Kyros' Secret (Greek Myth Series Book 1) (25 page)

Excerpt from
The Outlaw

(Western)

The moon lit the empty streets of the little town of Blackhawk. Lawton’s horse stopped outside the establishment, and he could hear the piano music as he dismounted and made his way to the doors of the Boar's Head Saloon.

This was Sadie Hunter's saloon, or at least it was when he left Blackhawk three years ago to run with the Amos brothers. Robbing banks and holding up stagecoaches wasn't to his liking, and he was glad that was all behind him now.

Lawton,
Silver
, Silverton had returned, and everyone in town knew it.

His boot heels echoed loudly in the silent night as he crossed the plank board walkway. He felt the eyes of the saloon's occupants upon him even before he pushed open the swinging doors and stopped just inside the entrance.

"It's him," came a voice from the crowd. The piano music stopped suddenly.

"Lawless is back," said another, referring to him by the derogatory town's label.

Silver scanned the room, noticing Two Finger Tom, and Buckweed, the town’s fool, bellied up to the bar. Mayor Ted Braxton and the grocer, Big George, gave him a half nod, looking up from their drinks. The local working girls were still there, smiling at him and batting their eyes. Nothing had changed in Blackhawk. Nothing at all.

He entered the room, trying not to draw more attention to himself then he was already acquiring. The gunshot wound he'd taken to the leg the last time he rode out of Blackhawk left him with a slight limp. Sheriff Bart Windslow had shot him. Ol' Bart had been wounded as well by a shot to the leg because of such a stupid move. He'd tried to take on the Amos gang single-handedly. If Silver hadn’t shot him in order to stop him, the Amos brothers would have killed him. Bart must have realized the favor Silver did for him. It wasn't two days later his wife and kids convinced him to give up his badge and move north.

Silver approached the bar, and two men volunteered their positions just to let him pass. Tom and Buckweed looked on, but when he caught their eyes they found interest in their drinks instead.

"Silver," came that smooth, sweet voice that always made his heart beat faster.

Sadie was behind the counter, just as he'd hoped she'd be. Only this time, instead of that cute flirtatious smile, her expression was cool and guarded. No warmth in her eyes. No welcome greeting. But then he hadn’t really expected her to welcome him back with open arms.

"Sadie. It's been a long time." There was so much more he wanted to say to her, but couldn’t. He felt the lump in his throat threatening to choke him, and he knew he needed a damned drink and fast.

Sadie looked over to the piano player and nodded. The music started up again and the patrons seemed to forget about him for the moment. But Sadie wasn’t going to forget about him, not after what he’d done.

"What do you want, Silver?"

"I’ll take my usual."

"We don't serve your kind in here." She reached under the counter and Silver knew she was going for her gun, the gun he'd given her to protect herself years ago.

"There's no need for that, sweetheart. I'm not here to cause trouble."

Her hand went back to her side and her eyes scrutinized him. Her skin looked as soft as he'd remembered it when they'd made love the night before he'd turned into an outlaw. Her eyes were as beautiful as always - the color of cornflowers, and her hair like rays of sunshine. He wondered if she still smelled like honeysuckle. He had half a mind to lean over the bar and find out, but he knew that would only drive her away.

"I'm not an outlaw anymore. I've turned a new leaf," he told her, only hoping she’d give him a second chance. What they’d had together was special. And he only regretted now that it didn’t last.

Sadie pulled a draft of beer and slid the mug toward him, all the while watching him carefully, her mouth set in a firm, defiant frown.

“No whiskey?” he asked, hoping to hell she hadn’t already forgotten what he liked.

“Not tonight,” she answered directly. “I’ve seen the way whiskey makes you act, and I’ll have no fights in my saloon because of it.”

“Sadie, honey, I told you I’m not here to cause trouble.”

He could feel every eye in the place on him, and the silence from those around him was deafening. Damn, he needed a whiskey, but he wasn’t going to let her know it. He needed to remain strong and level-headed if he was going to make this work. Maybe she was right – whiskey was only going to get him in trouble. And he was here to make amends this time - not to make trouble.

"Was it all worth it? Was it worth giving up what we had together because of your no-good greed?" She stood with her arms crossed over her ample bosom, looking more like a schoolmarm than a saloon owner, even though her bodice was tight and her cleavage exposed.

"I'm not giving up anything," he told her, taking off his Stetson and laying it on the bar, "and I don't think you heard me. I've changed. Matter of fact, I'm here to stay."

She froze at that announcement. He watched her breathing still, then slowly start back up. Her gaze dropped down to the counter and she busied herself running a rag across it, obviously so she wouldn’t have to look at him.

"Don't tell me,” she said with contempt in her voice. “You've decided robbing banks just wasn't enough. Now you've come to take over the saloon, too."

He brought the mug to his mouth and swallowed down the bitter draft. If only she knew just what he'd been doing these past three years. If only she could have trusted him enough to wait for him to explain, just like he'd asked her to so long ago.

"I made a promise to you three years ago, Sadie. I said we'd talk when I returned. I told you I'd explain everything as soon as I could."

"Three years is a long time to wait, Silver. Besides, it doesn't matter any more. I don't need to hear your lies. Now drink your beer and get out!"

"No. Like I said, I'm here to stay. I'm not leaving."

"Then I'll get the sheriff to throw you out of here. If you won't leave, we'll remove you by force."

"I've heard talk no one has had the guts to step in as sheriff since the day I shot Ol' Bart. Some think it's a cursed position. There's no law in Blackhawk anymore. If you think there is, than you’re only fooling yourself, Sadie."

"Maybe that’s so,” she said, snatching up the rag and tossing it to the floor. “And we have you to thank for that, Lawless Silverton, now don’t we?"

He hated being called Lawless. And he certainly didn't like hearing the nickname coming from Sadie's mouth. Maybe she had changed after all. Three years was a long time. He was only fooling himself if he thought he’d saunter back into town and pick up right where they’d left off. For all he knew, she could be married. He wanted to know, but was reluctant to ask.

"You have no sheriff in Blackhawk,” he pointed out. “Haven't had one for three years. So don't threaten me on a false premise, unless you can back up your words with actions."

"Well we will have a sheriff, starting tonight," she said, wiping her hands in the frilly apron covering her long gown. "They're sending a new sheriff down from Braemar. He's supposed to arrive any time now."

Silver quaffed his beer and banged the mug down on the counter. His eyes were fastened to hers as he pushed back and stepped away from the bar.

"I know," he said, putting his hat back on his head, slowly and precisely. "I'm the man you've all been waiting for. You see, since no one else was brave enough to take the position, they decided to send me."

"What?" Sadie gasped, and the room once again became quiet.

"You heard me. Starting tonight, I'm Blackhawk's new sheriff."