Chapter 7

The next morning, I couldn’t keep my conflicting thoughts at bay. My night with Zander had been the best experience of my life, but he was still a criminal. And I was still a bounty hunter. Our relationship was never meant to be. Yet, these feelings kept swarming inside of me, reminding me that I was slowly falling for the cunningly handsome outlaw. I was stuck between two worlds. I could stay with him and continue the life of adventure and adrenaline he could offer me or I could do the right thing and turn him in.

“What’s wrong?” Zander’s voice suddenly broke through my trance. He was still naked from our night of passion. I couldn’t help but notice his now flaccid member, bouncing between his legs. I quickly looked away. He frowned, putting his pants back on, but remaining shirtless as usual. “You’re upset about last night, aren’t you?”

I didn’t respond, afraid of what I might say. I just hugged my knees, looking at the burning embers of our fire.

He sighed and sat down next to me. “Aliza…” He said, his voice soft as he placed his fingers under my chin, pulling up my head so I would look at him. “All I ask is that you spend a few days living with me. Living my life. If you like it, then we can run away together. Otherwise, you better take the first opportunity you get to turn me in because I’d rather die at your hands than someone else’s.” He said earnestly.

I hesitated but eventually nodded. “Okay,” I whispered. I couldn’t believe I was actually agreeing to live the life of an outlaw. What had gotten into me? I stared at Zander, trying to figure out how he had managed to affect me so quickly. Just a few weeks ago, I was a well-known bounty hunter. One who was determined to throw this man behind bars, but now, I was planning to live a life of anarchy with him. Just thinking about it made my head spin.

“Really?” He asked, a little surprised as if he had expected me to deny his request.

“Yes.” I nodded.

He grinned wildly. “Fantastic.” He got up and pulled me into his arms, spinning me around. I felt my heart swell with happiness. I giggled like a giddy schoolgirl, my cheeks turning pink. “Let’s start right away!” He smirked, setting me down.

I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he meant. “We aren’t robbing another bank, are we?”

“No, nothing like that.” He called over his horse. “Do you want to ride with me or your own horse?” I looked over at Bianca who flared her nostrils at me. I walked up to her and patted her side affectionately. While I did miss her, I knew I couldn’t give up the opportunity to ride with Zander, the feeling of his body rubbing against mine as we galloped toward the horizon.

“You.” He grinned.

***

Zander rode us into a local town. No one recognized us so we had no problem slipping into the local saloon. Everyone was so hammered, the bartender just gave us two shots of whiskey, thinking we were regulars. I downed mine, banging it onto the counter. Zander looked at me, surprised. “I always did like a girl who can hold down her liquor.” He commented, drinking his shot and asking for another. Our glasses were quickly refilled as Zander handed them a small Blood Diamond.

Suddenly, he looked at me, his hand on his gun. I knew exactly what he was planning. I nodded in understanding, grabbing hold of my revolver. In a flash of gunpowder and bullets, we quickly found ourselves in a full-fledged shoot-out. People screamed at us, trying to stop us as we ransacked the cash box. Tables were turned over and smashed, glasses shattered. Girls screamed, hiding behind their partners, praying they wouldn’t get hurt, but we never did aim to kill.

By the time everyone had run out of bullets, we were high-tailing it out of there. Zander hoisted me onto his horse and we were off like the wind. We laughed together, riding off into the dying day, knowing no one could ever catch us. Adrenaline rushed through my veins and I absolutely loved it. I rested my hands on top of Zanders. “You’re crazy!” I screamed at him.

“You love it.” He teased. I knew he was right.

After a while, we stopped at the outskirts of another boomtown. There was a small family huddled around a fire outside a shanty. Zander rode up to them, dropping off the spoils of our shoot-out in the father’s lap. He gave us a quizzical look, his one eye blinking slowly in surprise. Zander flashed him a warm smile before yanking on the reins, quickly taking us in another direction.

I was shocked. He had given them everything. We weren’t left with a single Diamond. Had he always been stealing to give back to the less fortunate? I rubbed my hand against him, smiling slightly, praying it was the reason he had chosen a life of crime.