AS COLTON WALKED BACK from seeing Ella, he decided that he needed a drink. It was not quite quitting time, but he didn’t care. He walked into the saloon, and the bartender, Holden Pryor, was standing behind the bar, polishing a glass.

“Whiskey,” Colton demanded as he stood before the bar.

“What’s the matter with you?” Holden asked as he set a glass down and poured the caramel-colored liquid. “You don’t seem to be the type to let anything get to you.”

“Anyone tell you that you ask too many questions?” Colton questioned as he slammed down the drink. “Another.”

Holden’s eyes narrowed as he poured the drink. “Are you okay?”

Colton smirked. “I will be... after Saturday.”

Holden’s nose scrunched up. “What’s so special about Saturday?”

Colton shook his head as he took a drink of the magical liquid, letting its warmth numb him. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Well, well, well! As I live and breathe!” a familiar voice yelled from the other end of the bar. “So, this is where you scurried off to.”

Colton let out a deep breath. “Gunner. What are you doing here?” He downed the contents of the glass and set it down on the counter a bit harder than he had intended.

Gunner let out a menacing laugh. His teeth were still as yellow as ever, his hair was greasy, and his clothes were dirty.

“Don’t you ever bathe?” Colton asked as he shook his head in disgust.

Gunner’s eyes narrowed. “So, what have you been up to?”

All action in the saloon froze as everyone watched. Obviously, no one knew who Gunner was, and it was obvious that they wanted to know how Colton knew him.

Colton let out a deep breath. “What are you doing here, Gunner?”

He shrugged. “I needed a change of scenery,” he answered, leaning forward as he took a step closer.

Colton smirked. “You mean to tell me that out of all the places in the world, you came to Whiskey River?”

Gunner smiled, showing a missing tooth. “You came here. Why shouldn’t I?”

Colton stepped closer. For a split second, he wondered how he’d known where they were, but then he remembered that Gunner had been in the saloon when Ella announced to everyone that she was going to be a mail-order bride. “Why did you come?”

He shrugged. “To finish my dance with the little lady. I thought you’d be long gone by now, but I can see that you’re working.” He nodded to the star pinned to Colton’s shirt and laughed. “So, when did you start working for the law?” he asked, waving his hand over the star dismissively.

Colton laughed without humor. “Well, I needed a change.”

“I’d say!” Gunner exclaimed, laughing.

“Make sure you stay out of trouble while you’re here or you’ll have to deal with me.” He took a step closer.

“Ooo! I’m really scared,” Gunner mocked.

“Gunner, go sleep it off,” Colton ordered. “You’ve had too much to drink.”

He took a step toward the door, bumping into a nearby table, causing a man’s chips to fall.

Within a second, the man stood and had a gun pointed at his head and pulled back the hammer. “You need to be more careful, mister.”

Gunner held up his hands as he staggered backward. “Oh. Sorry, mister! I meant no harm.”

The man looked over at Colton, who nodded. The man gave Gunner a dirty look and went back to playing cards.

Colton stepped toward him and lowered his voice. “Gunner, if you cause any trouble, any trouble at all, I’m going to lock you up until you sober up and can leave town. And stay away from Ella Raines.”

Gunner placed his hand on his heart in mock horror. “Now, Colton! Is that any way to greet an old friend?”

Colton didn’t even crack a smile. “You’re no friend of mine. Leave on the next train in the morning, or I’ll put you on it myself. We have a good, clean town here, and we don’t need anyone coming in here causing trouble.”

Gunner scrubbed a hand across his dirty face, wobbling a bit. “I’m here to start over. To start a new life. Just like you did!” When he took a step closer, Colton could smell his nasty whiskey and stale cigars breath. “And I’ll leave when I’m damned good and ready and not a minute before.”

Colton narrowed his eyes at him. “Well, you’re not getting a good start.” Colton walked away and turned around. “Remember what I said.”

Colton shook his head as Gunner staggered out of the saloon. He just hoped that Gunner didn’t cause too much trouble for Ella—or for anyone else—while he was there.