Page 1 of Captured Desires

Chapter One

1880Missouri

The tin cans rattled and pinged as Pearl Thompkins' bullets found their mark again and again. Sweat trickled down her brow under the midday sun, but her hands remained steady on the well-worn grips of her Colt Peacemakers. Out here on the frontier, a woman had to be quick on the draw and even quicker on her feet. Especially a Pinkerton detective like herself, sworn to uphold justice in a lawless land.

She holstered her irons and surveyed the remote expanse of dust and scrub brush. Satisfied with her practice, Pearl reached for her canteen. The lukewarm water did little to quench her thirst, but she knew better than to waste a single drop. In this harsh terrain, even the smallest comforts were hard-earned.

The sound of hoofbeats snapped her to attention. Pearl's hands hovered over her revolvers as she squinted against the shimmering heat waves. A rider approached, silhouetted by the glaring sun. Pearl held her ground, ready for trouble.

As the figure drew closer, Pearl recognized the lean, wiry frame of her mentor, Sarah "Quickdraw" Quinn, legend of the Pinkertons. The older woman reined in her mount and dismounted with a grace that belied her years.

"Pearl." Sarah nodded in greeting, her weathered face bearing a grim expression. "I've got a new assignment for you."

Pearl arched an eyebrow. "Who's the unlucky drifter this time?" She expected the usual fare—some lowlife cattle rustler or good-for-nothing bandit terrorizing frontier towns.

Sarah's steely gaze met Pearl's questioning look. "Maverick Richman." She spat in the dust, as if his name left a bitter taste.

A vampire. A creature of the night preying on the innocent. Corruption made flesh and fang. Bloodsuckers were treacherous prey, but Maverick wouldn’t be her first vampire or her last.

"All right. Execution or trial?"

"Either. But HQ thinks he could be of use if he’s willing to make a deal and come work for us."

“A vampire? Working for the Pinkertons?” Pearl stared at her old friend in disbelief.

"I’m glad I’m retiring,” Sarah said. “I never thought I’d see the day when we put a badge on the monsters we hunt."

“So why are we?”

“There’s something big coming on the horizon and having a vampire on our side could turn the tide.”

“Like what?” Pearl didn’t like the sound of that.

“Like if we don’t evolve, we could die out.”

“The Pinkertons?”

“Humanity.”

“Fuck,” Pearl said, and wished her canteen had something stronger than water in it. This country couldn’t take another war so soon after the last one. They were still putting the United States back together.

“I don’t have the details, and I’m not sure I want them. I’m getting too old for this shit.”

“HQ thinks we can trust a vampire?” Pearl couldn’t believe that they were willing to make a deal with a bloodsucker.

“They trust you,” Sarah said.

“Great.” Pearl considered just driving a stake in the outlaw’s heart and calling it a night.

Sarah seemed to see that conclusion in her eyes and said reluctantly, “We need him, Pearl. Hell, we need his whole gang, but we can start with him. President Hayes is counting on us.”

“That’s a heavy weight.” The President of the United States had eyes on her mission. No pressure.

“Here’s the offer.” Sarah handed her a thick contract. “He’ll get full immunity for his crimes after fifty years of service. We’ll provide him with nourishment.”

Pearl made a face. “Really?”

Sarah gave a half shrug. “There are volunteers, and then there are prisoners.”

---