“BEER,” COLTON DEMANDED as he stood at the bar in Breckenridge Saloon.

It had been a long day. He had helped a local businessman get back some items that were stolen from his jewelry shop. Wanting to settle it quietly and discreetly, the man had enlisted Colton’s help. The job had been pretty simple. He had easily recovered the jewels at a local pawnbroker, catching the thief red-handed. Luckily, the man had turned over the jewels and no one was hurt. Although it was not his area of expertise, Colton took easy jobs that required muscle for friends—when the money was right.

When he was young, his father had been killed in the Civil War. His mother—a fiery little woman with a temper—was left alone to raise three boys and a daughter. A cunning woman, she had applied for a land grant under the Homestead Act of 1862 and had been granted 160 acres of land in North Dakota to homestead. As the eldest, Colton had helped his mother, and together they had settled the land. However, a local rich banker had got word that the land belonged to a woman and had come calling in an effort to woo her. Colton had promptly sent him on his way, but soon the despicable man came back with the intention of taking it by force. Colton had met him in the yard, told him it was his mother’s land and had been granted to her by the government, fair and square, but the banker refused to listen. The banker drew his gun, but Colton was quicker, and killed him instantly.

Word quickly spread of the tale of the “fastest gun,” attracting would-be challengers. In an effort to keep his family safe, Colton left, taking jobs where muscle and a fast gun were needed, which had proved to be quite lucrative, but he had never taken a dime in an ill way. He may be a gunslinger—forced to do so to stay alive—but he wasn’t a cold-blooded killer, nor was he a thief.

Now, he needed a drink.

Since the night he had told Ella Raines that he would accompany her to the West, he had been on edge, unable to get her from his mind. A part of him wondered if she had changed her mind, but the other part of him feared that she hadn’t. Somehow, he couldn’t see Ella as a mail-order bride. Not someone as pretty as she.

Sam set a frothy beer on the bar before him. “Here you go.”

“How much do I owe you?” Colton asked, already reaching for a coin from his vest.

Sam waved him off. “Pay me before you leave.”

Colton nodded. He hadn’t planned on staying, but Sam had already disappeared down to the other end of the bar so he could wait. He took a long drink, and the cool liquid quickly spread down his chest and filled his body with warmth as his thoughts returned to Ella Raines. Colton had frequented the Breckenridge Saloon every night since that night, waiting for word from her, but he hadn’t seen her. She probably changed her mind.

“It’s just as well.”

“What was that?” Ryker asked as he leaned against the bar.

Colton shook him off. “Oh. It’s nothing.”

“I heard what you did for ol’ man Williams,” Ryker said with admiration. “That was very kind. The old man didn’t deserve to be robbed like that. Were you able to get everything back?”

Colton shrugged. “Nearly.”

Ryker nodded. “Well, your next beer’s on me.”

Colton shook his head. “Thanks, but this is going to be my last one.”

Ryker laughed. “It’s your only one. If you change your mind, just let me know.”

Colton nodded and turned his attention back to his beer just as someone caught his eye. For the first time in days, he smiled as Ella Raines walked through the door. She was a vision as golden sunlight illuminated her blonde hair, pale blue dress, and matching hat. He shook his head, smiling as she walked toward him. She was the only one who had that effect on him, who amused him just by the mere sight of her.

“There you are,” Ella exclaimed.

Leaning on the bar, Colton straightened to his full height, smiling.

“Where have you been?” Ryker asked as he approached. “You haven’t been to work all week!”

“Yes. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” Ella smiled sweetly. “I quit.”

Ryker’s eyes widened. “You what?”

“I quit,” Ella repeated, matter-of-factly.

Colton smiled as he watched.

“And what do you plan to do to support yourself? I doubt that you’re going to take up sewing.” Ryker chuckled at his own joke.

Colton frowned, not appreciating the reference to her soiled reputation. Even he knew that she was just a dance hall girl and not a prostitute.

“For your information, I’m moving to Whiskey River, Wyoming,” she said as she squared her shoulders.

Gunner was standing at the other end of the bar, drinking whiskey as he took it all in.

Colton looked over and shook his head slightly in warning, but she ignored him.

Ryker laughed. “And why on earth are you going there? Vacation?”

Ella shook her head. “No. I’m going there to marry a respectable gentleman, unlike the lot of you.”

Ryker burst out laughing. “And do you have the groom picked out already, or are you going there hoping to meet someone?”

Colton caught her eye and shook his head, sternly this time.

But Ella didn’t take the hint. “I’m going to be a mail-order bride.”

Colton closed his eyes as he shook his head again, unable to believe that she had told them.

Everyone in the saloon burst out laughing, except for Mia, who had just finished a dance with a farmer. He was respectable enough; a gentleman just passing through.

Colton grabbed her arm and threw a coin on the bar for the beer. “Come on,” he stated as he pulled her toward the door.

“Let go of me!” Ella demanded, fighting Colton’s strong grip as everyone laughed.

“What do you think you were doing, telling everyone about that?” Colton asked when they were outside. “Surely you knew what they would say!”

Ella squared her shoulders as she smoothed her skirt. “Why? I’m not ashamed of it.”

She walked away, but Colton grabbed her arm and turned her around. “I thought you might forget this ridiculous notion once you had a few days to think about it.” He took off his cowboy hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re still going through with it?”

Ella folded her arms across her chest. “Yes. Of course I am.” She let out a deep breath, calming herself. “Colton, I want to live a respectable life, and I can’t do that here. So, yes. I do.” She bit her lower lip as she looked up at him with doe eyes. “Are you still coming with me or not?”

She looked so forlorn that Colton had to conceal a smile. “Are you sure you want me to?”

She nodded. “Yes, of course.”

Colton smiled. “Then when do we leave?”

A broad smile spread across Ella’s face. “Saturday morning. The train leaves at nine o’clock.”

Ella’s excitement was contagious. Colton couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll be there.”

Ella reached up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, taking him by surprise. “Oh, thank you!” She turned and rushed away. “I’ll see you then.”

As Colton watched her hurry down the street, he shook his head, wondering how this could possibly end well.