Little Sharpshooter Chap 29

Randy had no problem hanging on as Al weaved in a full gallop through the sagebrush, dried grasses, and pinion pine covered rolling plains. Bronson and the lawmen could hardly keep up. It didn’t take long for them to find the outlaw’s cloud of dust and finally they were spotted off in the distance.

As they gained on the outlaws and Trevor, Randy flinched when a lightning flash crashed to the ground not far from them. Al veered away and it took some coaxing to get him back on the path behind the outlaws. The gray haze of the storm cloud that should have been rain loomed just over their heads and not a drop hit the ground. It was a dry lightning storm. Where the lightning struck, a smoke cloud formed and flames consumed a pinion pine. She slowed Al down as the storm blew dust in her face and thunder rumbled continuously.

“Let’s hope that lightnin’ strikes them and not us. We’re gainin’ on them. Hurry.” Bronson kicked his horse, surging ahead. Randy was right beside him with two lawmen on each side. They had gained considerable ground. Fortunately the outlaws didn’t know they were there. Lightning streaked across the sky overhead. The wind seemed to propel the horses faster.

They were finally close enough that they could make out each horse through the blowing dust and see Trevor behind Rose.

When the outlaws spotted them, shots were fired. The wind gusted, creating an enormous dust cloud that slowed them all down. Once it let up and they were about to start full pursuit again, lightning struck in three places in front of Randy and their group of pursuers. The horses panicked and they had to stop.

Fire instantly shot up from the sagebrush fanned by the wind. It expanded into a raging blaze, moving even faster than the horses could run, towards the outlaws.

“I don’t know if we can get to them now. I wonder if they’ll survive that,” the sheriff said.

Randy’s heart was in her throat as she looked at the rapidly expanding fire and then at the sheriff. They were all hesitating even though the fire was sweeping away from them.

“We can’t give up,” Randy said.

“It’s so dry and windy, that fire may take them over before we even can get around it,” a deputy said.

“No. We can’t stop.” Randy swallowed the lump that wanted to choke her. Al pulled at the reins and stomped his front hooves to go. She could feel he knew what to do. The fire was a storm of its own as it swirled and angrily chased after the outlaws as if God had it out for them. “Please not Trevor,” she pleaded at the sky in a whisper. The wind died down a little. She closed her eyes as she gave into Al’s persistent protests. He was off in a full gallop towards the fire.

The heat intensified the closer they got. Al ran along the plumes of twisting flames that were in a hurry to consume everything in its path. When Al found a low break in the fire, he turned suddenly and leapt between the flames. The whole time Randy held on tight as heat tightened her skin and heated up her clothes. The choking smoke was on the other side where there wasn’t any flame. Through a fit of coughing, she could make out the outlaws in a flurry to escape the flames that had somehow nearly circled around them. Al ran straight for the outlaws. When she realized where he was headed, terror gripped her chest and she reached for her pistol.

“Al! Don’t get that close.” She could finally make out Trevor on Rose. She reigned her horse in to circle as it trying to rear from fear. The flames closed off the only way out.

An outlaw fired at Randy. Trevor looked right at her as Rose’s horse reared again. He slid off the back of the horse nearly taking Rose with him, falling on his rear. The bag fell off his shoulder as he rolled. He scrambled to his feet, running for Randy and Al. Rose’s horse was out of control as it ran off with her reaching for the dangling reins.

Randy reached for Trevor’s hand. He turned to go for the bag instead.

The other men fired at them.

“Leave it. Come on.” She reached out for him again. He had already pulled a hand out of the rope that bound him. Trevor unwound it so fast and coiled it up in his hand.

Randy begged him to take her hand. The outlaws and Rose were headed right for them. She had to fire at them instead.

Trevor circled the rope over his head and threw it just like Bronson had taught him. Right before Rose dismounted to collect the bag, his rope cinched up around it and he yanked it over to his feet. He held the bag up for Randy to take it.

