The Gunslinger

By Mary Suzanne

“He sent me here to check on you because he’s tending the herd taking Mac’s place,” he told her turning toward the door to leave. “Now that I see you’re all right, I’ll let you get back to bed.”
She reached up to lock the door but stumbled forward on a rug. Without warning, Wade found her body pressed closely against his. He started to right her on her feet, but she hadn’t moved an inch and her face lifted to his with her eyes locking with his narrowed dark look. A strange expression radiated from her eyes.
For the longest time she remained in the same position and her partially opened lips were too much of a temptation for Wade. He didn’t analyze what he was doing as he lowered his mouth and captured her sweet lips. When his lips covered hers, she didn’t make a protest letting his tongue invade the inside of her mouth. What he felt was an exciting jolt racing through his body causing the heat to fill his loins. The kiss seemed to last forever with neither ready to let it end. The white hot sensation of desire filled him, but he finally came to his senses.
Eventually, Wade realized what he was doing and pulled away gazing at a stunned Ashleigh. “You shouldn’t have taken advantage of me,” she sputtered, her cheeks turning a pink shade.
“Honey, no one took advantage of you,” Wade smiled at her as his body temperature slowly returned to normal. “You wanted that as much as I did. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m heading for the bunk house. If you have any problems, you know where I’m at.”
He turned and walked out the door untying his horse and leading it back to the barn. All the while he walked away; he could feel her gaze penetrating his back. It seemed to him as if she was a little more interested in him than she let on by the sizzling kiss she’d just given him.

Later lying in bed, his thoughts returned to the kiss. The image of her face filled his thoughts. The woman had awakened desires in him that he had buried when his wife died suddenly. He thought he couldn’t have feelings like he had for his wife, but it appeared he could.
He shoved the pillow beneath his head trying to wipe her face from his mind. It was easier said than done. Ashleigh Kingston seemed to be haunting his sleeping hours. He rolled over and tried concentrating on something else eventually falling asleep.

Early dawn, he got up and went out back to shower. He carried his clothing along to change. Halfway through the shower, he felt he wasn’t alone. He sometimes got this feeing and he looked around to discover the cause.
Glancing out toward the opening, he was just in time to see Ashleigh skirting along the side of the building trying to hide and pretend she hadn’t been watching him the entire time. He couldn’t figure her out. She usually had a hostile reaction to him when she saw him, but lately, she looked as if she was softening. Leaving the shower after dressing, he hummed a tune going in search of Jim and the other men.

The next few days were busy getting ready for the cattle drive. Wade helped load the wagons with supplies to take along. In his free time, he washed his clothing letting them dry in the afternoon sun so that he would have clean clothing to pack and take along with him.

The day finally arrived and everyone met in the yard. Jim walked over to the men and engaged them in conversation. When Wade looked up, he saw Ashleigh walking out to join them carrying a little case. He wandered where she was headed. Surely, she wasn’t going to join them on the drive. If she did, he knew he was going to have to keep his wits about him being so close to her.
Wade had finally realized it wasn’t just an attraction he felt for the auburn haired beauty. He had come to love her. He wasn’t sure if it happened the first time he saw her, but as he thought back he realized he was a goner. If he had only admitted it back then, he’d have figured out what he felt was an aching throbbing sensation of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Suzanne
• Release date: Dec 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781370295043

Mary Suzanne

Mary Suzanne writes a story feeling the hero and heroine’s pain, happiness and joy over their relationship. It she is able to transport a person from their every day existence to another realm in time; then she has succeeded in giving something special to her readers.Currently there are 99 e-books ready for purchase at Smashwords.com and othet distributors.

Book preview

The Gunslinger

Copyright 2021 by Mary Suzanne

Smashwords Edition

Chapter One

Wade Garrison stood silently near the flowing brook before mounting his black stallion. Off in the distance was Dodge City. He stopped his horse and gazed at the sparse landscape. A few trees dotted the wide open space with tumbleweeds rolling across the barren area looking for new homes to land on.

This had been Wade’s first trip back to Dodge City since he was nineteen. The years had passed quickly while he roamed the countryside never bothering to settle into one place for very long. His restlessness was due to losing his wife unexpectedly a few years back. Now at thirty three, with a reputation as a gunslinger following him, Wade was the target for anyone wanting to make a name. The thought of the many bodies he’d left behind wasn’t pretty. It occurred to him that this was Garrison’s legacy he had left behind him. He wanted his legacy to be an honest law abiding citizen, but he knew he couldn’t go back and change things. A new path for his future would be a legacy that promised a new way of life.

He couldn’t count the number of times he’d been challenged without rhyme or reason for the dare to see how fast he was or if he would back down from a fight. In the long run, Wade had tried to avoid going against anyone, but lately it wasn’t his choice. They came looking for him in every new town he landed in.

The past kept sifting through his head as he remembered the countless towns he’d passed through. Always in the back of his mind was the thought that he wanted to leave his past behind and start fresh. He was hoping this was the town where he’d find peace.

Wade removed his handkerchief and wiped his smooth brow to remove the sweat and grime from the dusty trail. His black hat looked the worse for wear ad he slapped it against his equally dusty jeans. Well, Blackie, we’d better roll into town if we want to find a place to stay and a job, he spoke into the silence to his horse.

He nudged his horse pointing him in a southerly direction. His bedroll was strapped to the saddle with a couple of changes of clothing. He couldn’t wait to take a hot bath and change into something clean.

Wade’s money was dwindling away since his last job. He’d worked wrangling on ranches along the way and was sure there would be offers of work in a town the size of Dodge City.

Eventually, the tops of buildings appeared in the distance. It looked to Wade as if there were a lot more buildings than he remembered, but it had been a long time since he’d ridden out of Dodge heading north.

When he got on the outskirts of town, he had to pass Boot Hill, the legendary graveyard that was filled with stones and markers. Wade stopped his horse and looked around the grey stones. Some had names that he remembered from his time spent in Dodge. There were also some he had sent there with just a firing of his silver handled pistol.

Shaking his head, he urged his horse forward to leave the unpleasant sight behind. There were too many memories brought back to him that he wanted to forget. He didn’t want to dwell on the past and hoped the town of Dodge didn’t remember either.

As he rode down the dusty road of Main Street, he looked around for the livery stable. He caught sight of it and pushed his horse just a little faster to find out if he could leave Blackie there for food and a rest after such a hard ride.

Wade tethered his horse and walked toward the wide open door. An old man came out to greet him wiping his hands across his soiled jeans. Can I help you, mister? he asked shading his eyes against the blazing sun.

"I want to leave my horse here over night to