Snapping jaws sounded in her head, her fingernails spiking into claws. She lowered her head, willing the animal back. “Please. All I know how to do is shoot. I can’t do that like this. Let me help them…make sure they’re safe. Then you can take control. Hell, I’ll give you control.”
The creature paced back and forth inside her mind, finally easing off. McKenna gasped in some air, somehow pushing to her feet as she swayed against the wall. Her instincts told her to jump, though she wasn’t sure she was in any shape to try. Another stab of pain changed her mind, and she climbed out of the window, jumping the twelve feet to the ground. She landed softer than she’s anticipated, her muscles flexing naturally as if the distance had been no higher than a foot. A satisfied snort echoed through her as she shook out her limbs then headed for the far corner of the saloon.
Answering gunfire sounded from farther up the street, these shots lower in tone than the others she’d heard and she knew her men were fighting back. She mentally begged for them to hold their ground, wait for her to eliminate a few of the peripheral men, as she paralleled the main street, keeping to the late-day shadows. Her movements felt different, more fluid than before, her steps carrying her faster than she remembered. Sights and smells were more pronounced, her hearing far keener than when she’d been in the town previously.
She waited for another round of searing pain to drop her, assuming her wolf would fight her again, but her senses sharpened, her reflexes quickening. She darted behind the corner of an adjacent building, lining up her targets as she drew her guns. Time seemed to slow as she aimed her revolvers, downing three men before two others managed to spin toward her, firing off a few shots. She twisted back, finding cover as bullets ricocheted off the wood near her head, the sound making her growl. She waited for the dust to clear, then returned more fire, keeping the bastards diving for cover, hoping to give her mates time to get somewhere more secure. The outlaws continued shooting at her, their attention obviously divided.
Minutes ticked by, fear beading her skin with sweat when only a few shots came from the sheriff’s station. Either the boys were making a plan, or they’d been injured in the initial attack. A shiver raced down her spine, her fingers tightening around the grip of her guns. She dodged out one more time, memorizing where the remaining men were hiding—knowing her best course of action was to get to higher ground and clear a path for the Ethan and Jude.
Her wolf tugged at her, and she spun, heading for the back of the building again. She caught a hint of Ethan and Jude’s scent lingering in the air, the familiar aroma making her wolf howl. It surged forward, clouding McKenna’s thoughts as she stumbled against a wall, fighting to stay in control. Her vision blurred, her steps faltering as she tried to keep moving, the mix of human and wolf making the world dip sharply. She managed to stagger around the corner, teetering on the edge of consciousness when a flicker of movement made her sidestep. The stench of whiskey and smoke filled her senses as a shadow crossed beside her, her head snapping back as cold metal connected with her temple. She reeled backwards, trying to regain her balance when she was hit again, the bitter taste of blood warm against her tongue.
She crumpled onto the ground, pain pulling her under. Her animal snarled, once again pushing forward, making her joints pop and creak, when a sickeningly sweet fragrance covered her mouth and nose. The wolf barked, then whimpered, retreating inside her head as what little scenery she could make out through squinted eyes faded. She reached for the hand covering her face, only to have it batted out of the way.
“I knew we’d find you close to those two marshals. Guess you’re not so cold after all?” Laughter drifted around her. “Use more chloroform. I want her alive, but I don’t want any surprises before we get back to the house. Frank’s waitin’ for her.” More pain erupted in her side as the heel of a boot landed in her ribs. “I can’t wait to make you scream.”
Her wolf nudged her, urging her to move, but nothing made it through as darkness surrounded her. There was a brief moment of clarity, then nothing.
* * * *
Jude stood in the sheriff’s office, doing his best not to pace the length of the room as Ethan tried to reason with the other lawman sitting in the chair near the building’s only jail cell. Jude felt off—as if his wolf wouldn’t settle, and he knew better than to push the animal’s instincts aside. He glanced out the window, looking up the street, wondering if McKenna still had her ass planted on the stool at the bar only to curse inwardly. They were mates. That meant he had to trust her.
His wolf grumbled, subtly reminding him that it wasn’t her Jude didn’t trust, it was her wolf. The damn thing had continued to show hints of itself since they’d left the old homestead, and he hated that they’d had to leave her unattended, even if it was to clear her name. But Ethan had been right. Talking their way through this required both of them.
