To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

it as he placed himself between Levi and the man at the front, the one yelling for Draper.
    The trio wasn’t armed as far as Levi could tell, unless one counted the chair, so it was doubtful they intended to rob the place.
    “You too afraid to face me, Draper?” The first man pounded on the bars again, and the sound of coins quivering in an open drawer rattled from the other side. “You think you can just steal my brother’s land and not be held accountable? Come out here and face me like a man.”
    Levi was plotting the best way to circumvent the man with the chair to get to Eden, when the crazy woman actually stepped closer to the ringleader.
    “Gentlemen, please. Whatever injustice has transpired, this angry display will only make matters worse. Please, calm yoursel—”
    “Shut up, lady,” the first man snapped. “This don’t concern you.”
    “It most certainly—”
    “Eden,” Levi said through his clenched jaw. “Be quiet.”
    Her gaze locked with his, and the panic in her eyes made his heart throb worse than his shoulder.
    “Get out of my bank, Monroe. You and those mangy brothers of yours.”
    Draper had finally made an appearance, but it was the shotgun he carried that drew everyone’s attention. He jabbed the barrel through the bars, making Monroe step back.
    “You gonna shoot me, Draper? I shoulda expected as much from a dirty dealer like you.”
    Levi inched toward Eden while Draper distracted the men.
    “Will hadn’t made a payment in four months. I warned him I’d foreclose if he couldn’t find the money a fifth time.”
    “A decent man would wait until the next crop comes in.”
    “I run a business not a charity, Monroe. Now, get out!” Draper cocked his weapon and aimed it at the man’s chest.
    The brother at the door suddenly cried out in pain and fell to his knees as Sheriff Pratt forced his way in, gun drawn. “Everybody down!”
    Levi lunged for Eden. He shielded her with his bulk, not trusting Pratt or Draper to keep their bullets to themselves. Eden trembled and her breath came out in shallow little puffs.
    “Out,” she begged as she tugged on his arm. “Levi, I need to get out.”
    He tipped his face slightly toward her while keeping an eye on the sheriff. “All right.”
    The two Monroe brothers near the counter had their hands raised, but their mouths continued to call curses down on the banker as they slowly sank to their knees. Emboldened by Pratt’s presence, Draper unlocked the inner door and stepped out from behind the counter.
    “I want these men arrested, Sheriff.”
    “What for?” one of the brothers demanded. “We’re not robbin’ the place. You’re the one who should be locked up for threatening me with that shotgun.”
    “Close your trap.” The sheriff glanced around the room, his eyes widening when he caught sight of Eden. He then scowled at Levi, a muscle in his jaw ticking where he ground his back teeth together.
    Levi met his gaze. “Let me take her home, Pratt.”
    The lawman checked on the Monroe brothers before looking back at Levi. He huffed out a disgusted breath, then strode to the door and yanked the last Monroe to his feet, dragging him away from the entrance. “Go on. Get her out of here.”
    Levi made his way to the door with Eden sticking to him like a shadow.
    “But you better hightail it back here and give me your statement, pronto.” Pratt glared at Levi as he passed, making his objection clear.
    Levi would have promised almost anything to get Eden out of that powder keg. He nodded. “You have my word.”
    Eden needed no urging to hurry. The minute she stepped clear of the bank, her arms and legs pumped with such haste, Levi struggled to keep up. When they reached her yard, Levi reached a hand out to slow her before she could disappear into the house.
    “You going to be all right?”
    She pivoted so fast, her handbag whacked him in the arm. “What is it with men, that they think yelling and pounding on things will get them