Jessica Frost: The Good, the Bad, and the Naughty

She walked over to the bar and served herself a drink. She answered without lifting her gaze. “Don’t play coy with me. I know you’re Texas Rangers.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Trevor rebutted.

Anger possessed her face, and James envisioned steam coming out of her ears for how volatile she became.

“Now don’t insult my intelligence, boys. There’s nothing more I hate than a man who thinks he’s smarter than me. The moment I served you boys here at Eden’s Paradise the other night, I knew you were lawmen. Then when you told me you were workin’ on the train, well, I put two and two together and figured out the Texas Rangers were called in again.”

Holding her glass up, she took a loud gulp, then pointed a finger at them. “They didn’t outsmart me two years ago, and you haven’t outsmarted me this time, either.”

James knew denying it would serve no purpose. She mentioned her man would kill Belle if they didn’t arrive on time. Time was ticking as they stood here chatting.

Taking a deep breath, he asked, “So what is it you want from us?”

She walked over to them, placing her hand under his chin. She squeezed his cheeks and leaned in until she was just a mere inch away from his mouth and puckered her lips as she stared at his.

“You two are such handsome devils. You know, you have the most desirable lips. I’d love to…” She paused.

Revulsion rose in him as her heated breath floated over his face. He tried not to show any reaction, especially not his disgust, even though his stomach churned with vile acid and the taste in his mouth nauseated him.

Suddenly, she laughed and let go of his face and paced in a circle while waving her hands in the air. “I want you to get us into the train today, and I want you to open that safe and give us all the gold and money in it.”

“What makes you think we can bring you in, let alone break open the safe for you?” James rubbed his sore cheeks.

She sat at a table nearby, threw the glass to the other side of the room, and then slapped her hands on the table hard. Her face turned red with rage. Her movement was so unexpected her posse even jumped.

“You’re tryin’ my patience, boy. Do you think I haven’t had you followed since I found out you’re Texas Rangers?

“I know you got the job as the train’s expressmen and know the combination of the safety box on the train. I also know the bank is deliverin’ the bonds and gold this afternoon and you two are supposed to place it in the safe when it arrives. It’s the biggest amount they’ve ever transported by train.”

She sighed, getting up. “And obviously, I found out about your adventures with Belle, too. I like that girl. She has spunk. She reminds me of me a few years ago.” She walked up to Trevor this time and stared him down.

“It’s just too bad for her she got involved with you two because she got herself stuck in the middle of danger, and now you’re gonna do what I ask or she dies.”

She headed to the door as her henchmen pointed their guns for them to follow.

“You’re gonna get us on that train, and you’re gonna give us the bonds and gold.” She motioned to her men to put away their guns right before she stepped outside.

“My boys are puttin’ their guns away now so no one outside becomes the wiser we’re holdin’ you as hostages, but don’t try anythin’ stupid or they will shoot and kill one of you in a second without so much as twitchin’ or hesitatin’.”

Belle began to shake with the urge to urinate. She hadn’t gone since last night, and her extra full bladder pained her. As she fidgeted to keep from peeing, a genius thought came to her.

She glanced at Mat and John and whispered, “Whatever I do, just go along with it. I have a plan.”

John shook his head. “I know that look, Belle. I don’t want you trying anything dangerous.”

“If you haven’t already noticed, we’re up to our eyeballs in danger. Just let me do this and keep quiet.” She huffed.

He squeezed his lips together and murmured, “Oh, all right.”

She stretched her head forward and started shouting, “Jes—” then corrected herself by saying, “Tom, I need to go to the bathroom.”

She heard footsteps and then the door opened. He peeked in waving his gun behind his head. “What did you say?”

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

He smiled as he limped to her. “Oh, so the pretty lady needs somethin’.” He looked her up and down and licked his lips. “And what will you do for me if I let you go?”

Anger bubbled in her veins, and if she could, she’d punch him in the nose for his vulgarity. But instead, she swallowed her fear.

“Did you forget what Sally warned you not to do?”

He sneered but said nothing while he walked behind her chair to untie her wrists. As the rope loosened, it stung. The circulation had started to return. He then came to the front and bent down, still holding his gun, to untie her ankles. In doing so, his free hand slipped under her dress, up her ankle, and headed to her knee.

“I’ve been dyin’ to get my hands on you ever since I saw you come in the first night at the saloon.” He smiled while he gazed into her eyes. “It’s payback time for all the times you teased me and pushed me away.”

From her peripheral vision, she could see John getting riled up, but thank God he didn’t say anything. Instead, she quickly brought her hand to stop his vulgar advance.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

He laughed. “Why not? Sally ain’t around to stop me. And what she don’t see, she don’t know.”

With her focus trained, she slipped one foot between his legs as he continued to stare at her with determination, like a hungry wolf. Then arching her body so she could bring the full force of her strength to her leg, she kicked him in the crotch.

He fell backward whimpering in pain, his gun sliding a few feet away. She sprang to her feet, kicking the gun farther away. Then coming to his side, she kicked him in the face, knocking him out before he could recuperate from her first kick and attack her.

She quickly ran to Mat and began untying him.

He stared at her as she had untied one hand. “I can do the rest. Go tie him up before he comes to.”

“You’re right.” She nodded.

After a couple of minutes, Mat had freed John and they took over tying Tom while she hurried to the other room to see where they were. But all she saw were empty cots, linen, chairs, and other furniture. It appeared to be a storage place. She did notice another door and when she opened it, it led outside. From the trees and walking path, she realized they were in the inn’s basement.

She closed the door and searched the room. An open whiskey bottle resting on an upturned chair caught her fancy, and she grabbed it, returning to the other room.

She gazed down at their unconscious prisoner. “Is he completely tied?”

“Yes.” John nodded and glanced up at her. “What are you going to do with that?”

She crouched. “We’re going to find out where Sally went. I have a funny feeling it involves Trevor and James.” She poured some of the whiskey on Tom’s face, and he bolted his head up, coming awake the instant the liquid hit his face.

He gagged. “Augh!” Glancing up, he asked, “What did you do that for?”

Belle forcefully probed, “I need answers, and I need them now. Where did Sally go?”

“I ain’t tellin’ you nothin’.” He laughed, looking to the other side.

John bent down and grabbed hold of Tom’s finger and twisted it. Tom writhed in pain. “Oww!”

Frowning, she warned him, “I won’t say it again. He’ll break your finger and your whole hand the next time if you don’t tell me where she went.”