Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 165476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 827(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 827(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
The presence of someone other than the clerk made Ned stall with his answer, cold sweat dotting his nape, but then the man tucked into a shabby duster snored. Ned released a breath he didn’t know he was holding and relaxed his shoulders.
“I need to send a telegram and be quick about it.”
“Why the hurry, son? One might think you’re on the run,” the old clerk said, but his empty lips curled into a smile as he licked his fingertips and opened a notebook before grabbing a pencil. “A dollar and a half for ten words.”
Ned lowered his voice. “It’s private, and important. Send as follows: Failed with bank. Headed south. Killed nobody.” He swallowed when the clerk’s eyebrows rose but he ignored the man’s frightened expression and dictated the address as well. “And two cigars.”
The clerk stalled with the pen touching paper. “You want that in the message too?”
“No,” Ned groaned in frustration. “But remember. Private.”
The clerk nodded, swallowing hard. “Everything in this office is confidential, so no need to worry, sir. Shall I add who it’s from?”
Ned shook his head. “They’ll know.”
The clerk didn’t ask any more questions, sold Ned the cigars, and that was about time, because as the man sat down at the device that would send Ned’s brief words to the Craigs, Cole burst through the door with a big smile. Ned had to quickly usher him back outside, in case the clerk had the stupid idea of asking Ned to repeat his message.
“The fence is behind the building,” Cole said and pulled Ned along by his suspender.
Ned didn’t even know anymore whether his heart rattled because of what he’d just done, or because of the touch. Only a few steps farther, they entered the shade between the general store and steep rocks, and Cole pushed him against the side of the building for a quick kiss.
“Someone’s gonna see,” Ned mumbled but didn’t push Cole away when greedy hands slid down his chest, rubbing Ned’s shirt against cotton underwear to produce an oddly pleasant sensation.
Cole rolled his teeth over his bottom lip, his gaze lazy, like when he’d gone off in Ned’s mouth earlier. “I’d just have to give them lead poisoning so they shut up about it,” he said and patted one of his sidearms to make sure he was understood.
Ned couldn’t help himself and ran his hand up Cole’s arm despite his better judgement. “You’d kill to have me?” He shouldn’t have been getting goosebumps at the thought of such violence, but Cole’s black eyes robbed him of all sense of right or wrong.
Corruption already poisoned his veins, but it felt too good to resist.
As if he were truly alive for the first time.
Cole pressed closer, his forehead hot against Ned’s, breath sweet from the raisins he’d eaten during the drive. “What do you think, Neddie?” he asked, moving his hand lower, past Ned’s hips to rest on his buttocks.
The gesture prompted Ned to look sideways, but no one approached. They were safe from prying eyes. “I think you’re rotten, immoral, and you didn’t hesitate to steal a horse to get me, so who knows what else you’re capable of.” He slid his fingers over Cole’s stubbly cheek and leaned in for a kiss, because he was just as sinful.
Cole moaned into his lips, tightening his hands on Ned’s flesh in a way that was surprisingly arousing, but then someone called out for a ‘Joe’ in the yard nearby, and they pulled apart, catching their breath as heat dispersed.
“We’ll get back to that,” Cole decided, tugging at the front of his pants to make himself more comfortable. The fact that he was the one to get Cole so flustered stroked Ned’s self-esteem to the point where he almost forgot he’d just sent a telegram that could doom the men Cole called his family. He needed to work out how to ensure Cole’s safety once the Pinkerton agents made their move, but there was still time for that.
Despite its name, the fence looked like a warehouse full of foodstuffs and items needed at an outpost like this one. A one-eyed man with bad scarring on both cheeks followed them to the wagon, examined what they had on offer, and had two young men move the cargo while he, Cole, and Ned walked back to the dusky interior for an exchange of money. The amount Cole pocketed in a tin box had Ned’s head spinning, because one could surely buy a half-decent ranch with that cash, even though it was to be divided between all the men who’d participated in the train job, and the camp funds.
“You should get yourself a new coat,” Cole suggested, lowering his hat to protect his eyes from the stabbing sun rays. “Nights can be rough in Arizona despite the hot days.”