Marshal Law (4 page)

“
That fucking tempting aroma that damn near made me come inside my pants? Yeah. Caught a whiff.
”

“
My wolf won
’
t settle. Keeps clawin’ at me, trying to break loose. Haven
’
t had that since I was eighteen.
”

“
Something
’
s off.
”

Jude nudged Ethan
’
s arm as McKenna paused at the doorway, checking her pistols before looking over at them. She gave them a tip of her hat, not a bloody ounce of fear clouding her eyes or tensing her shoulders as she raised her chin, holding up two fingers as she nodded toward the back of the tavern. Jude didn
’
t speak, just made for the stairs leading to the brothel above. Ethan followed the man, trusting his partner
’
s instincts. Jude took the steps two at a time, heading toward the rear of the building. Laughter and groans echoed through the doors, the distinct sound of beds squeaking and headboards banging against the walls grating on Ethan
’
s nerves. He didn
’
t want to think about sex. Not now. Not when the first woman to turn his head
—
to make him consider anything beyond a simple release
—
was heading into the street to face a gang of armed men. Alone.

Jude slammed open the last door, ignoring the couple undulating on the bed, their naked flesh glowing in the moonlight.
“
Excuse us.
”

The woman yelled obscenities at them, but Jude just walked to the window, levering it open before leaning his head out.

He scanned both areas, nodding back at Ethan.
“
Looks clear enough. I gage about twelve feet.
”

“
After you, partner.
”

He nodded, lifting his feet over the sill, pausing just long enough to balance then jumping off, landing in a swirl of dust. Ethan went next, rolling to absorb the impact then quickly gaining his feet, darting over to the side of the building. Dark shadows lined the walls, the roofline blocking out the yellow glow of the moon. The echo of voices drifted along the breeze, one gruff gravely tone calling McKenna out.

Jude shuffled to the edge of the saloon, inching his head around the corner.
“
Shit. There
’
s more than we thought. I count ten, and god knows if the bastards have others beyond those buildings across the street.

“
We
’
ve faced worse.
”

“
But not with someone else
’
s life in our hands.
”
He fisted the hand resting against the wooden slats.
“
We never should have let her talk us into this.
”

“
She was right. If we
’
d left with her, that gang would have started shootin
’
, and there
’
s no way we could have kept her safe.
”

“
We have other skills.
”

“
And shifting in the middle of Tombstone, Arizona, while a dozen outlaws and a saloon full of people watch us isn
’
t our best course of action. Trust me. We
’
ll get her out of this. And figure out why the hell our wolves are so damn drawn to her.
”

Jude glanced at him.
“
You know
why
, Ethan.
”

“
Don
’
t. Don
’
t start with all that fated mates crap. You know I don
’
t believe in it. There
’
s no magical force choosin
’
some woman to complete us. It
’
s just simple attraction.
”

“
There
’
s nothing simple when it comes to women and
us
. We
’
ve known that from the start. The fact we have the compulsion to share
…”

“
Makes sense on more levels than one.
”

“
Then why haven
’
t we settled down? We
’
ve bedded women before. But none of them have tempted us like this.
”

“
Like what? All I said was that she made me antsy. Probably has something to do with the fact she
’
s good with a gun. Which is why we
’
re here
…
to stop her from getting her fool head shot off.
”
He pushed past Jude, surveying the dusty street.
“
Fuck. She just walked onto the porch, and she
’
s actually challenging those boys. Both of them. That girl has more pride than sense.
”
He scanned the remaining area.
“
There
’
s three on the other side that I can see. You want them or the men on this side?
”

“
I
’
ll take those good old boys across the street. You just keep our girl safe.
”

Ethan glared at Jude as the man started stripping.
“
She
’
s not
our
girl. But I
’
ll keep her safe, just the same. And for god
’
s sake stay out of sight until you
’
re dressed in clothes again or we
’
ll have a damn wolf hunt on our hands, as well.
”

“
This isn
’
t my first shift.
”
He tossed the last of his clothes in the dirt beside the wall.
“
But I
’
ll do whatever has to be done to ensure those bastards don
’
t lay a finger on her.
”

“
Jude
…
Shit!
”

Ethan huffed out his breath as Jude dove toward the road, his body seamlessly transforming from man to beast in midair. Gray fur gleamed in the rising moonlight as it cascaded down his back, the thick coat fluttering in the light breeze. He landed paws first, two eddies of dust whirling up as he raced across the street, disappearing into the shadows on the other side. Ethan gave the man a few seconds to get clear then concentrated on the gathering of men again. Though it
’
d only been a couple of minutes, he had a bad feeling McKenna was already out of time. His gaze centered on her as she stood facing the brothers in the middle of the street, one hand resting on her gun as she blatantly taunted them.

“
Fuck, sweetheart. We said to stall them, not mock them. You
’
re going to get yourself killed
…
or worse.
”

The images that flickered through his head tightened the raw feeling coiling in his gut. He should be worried about her getting shot, not that some cowboy might touch her. Yet the thought that Bret or Frank would mar even an inch of her skin increased the burning feeling beneath his skin. His wolf growled, once again pushing for control. He held the animal back, making his way through the dark as he closed in on the first outlaw hiding next to a post. The man
’
s attention lingered on the crowd, a rifle locked into the crook of one shoulder.

