Acres, Natalie - Propositioned by Outlaws [Outlaws 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Natalie Acres

just know he will!”
    She hoped her arrival in Cripple Creek wouldn’t put her in town too late.

    * * * *

    “Art, look,” Lane said, tilting his head toward the barred window in their cell.
    “Is that Victoria ?” Art asked.
    Waving her arm over her head as she rode closer, they could hear her. “Marshal! Marshal! You’re hanging the wrong men, and you know it!”
    “Oh dear God,” the marshal said, rubbing his temples and rising from his old wooden desk.
    “What is she up to?” Art asked.
    Lane wondered as he watched Victoria leap off her horse, trip over her feet, and hurry toward the marshal’s office. As the only representative of law and order in town swung open the door, Victoria burst inside. Her face was flushed and stained with all sorts of debris.
    “ Victoria ,” the marshal began, placing his hands in front of his body. “I don’t want you here. A hanging is no place for a woman.”
    She narrowed her gaze and took a step backward. She slammed the door to the marshal’s office and locked it. “Sit down please, Marshal.”
    “Look, Victoria . I did everything I could as a lawmaker. The facts will show these boys here robbed that stagecoach.”
    “Facts, hell!”
    “Victoria!” the marshal shouted. “I ain’t gonna listen to a lady talk like a whore.”
    “Why? Because my mother was a whore?”
    “That ain’t got a thing to do with it.”
    “Yes it does.”
    The marshal went pale and Lane paid closer attention. He jabbed Art in the ribs, and under his breath, he said, “This ought to be good.”
    Victoria smirked. She turned away from the marshal and addressed them. “The two of you didn’t rob that stagecoach. Want to know why I know?”
    “Why, Victoria ?” Art asked, probably just to appease her.
    “Because of you, Lane,” she said pointing at him. “You know that wolf that followed you to my house?”
    “Yeah. What about him?”
    “He paid me a visit today.”
    “Are you all right?” Lane asked, gripping the iron cell bars.
    “I’m fine, Lane,” she replied. “Thanks for asking.”
    “Oh boy,” he muttered. “She’s still pissed at us.”
    “Pissed isn’t the word for it but I’ll deal with you later,” she said, turning back to the marshal. “And I will deal with them later because you’re gonna let them go.”
    “Nope,” the marshal said, shaking his head. “They’ve been found guilty. Judge was in town working on some mining cases. He ruled on it this morning before he left for Stockton .”
    “Then call him back,” she deadpanned. “Send a telegraph to the next town over.”
    “ Victoria , I can’t save your friends.”
    Victoria sat on the edge of his desk. She pushed her golden locks over her shoulders. “It sure is hot in here.”
    “Then go on home where it’s cooler. Those shade trees should keep that cabin of yours cool this time of year. Let me worry about these two.”
    Victoria smiled as sweetly as she could probably manage.
    “Remind me never to piss her off if I live to see another day,” Art said.
    “Same here,” Lane muttered.
    “You know a lot about those shade trees, don’t you, Marshal?” Victoria asked, studying her fingernails.
    “Of course I do. I’ve been by your place a-plenty through the years.”
    “Yes indeed you have,” Victoria said, crossing her left leg over her right. “I used to wonder how come you stopped coming out. When I turned about eight, I think it was. You just stopped coming. I wonder if your wife knows about me.”
    The marshal went pale. “Are you blackmailing me?”
    “Are you my father?”
    He gulped.
    “That’s what I thought,” she said, pointing toward the cell. “Let them go, clear their name, tell everyone in town it was a terrible misunderstanding.”
    “ Victoria ,” he snapped. “I can’t do that!”
    She shrugged. “You married Caroline Sweeny, didn’t you?”
    The marshal’s left eye twitched. “You know damn well who I married.”
    “She’s a very nice lady,”