Annie Gets Her Gunmen Read online

  Her heart felt like it sank all the way to rest in the turmoil occurring in her stomach. She’d likely hurt their feelings, and that was the worst sensation of all.

  Damn Virgil and his prying eyes. She had half a mind to show up in his room tonight with her favorite gun and tell him how she truly felt about his threats.

  * * * *

  Dane followed Garrett all the way to the hotel before stopping him. “Where are you going?”

  “Virgil’s room.”

  “He’s not there yet. She’s supposed to meet him after dark.”

  “Do you expect me to wait until tonight to set him straight?”

  Dane shrugged. “I’m just telling you he probably isn’t there. Likely as not, he’s still over at the crowd waiting to find out if he’s in the next round.”

  “Fine. Let’s go make sure he understands our resolve to keep our personal lives private.”

  They marched back over to the competition in time to hear the names of the shooters qualified for the next round of competition. Annabel, Garrett and Dane had made the list. So did Virgil and Cletus. Most of the other names, Dane didn’t recognize. There were lots of new comers this year, including one very beautiful sharpshooter he already had very heightened fondness for.

  Virgil was nowhere to be found. He and Garrett banged on the door of his room several times throughout the evening but never saw him or heard from him. Dane bribed a local at the stable and discovered Virgil’s horse was still inside, so they retired to the bar for a few drinks. He was probably out looking for a convenient woman since Annabel didn’t show up.

  With no trip out to the cabin scheduled for tonight, Dane and Garrett decided to gamble and drink lots of whiskey for entertainment. Evenly matched in both, they discovered they shared similar views on many aspects of life and a similar hearty work ethic, along with a few pastimes such as target shooting.

  After several rounds of whiskey, and once they were sure no one else could over hear them, they both admitted to incredibly strong feelings for a certain beautiful brunette with a wicked gun arm and a nice aim.

  Alone in his bed that night, Dane thought long and hard about his future and whether he could fit a secretive female sharpshooter and a well-respected sheriff in his life.

  The answer being a resounding yes prompted the next question. How would he accomplish such a feat? How could all of them possibly reside together? If Annabel was willing to move and Garrett was willing to give up his post as sheriff, Dane was sure he could make a place for them on his brothers’ ranch. However, their personal lives wouldn’t be completely private. Folks always talked. His brothers loved him, but might not appreciate or support the way he wanted to live his private life

  He’d always wanted to start his own ranch, not that he didn’t enjoy working with his brothers, but as the youngest of the three he’d never be in charge of his family’s ranch. He was okay with that arrangement, but perhaps it was time for him to consider moving to a place of his own. Maybe he could find land near where Annabel lived, if he could ever get her to tell him where she lived.

  He fell asleep with no specific answer but a powerful need to let Annabel know his permanent objective to include her in his life as soon as possible. One night away from her proved difficult, more than that would drive him completely crazy.

  Tomorrow, Dane planned to ensure she understood his intentions to marry her.

  * * * *

  Annabel spent an agonized evening all alone, first wondering if Virgil was spreading lurid details of her love affair with two men all over town after her failure to show up in his room. Hopefully, Dane and Garrett had spoken to Virgil and convinced him to keep his big mouth shut before he told anyone.

  Her second concern was whether Dane and Garrett missed her as desperately as she missed them. She had certainly fallen in love with them on the trip here, to some extent, but together the three of them were an experience she would treasure forever. She didn’t want to ever spend her time without them. After this competition, once they’d gone back to their regular lives, she wondered how they could be together, but no obvious answer revealed itself.

  Steering her mare, Buttercup, to town on the well-worn, deeply rutted dirt path the next morning, Annabel tried to focus on today’s shooting match. The next round consisted of a speed round. Five shots had to be fired in less than twenty seconds using the shooter’s choice of a pistol or rifle. Those ten shooters with the highest score on the target moved on to the semi-finals round later in the day. Only five from today’s top scorers moved on to the finals.

  She arrived in town early, but lots of folks were already milling around the competition area. She stabled her horse, grabbed the bag with her guns inside, and approached the growing crowd of spectators. Her stomach flipped over a few times as some of the men competing gave her looks of distain. She just hoped it was because she was the only female quarter finalist and not because her private life had been heralded across the town via Virgil’s gossipy mouth.

  The minute she approached the area next to the shooting range, she saw Virgil in a heated conversation with Cletus and another judge on the dais constructed for announcements outside of the saloon. Her stomach roiled, and she hoped her breakfast stayed down. Please don’t be talking about me.

  Cletus leaned in close, whispered something to the judge who nodded and walked away. That left only Virgil and Cletus. More whispering ensued, and although she watched their lips, she couldn’t tell what they were saying. All of a sudden, they stopped speaking. Virgil turned away and walked down the handful of wooden steps to the dirt ground.

  The moment he looked up and saw her, a sneer appeared on his narrow face. His gaze poured over her body with entirely too much interest. She looked away from his searing regard in time to see Cletus waving her up to the platform.

  She didn’t want to go.

  Mostly because she’d have to pass Virgil to get up the steps.

  “I’ll walk you up there,” Dane said from over her shoulder.

