Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Adjusting the hat on his head, he walked to a table and took a seat with a nod to the others gathered. Across the room, he saw Sharla, her dark skin agleam in the light, she sat perched on the knee of a man he didn’t know.
“Haven’t seen you around in a while, Cy.”
“Don’t get a lot of free time running the station, Landon.” He took the cards that had been dealt him and took a peek. “Actually was just out to get some supplies.”
Landon James was a rancher in the area. His daddy was rich so he thought he could do whatever he wanted. From his perfectly coifed hair to his new clothing rarely was anything out of place on him. A womanizer and one who had no problem taking a woman even if she said no.
“That’s right, you had an Injun attack not to long ago.”
He waved for a card after tossing in some money. “Thanks for your concern.”
“Gentlemen,” the owner and madam strolled up. “I don’t allow fighting in my saloon. You want to have words, you take it outside.”
He nodded up at Gwendolyn Royal, she’d been a madam back east and had come this way thinking she was going to marry a man. Rumor had it, he wanted to put her to work on her back and she didn’t see it going that way. Now she was alone and had her own establishment. She may be a woman, but the men in this town didn’t push her for she was quick to draw and didn’t miss what she aimed at.
“I hear the army’s finally sending some soldiers out to help your riders.” She perched against his chair, long fingers smoothing along the nape of his neck and tangling in the hair that fell to his collar.
Cy wanted to move away, but he wasn’t wanting to explain why he was moving from a woman’s touch. Didn’t feel like telling the world he’d gone and fallen for Rebecca, not when he’d not told her yet.
“That’ll be nice. It will be good to have some extra protection there.” He wanted Rebecca protected at all times but also, didn’t want any of the soldiers to be near her.
“Perhaps you can come by more. I know the girls love you. All big and brawny.” She bent down, her breasts in Cy’s face. “And from what I hear, well versed in using that big dick of yours.”
“Perhaps.” That was the only concession he would give her. Avoiding the bosoms thrust in his face he flicked in another coin and leaned away from her.
“Just because I’m a bit older doesn’t mean I wouldn’t show you a time you’d never forget.”
“I’m sure that’s true Ms. Royal, but I don’t think I’m the one who is to get that special treatment.”
She dragged her knuckles down the back of his cheek. “You would tempt a nun and that’s the last thing I am. Although,” she plumped up her tits, “if you’re in to that kind of thing, I would be willing to find a habit.”
The men around the table whooped and hollered. Cy shook his head and folded.
This wasn’t what he wanted to be doing. She should be on her way back to the station right now.
Winter was bearing down on them and soon the plains would be covered in snow and the winds would be insufferable. The thought of Rebecca out in such weather cut him deep.
“You in?”
He glanced over the table at Landon. “Yeah.” Cy forced himself to stay there and not leave to track down his woman.
* * *
The wind brought with it the promise of snow. Blinking against the biting cold she dipped her chin as Polaris finished his trek to the general store. She needed to run home and get herself more winter clothes.
Exhaling slowly, she swung down, trying her best not to feel betrayed that Cy would be heading inside that damn saloon to the waiting women there. He would be a welcome change from a lot of the ones who visited there. A lot of the riders were small skinny men, perhaps wiry was a better word. Some of the larger ones tended to be fat but then there was Cy.
Hard bodied. Muscular. Large broad shoulders. Chiseled features. Shaggy hair and sometimes scruff on his face that she dreamed about skimming along places on her skin that would make her tremble.
It wasn’t fair. Muttering to herself, she tied off her ride and stomped onto the sidewalk and inside the general store. Two others were in there, a woman and her daughter. They were up by the front purchasing material. They glanced in her direction then sniffed and went back to finalizing their purchases.
It didn’t take her to long to figure what she needed to take back. “You from Buffalo Creek Station?”