Jonah was about to enter the hotel when Scarlett came running out, throwing herself against his chest as she sobbed.

“Oh Jonah! He was so angry!” she cried out against his dirty brown vest.

Jonah moved away from the doorway and led her to a bench on the rickety boardwalk. He sat down and she sat beside him, though she continued to cling to him.

“What’s going on?” he asked gently, soothingly as he stroked her silky dark hair.

“He left me, Jonah.” she said sadly, her voice muffled against him.

“Your brother?” Jonah asked with a frown.

She gave a sniffle and pulled away from him, nodding. Jonah felt his heart constrict at the sight of those big brown doe eyes all red and wet and those full soft cheeks covered in tears.

“He is gone. His things are gone. He must have left without me.”

Jonah felt anger rise in him. What kind of man abandoned a woman that needed him? Not Jonah that was for sure.

“I’m all alone, Jonah. Despite my adventurous streak, I’ve never been alone before. I’m scared…” Her eyelids fluttered, those dark lashes batting against her cheeks as she stared up at him with wide eyes.

Jonah caressed her cheek with his thumb and shook his head. “You’re not alone.” he promised her. “I’m with you.” Not only could Jonah never turn his back on a woman in distress but he also felt responsible for the trouble between she and her brother. If Jonah had refused her advances then her brother would not have been angry enough to wash his hands of her.

“Lucky me.” she replied, a bright smile curving her full lips. Then she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and began to chew at it. “He left me with nothing, Jonah. I don’t even have any money to get home.”

Jonah frowned, he was fresh out of traveling money.

“Where do you live?” he asked, figuring he could always just accompany her home and make sure she got there safely.

He wasn’t sure that Scarlett had even heard him as she appeared lost in thought and then she sat up a little straighter.

“I know! I am a wealthy woman, Jonah, but I need to get to a bank! Do you happen to know where the nearest bank is?”

Jonah closed his eyes and pictured a map of this mountainous territory in his head. To the west it got more mountainous and completely impassable in the winter months but to the east the land formed rolling hills, mesas and land that could be traveled.

“Barbadine.” he replied with a nod. “The nearest town with a bank would be Barbadine. Do you want me to hunt down your brother and make him come back?”

“No.” Scarlett said with a shake of her head as she tossed her raven hair over her shoulder. “It is obvious that he does not care. Why bother him any longer?”

“It’ll take us a couple days to reach Barbadine. We’ll have to rent a cart. Are you okay to go get your belongings from upstairs or do you need help?’

“Jonah Winchester, I do believe you are a Godsend.” Scarlett whispered breathlessly, her doe brown eyes looking deep into his own. Jonah cleared his throat and stood up, wiping his hands on his dirt stained trousers.

“I can get my belongings myself.” Scarlett added as she took his offered hand and got to her feet.

“I’ll head to the livery and find us a cart to use.” Jonah replied with a nod. “If we leave out within the next hour or so we can cover a bit of ground before nightfall.”

“Thank you, Jonah.” Jonah’s eyes trailed over the creamy skin of her chest as she ran her finger along the hemline of her dress, dipping between her breasts. “You won’t regret helping me.” Scarlett assured him.

Jonah released his hold on her hand and adjusted his hat.

“No, ma’am.” he replied, unable to stop the grin that spread across his face. She offered him one bright smile accompanied by a knowing wink and then she disappeared into the hotel.

Jonah ran his hand over his face roughly and tried to prepare himself for the smart remarks and disbelief that Bart and Reb were sure to hand out to him when he let them know he was escorting the lady to Barbadine.

His long legs ate up the ground quickly as he strode to the livery and kicked the sleeping, fat youth in the shin causing the boy to let out a snort and nearly fall of the barrel he was napping on.

“I need to rent a cart.” Jonah stated while the boy was still steadying himself.

“Uh… Well, sir, we don’t have any carts to rent. We don’t get many requests for stuff like that ‘round here.”

“Dammit, I have a woman with luggage that I have to escort to Barbadine. I need something to help take her there in.”

The boy shrugged and rose to his full height, still a good six inches shorter than Jonah.

“I can rent you an extra horse and a pack mule but I ain’t got any carts.”

“I guess that’ll have to do.” Jonah sighed. “Go ahead and get ‘em ready and I’ll be back shortly.” Jonah walked back out into the afternoon sun, cursing the wind that was picking up and biting through his duster coat.

It was time to go find Reb and Bart and listen to whatever they had to say and Jonah knew they’d certainly have something to say.