  Startled, she turned around and saw both Dane and Garrett side by side, arms crossed as if ready to do battle on her behalf. A smile shaped her lips before she could stop it. Delighted to see them, she relaxed a notch. “No. I’m fine.”

  By the time she turned to go up the steps, Virgil had disappeared into the crowd. Maybe he didn’t want to talk to her men and would stop bothering her. She’d forgotten they were supposed to have a chat with him. Perhaps they had persuaded Virgil to leave her alone.

  Time would tell. She’d have to ask them later when there weren’t so many people around within earshot.

  Annabel climbed the stairs and stood before Cletus, unsure of what to expect.

  “There you are. What weapon will you be using for today’s speed match?”

  That was not the question she expected. “What?”

  He pushed out a long sigh. “Pistol or rifle?”

  “Pistol. Are you asking everyone or just me?”

  “I already know what everyone else is using. You’re the only new comer that made the quarter finals.”

  Annabel waited for him to ask a second question about her prurient love life, but he turned away, made a mark on the paper and gave her a look over one shoulder like he had finished with her.

  “Is that all?” Wasn’t he going to kick her out for inappropriate relations with two other competitors?

  Cletus scrunched his eyebrows as if in confusion. “What else do you want?”

  “Nothing.” Annabel scooted away and raced down the steps as fast as her legs would carry her.

  Dane and Garrett had migrated to the shooter’s area. Annabel walked over to join them as Cletus made an announcement. He read the list of finalists’ names again and asked for acknowledgement that everyone was present and ready to shoot.

  After everyone had been identified, Cletus came down off the platform and lined everyone up. The judge he’d been talking to earlier walked over and got the first shooter ready to fire. Cletus to
ok his place in the center of the line as a finalist, and the speed shooting round commenced.

  Annabel was third from the last, with Dane and Garrett behind her.

  It was a long morning waiting for her turn. She used her monogrammed handkerchief to dab at her forehead and the back of her neck several times before it was her turn. Each shooter had twenty seconds to shoot five rounds into a fresh target twenty-five feet away. Then runners would go down, fetch the board and bring it back for the judges to measure and score.

  Once it was finally her turn, Annabel banished every unimportant thought from her head, raised her arms, found a comfortable grip, and concentrated on the target.

  The judge said, “Go.” She planted every shot in the center in less than ten seconds for another perfect score.

  She even garnered a smattering of applause once she lowered her pistol and backed away from the shooter’s mark.

  Likely started from her two generous lovers, but it was encouraging nonetheless.

  Dane approached and took his turn as she watched from the sidelines with the other spectators. He also hit all five of his shots in the center. Garrett, as final shooter of the day, also registered a perfect score. Annabel also figured he’d done it in the fastest time, too.

  Confident that the three of them were about to make it into the semi-final round, Annabel let her worries go. Perhaps she’d invite them back to the cabin tonight. It had certainly been lonely the night before without them there.

  Cletus climbed the steps again and shushed the crowd. “We’ll score these and read the names of the semi-finalists tomorrow morning, instead of later today. The ten who make it should be ready to shoot immediately. Tomorrow’s round one contest will consist of shooters aiming at targets fifty feet away with rifles. Best of luck to everyone.”

  Annabel knew tomorrow’s challenge would be the hardest for her. Fifty feet was a long way, and she was better with a pistol, but she had practiced all last month. One shot was all she got, just like in the first round. The top five scores from tomorrow’s rifle match determined the finalists.

  Tonight she should go back and practice. However, if she could persuade Dane and Garrett to join her, she might cut practice short.

  Chapter Ten

  Garrett cursed under his breath for the hundredth time that day after being unable to find Virgil for a second day in a row. The sun was an hour away from dropping behind the horizon, and he’d been thwarted yet again from explaining to Virgil what private business between lovers meant. He also wanted to warn him from ever speaking to or upsetting Annie ever again.

  Dane took one end of town, Garrett the other, and they searched everywhere once the day’s competition had finished, but couldn’t find hide nor hair of his miserable body.

  Before she left, Annabel had met them at the stable. Her mood had improved dramatically since apparently Virgil had kept his trap shut and hadn’t tattled to Cletus or the shooter’s club judges. All three confident they’d made it safely into the next round, they discussed discreet plans to meet out at the cabin tonight.

  Annie mentioned that she’d missed having company. He was grateful because he’d truly longed for her the night before as well. Tonight, he planned to discuss a possible future.

  Dane had already ridden out an hour ago to ensure Virgil hadn’t left town, but since his horse was still in the stable, they figured he was holed up somewhere. Perhaps he was hiding in his room.

  Garrett also retired to his hotel room, said hello to everyone he met in the lobby and in the hallway next to his room, and then snuck out of the back of the hotel confident no one had seen him exit. In the western sky, the sun had dropped a little further towards the line of mountains. The blazing orange disk currently nestled between two peaks as he rode quietly out of town to the south.

  By the time he made it to the cabin, the sun had all but disappeared behind the mountain range, leaving a vibrant and colorful sunset. Dane’s horse, already tied up out front, whinnied softly as he dismounted.

