Up to now, Kendall had always been able to deflect this odious man, but as sure as the world, Reggie Bender, by merely being in town today, would most certainly discover what happened with Logan earlier. He’d promptly put his own personal and salacious spin on it. His columns were filled with tawdry claims under the guise of being the truth. Instead of
Bender Seeking the Truth
, he should call his site,
Almost Never Factual by Bender
.
Kendall, Logan, and the rest of the owners didn’t feel it was anyone’s business what they did on their own property when the public wasn’t around, but others in the local community outside of the amusement park apparently disagreed. They groused occasionally about the bad influences of the
afterhours
activities behind the compound walls of their private homes reflecting poorly on the township. Then Reggie would get an “anonymous” call filled with false tidbits they’d heard, and swearing on the gospel that the rumors they’d made up were true.
Glancing at his old-timey pocket watch, Kendall realized he only had about fifteen minutes to get into place for the first morning bank robbery and shootout. He exited the high-tech room, locking it on his way out, passed the completely low-tech office of the sheriff, and nodded once to the deputy on duty, Zane Washburn.
“Keep an eye out for that annoying blogger when you do rounds later.”
Zane nodded. “Will do, Sheriff. Want me to arrest him and throw him in jail?”
“Not unless he breaks a town law like jaywalking or something.”
“Jaywalking is against the law here? I must have missed that during deputy training.”
“Sorry. Did I say that out loud? I was just dreaming of a better world without bullshit investigative journalists masquerading as amusing bloggers trying to make us look like we’re peddling debauchery and sin to unsuspecting tourists.”
Zane, who was already kicked back in the desk chair with his long legs crossed and heels resting on the corner of the desk, laughed, almost toppling backward. He dropped his feet to the floor and stood up behind the desk.
“Hey, Kendall, I meant to ask, what happened at the stagecoach robbery earlier? I heard it was a memorable event, but not any of the details.”
Kendall stopped in midstep and turned to Zane. “Memorable?”
That’s the truth
. He lowered his tone even though the two of them were alone. “What did you hear?”
Zane squinted as if he hadn’t expected a question in response to his question. He lowered his body into the chair behind the desk again, but didn’t put his feet back up. An amused expression on his face, he said, “Well, Cooper mentioned something about Logan going slightly off script with one of the passengers.” He folded his arms and leaned forward on the desk as if not wanting to miss a single detail of whatever gossip Kendall would share. “So what happened?”
Kendall tilted his head back and stared at the wooden ceiling of the sheriff’s office, wondering when this joyful day would end. “No comment.”
“Aw, come on, Kendall. It can’t be that bad.” The chair squeaked when Zane leaned back in it.
“Sure it can. I still have no comment. Besides, I’m certain Cooper will fill you in on all the gory details later on anyway.” He looked away from Zane’s inquisitive stare and noticed the grandfather clock against the nearby wall. “I’ve got to go. I’m already running late to shoot the morning
bank
robber.”
“Right,” Zane said with a grin. “Try to have a little fun with that for a change.”
Kendall only grunted.
Fun? Whatever
. Everyone in town knew he didn’t like to participate in the shootouts. He liked riding horses around and the general look and feel of working in this Old Western town, but most days he preferred to be simply in charge of running things from a background perspective and not pretending to be town sheriff and in the forefront of the action. Strong, silent, and completely in charge was his preferred position.
“You have the rest of the bank robbery shows today, right?” Kendall asked.
Zane nodded, but the lingering question in his expression regarding Logan’s
off-script
performance this morning would eventually have to be addressed.
Kendall left his horse tied up in front of the sheriff’s office, figuring it would be faster just to walk—or better yet sprint—to the bank and shoot the robbers rather than ride there. He put some speed in his step jogging along a quiet part of the raised wooden sidewalk. Up ahead there were some tourists lingering outside of the dry goods store. The bank in the building next door was about to be robbed.
Confident he’d make it in plenty of time to deliver justice to the bad guys, Kendall slowed his pace to a fast walk. Before he’d made it two more steps, he noticed his current nemesis, Reggie the annoying blogger, disappearing down a narrow alley on the right.
What the fuck is he doing now?
Kendall increased his speed again, heading for the alley where Reggie had just disappeared into. He turned the corner in time to see Reggie closing fast on Logan and the girl from the stagecoach locked in an obviously intimate clench.
Reggie’s first overloud question could be heard from Kendall’s place on the wooden sidewalk. “Excuse me, aren’t you the stable master here in town?”
Logan looked slightly dazed and confused when he turned his head to address the blogger’s question. Kendall took a closer look at Logan, specifically his face. Did he have shiny lip gloss spread across his mouth?
Damn it
.
Reggie kept moving down the narrow corridor of space between the buildings, while in one hand he held a small device that looked like a phone, but was probably a tape recorder or video maker.
Double damn it
.
“Reggie Bender? Is that you?” Kendall called out sternly.
Reggie whipped around, obviously not expecting to be interrupted in his quest for a scandalous story.
“Sheriff? What are you doing here?” Reggie looked over his shoulder as Logan slowly parted from the girl he now knew was named Jocelyn.
Kendall couldn’t help but notice that her lips looked swollen and thoroughly kissed. He also didn’t fail to see that Logan had likely pushed her against the wall, locked her arms behind her so she couldn’t move, and tangled his legs around hers to keep her from running. As enticing as that sexy vision was to comprehend, now was not the time for such displays. Especially not in broad daylight during operating hours.
“I was just strolling through town to make sure the streets are safe. Can I help you with something, Reggie? Some
truth
I can clarify for you?”
“No. I was just hoping to catch your town stable master for a few minutes to ask some questions.” He spun around and marched toward the couple still fairly intimately connected.