***

“Come on, Joe! Just come to dinner with me!” Bart insisted and Reb laughed loudly as Joe fixed Bart with a look that would have had the devil himself freezing up and running for cover.

“Bart, you’ve obviously been out in that damned ol’ sun too long if you think for one cotton pickin’ minute, I’m gonna go anywhere and do anything with the likes of you. ‘Cept of course you’re talking about goin’ on outside and kickin’ your ass.”

The store clerk chuckled, well used to Joe and her mouth, as he continued gathering up the supplies on her list.

“Good girl.” Bart said with a bright smile as he patted Joe on her back and she glared at him. “Just wanted to make sure that pa of yours raised you right. Good to see he taught you to fight off a mans charming advances.”

“Charmin’ hell.” Joe replied with a laugh as she rolled her eyes at Bart. Bart had been another near friend of her fathers and the man had always had a bit of a soft spot for Joe, though the feeling wasn’t mutual and at most she simply tolerated the other man. He was more like a really annoying older brother. Joe had a feeling that if Bart were really her brother she would have spent most of their growing up years tying him up and locking him in closets. “You was practically grovellin’ at my feet.”

“She’s got ya there, Bart.” Reb stated between laughs and Bart’s face reddened as he stepped back.

“I weren’t really asking her to dinner.” he mumbled.

“Well I sure as hell hope not after all the hell you’ve given me.” Joe recognized Jonah’s voice as a shadow fell over them when Jonah’s body blocked the light coming in the door.

“The prodigal son returns!” Bart called out and Reb scratched at his chin and leaned toward Joe.

“What the hell does prodigal mean?” he whispered and Joe simply shrugged in response.

“So did you say goodbye to the little lady?” Bart asked and Jonah pulled off his hat and scratched at his hair. Joe found herself watching the movement.

His hands were big, calloused and rough, clearly used to hard work and his hair was thick and a sandy blond color on his head. It was messy and wild which she figured suited him perfectly because he looked a little wild himself.

“Actually, I guess we need to talk about that…” Jonah started but his words were interrupted by a feminine clearing of the throat and a thud on the mercantile porch.

Jonah turned quickly and moved aside and Joe raised a brow as she took in the sight of the prim and proper lady dressed all fancy in one of those satin and lace numbers with a long wool coat, tailor made to hug her body and ward off the chill. Black satin gloves covered her hands and were nearly the same color as the hair that was below her lacy bonnet.

She batted her long lashes and looked at each person inside the mercantile in turn.

“Well holy hell!” Reb exclaimed. “Ain’t no damn wonder you fell fer this one! She’s even prettier than Penny was! Ain’t you learned by now, Jonah! You can’t trust women that look like that!”

“Look like what exactly?” the newcomer asked with a frown, which somehow managed to simply make her look troubled and delicate. Joe glanced at Reb, eager to see what the mans answer would be.

“Ya know… pretty. Take Joe here, she ain’t pretty but you can trust everything she says to be the gospel truth. She won’t love you one second and then drive a knife in your back the next.”

“No, I’d just go straight for the knife.” Joe agreed dryly, wondering exactly what the hell was so wrong with the way she looked. Not that she wanted men thinking of her as pretty… But dammit what the hell was so unpretty about the way she looked?

Reb laughed. “See, no lies there!”

“Are these your friends, Mr. Winchester?” the lady asked as she looked down her nose at Joe.

“This is Reb, Bart and Joe.” Jonah said, pointing to each of them in turn. “Y’all this is Miss Scarlett Reign.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Bart said as he shook the woman’s outstretched hand, though Joe noticed that the tone of his voice did not match the politeness of his words.

Scarlett then held her hand out to Reb, clearly wanting the man to shake it but Reb just adjusted his eye patch and then rocked back on his heels.

“I’d rather not, ma’am,” he sneered. Joe nearly laughed out loud at the confused looked that graced Scarlett’s face. Her arched brows came together and a line formed between them before she seemed to shake off Reb’s greeting and then turned her attention to Joe.

“Hello… Joe? Was that your name?” Scarlett asked as she held out her hand.

“Yep, that’s my name.” Joe replied, shaking the offered satin covered hand.

“Oh dear!” Scarlett declared with light laughter that sounded a lot like tiny bells. “Was that a callous?”

Joe didn’t like the amusement she heard in the little twits voice. She held up her hands and looked at the dirt and calluses that lined them.

“Yep, I reckon it was. Not all us women go runnin’ to a big strong man when there’s work that needs done. We just push up our shirtsleeves and do it our damned selves.”

“Well okay then.” Scarlett replied as she folded her hands in front of her. Joe turned back to the counter and saw her box of supplies waiting on her.