Ethan moved in behind him, tapping his arm. The guy turned, eyes wide, mouth gaped open. Ethan smiled, knocking him out with a firm punch to the man
’
s jaw. His head cracked back, hitting the post before he crumpled onto the wooden slats beneath him. Ethan leaned over the guy, picking up his weapon before heading for the next. Shit, it was almost too easy the way they
’
d spaced themselves out, leaving each man vulnerable. He took the next out with the stock of the rifle, watching him collapse behind a water barrel. He tossed the guy
’
s gun away, ensuring he was well hidden when McKenna
’
s voice changed.

Ethan glanced up, cursing as she took several steps back, firming her stance as she seemed to ready herself to fire. He gained his feet, eyeing two more men off to his left as he closed in on the brothers, his only concern keeping McKenna safe. She held steady, gaze completely focused on Frank as the man separated from his brother, each step echoed by the jingle of his spurs. He stopped several yards back, hand caressing his pistol. Ethan swung the rifle across his back, palming twin Colts when a low growl sounded on the other side of the street.

The brothers froze, gazes searching the darkness just as Jude prowled forward, eyes glowing red in the moonlight as half his body emerged from the shadows. His lips pulled back, exposing a set of large canines as another snarl echoed through the air.

Ethan muttered under his breath. He
’
d distinctly told the man to stay hidden.

Bret glanced at his brother.
“
What the hell? Is that a fucking wolf?
”

McKenna barely gave the creature a second glance, maintaining her attention on the men. Ethan smiled as pride swelled in his chest. Their girl had excellent instincts, he
’
d grant her that much, even if she needed a few lessons in common sense.

Frank snorted.
“
Not for long.
”

McKenna gasped, understanding shaping her features as she spared the animal a quick look.
“
No!
”

She reacted, drawing her pistol as Frank drew his, clipping the man in the shoulder before he got off a shot. She fired a second time, grazing the bullet across Bret’s cheek as he dove sideways, rolling back behind a wagon wheel. The report of the gun bounced off the buildings, the hollow sound sending the other men into action. Ethan heard McKenna sound off more rounds as he fired at the outlaws positioned behind her, downing two before one managed a shot. Jude charged the gunman, nothing but a blur of gray across the dusty road. McKenna took a couple of staggering steps sideways, falling to one knee as chunks of dirt exploded into the air where a bullet impacted the ground a few feet beside her. Ethan aimed at the man when the post beside him splintered, the telltale pop of gunfire filling the air. He heard McKenna return fire as he glanced toward the opposite side of the street, swearing when two men appeared on one of the adjacent rooflines. More bullets hit close by him, stirring up more dust. He fired a few shots, sending the men back behind the cover of the roofline before he turned to face Bret, but the man was already across the street, his brother supported on one side.

“
Damn it.
”
Ethan made his way over to McKenna, bending low when she pushed to her feet.

Her lips were pinched tight as she clenched her jaw, motioning for him to move. He snagged her around the waist, ignoring her muted groan as he kept the outlaws trapped on the roof, using up the last few rounds in his revolvers. He shuffled backwards, leading them into the darkness, stopping with her body hidden behind a large trough. Ethan dumped the empty cartridges onto the ground, shuffling to quickly load in another set when more bullets pelted the posts next to them.

McKenna elbowed him in the ribs.
“
We can
’
t stay here. There
’
re still those three men inside the saloon. They didn
’
t leave with Bret and Frank. Once the shootin
’
dies down enough, they
’
ll be on top of us.
”

“
Our options are limited until we can get to our horses.
”
Ethan tsked her.
“
Not exactly what we meant by stalling them. You need to work on your negotiation skills.
”

“
Men like Bret and Frank don
’
t understand words. Bullets make more sense.
”

“
Perhaps. But they don
’
t bounce off near as easily. You okay?
”

“I’m fine. But I’ll be better once we get the hell out of here.”

“Hey, Buchanan. You gonna hide all night, or are you gonna get back out here and face me?”

McKenna swore under her breath, the echo of Bret’s voice still lingering on the breeze, before taking a step forward until Ethan pulled her against his chest again, the close contact making his pulse race more than the gunfight.

He lowered his mouth to her ear, caressing the soft shell.
“
Don
’
t be foolish. It
’
s an ambush.
”

“
I know. But it
’
s like you said. We don
’
t have many options, and I don
’
t need you boys bleeding all over Tombstone on my account.
”

“
We can handle ourselves.
”
He focused on the street, but only dirt and dried leaves tumbled along the road.
“
Bret Wilson. This is Marshal Ethan McClaren. Ms. Buchanan is now in my care. You want her? You
’
ll have to go through me.
”

Gravely laughter drifted along the breeze.
“
Marshal? Well, I
’
ll be damned. Haven
’
t had one of those in these parts for a while. You stayin
’
or just passin
’
through?
”

“
Does it matter? You
’
re a wanted man, Bret. Your brother, too. I suggest you turn yourselves in. I
’
d hate to have to kill you boys without a fair trial.
”

McKenna inhaled at his words, giving him a stern look over her shoulder.
“
You
’
re crazy if you think they
’
ll surrender.
”

“
Never hurts to ask, sweetheart.
”