WHEN COLTON WALKED into the hotel room, he ran his finger along the top of the dresser, and it came off clean. The bed was freshly made with clean sheets, and the view overlooked the street. The window was open, letting in the fresh air.

The furnishings were adequate with a bed, a table, and a china basin and pitcher set in the corner, but it was clean and well kept. Colton couldn’t wait to bathe, making a mental note to go down to the hotel bathhouse in a bit.

But in the meantime, he found a washcloth and used it to wash up in the china basin. Satisfied, he lay down on the bed to take a nap.

Later that night after he had rested, he went downstairs for dinner. He sat at a table with his back facing a far wall. It was a habit he had developed from years of people hunting down the fastest gun around.

“Good evening, cowboy.” A pretty waitress with dark curly hair pulled up neatly, smiling as she approached. “What can I get you?”

Colton didn’t lift his eyes from the menu. “I’d like a cup of coffee, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots.” He closed his menu and laid it on the table.

“You got it!” she replied happily, walking away.

Even though she was flirting, Colton wasn’t in the mood. Since he’d met Ella Raines, he hadn’t even looked at another woman. He took off his hat and hung it on a nearby peg.

Sheriff Daxton Clark walked in and looked around. He spotted Colton and smiled as he crossed the room, headed toward him.

“Good to see you again, Sheriff. Sit down a spell. I could use the company,” Colton greeted, indicating a chair.

The sheriff smiled. “Don’t mind if I do.” He pulled out the chair and sat down.

The waitress set a cup of coffee on the table before Colton. “Your meal will be out in a bit.”

Colton nodded his thanks.

“Coffee, Sheriff?”

He inclined his head in agreement

“Would you like dinner, too?” she asked, smiling.

He grinned back but showed no interest. “No. Thanks, Millie. Having dinner with the kids tonight.”

Colton sensed that there was a story there, but he didn’t want to pry.

“Be right back,” Millie announced as she gently touched his arm and then walked away.

Daxton folded his arms on the table and looked at Colton. “So, have you given any thought to my offer?”

Colton took a drink of his coffee. “Yes, I have,” he confirmed as he set down the cup. “How much does it pay?”

Daxton smiled. “Well, not a lot. But in addition to your pay, you’ll get a free meal here every night.” Millie set the coffee down in front of him, and he nodded his thanks, then turned his attention back to Colton. “Honestly, I could use your help.”

Colton laughed. “Well, money’s not the most important thing. But I have a question for you.”

“Shoot, but not literally.”

Colton smiled and his face sobered. “How do you know I want to work on your side of the law?”

Daxton smiled. “I have a sixth sense about these things. I can read people.” He shrugged. “I sense that you didn’t come to Whiskey River for the good fried chicken. My guess is that you’d like a fresh start. And I could use a fast gun like yourself to help me keep the peace.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Out of curiosity, just how fast are you?”

Colton smirked. “You want to go outside and find out?”

The sheriff laughed. “To set up some bottles? Yes. To face off with you? No.”

Colton laughed as he clapped a hand on the sheriff’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I only face off with men who challenge me.”

Daxton nodded toward the door as his lips curled into a smile. “Let’s see what you got.” He motioned Millie over to the table. “Could you hold our table for us?”

“Sure can, sheriff.” She smiled and then turned her attention back to the couple she was waiting on.

Daxton walked over to the bar. “Hey, Chase! You have some empty whiskey bottles?”

The good-looking young man inclined his head toward the side. “Yeah, there’s some in a box in the back.”

“Mind if I have a few?”

Chase shrugged. “Sure, if you want ‘em. I was just going to throw ‘em out.”

“Thanks, bud.” The sheriff walked in the back and set six bottles onto a nearby table. Then he looked over at Colton. “You mind?”

Colton smirked as he crossed the room and tucked three into his arms. “You’re serious? You really want to see this?”

Daxton smiled, nodding. “Hey, you offered.”

“That I did,” Colton mused. He started walking toward the door, when a man slapped another man on the shoulder, calling his attention to what was going on.

“Millie! Hold our table!” The man slugged down his coffee and stood. Then he hurried out the door with the other man hot on his heels.

Outside, Colton waited. Other men noticed him carrying the bottles and a crowd soon gathered, knowing what was going on. There was only one reason why grown men would carry bottles.

“Where do you want to set up?” Colton asked as Daxton walked out, carrying the other bottles.

Daxton motioned with his head toward the back of the building.

Colton sighed and walked to the back, followed by the crowd of men. And here he wanted to keep a low profile. After this, he wondered how long it would take before word spread, and other gunslingers hunted him down again. He just hoped that the men watching took it all in fun.

Behind the building, Daxton pointed to a wooden fence. “Let’s set them up over here.”

Colton did as he was asked and then turned to the sheriff. “So, how would you like to do this?”

One corner of Daxton’s lips curled into a smile. “Six out of six?”

“Six bottles out of six shots,” a heavyset man wearing a cowboy hat scoffed. “Ha! He probably couldn’t hit the side of a barn.”

“I’ll take those odds!” another man shouted. “You’re on!”

The men around them started making bets on how many bottles Colton could shoot out of how many shots.

Colton smirked in disbelief, then took out his guns, checked that they were fully loaded, and then turned to the sheriff. “How about 12 out of 12?”

Daxton’s eyebrows rose almost into his hairline. “Seriously?”

