Beyond the Trail: Six Short Stories by Jae

Author:Jae [Jae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2013-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

Stage Station

September 16th, 1856

Frankie crossed her arms behind her head and stared into the darkness.

The straw to her left rustled.

She rolled out from under her blanket, drawing her revolver.

Hooves scraped over the ground.

Frankie shoved her revolver back into the holster. Just one of the horses, searching for a midnight snack. Instead of slipping under her blanket again, she lit a lantern and hung it on a peg. Yawning, she made her way to the back of the stable, where the treasure box and other pieces of baggage were stored. She knelt down next to the wooden box and trailed her hand over its surface, testing the sturdiness of the lock.

The rustling of straw next to her warned her at the very last moment.

Frankie whirled around.

The barrel of a weapon that had been aimed at her head only hit her in the shoulder, paralyzing her arm for a moment.

Her weapon clattered to the floor.

Frankie gripped her attacker’s arm and felt her attacker grab her in return. With both hands out of commission, Frankie swept at her attacker’s legs with a powerful kick.

Both of them landed in the straw, tussling for the weapon.

Frankie couldn’t see her attacker’s face, but at this close range, with their bodies pressed against each other as they wrestled to get a grip on the pistol, she knew she was fighting with a woman. “Give up, Tess!”

“And let you have the money? Never!” Tess said, sounding as breathless as Frankie.

The pain in Frankie’s shoulder finally lessened, and she managed to get a hold of Tess’s wrists. She pressed them over Tess’s head and into the straw, shackling them to the ground with her own hands. “Give up!” She held Tess down with her weight.

Tess bucked and writhed under her, trying to get free.

“You’re only wasting your time.” Frankie held Tess’s wrists in a secure grip. No way in hell would Tess get free. Growing up with five wild brothers had taught Frankie all the tricks.

Tess didn’t give up, though. She threw her body weight against Frankie in an attempt to throw her off. Her breasts pressed into Frankie’s, and a tendril of blond hair teased Frankie’s cheek. Then Tess’s mouth was on her own.

Frankie lost her grip on Tess’s wrists as she got lost in the warmth of those lips. Stop! Frankie shouted herself after several intoxicating moments. Stop it. This is not professional. Slowly, reluctantly, she broke the kiss—but it was already too late.

Something pressed against her side, and the resounding click of a hammer being pulled back told her it was not just Tess’s finger.

Frankie clenched her hands to helpless fists. Dumb, dumb, dumb! Your brothers never taught you that little trick. You should have seen this coming. You’ve observed her long enough to know how she operates. She’s working in a brothel, for heaven’s sake, so you couldn’t seriously think that kiss was anything but an attempt to distract you.

“Get off me,” Tess said.

Gritting her teeth, Frankie rolled to the side.

Tess quickly got to her feet.

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