Thank you so much to the guest who requested a new chapter. It definitely made me choose this story when I was deciding which one to write a new chapter for. :) Feel free to leave a comment (or favorite/follow) if you're reading this story. I've been in a little writing slump lately and comments really brighten my day and help me stop overthinking everything I write. :)

Chapter 9

They were going to die.

Ezra clenched his teeth together to keep from shouting at Morgan. He tightened his grip on the door and looked at Cheyenne.

In the front passenger seat, Cheyenne spoke calmly to Morgan. "Slow it down a little," she said.

Ezra admired her ability to stay calm and speak kindly to Morgan when Morgan was wheeling them around in Cheyenne's car like a lunatic.

"When you get to that end of the parking lot, stop the car," Cheyenne instructed.

Ezra braced himself for Morgan's version of braking which had, thus far, consisted of her stomping one pedal with her foot and everyone in the vehicle lurching forward, then snapping back to hit their heads against the seatbacks. This time was no different and Ezra grunted at the impact.

"That was amazing," Morgan said. No one argued, but no one agreed.

"When can I drive on the real roads?" Morgan asked.

"Never," Ezra muttered under his breath. Cheyenne was slightly more pragmatic.

"Not until you've had more practice," she said diplomatically.

Cheyenne glanced at the numbers on the front of the car. It was the oddest clock Ezra had ever seen.

"We'd better get going. It's almost time to meet up with Sam."

Reluctantly Morgan opened her door and traded places with Cheyenne. Ezra remained in the backseat where he had gone after his driving lesson with Cheyenne.

He looked at the expression on Morgan's face when she got in. As unpleasant as it was to take his life into his hands while Morgan was behind the wheel, it was the first time she had looked truly happy since they had been dropped into this century.

Cheyenne pulled the car out with infinitely more finesse than Morgan and Ezra sat back to enjoy the smooth ride.

The sun was setting when Cheyenne said they were there. She pulled into a dark alleyway and slowed, turning off her headlights.

A figure stepped out of one of the garages, hands in pockets, and waited for them to coast closer.

Cheyenne got out and when Morgan followed suit without invitation, Ezra made sure to join her, staying close to her side.

"Any problems?" the shadowed figure asked.

Ezra jolted at the feminine voice.

"No," Cheyenne answered. She handed her keys to Sam and took the keys the other young woman handed over.

"Who's with you?" Sam asked suspiciously. His eyes adjusting to the dark, Ezra could make out a full mouth, pert nose, and narrowed eyes. Sam was decidedly feminine, not the man Ezra was expecting to meet.

"Some friends," Cheyenne said. "They came along to keep me company."

Sam glanced over Morgan dismissively before turning back to Cheyenne. Ezra laid a hand on Morgan's back, not needing to see her scowl to know how she would respond to the other woman's dismissal.

"Just make sure they know how to keep their mouths shut," Sam said tersely.

He felt Morgan tense, saw her eyes narrow into a glare, then a branch snapped off one of the nearby trees and slapped Sam in the face.

"Ow!" Sam yelled, one hand going to her cheek. "What was that?"

"The wind," Ezra answered quickly. "It blew a branch loose."

Sam looked at him then. Her hair was unconventionally short for a woman, just above her shoulders. Then again, maybe that wasn't unconventional here. But it was her eyes that caught Ezra. She flicked a glance over him and one corner of her mouth lifted.

"I'm Ezra," he said, holding out a hand to her. He had a feeling she wouldn't be curtsying in greeting.

She shook his hand, her grip sure. "Sam."

His hand lingered on hers before he caught himself and released her. "A pleasure to meet you."

Sam lifted an eyebrow. "Cute," she said, then turned back to Cheyenne. "I'll bring your car down when I come down to get those parts from your brother."

Cheyenne nodded.

Sam glanced past Morgan and her lips moved slightly in the hint of a smile when she looked at Ezra. "See you around."

"One can hope," Ezra responded.

Sam stepped back into the shadows and was gone. Ezra ignored the decidedly unladylike snort Morgan let out.

Ezra looked at her.