Kendall followed him, hoping to avert disaster. He could see the headlines now,
“Stagecoach passenger molested by bandit during robbery, then ravished by the stable master once innocently strolling around town.”
“Now is really
not
the best time,” Logan said, catching Kendall’s irate glare and frowning as if he suddenly realized where he was, and that he had a woman pinned in a compromising position against a brick wall. Slowly, they unwound from each other, but remained close together.
“Who’s this beautiful woman you’re with today?”
Logan blinked, turning to Jocelyn as her striking grin erupted.
Kendall took the opportunity to gaze at Jocelyn more carefully. The word
fuckable
came directly and inappropriately into his mind. He remembered the exact feel of her lips against his from earlier at the stagecoach, and more concisely his recall included how she tasted when her tongue had licked his mouth for entrance.
No one said anything for a count of five.
Finally, Jocelyn said, “I’m his fiancée. I just got back into town from a long trip away. When he’s dressed up as a cowboy, I can’t seem to help myself.” She didn’t hold out her hand, but her brows furrowed as if she were about to tell the annoying blogger to pound dirt. Kendall was grateful Jocelyn had sized up the moment and acted suitably, if surprisingly. Logan didn’t react at all to her audacious statement about being his fiancée. Another surprise.
Reggie frowned. “I see.” His voice was heavily laced with disappointment. Apparently being Logan’s bride-to-be wasn’t salacious enough for him to want to report on. He pushed a button on the device he held, slipping it back inside his jacket pocket.
In a tone that couldn’t have been less interested, Reggie asked her, “What’s your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.” However, Reggie’s focus was already out on the street as if he didn’t care one iota who Jocelyn was or if she ever answered him. If she wasn’t a visiting virgin being molested in broad daylight by the town stable master, he didn’t want to bother any further. Kendall was thankful.
“I’m Jocelyn, and
you
are?”
Reggie didn’t respond. He turned away, moving toward the sidewalk. Apparently, permanent relationships were boring and not a viable part of his byline.
“How rude,” Jocelyn mumbled.
“Hope to see you later on, Reggie,” Kendall said, but didn’t mean it.
Once he’d turned the corner and was out of sight, Kendall whirled around to face them. “You realize how lucky you are, right?”
Logan shrugged. It was clear he didn’t give a shit about Reggie or what he might do. If it hadn’t been for Jocelyn’s quick thinking, Kendall would have had one more thing on his plate to deal with today. They both came away from the wall a few more steps. Jocelyn was closer.
“Quick thinking.”
“I’ve read his blog before. The word ‘melodramatic’ comes to mind. And also ‘sensationalistic.’” She shrugged. “In my opinion, he’s an annoying pest on the hunt for scandalous stories that aren’t necessarily true.”
“I agree. Thank you,” he said, studying her features and trying to memorize them.
“You’re welcome…Sheriff.” She grinned. They hadn’t been formerly introduced.
“I’m Kendall.”
“Jocelyn,” she added quickly. He nodded. He already knew her name. And also what she tasted like. That sudden spike of lustful memory hit him like a hammer blow to the head. He blinked, unable to think of anything else intelligent to say.
Her warm smile focused in his direction made him lose his mind for a moment. Maybe action was better anyway. He stepped closer. Grabbing both of her hands, Kendall quickly gripped her fingers tightly, wound her arms around her back, and trapped them behind her.
He took a step forward, pushing her along, and pressed her against Logan’s chest. The sudden alarm in her expression at being sandwiched between them didn’t make her try to escape. She glanced to one side briefly as her body connected with both of them. And her eyes widened, but that was her only reaction. Not fearful. Not like she wanted him to stop.
Kendall threw caution to the wind, lowered his head, and kissed her hard and fast like he’d wanted to earlier at the stagecoach robbery.
She moaned in his mouth, engaging him further. Kendall knew he should go, knew he had other places to be, knew he shouldn’t be kissing this woman in broad daylight with Reggie on the loose. Reluctantly, he pulled away after several heart-pounding moments. By then, they were
both
breathing hard.
Her sultry gaze blasted him with such a poignant look of longing and lust, he kissed her again. Logan gripped her shoulders, his forehead resting against her hair as he held her so Kendall could kiss her senseless.
From the street behind him, Kendall heard sudden shouts and gunfire from the direction of the town’s bank. He released Jocelyn as if she’d scalded him.
“Sorry to kiss and run, but I’m late.”
“Late?” she asked, still panting.
“I’ve got to go take care of some bank robbers.” He truly didn’t want to leave. He wanted to take her to their private home in their secure compound and finish what had been started in this alley.
More gunfire erupted. Kendall hesitated.
Logan said, “Didn’t you just mention that you have bank robbers to catch?”
Kendall nodded. “I do.” He smiled at her quickly, then turned and ran into the street. By the time he’d gotten to the area outside the bank, the robbers had made it down the street a ways. The two bandits were almost out of the range they usually operated for this mock battle before Kendall showed up.
Luckily the mock thieves hadn’t gotten on their horses yet. He might have had to shoot them in the back to stop them.
“Stop right there!” he shouted to the mock bank robbers. “Put your guns down and surrender.”
Both men spun around, dropped their burlap sacks which clunked to the ground beside them, and then they each drew on him and fired a round.
He pulled his pistol quickly, fired two shots and they both went down. The acrid scent of gunpowder, from the specially created blanks he’d shot, rose around him.
On cue, several men from the nearby shop where the undertaker operated came out with handmade pine boxes, loaded the robbers into them, and propped them up against the wall of the bank. A few more pictures were taken as the bank robbers played dead, then the workers covered the pine boxes, hiding the robbers, still clad in their kerchiefs hiding their faces, and carried them away.