Furious, she wanted to knock it away but the look on his face convinced her not to. She tossed it over her shoulder and fired. She hit one of the men in the shoulder. He reeled back losing his gun. She fired again disarming the other man that was drawing his gun. She searched for Clyde but the smoke was so thick that she couldn’t see any of the outlaws anymore. The wind picked up, whipping the fire closer. The heat nearly burned her backside as smoke overtook them again.

“Trevor, take my hand.” When he did, she swung him up easily behind her, but they were trapped. Outlaws were heading for the only clear path they had left to escape and fire circled them everywhere else.

“I think we’re gonna die.” Trevor held her back tight against his chest.

“We gotta trust Al. He brought me to you.” Randy rested her hand against his on her stomach. She put her faith in her horse again. Al backed away and circled running for the outlaws. It took everything Randy had not to make him stop. He brought her to Trevor, and surely Al could get them out. Al ran from the fire and then turned in a wide circle just before they joined the outlaws in their frantic escape. In a full gallop, he headed right for the wall of fire. Randy pressed her eyelids shut, crouching closer to his neck, allowing Al all the rein he needed. Her horse was crazy to run into the flames. Trevor screamed for her to stop Al. He tucked his head against her back when Al jumped. Intense heat consumed them but only for a very long moment. They landed safely on the other side. Al was breathing heavily as he slowed to a trot. Randy patted out a small flame on the edge of her skirt but otherwise they were still alive and unharmed. Al trotted through the smoking ground with little fires still burning on the wood branches that were left of the sagebrush. The stubby pines were smoking blackened scrub brushes. Trevor squeezed her tight with his head against hers.

“I can’t believe he did that. I can’t believe it. We weren’t burned alive. Your horse is crazy,” Trevor said in her ear.

Randy stopped Al abruptly and turned to sit sidesaddle, facing Trevor. “And he loves you as much as I do.” She couldn’t stop the tears as they streamed down her face. She pulled Trevor’s mouth to hers and kissed him hard. They hugged each other tight. She kissed him once more before she came to her senses and wiped her face. Bronson was already headed for them at a full gallop.

“What the… What the he…” He couldn’t finish, shaking his head as he sat rigid in his saddle with his shoulders almost to his ears. “That was a miracle if I ever saw one. What possessed you to jump through the flames?”

“I let Al figure it out. I thought for sure one way or another we were gonna die.”

“You jumped through the flames to get him too. I can’t even believe you have Trevor.”

They headed over to the Sheriff where he sat on his horse with his mouth wide open in disbelief.

“Here’s the bank’s money.” Trevor pulled the shoulder strap off Randy and held the bag out for the sheriff. “I didn’t want to hold up that bank. I don’t wanna be no outlaw so I had to make it right.”

The sheriff shook his head still stunned and took the bag. “I’m speechless.” He turned his horse without saying another word as he squinted at them and rubbed his face. He kicked his horse not wasting any time heading back to town.

“I think you showed him up,” Bronson said quietly so the deputies couldn’t hear. “Best not talk much of what ya did back in town though.” He winked at Randy. “Ya both need a bath. You’re covered in smoky filth. Come on.”

Randy let Al chose the pace and he wasn’t going as fast as the lawmen or Bronson. She was all right with that. Trevor was holding her tight and kissing her on the neck and cheek every chance he got. She couldn’t stop smiling while her chest filled with flutters from every kiss.

“I’m sorry I was so jealous. That was stupid. I just worry that it would be so easy for you to find someone better than me. I really do love you.” Trevor whispered in her ear.

“My name is growing larger than life. What just happened shows how risky it is for me to love anyone. I feel like you will always be in danger because of me and I don’t like that.” Randy sighed. “I know how my pa felt now.”

Trevor squeezed her tighter as Al trotted into town. They stopped in front of the bank and dismounted where the sheriff was speaking with the banker.

“I’m not gonna arrest the boy, Henry. These two risked their lives to bring the money back. Bronson explained the situation. So you’re gonna have to make peace with it. They will be headed out tomorrow anyway and you won’t have to see him again.” The sheriff turned to Trevor.

