Page 1 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

Chapter 1

Josey

Laramie, Wyoming

June 1871

“I mean it!” yelled Josey Slater, her hands shaking, trying to hold the six-gun revolver steady. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, tears streaming down her face. “Stop or I’ll shoot!”

A sinister laugh resonated from the man’s chest, contorting it into something she didn’t recognize, something evil. “You won’t shoot.” Logan, her husband, slurred his words as he stepped closer, lust filling his eyes.

She cocked the hammer, ready. “Wanna bet?” Her hands were shaking but she willed herself to hold the gun steady. She no longer had just herself to think about. If she lowered the weapon, he would surely kill her and the baby. He didn’t know she was pregnant. But even if he did, he would still come after her. Nothing had stopped him before. Not when he was drunk. Why would now be any different?

“Come on, Josey.” Logan took another step, his light brown curls wet with sweat, reeking of beer.

Once, she had thought Logan Slater attractive. They had met when she was sixteen and she had thought him the most handsome man she had ever seen. So, when he asked her to go for an evening stroll, she had said yes without question.During the course of their courtship, he had been a perfect gentleman. Although rumors flew around town that he was an outlaw and part of a gang, she was mesmerized by his charm and didn’t believe the gossip. So, when he proposed, she had quickly accepted. They married in a small church and had set up housekeeping just outside of Laramie. Only then did he start showing his true colors.

“You don’t want to do this.” Logan took a slow step closer, leering, his eyes wild.

“Like hell I don’t!” Josey took a step back, willing her hands to stop shaking long enough to keep him away from her, resolve filling every part of her body.

Logan laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. He staggered back a step. “Hell, you don’t even know how to use that thing!”

Her eyes narrowed. “Oh? I don’t?” She moved the barrel slightly to the right and fired, hitting a vase on a table across the room, just missing his head. “Take a step closer and you’ll find out what I can and can’t do.” She took another step away from him. “Stay back! I’m not going to let you hurt me ever again!”

Quicker than she would have thought possible, he whipped out his gun, pointed it at her forehead, and cocked the hammer. “Honey, you’re my wife,” he stated, suddenly serious, appearing to be stone sober… when a moment before he had been plastered drunk. “And I can do anything I want with you.”

Sudden calm rushed over her as she shook her head. “No, Logan. Not this time.”

After they were married, he started coming home drunk, abusing and beating her. At first, it was only when he had been drinking. Then it started happening when he was sober, too.

His eyes never wavered. “You’re my property, Josey, to do with as I please.”

“No, Logan.” Her voice steadied as a rush of calm came over her, resolve prominent in her eyes. “From this day forward, no man will ever do to me what you have… not even you.”

They faced off for what seemed like an eternity, but in reality, it was only a few seconds. Finally, he un-cocked his weapon, held it up in surrender, and donned the charming look that had won her over when they first started courting. “Okay, Josey. You win. See? I’m putting down my weapon.” He took another step closer, still holding the gun, even though he said otherwise.

Josey sneered. “That look used to work on me, but not anymore. Get out, Logan, and don’t come back.”

Rage suddenly contorted his handsome features into something very ugly. “You would throw me out of my own house? Who the hell do you think you are? Who do you think paid for the roof over your head?” He laughed without humor. “It sure as hell wasn’t you!”

Josey took aim. “Yeah, you bought this rundown old shack, all right… with stolen money! You and your gang!”

Logan smiled, taking another step closer, backing her up against the wall. “Come on, woman. I just want a little lovin’. No need to make all this fuss.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she held the gun straight out, steadying it with both hands. If he got any closer and pulled the gun out of her hands, he’d kill her this time. She knew it. No, she had to protect the baby as well as herself.

Josey had just found out that she was pregnant earlier that day, and it changed her life. It was one thing to be alone, but now she had someone else to think about. There was no way that she was going to raise a child in this environment. Logan had to go… one way or another.

“Never again, Logan. You’re never going to touch me with disrespect again.”

That was when she saw the resolve in his eyes. Logan’s lips contorted into a snarl as he leaped toward her and wrestled her to the floor. His mouth was open as he tried to kiss her, reaching for the gun trapped between their bodies. She willed herself not to let go of it or she was dead. Now, it was either him or her… and this time, it wasn’t going to be her.

With all her strength, she pointed the gun upward between them, the weight of his body crushing her, and pulled the trigger. A deafening bang filled her ears and moisture pooled onto her chest. His blood.

Surprise filled Logan’s eyes as he looked at her one last time and then fell limp across her body.

With shaking hands, she pushed him off quickly and his eyes were already fixed. As fast as she could, she ran out the door into the cool, June night air without looking back. The weapon was the only thing she took with her. She would need it for self-defense. When his brother, Austin, and the rest of the Slater Gang found out what she had done, they would come for her. Killing him in self-defense meant nothing to them. And as mean as they were, they wouldn’t kill her right away. No, Austin would probably let his slimy, greasy men have their way with her first. Then he’d probably hang her, use her for target practice, or both. She had to get away from Laramie as quickly as she could.… while she still had the chance… for her and the baby.

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