CHAPTER SIX
He stared at the door for what seemed like hours since she had left, hoping she'd come through it again so he could tell her how much he loved her, how much he wanted her, and how much he needed her. She was the only woman who ever really understood him. He still remembered the nights he would wake up in a sweat, terrified from the demons that haunted his dreams ever since the War ended. She would hold him, whispering everything was alright, the War was over, and she was there for him. She told him she understood the toll the War took on a person; she had to live through it, she had to spend nights worrying if her brothers would make it back alive, after they enlisted. Three didn't. Then, she had to deal with the different person her surviving brother came back as, she had told him. He was so angry, she said, so hateful.
Ezra had come back hateful and angry, too. But she had changed him. And he would forever be grateful for it.
When he finally realized she wasn't coming back, he decided to take control on his own. He stumbled out into the hallway, ignoring the fact he was still bootless and half-dressed. He didn't care, he was too drunk to care. And he was too drunk to think about what kind of mistake he could be making.
He made his way down the hallway, ignoring the peculiar stare he received from J.D. as he approached her door.
"Ezra?" J.D. asked, an eyebrow raised in wonder.
"I believe it is my turn to watch over the fair Miss Devereaux." Ezra stated wryly, fighting to keep his body from swaying.
"Are you sure, Ezra?" J.D. asked. "You don't even have any boots on."
"Do I really need boots to sit here and make sure she doesn't sneak outta here?" Ezra asked, pulling himself to his full height.
"I guess not." J.D. answered. After a few moments, and a look of annoyance form Ezra, J.D. muttered a good night and disappeared down the hall.
After he was sure J.D. was gone, be rapped on the door twice, a little louder than he wanted. After a few moments, the door opened a cracked and Josephine poked her head out, not bothering to disguise the look of shock that crossed her face.
"Ezra?" she asked, unsure.
"I love you." he blurted out before he even realized what he said. Josephine's eyes widened as she pulled the door open the rest of the way.
"What?" she asked timidly, uncertain of what to make of the half-dressed gambler that now stood before her.
"I said 'I love you'." he repeated. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, pulling her close to him. He kissed her, softly at first, then more intensely. She could taste the alcohol on his breath, and for a second wondered if it wasn't the whiskey talking for him. As he pushed his way into her room, his lips still locked with hers, he kicked the door closed behind his. His hands clumsily ran over her body, pulling at the too many layers of clothing.
"Ezra." she whispered as they made their way to the bed. Their lovemaking was urgent at first, as if to fill a carnal need that was buried deep inside them. As time wore on, their lovemaking was much more sensual, much more leisurely, with more care.
After they finished, after the last of the kisses and loving words passed between them, Ezra held her close, running his hands through her tangled hair, listening to the sound of her rhythmic breathing. He couldn't believe just how beautiful she looked lying there in his shirt, curled against his side, her head leaning on his chest.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy. He fought to stay awake as long as he could, not wanting to leave this peaceful moment.
He awoke a few hours later, not realizing he had fallen asleep, and not sure what awoke him. He looked down, happy to see Josephine still curled against him, still in a deep sleep.
The sound of a loose floorboard creaking and a soft curse pulled him completely out of sleep. He sat up quickly, causing Josephine to wake.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice still groggy, when she noticed the look of concern on Ezra's face. He held a finger to his lips. She bolted upright when the loose floorboard creaked again. "Ezra?" she called out quietly as he climbed out of bed in search of a weapon, cursing himself for leaving his revolvers back in his room.
"Where's your gun?" he asked. She pointed to the bookcase across the room. He grabbed the Derringer from its place atop the oak structure, checking to make sure it was loaded.
As he cocked the gun, the door slammed open and Olaf entered, followed closely by Lucas. Josephine cried out and pulled the covers to her chest. The sudden movement startled Ezra, and the first shot missed its intended target. Olaf lunged toward Ezra as Lucas grabbed Josephine and pulled her, kicking and screaming.
Across the hall, the noise startled Nathan from a wistful sleep. After assuring Mutt was still in the bed, he grabbed his Colt from the gun belt he draped over the bedpost and stormed through the door, not expecting the scene in the hall. He didn't even see the butt of the gun coming from his left, crashing into the side of his head, knocking him out instantly.
Meanwhile, inside Josephine's room, Ezra had managed to get a few good punches in before putting Olaf back in the sights of the Derringer. "Let her go, or I kill him." Ezra ordered, cocking the weapon.
"You only got one shot in that little peashooter." Olaf smirked, wiping the blood from the lip Ezra had busted with a well aimed punch.
"Then you gentlemen must decide amongst yourselves which one of you is gonna die." Ezra shot back.
"I believe the arrogance you show in this situation is premature." A voice from the doorway called out.
"Mr. Wills." Josephine said, a mixture of surprise and fright twisting her pretty face.
"Josephine." Wills stepped toward Josephine and Lucas, who still had his arms wrapped tightly around her, causing Ezra to shift the barrel from Olaf to Wills.
"Don't you touch her, you bastard!" Wills stopped and smiled thinly at Ezra.
"I don't believe you're in the position to make demands, sir." Wills turned back toward Josephine and reached out to brush the hair from her head, causing her to pull back as if the touch burned her skin. "I believe you have something of mine, Josephine."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Wills laughed heartily.
"I think you do." he said. "Now, you can either tell me where it is, or I can leave Olaf and Lucas here to persuade the answer from you." As he spoke, Olaf lunged toward Ezra, causing Ezra to turn and fire the last bullet. The round hit its mark, tearing through Olaf's chest, piercing his heart. The man slumped the floor, lifeless. Wills used the distraction to his advantage, pulling his own revolver from his hip, aiming it squarely at Ezra's head.
"Or, I can just kill your boyfriend here." Wills said sinisterly, cocking the revolver.
"Don't!" Josephine cried out, reaching an arm toward Wills. "Please, I'll tell you where the money is, just please, don't hurt him."
"Well," Wills began after a brief pause, "I'm waiting."
"Under the bed. In a satchel." she answered dejectedly. Wills, his eye still on Ezra, bend down beside the bed, running his hand across the floor until he felt the leather. His eyes glistened as he pulled the bag from its hiding spot, opening it to briefly check the contents inside.
"Is it all here?"
"Yes." Josephine lied.
"Good." He tossed the satchel over his shoulder. "Let's go."
"You're not taking her anywhere." Ezra shouted as Lucas began to drag Josephine out the door.
"Excuse me?" Wills asked, raising the pistol once more.
"She's not leaving with you." Wills smiled as he slowly pulled the trigger, the bullet tearing through the right side of Ezra's chest.
"Ezra!" Josephine screamed as Ezra slumped to the floor beside Olaf's fallen body. "You son-of-a-bitch!" she cried, struggling against Lucas's mighty grip.
"Such language, my dear." Wills tsked as he led the way down the stairs leading to the back of the saloon.
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, hoping to wake anyone to help her escape.
Lucas's hand flew to her mouth, cutting her screams short. She tried to bite the calloused flesh, but he ended up pushing so hard against her mouth, she tasted blood from where her teeth dug into her lip.
"Listen to me, Josephine." Wills hissed, his face close to hers. "You made a big mistake by stealing from me. And I'm gonna make sure you pay."
Her eyes widened in fear as she felt Lucas's muscled arm wrap around her frail neck. She clawed frantically at the constricting flesh as his grasp tightened, cutting her precious air supply. The world began to blur and her body grew weak.
Then the world went dark.