1855

Emma Baker heaved yet another exasperated sigh as she contemplated the sorry state of affairs that was now her life. Just one year ago, she was enjoying the social whirl in St. Louis, with lots of friends and plenty of beaus.

But a short time later, her parents had moved the family to this dreary one-horse town in New Mexico territory. Her grandmother had died and they didn't want her grandfather to be lonely, so they moved to be near him. Emma couldn't understand why they didn't just move her grandfather to St. Louis, instead of disrupting their own lives.

And now Emma was stuck working in her parents' mercantile, on her feet all day, waiting on dirty, smelly sodbusters and small-minded, nosey townspeople. There wasn't anything to do here, and nowhere to go. She was too old to go to school and was about to die of boredom. She craved excitement; anything to break up the tedium that was now her life.

William Sentenza, a hired gun known to most people as simply "Angel Eyes", had recently completed a job and was looking forward to a period of rest and relaxation. As was his normal habit in between jobs, he'd pick a town, rent a hotel room, and enjoy some gambling, drinking, and whoring.

At the age of 33, he'd been a hired gun for a number of years, after briefly having been a bounty hunter. He'd gained a reputation for being fast, discreet, and dependable, so his services were always in demand. Angel Eyes killed only when he was paid to or in self defense. Always in control of himself, he did not kill indiscriminately, nor out of anger. He'd been offered permanent jobs as an enforcer by rich men, but he declined them, as he preferred to work independently, not beholden to anyone.

The first thing he'd do when just arriving in a town for some down time was to resupply for the next job, so he could be ready to go at a moment's notice.

After arriving in this town, Cactus Flats, he checked in at the hotel, then headed to the nearby mercantile to get resupplied. After getting this necessary task out of the way, he could finally find some enjoyment.

Emma was openly yawning when a tall, well-built man came into the mercantile. Looking intently at him, she saw he had sinister facial features: narrow, piercing hazel eyes, high sharp cheekbones, and a well-proportioned hawk nose. He had dark wavy hair and a thick mustache. The man wore a black frock coat, with a dark green shirt, along with black pants, boots and a black hat with a flat wide brim. A six-gun in a cross draw holster completed his outfit.

An aura of danger radiated from him, like heat from a stove. Emma was immediately drawn to this man, who was at least fifteen years her senior. She knew he'd be able to give her the excitement she craved. Knowing her parents would never approve of such a man only enhanced her attraction to him.

Straightening up, she pasted a smile on her face and said, "How may I help you today?"

Angel Eyes was an observant man; he had to be in his line of work if he wanted to stay alive. He'd noticed the young woman looking like a wilted flower when he'd first come in, but her entire demeanor had changed when she'd first laid eyes on him.

Looking intently at her, his eyes roving up and down her body, he noted that she was young, just barely an adult. Not his usual type, but she was attractive enough with blond curled hair, blue eyes, and a trim figure, dressed a bit fancier than the average townswoman. She wasn't especially tall, with the top of her head just reaching his chin.

He took a piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to her. "I figured I'd make it easier for you by making a list," he told her. On the list, was ammunition for his various weapons, pipe tobacco, coffee and other non-perishable food items, oats for his horse, soap, and a few other sundry items.

After quickly reading the list, she called for her younger brother to get the heavier items, such as the bag of horse feed, while she got the smaller items that were near where she stood.

"My, but you're a tall handsome drink of water," she said, looking up into his intense hazel eyes as she handed him the pipe tobacco. "I'd sure like to get to know you better…much better."

Angel Eyes chuckled briefly, baring his canine teeth to her. He'd certainly read the signals she was sending correctly. He was game for what she was blatantly offering him. If she was willing, he was ready and able. He rarely had opportunities with "good" girls, who normally hoped to save themselves for marriage. He usually had his needs met by whores, but he wasn't about to turn down this opportunity.

"Sure, I'd like that, too," he said, chuckling again. He wondered if she had the slightest idea just what she was getting herself into, but that was her problem, not his.

"I finish work at six," she told him. "My father has a hunting cabin a little ways out of town. Why don't we meet behind the livery stable on the north side of town at seven and go from there. It's nice and cozy and no one will bother us."

"Sounds good," he told her with a knowing look. "I'll see you then." After paying for his order, he took the bag into which most of his purchases had been placed and slung the fifty pound bag of horse feed onto his shoulder. He then left the store with no further ado.

Emma watched him leave, an expression of longing on her face. She had no misgivings about what she was going to do and could not wait for seven o'clock to get here.