Colton nodded matter-of-factly.

“Billy? Kyle? Go in and get six more bottles from the back of the restaurant.” Two older boys ran into the restaurant, and the sheriff looked at Colton, amused. “Why didn’t you tell me when we were inside?”

Colton shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”

Daxton nodded, conceding.

Just then, the boys ran back, juggling the glass bottles.

“Over here.” Colton walked over to the fence and set up the bottles himself. “Thanks, boys.” He handed each of them a penny.

“Thanks, mister!” Both boys shoved the coins into their pockets.

Then, Colton turned to the crowd. “Everyone, stand back and don’t move.”

One of the men chuckled under his breath.

Colton shrugged. “It’s your funeral.”

Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd.

Colton concentrated and took the thumb strap off both of his six-shooters. “Call it, sheriff.” Colton waited as the familiar rush of anticipation poured through him, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

“Draw!”

Within a second, Colton drew both of his guns and fired, bursting each bottle, some two at a time until all twelve where gone. Colton blew the smoke out of the barrels of both guns, twirled them around his fingers, and then slipped them back into their holsters.

A hush fell over the stunned crowd. A moment later, one man started clapping, and slowly, so did the others as a chorus of “That was some fine shooting!” “Did you see that?” “He was moving so fast I could hardly see him!” “I’ll never go up against him!”

Some men patted him on the back as they walked past, while others gave him a wide berth. Other men handed each other money, paying off their bets.

“You still want to hire me?” Colton raised an eyebrow as he looked at the sheriff, coming down from his high.

Daxton closed his mouth. “Not just yes, but hell yes!”

Colton let out a deep breath and smiled as he offered the sheriff his hand. “Well, it looks like you got yourself a new deputy. When would you like me to start?”

Daxton shook his hand, smiling. “Take tonight and get some rest then come to my office in the morning.”

Colton nodded. “I’ll see you then.”

Daxton watched as he walked away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

***

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, he got into a rhythm as deputy to Sheriff Clark. Daxton pretty much gave him free rein. As long as he scouted the town and made his presence known, the town was safe. Sometimes, just the reminder of a badge was enough to keep the peace. Daxton said that occasionally there was trouble, but nothing major in this small town.

Colton was sitting on the front porch of the sheriff’s office when he saw Ella Raines walk along the covered wooden walkway in front of the shops down the street and head into the general store. Colton laughed to himself, unable to resist. He rose to his feet and headed into the store, too.

“Why, Ella Raines! Fancy meeting you here,” he greeted her in an exaggerated tone.

“Mr. Hill,” she acknowledged, not looking up as she browsed through fabrics.

“May I help you, miss?” the owner of the store asked as she straightened a bolt of fabric. “As the future bride of Dallas King, tell me if you want anything.” She glared at Colton, but was still talking to Ella. “Anything at all.”

Ella forced a smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Carson. I will.”

The woman’s warning was for Colton, but he ignored the hint. “So, what are you shopping for?” He looked Ella up and down, taking in her appearance, and smiled. “Buying more fancy dresses?”

Her appearance screamed Dallas King, and it bothered him to no end. He hadn’t thought she could get any fancier than she already was, but he was wrong. Her peach floral dress was a great color for her, fit her to perfection, and was in the latest style with a bustle in the back. Her hair was pulled up with curls cascading down the back, and was topped off with a matching hat. Even her shoes were new and shiny—beige and strapped up over her ankles.

Ella glared at him, and then went back to browsing. Trying to ignore him, she crossed the store to the ready-made dresses and looked at a silk pale blue dress that would have cost his whole week’s pay. “What are you up to, Mr. Hill?” she asked matter-of-factly as she browsed. She looked at his shirt and saw the star. “So, are you the new sheriff?”

Colton laughed. “No, a deputy.”

“That was fast,” she mused, trying not to smile.

“You have no idea,” he breathed as he took her in. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such fancy clothes on a woman.”

Ella shook her head. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Mr. Hill,” Mrs. Carson grumbled in an exasperated tone. “May I help you?” It was obvious that she didn’t like him talking to Dallas King’s fiancée.

Colton glared, narrowing his eyes at her. She looked away and went back to her work. Then, he reached out and gently touched the fabric. “And will another fancy dress make you happy?” he whispered.

Ella huffed as she slid the dress forcefully back onto the rack and turned to glare at him. “Mr. Hill, I’ll have you know that I am soon to be married.”

Colton’s teasing smile faded. “But you’re not married yet, are you? If Dallas King is what you want, then I wish you all the happiness in the world.” He turned and stormed out, unable to stand seeing Dallas King’s mark all over her.

Outside, he took a deep breath to clear his head.

“What do you know of happiness?” He looked around, and Ella was standing behind him with her hands on her hips. “Are you happy, Mr. Hill?”

Colton stepped close to her, wanting so badly to scoop her up into his arms and kiss her until she forgot her own name and the name of Dallas King, but he resisted the urge. “I like it here. And what about you? Are you happy?”

She glared at him, but said nothing.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Tell me one thing, Ella: is this really what you want?” He stepped closer. “Is he really what you want?”

Her eyes flared. “How dare you ask me such a question?”

He shrugged. “It’s a simple question.” He was so close to her that he could smell her sweet perfume. “Wouldn’t you rather marry for love?”

She said nothing, but her eyes blazed.

Then he turned to walk away, leaving her to ponder the thought.