Hearts Out of Time by Chris Lange

beautiful, seductive woman wearing a long dress and acting as ruthlessly as a veteran soldier was eerie. Hearing about someone’s skills and actually witnessing it didn’t compare.
    Now she understood Weedon’s speech about Jessica being a warrior as he shouted in response to her challenge, barely audible from his shooting position on the balcony. “Jess, I got four down! You’re getting sloppy, old girl.”
    He sounded like he was laughing. Was this just a big joke to these people? Didn’t they care about being killed? Weren’t they scared? Were they tired of living? Because they gave the impression of hugely enjoying themselves.
    Puzzlement tilting his eyebrows, Garrett glanced over at Jake when glass exploded and shattered across the floor. “Good Lord, Cooper, what’s wrong with you?”
    A light shade of red colored the gunslinger’s cheeks in spite of his acid tone.
    “What?” Jake yelled. “Am I not efficient enough for His Lordship?”
    Huddled under the table, still holding White Fur, Tracy watched as both men began firing from the opposite window. Jake appeared busy shooting and reloading, but, even to her untrained eye, he seemed all over the place. She guessed his aim was less than accurate, which was pretty funny for a gunslinger.
    The combat raged on, bullets striking the train with loud bangs, screams lacerating the air, glass shards all over the floor, the deafening noise making her cringe and wish they would call it a day. How long was this going to continue? She was more than sick and tired of it.
    She wanted out.
    Then she saw the red stain on Garrett’s face, and her heart lurched. Blood oozed from his cheek, yet he never wavered. Hands steady, he took aim carefully, fired, hit and reloaded. Cool and focused. Trained to follow the rules whatever the situation. She felt it then. Fear biting her. Fear for Garrett.
    Despite his irksome manners, she cared about him more than she wanted to. He wasn’t always irritating, was he? His strong hands on her the night before, his hot mouth crushing hers, his tongue licking her nipples, his powerful thrusts filling her body. That hadn’t been in the least irritating, right?
    The recollections sent her flying in a straight line to passion-land, yet she didn’t have the luxury to dwell on them at this point.
    She heard a wild shout from outside then saw Weedon collapse on the balcony.

Chapter 10
    “Jake, bring him inside!” Garrett barked. “You aren’t much help here anyhow.”
    His order was obeyed without so much as a frown. Jake dropped on all fours to avoid wild bullets and edged toward Weedon.
    Careful not to stand outside, Jake reached the injured man, grabbed his coat, wrapped his fingers around the collar and dragged him in beside her. To her utmost relief, the young man was conscious, grimacing from the pain.
    Jessica spared a moment to gawk at the crumpled form on the floor. “Oh my God.”
    His back to them to keep an eye on the situation outside, Garrett reloaded his rifle and aimed while speaking to his friend. “How bad is it, Weedon?”
    “I’ll be okay. It’s just a scratch.”
    “The bullet went right through his arm,” Jake said, “I can see the exit wound. If we take care of him as soon as possible, he’ll be all right.”
    “Do it then.” The request came from Jessica.
    Jake cast her a sideways glance before muttering under his breath, “Yeah, easier said than done.”
    The task would prove a challenge, what with the battle still going on and the movements of the train but the alternative was just watching the young man bleed to death. Couldn’t the gunslinger see that?
    With the wolfdog whimpering in her ear and staring at his master, Tracy put her hand on Weedon’s forehead. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine, I promise you.”
    He managed a thin smile as she bent over him despite White Fur blocking her way, and shifted to his good side.
    “I’ll take your word for it,” Weedon said. “Now help me sit