Annie Gets Her Gunmen Read online

  She’d made her desires clear to them the night before regarding any contact during the match. She didn’t want any. Didn’t need the distraction. As sharp shooters, they had understood and readily agreed.

  Annabel’s intentions to ignore them crumpled like fallen leaves underfoot the moment she saw Garrett get in line to qualify. His tall, strong body was very fine-looking, with or without clothing.

  He didn’t stare openly, but the second she caught his eye, he smiled. Of course, as the only woman shooting in today’s qualifying round, she was getting the full gamut of looks all the way down the long line. From open hostility to leering stares, Annabel knew whatever happened in the contest this year wouldn’t soon be forgotten by virtue of her simply being there.

  As each shooter made his way forward to take his shot, Annabel watched and contemplated where to put her bullet. She had the skill to hit anywhere on the target but wanted to temper her level of prowess. Confident she could easily put a bullet in the center, no one needed to know her exact skill level, yet it seemed like cheating not to try her best to hit the bull’s-eye if she could. And she knew she had the skill.

  Cletus motioned her to approach the shooter’s line. Having just dabbed the back of her neck and face with a handkerchief to remove the excess perspiration, Annabel quickly tucked the cloth into her sleeve and advanced towards Cletus.

  “All right, missy, take your best shot. Your bullet hole has to be inside the largest ring on the target for you to continue.”

  “I understand. Thank you.” Annabel raised her pistol, closed one eye to sight the target, and put her finger against the trigger. The very second she pulled the trigger, expecting a center hit, someone in line fired his weapon in the air and startled her as she fired.

  Oh God, she was well off her mark. Had she even hit the target? She didn’t have the courage to look quite yet. Face pointed at the ground, Annabel cursed inwardly and wondered if the ruckus from a rude contender would allow her a second qualifying shot.

  Cletus yelled over her head. “Bodine, what the hell were you thinking? Only one shooter at a time. You know that. Besides, it’s inconsiderate to startle the shooter.”

  A man a few steps away laughed. “Well, she was takin’ too long. I was just showing her what she was supposed to do with that gun in her hand.”

  Annabel lifted her head to finally look at the target. In the upper left section of the ring, her bullet had edged the line on the inside of the ring. At least she had hit the target. A breath of anxiety she hadn’t realized she’d held released in a long, slow sigh of relief. She wasn’t disqualified. At least not yet.

  Virgil, the man from the day before who initially voted for her not to compete, and next shooter in line, muttered, “Does that shot even count? Her bullet hole is touching the ring.”

  Cletus looked over at the target. “I say the shot qualifies as it’s inside the ring. She’s in the contest. Or I can allow her to take another try at it because of Bodine’s rudeness.”

  The grumbling which ensued from the rest of the contestants made Annabel think no second shot would be desired, if it was even allowed.

  Cletus handed her a number. “You qualify. Tomorrow is the quarter finals. Each shooter will get ten shots. The top ten closest to the center of the target move on to the next round.

  Annabel walked away, trembling in fury over almost being disqualified before the first round. She didn’t know why she expected the men in the contest to play fair. It was obvious she’d have to keep her guard up.

  “Annie,” Garrett’s familiar voice called out from near the platform next to the line of men still waiting to qualify. She marched past and pretended not to hear him. Her temper was up, and she didn’t feel up to any polite conversation.

  Besides, she was afraid he’d feel obligated to placate her, or worse, he’d down play her justified anger. She wasn’t in the mood to be soothed. She wanted to remain angry for a while longer. Perhaps embracing her wrath during the competition would help her shoot better when the contest actually started.

  She marched all the way to the stable without a backward glance.

  Before she could call a stable hand for her horse, a hand closed over one shoulder and squeezed. Annabel whirled around in surprise with a caustic word on her lips and fully prepared to initiate a fist fight if another cross word about her participation in the contest was uttered.

  Dane removed his hand and backed up a step. “Whoa, sugar. Don’t shoot me.”

  “Can I help you with something?” The words came out in a harsher tone than she’d intended. She was angry at the men at the contest but not Dane in particular.

  “Perhaps you can, but I’d like to ask a favor without the likelihood my head will get bitten off.”

  She pushed out a long sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m not angry with you. The resistance and antics from the other competitors wears on my good nature.”

  “I know what you’re mad about, and you have every right, but right now I need help with something else.” He looked over his shoulder at the lessening line of men left to qualify.

  Annabel thought he was still in line when she left. “Did you already shoot the target to qualify?”

  “No. I wanted to use a particular gun. I thought I’d fixed it, but the firing pin must still be bent on my favorite pistol. When I went to practice early this morning, I couldn’t get it to fire. I guess we know I’m not a gunsmith. It might not even be the firing pin. Anyway, I was sort of hoping you might take a look.”

  “Do you really think I’m capable of fixing your gun?” He knew about her father being a gunsmith because she told them about her skills, but she hadn’t expected to be asked for help with any gun repair.

  “I sincerely hope so. I mean, I can use my other pistol, but this one is the one I’ve used the past four years. I guess I’m a little superstitious about changing this year.” He pulled his pocket watch out and glanced at the time. “Not to rush you or anything, but I only have less than an hour left before I have to shoot with something, unless you don’t want to lend a hand to a fellow competitor. Perhaps you plan to use my superstitious nature against me?”