  He knocked on the wood frame beside the entryway, and a sultry voice beckoned him inside.

  Garrett smiled, pushed the door inward and wasn’t sorry he’d come.

  Annie rested on her back at the center of her quilt covered bed completely naked.

  Dane, still dressed, approached and shut the door behind him with a slam. “It’s about damn time you got here. She wouldn’t let me touch her until you arrived. I’ve been salivating for the better part of an hour.”

  “Good for her.” Garrett walked to the side of the bed to behold her beauty. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, lick her, stroke her, and love her all at the same time.

  He caught her gaze and murmured, “I missed you last night, Annie.”

  “I missed both of you,” she responded quietly. In the dim light cast by the candles flickering in the room, her magnificent breasts seemed to call to him.

  Without warning, he bent at the waist and sucked one nipple into his mouth. Dane, now on the other side of the bed, did the same thing.

  Garrett licked the tip of her breast which pebbled in his mouth and slid his hand down her smooth belly to the hot space between her legs. He pressed a finger against her clit and smiled as she arched her back moaning.

  “Before we lose ourselves, I’d like to suggest a new position.” Dane rose and started removing his clothing.

  Garrett was game for changing things up. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I’d really like to get my mouth between her legs. Want to let her rest against you while I do? Or perhaps your cock would be happier embedded in her pussy while I feast.”

  The mere visual in his mind made Garrett’s cock throb. He nodded and also removed his clothing as quickly as possible. Sliding beneath Annie, Garrett lifted her hips and centered her pussy over his cock. She sank down, moaning all the way. Her back rested against his chest, her breasts were displayed within easy reach for him to play with as Dane climbed between her legs and bent to taste her clit. His chin rubbed against Garrett’s balls, but the feeling wasn’t unpleasant. He also felt Dane’s hands slide beneath Annie’s ass and rest against his groin as he licked and sucked her clit.

  Garrett stroked her nipples and found a comfortable rhythm pushing his cock into her pussy with small, satisfying strokes given the limited mobility of his hips.

  Annie writhed against him as Dane pushed his face between her legs, licking and sucking enthusiastically if the noises she made were accurate. The moment her orgasm claimed her, Garrett knew it because her pussy clamped down repeatedly on his cock. Clench after clench sent his arousal level into the sky. He wanted to come but forced himself to wait and enjoyed Annie’s moans of pleasure in her completion.

  “I love the sounds you make,” Dane said and kissed her belly. Garrett still cupped her breasts and stroked her nipples while she recovered.

  Annie held out a hand to Larsen. “Help me up.”

  Dane grinned and grabbed one hand, lifting her off of Garrett’s chest.

  “Are you taking my cock with you?” Garrett felt the pressure on his shaft as she moved.

  “No. I’m just going to spin around.” She twisted around carefully until she faced him with her back to Larsen. Over one shoulder she said to Dane, “Now you can join in.”

  “And I intend to.” Dane reached over to the night stand, grabbed a tin of lubrication, and busied himself behind Annie, readying her for his rear penetration.

  Legs straddling his hips, his cock was buried to the hilt in her pussy. Annie rocked forward and elicited a hiss from Garrett’s lips. Her unbound hair caressed his chest, and her pert breasts teased his vision. Garrett thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.

  She bent down until her breasts pushed into his chest. He pushed his fingers into her hair, massaging her scalp until she kissed the inside of his arm.

  Larsen dropped the tin back on the night stand and soon Garrett felt the pressure of his entrance between her butt cheeks. The sensation
made Garrett close his eyes as the pleasure was unbelievable.

  Annie began to move her hips up and down slowly. Garrett found a rhythm and pushed his hips upward, his cock sliding into the wet heat of her tight pussy with each stroke. Each movement brought him closer and closer to a spine curling release. Palming her breasts in his hands, Garrett pushed one last time into her tight body and came with a force he’d never experienced since the last time he was with her.

  His cum blasted out the end of his cock as he fairly growled with more pleasure than he’d ever felt in his lifetime before now. Annie kissed his chest as Larsen thrust into her backside a few more times. Soon he also released a very vocal and loud sound of pleasure, followed by lots of murmuring about love.

  Garrett kissed the top of Annie’s head as Larsen finally got it together and retreated off the bed. In the corner, Garrett noticed the bath had been set up again. Larsen headed in that direction and soon he heard a splash of water.

  Still connected deeply, since his cock hadn’t yet softened, Garrett whispered, “I love you, Annie.”

  She lifted her head and smiled. “I love you, too.”

  He cupped her face one-handed and kissed her lips with gentle pressure a few times.

  Larsen had finished washing up and returned to sit on the side of the bed. He stroked a hand down her back and caught Garrett’s eye with a serious gaze. “Before we leave tonight, I want to discuss our future. The three of us need to find a way to be together.”

  Annie lifted up from Garrett’s chest. “I’m not opposed to that, but although we all live in Colorado, we are quite a distance from each other.”

  Garrett added, “We’ll figure it out, but I need to know that you want to have a future with the two of us.”

  Larsen nodded. They both sent gazes to Annie.

  She grinned. “I do want a future with you both. Will you still want one with me when I thrash you both in the shooting contest?”