Page 4 of Hard Bounty

The bartender cleared his throat. “What about these three?”

She watched as the lawman cast daggers toward the proprietor.

“That’s your problem. And I have no respect for a man who’d just stand idly by and let a woman be abused.”

Mary turned slightly, eager to see the bartender’s reaction. As she expected, he bristled in anger. He was clearly humiliated.

“I told them to take it outside! I run a clean place.”

She looked back at the lawman and saw him shaking his head slightly. “Turning a blind eye isn’t the same as stopping it.”

“Damnit! What was I supposed to do against three?” the barkeep barked.

“Sometimes a man has to step up, even when the odds are stacked against him.” The Deputy Marshal looked at Mary. “Come on. Let’s go.”

That’s when an idea struck her. “I’m coming. John, right?”

He cleared his throat. “You can call me Deputy Hardin.”

“Yes, sir,” she told him, playing along. “I’ll go. And I won’t cause any trouble.”

He nodded. “This will go a lot easier if you don’t. Come on.”

Trying to seem as demure as possible, Mary daintily stepped over the men who were sprawled on the floor. Grunts and moans told her that even the one who’d been knocked out was coming back around. She wanted to be well clear of them when they did, though she didn’t think they’d try anything with a lawman around.

Especially one as tough as John Hardin seemed to be.

“Thank you so much for saving me!” she said, making sure her voice sounded as sweet as possible.

She knew how to play men. She’d done it before. This marshal guy wouldn’t be any different from all the others.

Well, he was a little different in that he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on! But beyond that, he’d have the same weak spots they all did. She’d be free of him in no time at all.

With that in mind, when her back was to him as she went out the door, she quickly flicked her finger across the top button of her dress, deftly popping it open. Now, good ol’ John Hardin should be able to see a hint of her breasts. That would certainly distract him.

He was a man. None of them could stand up against such a force. Show them just a hint of skin and their imaginations took over, causing them to essentially act like knuckle-dragging neanderthals.

She kept walking as she heard the door close behind her, followed by footsteps that told her John was following her.

“Don’t get too far ahead.”

She rolled her eyes but stopped and spun around, wearing a mask of obedience now. She had a part to play, after all.

“Yes, sir. I’ll do whatever you say.” She let her small coin purse fall from her fingertips. “Oh my.” She bent down slowly to retrieve it, making sure he had a good view down the top of her dress.

She wasn’t for certain he was taking the bait, as she didn’t want to be obvious and look up at him, but he most likely was.

He was a man.

If she really wanted to end this quickly and get away from him, she could just whipthemout right now, shove them in his face, and let him get a feel. He’d basically be drunk at that point.

But she needed to proceed at a more measured pace. At least get away from those three disgusting bounty hunters before she ran. If she fled now, she might just wind back up in their clutches.

“Where are your bags?” John demanded to know.

“I don’t have any.”

“Nothing?”

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