One More Ride

By J. Hepburn

Amanda runs the only hotel in a young town on the edge of white settlement in Australia. It's a far cry from the life she used to lead, a life only her business partner knows anything about, and she prefers it. But when bush-rangers hold the hotel at gunpoint, threaten everyone in it, and ride off with the contents of the safe, it's an insult she can't let slide.

Set on vengeance, Amanda swallows her pride and seeks help from the two men she parted ways with long ago. But the past stirred by their company is harder to ignore than anticipated, and Amanda struggles both with the deadly fight in front of them and the old desires she thought she left behind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Hepburn
• Release date: Aug 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463699065

J. Hepburn

J. Hepburn is a speculative fiction writer from Queensland, Australia. They live with their girlfriend, two cats, the ghosts of four giant grey shaggy hounds that take up a lot of space, and innumerable visiting magpies, kookaburras, parrots and carpet pythons.

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J. Hepburn

Amanda runs the only hotel in a young town on the edge of white settlement in Australia. It's a far cry from the life she used to lead, a life only her business partner knows anything about, and she prefers it. But when bush-rangers hold the hotel at gunpoint, threaten everyone in it, and ride off with the contents of the safe, it's an insult she can't let slide.

Set on vengeance, Amanda swallows her pride and seeks help from the two men she parted ways with long ago. But the past stirred by their company is harder to ignore than anticipated, and Amanda struggles both with the deadly fight in front of them and the old desires she thought she left behind.

One More Ride

By J. Hepburn

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by C.A. Shaw

Cover designed by London Burden

This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

Second Edition August 2019

First edition published by Less Than Three Press, LLC

Copyright © 2019 by J. Hepburn

Printed in the United States of America

Dedicated to my partner Tam, who is still a big reason I have the self-confidence to keep writing.

I wish to acknowledge all the traditional owners of Australia, who thrived here for millennia before my people started making jokes about how dangerous it is.

And thanks to Rudyard Kipling, for unexpected moment of inspiration.

One More Ride

Amanda was standing on the hotel verandah, staring into the rain, when the boys rode into town. Fabian saw her posture stiffen then very deliberately relax, but nobody saw the expression that flashed across her face.

The rain had taken everyone by surprise when it blew in overnight and turned High Rock's single street to mud. The riders sat stoically, but their horses trod heavily with heads held low.

Fabian was standing next to Amanda when the riders reached the hotel. Seeing him, they reined in on their way to the stables.

Greetings, boys! Got skins for me, ja? Fabian had to shout to make himself heard above the rain drumming on the corrugated iron over his head, but his voice was easily as large as his frame or his moustache.

Got a good load for you, Fabian!

The hotel and the general store were the same thing in High Rock, a town still young and small, but although Amanda was landlady and mistress of the one, Fabian was keeper of the other.

Amanda pushed Fabian aside, a feat akin to a horse pushing a bullock. What are you two fools stopped for? Get your horses into the stables!

Devin beamed through his thick black beard. Amanda! You look well!

You look cold, wet and filthy, and even if you're happy, your horses aren't! Look at you! You've been riding too far for too long. There's more mud on your legs than there is on the road, and Copper looks like verdigris! There's clean water in the stables. Take Copper and Pepper under cover and rub them down. I'll meet you round there.

Can you take these saddlebags now, then? Fabian can have a look—

Amanda pointed. Round the back and stop arguing, Devin.

Devin's face drooped as he turned towards his companion. I don't think she wants to talk to us, Nate.

I heard, Devin! It's against all hospitality, it is! Nathanial's hat was so wet it was hanging around his ears, and water was dripping from the ginger stubble on his chin, but he was grinning at Amanda.

It'll be my boot against your backsides if you don't tend to those horses! Amanda shouted back.

The boys jumped to obey, leaving Amanda glaring after them and Fabian chuckling enough to shake his belly.

You're unfair to those boys, Amanda, Fabian said after they had passed out of sight.

No, Fabian, Amanda said with satisfaction in her voice, I'm really not.

The stable had been built to match the hotel: optimistically. More than half the stalls were empty. Devin led Copper straight to an empty stall next to the pride of place occupied by a handsome dapple grey that nickered in recognition. He let the horses get reacquainted with each other while he walked back to the stable's entrance to shake out his hat.

Nathanial greeted the grey as an old friend before leading Pepper to the stall the other side of Copper.

The rain was still heavy enough to make speech difficult to hear, so they didn't try.

Even as soaked as they were, they warmed up quickly as they removed tack, washed off mud and checked carefully for sores and stones. Both men had stripped to their shirts and rolled up their sleeves by the time Amanda stepped into the stables.

Good, you've started undressing. She had to nearly shout as she set two pales of water on a relatively clean patch of floor by the door.

Nathanial was quickest to respond. Anything for you, Amanda.

He spread his arms for a hug, but she backed away rapidly. This dress, she said, pointing at a garment the same dark brown as her hair, is clean, and it's going to stay that way! Touch me while you're that dirty, and I'll knock you on your arse.

Well how about just a kiss, then?

Touch me while you're that dirty, she repeated very deliberately, and I'll knock you on your arse. So I hope you two have got some dry clothes in those saddlebags, or you'll be out here until you've washed the ones you're wearing. That's clean water: take as long as you need.

Oh, for the love of God, Amanda! Devin spread his arms imploringly. We've been riding all morning through this; we're cold and we're wet.

For the love of my hotel and my girls who have to clean it, Devin. Amanda shot back. And stop pretending you've got any more time for God than he would for you. If you're cold and wet, get changed. And wash your boots. Tread mud onto my floors and you'll be cleaning if off yourself, you hear me? Don't think you won't.

You've changed, Amanda, Devin said with a hang-dog look on his face.

Bullshit, Devin, Amanda said with satisfaction. Give me those skins. I'll leave them in the laundry and Fabian can come out to price them.

Devin sighed before handing her two saddlebags bulging with kangaroo and possum skins. Water still dripped steadily from the fringes. He had to carry them close to his body, but Amanda took them with no more than a small grunt of effort.

I won't stay to watch you change, so don't ask. And mind yourselves. There are other people mad enough to be out in this, so don't think nobody will come in while you're busy. There's stew on, and there'll be beer waiting for you. Hurry up before your food gets cold.

She hooked the door with her foot, so it shut behind her with hard finality.

She seems to be doing well, Devin said as he turned back to Nathanial, who was unbuttoning his