here, Mr. Sikeston.” Jake shook the envelope open and peered in, a smile gliding across his lips when he saw two twenties and a ten. “Looks like our orphans will eat for another month.” The smile died on his lips as he stashed the envelope in his own vest. “What do you say we pay a little visit to the deputy, shall we?”

Gaze never straying from Sikeston’s, Jake lifted his chin to call over his shoulder. “Miss Jackpot Janie?” he shouted, although the room was pert near still as a morgue.

“Here!”

Jake heard the rapid click of heels before Janie magically appeared by his side. “If you don’t mind, ma’am, I’d be much obliged if you’d rip that string tie from this buzzard’s throat and tie his hands with it real good and tight.”

“With pleasure.” Janie scooted around Jake just as Deputy Wilcox arrived.

“No need with ties, Jake,” the deputy said, pert near huffing and puffing as he held up a brand-spankin’-new set of handcuffs. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Thanks, Deputy.” Jake pulled out the envelope with Miss Cramer’s name on it. “Found this in his vest pocket after Miss Cramer gave me a description, so I’ll take it back to the orphanage on my way home if that’s all right with you.”

“Sure, Jake, and thanks.” Deputy Wilcox glanced up with a glow of admiration in his eyes like Jake had seen from some of the youngest cowhands on the ranch, reminding him just how young and inexperienced Deputy Wilcox actually was.

Jake paused, his Colt still trained on Sikeston. “You sure, Deputy? Because I can stay—”

“No, sir. The orphanage needs that money, so I appreciate you taking it back to Miss Cramer.”

“All right.” Jake tipped his hat at Janie before searing Sikeston with a hard glare. “I’ll talk Miss Cramer into pressing charges, you can bet on that.”

Slowly holstering his revolver, Jake strode toward the door, avoiding the gawks and glares of patrons as he passed.

“Jake—look out!” Janie’s cry rang out at the sound of a scuffle.

Jake spun and dropped low, gun drawn just as Sikeston took aim, handcuffs dangling loose on one arm while Deputy Wilcox lay dazed on the floor.

Squeezing the trigger of his Colt a split second before Sikeston, Jake blasted the gun from his hand. The firearm slammed hard against the wall, discharging a shot that scattered men like fleas on a dog dipped in lye. A blood-curdling howl rose before obscenities peppered the air as Sikeston held his gun hand with a groan, fingers dripping with blood.

Deputy Wilcox lumbered up with a dazed look, somehow managing to secure the cuffs on both of Sikeston’s wrists by the time Jake strode back to the table.

Holstering his Colt with a cold smile, Jake stared him down, his eyes as hard as Sikeston’s. “That was a warning, you yellow-bellied sack of dung. The next time you take a shot at me, it’ll be through the heart.”

He turned to give a nod to Deputy Wilcox. “You know, Deputy, I do believe I’d like to follow you back for the sheer joy of watching this scoundrel locked up where he belongs, if you don’t mind.”

“Don’t mind at all, Jake. Appreciate the company.” He prodded his gun into Sikeston’s back. “Get a move on, Sikeston. Got a lumpy cot just waiting for you in a cold, damp cell.” More curse words hissed in the air as the Deputy poked Sikeston’s back all the way to the front door.

Jake turned to Janie with a polite tip of his hat, offering a grateful smile. “Much obliged, Miss Janie. You saved my life, and I can’t thank you enough.”

“Why, sure you can, Cowboy,” Miss Janie said with a sassy wink. “Just give it a little bit of thought.”

Jake couldn’t help but grin, truly grateful for Miss Jackpot Janie right about now. “I suspect ol’ Slick would be mighty grateful as well if you tended his horse out in the back while he’s indisposed. A mottled mustang in tan and white.”

He paused assessing her through a playful squint. “And I do believe you would look mighty fine on that mare, Miss Janie, should he be held up a while, you know?” He delivered a wink. “Which is entirely possible for theft and attempted murder.” Tipping his hat, Jake strode to the back door of the Bucket of Blood Saloon with a bucket of gratitude for Miss Jackpot Janie. His grin suddenly spanned ear to ear when he realized that come morning, ol’ Slick would have a bucket of hurt too.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Quietly closing the door as she left Sheridan’s room, Libby wasn’t quite sure how she was going to sleep tonight—she was far too excited! She had no idea how three women could giggle and chat for almost an hour, but they had, and Libby hadn’t felt this alive, this connected with other women in years. Not since she and Maggie’s mother had attended their first suffragist meeting at the age of eighteen.

Some of her euphoria melted into a sad smile as she closed the bathroom door behind her. She couldn’t help but remember the best friend she’d met when she’d moved to live with her Aunt Marie in New York the fall of her freshman year at Vassar. Maggie’s mother—Helen Dunne—had lived on the same street, and the two had been inseparable ever since, even after Helen had married Maggie’s father, Ryan Mullaney.

As an only child, Libby had reveled in her friendship with Helen—the kindest and most loving person Libby had ever met, and when Maggie had been born, she rejoiced to become the doting godmother who quickly claimed the unofficial title of “Aunt Libby.”

Suddenly melancholy, Libby slowly opened the Colgate toothpaste jar and carefully applied some to her toothbrush, beginning the nightly ritual of scouring her teeth. Helen had passed on the year before Maggie and Libby had moved to Virginia City last year, leaving a giant hole in Libby’s heart. Until Helen’s daughter—sweet Maggie Mullaney—had filled it up with her love and friendship. No longer Maggie’s “unofficial aunt,” Libby was now Maggie’s best friend as well. A smile suddenly tickled her lips as she took a swig of water before spitting it back out.

And fellow suffrageteer!