“Thanks, Virgil.” she said as she tossed her money on the counter and reached for the box. A man’s hands shot out and tried to beat her to the box and Joe turned to glare angrily up at Jonah.

“What the hell you think you’re doin’?” she demanded.

“I was going to help you carry that box, ma’am.” he replied matter of factly and Reb and Bart snickered into their hands.

“When I need your damned help to carry a box I’ll be sure to ask for it. Since I don’t recall doin’ so just now, kindly step aside.” Joe nudged Jonah out of the way with her hip, noticing just how firm and hard his body was against her, which of course only fueled her anger.

She grabbed the box and tossed her messy hair over her shoulder.

“Go on back to your painted lady now and leave us real women to do our box carryin’ ourselves.”

“Yes ma’am.” Once again Joe heard amusement in Jonah’s voice and it caused her to growl and head toward the door, giving Scarlett the option of being run over or jumping out of the way and Joe noticed that at least the dimwit had the sense of mind to choose the latter.

***

“So are we ready?” Reb asked Jonah as the three men and Scarlett stepped out onto the porch.

“No, actually, that’s what I need to talk to y’all about.” Jonah replied as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I’m escorting Miss Reign to Barbadine.”

“What?!” Reb exclaimed as he jerked off his worn black leather hat and beat it against his leg.

“Yeah, Jonah, we weren’t heading for Barbadine, we just came from there.” Bart added and Jonah shrugged.

“Well I’m heading there now. Y’all don’t gotta come if you don’t want to but the lady needs to get there and she needs an escort.”

Jonah spared a glance at Joe when he heard her snort as she secured all her belongings and furs on her cart. She was something new and Reb sure hadn’t been kidding around when he had said there was more stallion than mare in her.

“Would it do any good to tell you that you’re a fool?” Bart asked with exasperation.

“He’s a fool because he’s helping a lady?” Scarlett asked with a raise of her dainty brow and Reb nodded.

“Pretty much.”

“Now dammit, y’all can either come or ya can go your own way but if ya do come there can’t be all this insulting the lady. I won’t stand for it. She ain’t done a damn thing to deserve it.” Jonah stated angrily.

Reb and Bart shared a look and then shrugged.

“Alright we’ll be good.”

“Good.” Jonah stated with a nod. “Now we gotta get a few supplies for the trip and then go on down and get the mule and the extra horse from the livery. They didn’t have any carts….”

“Joe has a cart.” Bart said quickly.

“And Joe’s goin’ to Barbadine.” Reb added.

Joe turned and if looks could have killed, Jonah would have lost his two best friends right then and there.

“Joe travels alone.” she snapped, her red hair flashing in the sun, even full of dirt and tangles the way it was.

“Alright then, Miss Reign can just ride a horse and we’ll have to buy some bags for the mule and leave her suitcase behind.” Jonah said, eager to solve the problem.

“Um…” Scarlett held up her hand and chewed on her full bottom lip.

“What is it?” Jonah asked.

“I can’t actually ride a horse.”

Laughter filled the air and Jonah frowned and looked at Joe.

“Instead of laughing why don’t you offer some help.” he demanded and Joe shrugged.

“Why on earth would I do that?” she questioned. “That woman ain’t my problem, she’s yours.”

“I’ll pay you ten dollars once we hit Barbadine if you let Scarlett ride on the cart and you can use the spare horse I rented.”

“Now hold on just a damn minute!” Joe stated angrily as she came around the cart and stood toe to toe with Jonah, glaring up at him with anger flashing in her green/gray eyes. “I never said I wanted y’all to ride with me! And you think I’m gonna give up my cart, my comfy seat, just so some prim and proper little painted lady who couldn’t survive for five minutes without the help of a strong man with a pecker, can keep her fancy little dress clean?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jonah replied with amusement at the little firecracker. She was like some little ankle biting dog. Not big enough to do any real damage but fired up and fighting mad anyhow. “Would twenty dollars work better?”

“Joe, it’s really not a bad deal for you. Besides there’s been a lot of thieving and murderin’ goin on ‘round here lately. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have some extra bodies ‘round.” Reb spoke up.

Jonah wished he could be inside her head to know what the woman was thinking as she studied Reb. She was either thinking over what he said or wondering if it would be worth the bullet to shoot him.

Finally she let out a growl and nodded.

“Fine. But ya better get to the damn docs and get her some drops for them eyes. If she keeps battin’ them there lashes so damn much, it’s likely that I’ll yank each and every one of them out for her before we ever reach Barbadine.”