Love On The Frontier (A Bounty Hunter's Tale) Book I

Chapter Three | Regretful Acts of Heroism

'Don't Be A Hero'

Arizona 1873

This is the thanks he gets for saving her? Regret angrily consumed him. Heroism has done nothing but get him into trouble, yet here he is again. This will definitely be the last time he goes and does something as foolish as saving a damsel in distress.

Clayton eyed the girl before him. He could tell she knew somewhat how to properly hold a gun. Sorrowful tears were still running down her cheeks and her bottom lip trembled something fierce. Despite her fragile state he was sure she'd shoot him dead if he didn't do as she said. Anyone, no matter the lack of experience, with a gun is not something to fool around with. Especially when they're in an emotional state of severe distress--he knows this from experience and has the bullet wound to prove it.

Clayton's eyes curiously roamed over her. Petite frame, no taller than four foot and eleven inches, which is why he believed her to be so young. However, those breasts of hers were cause to believe her a young woman at the age of seventeen or so.

Her thin nightgown hung over her shoulder exposing her smooth light-brown skin. Clayton instantly forced himself to focus on other matters such as;  where the hell did she get that gun?  He had not see one when they walked in. It must have been hidden somewhere close. Matter of fact, where had she been hiding from the bandits when they first arrived? 

"R-remove your pistols," she commanded, her hands shaking slightly. She has held a gun before, but she obviously has never shot a man--maybe never even shot anything living at all.

With one hand Clayton went to remove one of his pistols. "Keep your hand's up!" She took one step back and shouted, "Remove your pistols!"

Clayton raised his brows and suppressed a chuckle. "Well which one is it, girl?" He cocked his head to the side and said, "Do you want me to keep my hands up or remove my guns? I can't do both at once."

She frowned as she flicked her eyes to his gun belt and then back up to his face. She chewed on her lip as she thought about her next move. Clayton's eyes fell on her full lips for only a moment to admire sharp shape of her Cupid's bow. Promptly he then wanted to shoot himself for feeling hisself tighten in his trousers. How could he possibly be aroused in such a situation?

"Don't. Move," she ordered as she cautiously approached him.

Clayton rolled his eyes at her dramatics, but he obeyed. He could disarm the girl within seconds, but he chose not to for the simple fact that he found the whole spectacle quite entertaining. Women have pulled guns on him before. Although, he's never had such a small woman challenge him.

She kept the gun pointed at his chest as she approached him. With one hand she reached for his pistol, attempting to remove it from the holster. For whatever reason she was having difficulty in doing so. Maybe because she kept glancing up at him.

After a few agonizingly awkward minutes of her failed attempts, she gave up and tried to take off his gun belt instead. She needed two hands for this task, but instead foolishly went at it with one. She tugged and jerked at his belt causing him to grunt when she jabbed awfully close to his groin.

"Careful, girl," he warned with a smirk. She glared back up at him. A  faint tinge of pink flushed her cheeks. 

"You remove it then," she snapped at him, putting both hands back on the gun.

Clayton sighed before he slowly removed his gun belt just to irritate her even further. Once he removed his gun belt he held it out to her. She reached forward and snatched the belt from him. Her hostility was unnecessary, but how could she know that after what she had just experienced.