"Cute," Morgan said, a nearly spot on imitation of the other woman. Then rolled her eyes.

"That's the car we're driving back down to the shop," Cheyenne interrupted them. "Let's go."

"Can I—" Morgan started to ask.

"No!" Cheyenne and Ezra said in unison.

#

Buck walked outside again, stared down the street. No sign of Morgan, Ezra, or Cheyenne.

Chris was outside, he had never come in. He looked as tense as Buck felt.

"It's after midnight. Where would they be?" Buck asked. He figured Cheyenne knew her way around, and Ezra could figure things out, but the thought of Ezra rolling with the punches with Morgan at his side had Buck on edge.

He paced the small yard. The sound of an engine had him lifting his head, staring down the road. The car didn't slow and rolled past the house.

"If I had a horse right now…" Buck muttered. They could round up a posse, go looking for them. But they were stuck. Waiting.

Chris didn't join him in his agitated laps around the grass. He was still, but Buck knew there was tension coiled in him, ready to move as soon as the situation changed.

"There," Chris said, finally moving. He took a step toward the side of the house.

Buck followed his gaze, seeing the three shadowy figures heading down the street toward him. Where there had been lights on last night, they were all dark now. Buck had noted the broken glass earlier and figured someone must have shot out the lights while on a bender.

He didn't wait for the small group to come closer before he started down the sidewalk toward them, Chris with him.

"Where have you been?" he demanded as soon as he was near Morgan.

Morgan tilted her head, lips pursed and eyebrows lifted, a signature answer from her. But too late, Buck saw the way his tone had Cheyenne pulling back, her jaw tightening.

"We were running an errand with Miss Cheyenne," Ezra said easily, also not cowed by Buck's anger.

Buck saw Chris running his eyes over Morgan, no doubt looking to make sure she was in one piece.

"You alright?" Chris asked her quietly.

Morgan gave him the answer she wouldn't give Buck. "Just fine. Cheyenne let us go along with her to make a delivery."

Buck looked back to Cheyenne. She was on guard and that was his fault.

"Come on," Chris was saying to Morgan. "Let's get back to the house."

That she went so willingly with Chris when she would have argued with Buck stuck in his craw. But that's how it was with her and Larabee. She would listen to him, while she only had cocky grins and eye rolls for Buck.

Ezra thanked Cheyenne for her hospitality on the road and followed after Chris and Morgan.

Cheyenne didn't look at Buck, stepping to the side to ease past him and follow the others.

"Cheyenne," Buck said. She stopped, her shoulders squared, clearly ready for a fight. With what little Buck knew of her brother, he expected she had cause to be on guard regularly.

"I didn't mean to holler like that," he said. "Sorry about that."

The tight line of her shoulders eased slightly. "You were worried about your sister," she said.

"Only all day, every day," he answered.

That brought a small smile to Cheyenne's lips.

"I started raisin' her after our ma died, back when Morgan was twelve. She was a handful then, but once she got old enough to turn heads…" He scowled, thinking of the attention Morgan drew from men and the way she used it to goad him.

"She's lucky to have you," Cheyenne surprised him by saying. She was studying him like she was trying to figure him out.

Buck let out a small snort. "I don't think she sees it that way."

"She will," Cheyenne said. "Once she sees what it could be like with other brothers, she'll be glad for you."

Buck thought about the little he had seen of Cheyenne's brother. That tender spot that lived in him for women softened for her. Whatever had changed in his expression had Cheyenne holding his gaze. And then she stepped back quickly and started at a brisk walk to her house.

Buck didn't say anything more, but he enjoyed Cheyenne at his side. She was a good listener. Easy to talk to. Something he generally didn't spend much time doing with the ladies since other…activities…usually took precedence.

He held open the door for her when they got up the stairs to her upstairs duplex and she went inside, taking in the men scattered around the living room. But she looked slightly less concerned by it than she had the day before.

She asked if any of them needed anything. When they assured her they didn't, she wished them all a good night and headed for her room. Before she closed the door, she looked at Buck again. She looked like she was trying to figure him out, but then she shut the door and Buck wasn't sure what conclusion she had come to.

#