  “That wouldn’t be very sportsman like, now would it?” She was just so surprised that anyone would ask her for help.

  Annabel glanced over her shoulder and into the stable. No one was visible in the immediate entrance. “Come in here where I have my tools, and I’d be happy to take a look.”

  He followed her into the cool shade of the stable’s entry. The scent of fresh hay and horses, with an undertone of manure, permeated the air. He handed her his pistol butt first and waited with hands on his hips for her to disassemble the firing mechanism. Luckily for Dane, she had a gun kit in her saddlebag ready in case one of her own weapons had been damaged somehow during the competition. She didn’t mind using her tools to help out a friend.

  “When was the last time you fired this weapon before this morning?” Annabel walked over to the stall where she’d left her horse and saddle. She retrieved her leather gun kit and opened it up on the top of a wooden barrel next to the gate keeping her horse in his stall.

  “Before I left Colorado. I shot up a few targets to get ready for the competition. I thought I’d fixed the pin myself the day I got clobbered, but I guess I’m not as skilled in gun repair as I’d thought. Early this morning, I went to do some last minute shooting to make sure my sights were accurate, but the damn thing wouldn’t even fire. It looks like someone bent it again. I could also qualify with my rifle today, but I’ll still need a working pistol for the competition. And as I mentioned, the broken one is my favorite.”

  Annabel used a tool to reposition the firing pin into a straighter configuration for firing and reassembled his pistol. Without looking up from her task, she asked, “Who do you think hurt you back in Colorado and disabled your gun?”

  He cleared his throat. “Well, now that is the distressing part. It could be anyone from the competition. What are there, twenty-five o
r thirty guys who entered? Any one of them could have decided to take me out of the running this year.”

  She glanced up. “Including me.”

  “But you didn’t even know I was in this contest, did you?”

  Annabel shook her head. “No, but I also don’t believe Garrett would do anything detrimental to you for the sake of a shooting contest.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so either, but no one else has been near my things.”

  “No one? What about the other members of this contest? There’s probably a bunch of them staying in your hotel.”

  “Except that my gun has been on my person since I left Colorado after that incident.”

  She tilted her head to one side. “You didn’t bring them in with you last night.”

  Dane crossed his arms. “True. But that would mean someone rode out to your house in the woods last night. I only left my weapons unattended on my horse in the small stable next to your house.”

  The implication of that scenario made heat rise in her cheeks and a sour burning feeling erupt in the pit of her stomach.

  “Someone could have sneaked into your hotel room, later on while you slept.”

  His eyebrows went straight up to his hairline. “I doubt it. I’m a light sleeper.”

  “But you were very tired last night.” She didn’t attempt to hide her satisfied smile. “Besides, I didn’t hear anyone skulking around outside the cabin last night, did you?”

  “No, but I was preoccupied most of the night. I certainly didn’t have my thoughts on sabotage. The truth is, it could also be as Garrett said and completely unrelated to the contest. Perhaps someone was trying to steal it and dropped it instead.”

  Annabel finished her quick repair and put her tools back in the leather pouch. She spun the wheel and locked the chamber into position. “This should work, but before you attempt to compete with this weapon, I’d like to test it first. Why don’t you use your alternate gun to qualify right now, and we’ll test your favorite for competition later on.”

  Dane leaned closer. His scent caressed her with memories from their intimate time together. “Could we test it tonight?”

  “I guess so, but you’ll have to arrive well before dark and bring a target.”

  “I can do that. Not a problem.” He took another step closer. If anyone came in, there wouldn’t be any doubt as to their intimate knowledge of each other.

  She put a hand to his cheek, relishing the smooth, recently shaved skin and stared deeply into his eyes. “What if I want Garrett to come with you?”

  He leaned in and kissed her lips gently. “Also not a problem.”

  “Good. I’ll expect you to invite him along, if you wish to see me tonight.”

  * * * *

  Virgil Smith fumed all afternoon over that woman being allowed in the annual contest. He’d goaded Bodine the whole time they were in line to start a ruckus when she got ready to shoot, so she’d be disqualified. He called him a lily livered coward and a son of a bitch if he didn’t try to fuck with the girl’s qualification round and keep her out of the match.

  His exact words were whispered directly before the offending shot, “Bodine, you don’t have a hair on your ass if you won’t liven things up by firing off a round as soon as she aims,” and most importantly, make her miss the target so she’s out of this competition.

  Even as startled as she had obviously been, she’d still hit the damn target well enough to barely qualify for the contest. Fucking impertinent female. Someone needed to show her a woman’s place.

  Larsen and Butler, the two leading contenders for this annual marksmanship contest, had lost his respect when they cow-towed to her initial demands to be allowed to shoot in the first damn place. Maybe she promised to spread her legs for them, and that’s why they’d smiled and let her enter a sharpshooters contest when everyone knew such events were meant only for men. He’d seen the three of them eating together yesterday at the hotel dining room. Virgil knew from gossip around town that Miss I Want to Shoot a Gun was staying at a friend’s place south of town.