Marshal Grant Winchester sighed, drawing Jude’s attention. There was something different about the man, and Jude wondered if the good marshal was hiding something other than twin Colts beneath his jacket. Jude scented the air again, but if the man was a shifter, he hid it well. Not that he and Ethan hadn’t instinctively masked their ability as soon as they’d ridden into town. Being a shifter didn’t automatically mean they’d understand each other, and Jude knew better than to reveal anything before trust had been earned. Of course, with the way his damn wolf kept clawing at him, if the other man was a shifter, Jude had a pretty strong feeling he’d more than given himself away.
Grant glanced at him, brow arching as he watched Jude fidget, before pushing off the chair to his feet. “Are you boys honestly trying to tell me this Buchanan lady just happened to kill seven men—all of which were known associates of Bret and Frank Wilson—in self-defense and lived to tell the tale? Seems a bit convenient to me, not to mention farfetched. She’d have to have some pretty impressive skills with a gun.”
Ethan gave the man a curt smile. “Never seen anyone draw faster. And you forgot the part where she risked her life to save a town full of people, not to mention us. Challenged the entire gang, fully expectin’ to die in the process.”
Grant sighed, tapping a finger against his chin. “That doesn’t sound like the actions of a cold-blooded killer. I’ll grant you that much.” He walked around the desk, stopping between them. “I tell you what. Let’s sit down with the woman and have a chat. I’m a fairly good judge of character. And if she confirms what you boys say, it’s good enough for me.”
Ethan moved in front of the man as he went to step past them. “She’s here, but she’s…unwell. Her body hasn’t healed fully from her injuries. She might seem a bit…off.”
Grant eyed the man, and Jude sensed his growing unrest. “I’ll take that into consideration.” He glanced at Jude, the visible tension easing. “Look, I don’t want to send a lady to the gallows any more than you two do. And quite frankly, seein’ as it was outlaws she shot…I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. Hell, the mayor’s been in here damn near every hour since I arrived trying to convince me that if we ever catch her, justice would be better served by makin’ her a sheriff than by hanging her. Same story in every town she’s been to. Seems she’s made these parts a far sight safer. But I can’t agree to pardon her without at least talkin’ to her. So short of her drawin’ her weapon on me, we’ll be good.”
Jude felt his animal pull back slightly, his hands no longer fisted at his sides. He glanced at Ethan, noting the way he seemed to measure up the other man before offering the guy his thanks. Jude frowned. It wasn’t like Ethan to be so obvious in his mannerisms, and the fact his buddy still didn’t feel at ease ratcheted up Jude’s tension again.
He joined the men in the center of the room. “We appreciate your assistance.” He nudged Ethan. “Everything okay, partner?”
Ethan clenched his jaw, turning to Jude. “Something’s off. Air feels wrong.”
“Shit. You sense it, too? I’ve been standin’ here trying to convince myself it was only my imagination.”
Grant cleared his throat. “The air
feels
wrong? You boys sure you haven’t been out in the sun too long?”
Ethan shook his head. “No time to explain. Just trust us. Something’s com…”
The pounding of hooves sounded outside the station, dust swirling through the air as gunfire popped against the building, breaking the window beside the door. Ethan lunged at Jude, taking him and Grant to the floor as bullets filled the room, impacting the wall behind them. Men shouted somewhere in the street, the sound interspersed with more gunfire.
Jude pressed onto his elbows, a whiff of blood sending a shiver down his spine. He twisted, a bright patch of red on Ethan’s side holding his attention. “Fuck. You’re hit.” He scrambled to his knees, helping Ethan lean against a table leg. “How bad?”
“Not lethal, but…” Ethan’s mouth pulled tight, his eyes closing as a tremor raced down his body.
Jude clamped his hand against the wound. “Hold on, buddy. Not the time or the place.”
Ethan nodded but didn’t speak, another ripple undulating down his limbs.
Jude glanced at Grant, thankful the other man was focused on the gunmen outside. The marshal returned fire, mumbling under his breath as he continued to scan the street.
Jude turned back to Ethan, nodding at the rear window. “If you need to go…”
“Not leaving you. Not like this. Besides, I’ll fair better with a gun than claws at this point.”
