Page 7 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

“Yes, sir!” James was a bit too quick to answer and way too chipper.

Daxton smirked. “And don’t go arresting anyone without good cause before I get back.”

An eager smile spread across James’s face. “Don’t worry. I won't.”

Daxton rolled his eyes as he stepped onto the porch and strolled along the covered wooden walkway headed toward the General Store. He tipped his hat as two women passed. “Ladies.”

One of the ladies inclined her head, batting her eyes. “Sheriff.” Although some would consider Daxton one of the most eligible bachelors in town, none of the ladies had struck his fancy. No, he was content with just his children to love.

Daxton let out a deep breath as he crossed the street to the hotel, the only restaurant in Whiskey River.

“Afternoon, sheriff,” Harrison Curry, the owner, called to him, smiling as he passed.

“Afternoon, Harrison.” Daxton enjoyed living in this small town. It was quiet, peaceful, and family oriented, and he intended to keep it that way.

As the day wore on and night fell, Daxton was thankful that it had been a quiet day. That evening, Daxton sat in the rocking chair on the front porch outside the Sheriff’s Office beside James, rocking back and forth, watching the sun set. “James, go home. There’s nothing going on today.”

James smirked, motioning across the dirt street to the hotel. “Well, sheriff, I don’t have far to go.”

Daxton chuckled. “You should really think about getting your own place. It’s probably costing you a fortune, living in the hotel.”

“Nah, Mr. Curry gives me a good rate.” James folded his arms across his chest, leaning back. “Besides. I’m single and have no one to go home to.” James had moved to Whiskey River not long before andwas still establishing himself within the community.

Daxton rose to his feet and clasped his hand on James’s shoulder. “Well then, if you’re not going home, I am.” A smilelit his lips. “Don’t stay too late and be sure to lock up when you leave.”

“I will, Sheriff!” James’s smile lit up his face. “You can count on me.”

Daxton rolled his eyes. He couldn’t wait until James settled down a bit. As he headed toward the stables to get Betsey and Bees, the sun began to set in the distance, casting a golden glow over the town. He was glad that they were having a quiet summer. He just hoped it stayed that way.

Chapter 3

Josey

Josey fell to her knees for the hundredth time, but quickly rose to her feet and resumed running, but at a slower pace this time. Although it was cool at night, she was glad that it wasn’t winter. But she would rather freeze to death in the snow than endure what she was sure Austin had in store for her if he caught her. To him, it would matter not that she had killed his brother in self-defense. No, she had to keep going before he found her. She had more than herself to think about now.

Josey had been running at night and hiding during the day over the last few days, but she thought her legs were about to fall off. Suddenly, her stomach lurched, and she spilled its contents behind a nearby bush. She had to rest, before she lost the baby.Despite how she felt about its father, she wanted this baby more than anything.

Along the way, Josey had spotted a pair of men’s jeans, a flannel shirt, and men’s undershirt hanging on a clothesline. Leave it to a man not to take his clothes in from the line before the sun fell. She hid in the bushes and, when she was sure no one was watching, she snuck over and grabbed the jeans and shirt. There was also an old straw hat resting on a rain barrel sitting nearby. She thought that the owner wouldn’t miss the clothes since he had left them outside, so she “borrowed” them and headed back into the forest.

She quickly darted behind a tree and changed her clothes, hiding her blood-stained dress behind a bush, out of view. Josey gathered her wavy blonde hair into her hands, twisted it up, and tucked it under the hat.

Although she had never worn men’s clothes before, she was surprised that, although they were a bit baggy, they fit her well enough for her to pass for a man if anyone saw her.

She slipped on the undershirt and then the flannel shirt, leaving it open and untucked. Josey looked down to assess the affect. She looked hideous, but it would have to do. If it kept her hidden and the baby safe, she was willing to dress like a man for the rest of her life.

What was she going to do? How was she going to raise her baby alone? With Austin hot on her trail, there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide… and nowhere she could raise her baby in peace.

At that moment, she vowed to do what she must in order to protect her child. For now, she pushed the thought from her mind. First, she needed to stay alive.

She popped open the chamber of the revolver. There were four bullets left. She would have to make them count… unless she got more bullets somewhere. But without money, that was an impossibility. Josey closed the chamber, shoved it into the back of her jeans, pulled the hat down low, and headed out. Although she ate what she could along the way, it wasn’t enough. Exhausted and hungry, she sighed, knowing she would have to find shelter and food soon.

Although Josey had been sleeping during the day, it was broken sleep. Now, she stumbled through the forest, trying to stay awake as the thought of Logan falling limp over her, his fixed eyes staring into hers, ran through her mind. Her stomach lurched again, and she bent over behind a tree, but the only thing that came up was yellow bile. She stood up and wiped hermouth on the sleeve of her shirt, suddenly thirsty. She needed to find water.

Yes, Logan’s brother and his friends were sure to find her if she didn’t find somewhere to hide soon. She was sure they wouldn’t involve the law. No, they would take care of what they saw as justice in their own way. Josey just needed to put as much distance between the shack and herself as she could. Her eyes began to close, but she shook herself awake, knowing that if she closed her eyes now, Austin would surely find her. If that happened, she wouldn’t live to see morning.

You can’t stop running,she thought to herself.Not now, not ever.

Josey couldn’t believe that she really had shot Logan. The last time he came after her, she swore that she wouldn’t let him—or any man—hurt her again. That’s when she started planning.

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