  Maybe he’d follow her home and find out for himself what she was up to. He knew one thing for damn sure, women did not belong in shooting competitions, and he’d do everything in his power to see that she didn’t stay long enough to get to the final round.

  * * * *

  Annabel didn’t stay in town very long after the qualification round. Her attitude improved dramatically after speaking with Dane and repairing his gun. She calmed down and was able to do a little shopping. She bought a few essentials at the local mercantile and rode her gentle mare back to Mary’s home. After a lovely afternoon visit with her friend with tea and cakes she’d bought in town, Annabel arrived back at her cabin in the private copse of woods and readied for another visit from Dane and Garrett.

  She thought perhaps a nice steaming bath would improve her mood. There was a small wooden tub in the corner near the fireplace. It was placed behind the changing screen next to the bed. Annabel spent a considerable amount of time readying the water.

  Once she thought she heard a horse approaching right before stepping into the bath, but when she peeked out the cabin’s only window by front door, not a soul appeared.

  She slid into the rose scented water and decided it wouldn’t be a horrible disaster if Dane and Garrett came calling before she finished her bath. She left the door unbarred just in case. She leaned her head back on a small towel folded over the rounded wooden edge and turned her head so she could see the front door.

  Annabel soaked and relaxed in the fragrant water for only a few minutes before the sound of horses’ hooves cantering into the yard sent her heartbeat racing.

  Their deep, sexy voices intruded into the serenity of the cabin. A light knock came, but before she answered, Dane pushed the door open and poked his head in the opening. “Annabel?”

  “Come in. I’m just finishing up my bath.”

  His searching eyes soon found her in the corner, and his eyes widened. “Need any help, sugar? I’d love to wash your back.” Dane entered with Garrett following close behind.

  “I’d be so grateful for your assistance.”

  They shed their jackets and set a few packages on the table, including a bunch of wild flowers one of them had obviously picked along the way.

  “The flowers are lovely,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

  Garrett’s gaze radiated with what genuinely looked like lusty interest the moment he saw her and where she waited. “But your beauty rivals even the fairest of blooms.”

  Both men crowded the small bathing space behind the screen, and each squatted down on either side of the tub. Garrett stuck a hand beneath the surface, scooped up warm water, and dribbled it over her breasts. “While Larsen scrubs your back, perhaps I could occupy my time washing between your legs. I seem to remember you enjoyed it the last time I helped clean that particularly sensitive part of your anatomy.”

  Dane’s brows furrowed. “You two bathed together?”

  Annabel smiled. “No. Not exactly. He agreed to be my guard while I bathed, and I enticed him into helping me reach the hard to wash places.”

  “As I recall, my clothes got a little bit of a rinse during the experience. Perhaps Larsen and I should take our clothes off this time, so we don’t get drenched in the process.”

  “Works for me.” Dane stood and quickly stripped until he was completely naked, shucking clothes, boots and everything near the foot of the bed. He returned to the tub and grabbed the small bar of soap, rubbing it between his large hands. She watched as Garrett took his time undressing. Meanwhile, Dane began to smooth suds over her breasts, paying careful attention to cleaning her nipples until they peaked. Her earlier fury over nearly missing the target at the qualification round melted away with each touch of Dane’s hands on her body. He kneaded the muscles of her arms and legs with gentle strokes. He didn’t miss a single spot. Head resting back against the edge of the tub as Dane massaged her intimately, Annabel
watched Garrett take his clothes off.

  By the time Garrett was nude, Dane had thoroughly cleaned her breasts and shoulders and had worked his hand beneath the surface of the water to stroke between her legs. His wide fingers entered her pussy, enabling his thumb to stroke her clit. Garrett kneeled next to the tub and put both hands on her breasts, stroking his thumbnails over her nipples. A wave of arousal traveled straight south to her pussy and squeezed Dane’s fingers embedded there.

  Garrett lowered his head and kissed her lips with gentle pressure. She lifted her hands from the water to cup his face and keep him there. She felt him smile against her mouth.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. His hands squeezed her breasts gently. He trailed kisses to her throat. Each touch of his lips sent a pulse of desire through her body.

  Annabel opened her eyes and glanced down her body. The visual of seeing two men touching and stroking her body was powerful enough to almost make her climax.

  Dane shifted his fingers against her sex. One digit carefully slipped between her butt cheeks and penetrated her rear hole. Her pussy clenched, and pleasure soared through her veins, all the way up her spine.

  Garrett leaned over and pressed his mouth across hers again. His tongue swept between her lips, devouring her breath in a powerful, arousing kiss as Dane’s fingers catapulted her to the brink of a strong orgasm. Both men working in tandem, caressing her, kissing her, stroking her until she exploded to the very pinnacle of satisfaction.

  Garrett slid his mouth from her lips to nibble a path to her earlobe. Waves of pleasure from the release encompassed her, and as her pussy clenched around Dane’s fingers, she let loose a gratifying scream from the depths of her soul as the orgasm swelled and crashed through her body.

  “You’re so enthusiastic when you climax. The sound of your passionate scream likely made it all the way back to Pine Haven,” Dane joked.