Jude gave Ethan a smile. “You stay put. Grant and I will assess the situation…see how many men there are before we go out there, guns blazin’.”
Grant shuffled in behind him. “Over a dozen. Bettin’ they’ve got more out back, too. We sure could use someone on the outside.”
The man’s words hit home.
Jude punched at the floor. “Fuck. McKenna.”
Grant frowned when a series of shots lit the air, the sound distinctly different than the previous rounds. Jude darted to the window, picking out three men crumpled on the ground as others fired back toward the side of the building. He lined up the man closest to him, downing him with a single shot before aiming at the next.
Ethan appeared beside him, the bloody stain on his shirt increasing “I swear I’ll tan her hide. We specifically told her to stay at the saloon.”
“I doubt she’s acting solely on her own. You know how strong a mate’s protective instincts are. Probably couldn’t have stayed away if she’d wanted to. And the girl was stubborn enough before.”
“She’s going to get herself killed…or worse.”
Grant cleared his throat behind them. “I’ll assume that’s Ms. Buchanan attemptin’ to save our hides.” He shook his head. “I knew there was more than justice on your minds. You’re involved with her, aren’t you?” He waved off the question. “Doesn’t matter. The fact she’s takin’ on those boys is enough for me. I suggest we give the girl a hand.” He paused, looking at them as if trying to decide whether to continue talking or not. “Something tells me you boys aren’t quite what you seem. Just answer me one thing. She a shifter, too?”
Jude’s stomach dropped, but Grant just smiled.
He motioned to them. “You’ve been antsy since you got here—makes it harder to mask the scent. Bettin’ you’ve both mated with the woman and are dealin’ with some issues. And before you get all defensive, I know you’ve been thinkin’ the same about me. Not too often we meet one of our own.”
Jude helped Ethan to his feet. “Wolf?”
“On a good day. So do I have to worry about her trying to bite me if I show up without you two?”
“She hasn’t made the shift, yet. Her wolf is…reluctant.”
“Which makes her even more dangerous.” He sighed. “I’ll head out back. You boys go out the front. She’s got them distracted. I say we make the most of it. And Ethan…get off the street if you can’t hold off the shift. Folks here aren’t ready for that. And the last thing I need are rumors of a man who can change into an animal going around these parts. Already heard about a wolf prowlin’ around Tombstone, attacking outlaws—right about when you good old boys were there. Let’s not add to those.”
Ethan grumbled a reply, drawing himself up as he palmed a gun. He nodded at Jude, shadowing Jude’s back as Jude cracked open the door, firing some cover rounds as they ran toward an oversized trough at the edge of the street. A few shots hit the dirt close to them, the echo of horses pounding the ground drifting along the breeze. Jude motioned Ethan to wait as he popped his head around the corner, scanning the dirt road. Eddies of dirt swirled across the open stretch, the odd man running toward the other end of town.
“I don’t like this. It looks like they’re pullin’ back.”
Ethan grunted. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“If the fight’s over, where’s McKenna?”
“Shit. I swear, if they’ve so much as touched her…”
“Pretty damn sure I’ll beat you there. But I might leave one of them alive for you to kill. Bein’ we’re both mated to the same stubborn girl.”
“You always were generous. But don’t discount me yet, buddy. I’ll be good as new before you know it.”
Jude grinned at him, but he hadn’t missed the tightness in his friend’s voice. He glanced at Ethan’s side, cursing. “You need to shift. Start the healin’ process before you run out of blood.”
“Can’t. Need to know…”
“I’ll tend to our mate. You know that. I’ve had your back for longer than I can remember. But I can’t lose you, too. She’s not the only one I love.”
Ethan’s lips quirked. “We don’t have to start kissing now, do we?”
“You should be so lucky. And don’t discard that possibility too quickly. We wouldn’t be the first…”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he perused Jude’s body. “I’ll keep an open mind.” He hissed out his next breath. “Fuck. How did she ride for an hour like this? Every breath feels like it’s on fire.”
“Shift. I’ll grab your stuff. Head for the back of the saloon. I’ll meet you there…if you think you can make it that far.”
“Smartass. I’ll beat your sorry butt there.” His head cracked back against the trough. “Fine. Just…”