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“Or not. But you’re going to need more than your good looks to fix this.”
Doyle deflated. “It may be too late for that. I don’t know if there is any real fix. Maybe we ought to just take her in at gunpoint and get the hell out of here. We’ve screwed things up enough for these people.”
“Maybe,” said McGovern, putting a hand on Doyle’s shoulder. “But it sure has been a hell of a ride. This beats any vacation I’ve ever had.”
Doyle snorted. “Same.”
“Have you…thought about maybe staying?” McGovern asked as Doyle rushed into the mayor’s office in search of a gun.
Doyle picked a revolver out of a drawer in Amos’s desk and rotated the chambers, making sure it was loaded. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered it. Not that the Watcher would let me get away with it.”
“Damn.” McGovern whistled. “There’s a lot you’d be giving up with a brain like yours, but I definitely get the allure.”
Doyle tucked the gun in his belt and considered the man before him. He hadn’t thought much of McGovern and his ego, but he supposed at least part of that had been jealousy because of his more visible and appreciated position, not to mention his relationship with Lacey. But now that he’d met Sadie, Lacey’s allure fell flat. She was nice and all, and beautiful, but Sadie had the kind of fire inside her that made him want to touch it no matter how stupid he knew it was. He craved that kind of danger.
She was the most real thing he’d ever had the pleasure of experiencing, and he didn’t know how he would feel alive again if he didn’t have her in his life.
“It’s a nice daydream,” Doyle said, heading for the door, “but I don’t think it’s doable. Even if the Watcher weren’t an issue, I have to get everyone back and finish fixing the cloak. I’m close, thanks to Teddy.”
“Right,” said McGovern with a tip of his hat. “You have a Nobel prize to win.”
Doyle laughed before peeking to make sure the coast was clear. “Not in the private for-profit sector.”
“Come on, at least you can have one last night with her, even if I have to stand guard outside your quarters.”
“You’re going nowhere near my quarters. Do you have a weapon?”
“Yeah, I won it in a poker game. Pretty awesome, right?” McGovern held up a shiny silver gun which Doyle pushed down and away from his face.
“Do me a favor and don’t point it at anyone. Just hold it when it’s time and make it look like you know what you’re doing.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve watched every classic western on the vids. I know how to use an old-fashioned weapon.”
Doyle didn’t bother arguing, just hoped it wasn’t actually loaded as he led the way down the now darkened street.
“Where’s the wagon?”
“By the saloon. I’ll pull it up to the house.”
Doyle nodded as his wristband buzzed against his skin. He held up his arm and acknowledged the call.
“We have a problem,” Nicole’s voice barked. “Your cowboy got out of his quarters.”
Otto escaped? “How?” Doyle asked.
“It’s not like we came equipped with an actual prison cell on a resort,” Nicole sniped back. “The security guard outside his room was unconscious and naked when we found him. He’d been there for quite some time. My guess is he’s clothed and already off the TCR.”
“Great,” Doyle said, lowering his arm and rushing to catch up with McGovern.
In a frenzy, he shoved McGovern aside and began unhitching one of the horses.
“What the hell?” McGovern asked.
Without a doubt, he knew where the man was going. “Change of plans. Otto’s loose and he’s going to be headed for the ranch. Give me a hand, this thing is damn complicated.”
McGovern directed Doyle to the side and proceeded to unhitch one of the beasts. “Damn straight, that’s why you should let the man trained to drive this thing do it.”
Doyle fisted his hands with impatience as he waited for McGovern to lead over the brown beauty.
