Chapter 30

Rock Creek, Nebraska

June 1872

Lara's heels tapped lightly against the floor as she sauntered into the faintly lit office, a playful smile dancing on her lips. Deputy John Peterson glanced up from his paperwork, his cheeks flushing crimson at the sight of her.

"Good evening, Deputy," Lara purred, her voice dripping with honeyed charm as she approached his desk. The lamplight cast a soft glow upon her features, enhancing the sparkle in her eyes.

"M-Miss Alba," John stammered, rising to his feet with an awkward attempt at composure.

"You work such late hours," Lara remarked, her fingers skimming tantalizingly down the front of his shirt. She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his cheek. "In fact, I'll bet you aren't afraid of anything."

A nervous smile tugged at John's lips as Lara's flirtatious gestures sent a rush of heat to his cheeks. He fumbled for words, his heart pounding erratically in his chest.

"And you're so strong," Lara continued, her touch lingering as she skillfully unclipped the keys from his belt. "I'm curious... why haven't you called on me at all? My feelings are quite hurt." She backed towards the jail cell the keys behind her back.

"Careful Miss. Alba. Don't go to close to the cell." His eyes were wide as she rested her back against the railings.

"Oh, I'm not afraid of him. Not when you're here to protect me." She smiled and winked at him as she turned him around driving his attention to only her.

"Buck ain't here right now." He looked at her curiously wondering why she was toying with him.

John realized too late what the scheme was, as Joaquin Vasquez materialized from the dimness of the cell, his sudden presence sending a surge of alarm coursing through the solitary lawman.

"Step back, Deputy," Joaquin's voice was firm, commanding, as he brandished John's stolen guns with a sly grin.

"Wha—?" John looked down at his empty holsters. His guns were gone.

"Looking for these?" Joaquin taunted, holding the guns aloft as Lara swiftly tied up the bewildered Deputy. Her hands worked quickly.

John's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized he walked directly into her trap. His weapons were in the hands of a wanted man, a murderer, and Lara stood by his side, a willing accomplice. Kid had been right about her.

"I'm sorry, John," Lara murmured, her voice laced with regret as she secured the knots. She spared him a fleeting glance, her eyes clouded with a sorrow. "I truly am."

With the deputy restrained, Joaquin and Lara slipped out of the office, their movements swift and focused. They darted through the shadows, concealed from prying eyes, as they plotted his escape.

"I found David." Lara's voice was hushed yet urgent as she spoke to Joaquin. "He is not coming home with us."

"Lo siento, Lara." He pushed her head down as someone walked by.

"We have to stay out of sight, we leave tomorrow," Lara whispered, her eyes flicking nervously towards the bustling town beyond their concealment. She watched Buck's figure recede into the distance, a fleeting pang of unease tugging at her heart. "Are you listening?"

Joaquin's gaze, dark and probing, met hers. "What about him?" he questioned, his voice a low murmur that barely pierced the stillness around them.

"He means nothing to me," She spat the words, bitter on her tongue. A tremor of vulnerability betrayed her facade, but she quickly masked it with a defiant tilt of her chin.

"Mentiras."

"It's not a lie." Her scowl deepened, realizing that he could see through her lies as easily as if they were made of glass.

"You are a terrible liar, Lara." Joaquin's smile held a gentle teasing quality, a fleeting attempt to lighten the heavy air that hung between them. "You always have been."

"We are leaving tomorrow for Omaha, then taking the train back to California. With or without David, I won't risk you getting killed," Lara stated flatly.

"Lara, when will you learn?" Joaquin's voice carried a tinge of exasperation but mostly affection, his expression a mixture of affection and frustration as he shook his head in gentle admonishment. "You can't control everything."

"Lara?" Buck's voice cut through the air, a jolt of unease seizing both Lara and Joaquin as they both tensed in anticipation of the inevitable confrontation. Instinctively she shoved Joaquin into the cover of the bushes, her heart hammering against her ribs with a mixture of fear and resignation.

"No, you helped me escape. They will hang you for that," Joaquin protested, his voice edged with concern for her safety.

"He's already seen me, now go," Lara urged, her eyes alight with urgency.

Buck felt a mix of gratitude and confusion as he observed Lara, unharmed and alive. His confidence wavered as he acknowledged the fallibility of his visions. He wasn't gifted with many visions, but the few he had were always correct. Yet here she stood, unscathed. He glimpsed a hopeful chance to mend their fractured bond, their shattered trust that seemed now an insurmountable chasm between them.

Part of him yearned to rush to her, to envelop her in his arms and confess his mistakes, but the pain etched on her face held him back. He also sensed her anger and she was most likely armed. Her soft kind face was overshadowed by a darkness. This was his fault.

"Lara, I'm sorry," he implored, his voice strained with emotion as he sought redemption in the face of her just anger.

"I have nothing to say to you," Lara stated firmly.

"Lara, I'm sorry," Buck pleaded.

"I understand that you used me to shame my father, but to make me believe that you loved me? I can never forgive you for that," Lara's voice quivered with hurt.

"Lara, please let me explain," Buck implored, desperation evident in his tone.

Lara's hand, trembling yet resolute, grasped the weight of her gun, its presence a stark reminder of the betrayal she could not forget.

"You don't need to explain." she declared, her voice trembling with anger as she brandished her gun, though deep down she knew she could never pull the trigger. Despite his disregard for her, she still harbored love for him. "And I know you wanted to hurt him and you used me to do so, but my father has never cared about me. So it was all in vain."

"Lara no!" Joaquin's voice a desperate plea for reason cut through the whispers and the shadows.

"I'm not going to kill him. I just don't want him following us." Lara lowered the gun slightly.

"I know you're not a murderer Joaquin and I'm not going to stop you from leaving." Buck looked over his shoulder, towards the Marshal's office when he heard Kid's voice. "But Lara, I never—"

The trio stood in tense silence, they could hear the urgent commotion emanating from the jailhouse. The impending risk of discovery a very real possibility. Joaquin hurried to Lara's side, gently grasping her trembling hand that held the gun. With a swift motion, he lowered it, relieving her of its weight.

"You have to go. I know the Kid, he's a good man, he's only doing what he thinks is right."

Lara's heart seethed with a desire for vengeance, but it wasn't aimed at Buck. It was a searing rage directed inward, toward her own vulnerability and the trust she had foolishly placed in him. As she stood there, grappling with the bitter taste of deception, a resolve hardened within her.

She swore an oath to herself, in the quiet depths of her soul, that she would never again allow herself to be deceived by the sweet promises of love. It was a solemn vow forged in the fire of betrayal.