“I’m sorry.” Trevor hung his head, turning his hat around in his hands. “I’m lucky to be alive. She’s mad at me because we could have been killed over that bag. I wanted to make sure the money was returned to you.”

Randy watched the banker hoping he would see Trevor’s grief.

“I accept your apology.” Without even a thank you, the banker took the bag from the sheriff and went back into the bank.

The tension in the air was still thick.

“Let’s go, Trevor,” Randy said giving his sleeve a tug. She narrowed her eyes at the sheriff before heading for the livery stable with Al.

“Little girl, I think what ya did today was stupid. I think it was dumb luck that got ya out of it.” The sheriff hollered as she walked away.

Randy handed the reins to Trevor and fumed over to the sheriff. She clenched her fists and jutted out her chin. “Do ya know who my pa was, sir?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he smirked at her.

“Then ya know how skilled he was. It wasn’t dumb luck that saved us. I ain’t no feeble little girl and that ain’t no ordinary horse. That boy is worth more than the money in that bag. He risked his life to bring that back to you ungrateful people in this town.” She spat on the ground at his feet. “I didn’t need ya out there. There better be a pretty huge reward for bringin’ those fools in. God knows this is the worst run town full of outlaw filth we’ve been to. If my horse wasn’t so tired, I’d say this place wasn’t worth my money to stay in tonight because it’s obvious we ain’t safe here under your watch.” She stomped, limped back to Trevor and grabbed his hand as they took Al to the livery.

“What’s his face look like?” Randy asked, not daring to look back.

“It’s priceless. Bronson is laughin’ his head off and the Sheriff is a mix of stunned and furious.” Trevor chuckled. “And I’m worth more than that bag of money, am I?” He squeezed her hand.

“Worth more than all the gold in all the mines across the west.” She looked up at him with admiration. His hand slipped out of hers and rested it on her hip, pulling her closer to him.

Once she had Al taken care of and checked for burns or injuries, she stepped out of the stall with her heart racing at all the looks Trevor had been giving her. With longing in his eyes, he pressed her back against the wall and his lips locked with hers. His hand slid around her lower back pulling her closer to him and he ran the other hand through her hair. She held onto him and kissed him hard with the wash of tingles flowing through her body in waves.

“You two are gonna get these horses all riled up,” Bronson said as he brought his horse in.

Trevor pulled away, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth.

“Sweetheart, ya sure told that sheriff off. But he didn’t take all too kindly to it. He had it comin’ though.” Bronson messed up her hair before pulling her into his chest. “I thought ya was a goner myself. Don’t scare me like that again.” He kissed the top of her head. He pulled Trevor into the crook of his arm. “I’m glad she did it though. I wouldn’t want to hear her bellyache about ya if you was gone forever.” He winked at Trevor. “I would sure miss ya too. Ain’t no one else I can entertain the way I can you.” He messed up Trevor’s hair.

Bronson made sure they weren’t out of his sight the rest of the day and evening. The most affection Trevor was able to show Randy was by squeezing her hand or putting his arm around her shoulders. She longed to be closer to him. He kissed her forehead good night with Bronson waiting for him. She unlocked the door to her room and went in with Trevor on her heels. He kissed her cheek briefly after she set her key on the bedside table and he left.

The smoke from the wildfire was still thick in the night air. She stared at the ceiling in bed. Randy realized how lucky she was that they made it out alive. Her dreams were full of flames and outlaws. When she woke up with someone beside her bed she pulled her pistol out from under her pillow.

Trevor closed his hand gently over hers. “Shh ... Its me.” He leaned in to kiss her. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest as she let him take the gun. He set it on the bedside table. His kisses lingered longer and she couldn’t get enough of him kissing her until they both grew tired. He rolled onto his back pulling her onto his bare chest. She could feel his heart beating on her cheek as it slowed to a soothing thump as he relaxed. With her hand resting in front of her face, she gently rubbed his chest while he lightly tickled the skin on her shoulder. Nothing felt more comforting than having him near her while she fell asleep.