“Once a fool, always a fool.” Bart said with a sigh. Reb rolled his single blue eye and nodded with exasperation.

“Ya can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Jonah’s always been a bit deaf and dumb when it comes to women. ’Specially ones that got big breasts, tiny waists and know how to bat them lashes.

“Better add blind to that list with deaf and dumb.” Bart stated matter of factly. “Hell Reb, you got better vision in that one drunk eye than that bastard has in two good ‘uns.”

“Damn straight.” Reb nodded in whole hearted agreement. Jonah blew out a breath and shoved himself to his feet, deciding that he’d had just about all he could stand of watching the sunrise with these so called friends of his. Clearly they suffered from idiocy.

“The old dog can hear you,” he grumbled as he stretched out his legs.

“Really?” Bart asked with a frown. He nudged Reb with his elbow, nearly knocking the other man off the bench they were sitting on. “So the problem isn’t that he’s hard of hearin’, it’s just that he plain don’t listen.” Reb nodded whole heartedly once again, his head bobbing in such a way that furthered Jonah‘s belief that he was an idiot.

“Well if you fine gentleman will excuse me,” Jonah said with a shake of his head. “I have a breakfast to be getting to.”

“Scarlett’s fool.” Reb muttered under his breath and Jonah felt his arm twitch as his fist clenched.

“I do believe the man wants to punch you, Reb.” Bart stated before spitting a stream of tobacco into the dirt. Reb laughed.

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” he replied with amusement. “Probably wouldn’t be the last.” he added.

Jonah walked off with their laughter ringing in his ears. Reb and Bart might just be his best friends but that didn’t change the fact that they were a couple of brainless jackasses.

He crossed the street to the livery to check on Copper, relieved to not find any women being violated in empty stalls and the gelding happy and fat, munching hay in his stall.

The sun was just beginning to break through the fog and clouds when Jonah stepped back into the open and he knew it was getting to be time to meet Scarlett for breakfast.

His stomach was tied in a bit of a knot, his palms were sweaty and his cock was still all but quivering with anticipation after the kiss he and Scarlett had shared the night before and her promise that breakfast would be something he wouldn’t regret.

He hoped that her brother was still ill and he could once again have her to himself!

He was just heading into the hotel to make his way through the double doors to the diner when the sound of feminine tears reached his ears. While it was none of his business, and he had no idea who she was or why she was crying, Jonah had never been the type of man who could turn away from any woman in distress.

He followed the sound around the side wall of the hotel and down an alley cluttered with barrels, wooden crates and bricks. He followed the sound of tears and then peeked around a stack of crates to see a woman, at least he thought it was a woman, crouched down with her head in her hands and her shoulders heaving up and down in time with her sobs.

“Ma’am?” he asked cautiously. The woman leapt to her feet quickly and swiped her dirty buckskin sleeves across her dirt and tear streaked face.

Jonah raised a brow as he looked her up and down. She had wild red hair, full of knots and tangles and streaked with blond from time spent in the sun. Her tanned skin served as another testament to her time spent under that big glowing orb. She was average height for a woman at around five and a half feet, though it was impossible to tell what her body looked like beneath her clothes.

Clothes that were dirty, trail worn and frayed. Jonah had never seen a woman that dressed in clothes like these. All oversized buckskin with fringes down the length of the sleeves and legs like some sort of mountain man. Her pants were tucked into boots, also made of buckskin that came nearly to her knees.

Her face was average, at least he guessed it was average. It was hard to tell beneath the layer of dirt and the scowl that she wore. At least she had pretty eyes. They were almost the same greenish gray color that the sea had been the one time that Jonah had ever seen it. Of course right now they were bright with tears and red rimmed.

“What the hell you lookin’ at?” she sniffed with indignation. Jonah frowned.

“A crying woman.” he replied simply. “You gonna be okay?”

“A’course I’m gonna be okay. I weren’t crying.” she scoffed. Jonah nodded and fought back a grin at the way she spoke. She talked about like some of the men he had worked with on ranches from time to time. As a matter of fact she had grammar almost as bad as Reb’s.

She adjusted the gun belt slung low on her hips. His brow raised in shock when he realized she was carrying a forty-five revolver similar to his own only she had what appeared to be custom made bone or antler grips.

And the knife which clearly had antler grips on her other hip hung to her knee!

“If you don’t need any help then, ma’am, I’m gonna get on to breakfast.”

“Well go on then!” she exclaimed as she turned her back on him. “I never asked ya to come waste a second on me anyhow.” Jonah shook his head and then turned and walked away.

Josephine, or Joe to those that knew her, watched the tall, handsome man walk away and again swiped angrily at her tear streaked cheeks.

She didn’t like that someone had seen her crying. She hadn’t let anyone see her cry since she her mother had died. She’d been eight and her father had caught her and whipped her soundly for letting weakness show. He had told her that weakness would only get her killed. Then he had saddled up her pony and took her into his world.

A world of outlaws, mountain men and surviving off the land with your own God-given wits. Joe could take care of herself without the help of anyone. She was a crack shot with her revolver and her rifle. She could wield and throw a knife better than any man she knew and she made all her own clothes from things found in nature. No stuffy dress shops for her.

She shuddered as an image of those shops and the prim and proper ladies being measured and trussed up like thanksgiving turkeys came to her mind. She’d sooner shoot herself in the foot than let herself be all gussied up like that.

Joe’s tears today had simply been a goodbye of sorts to the man who had made her what she was. She had come into town to trade off her furs and while here she had caught some scent on the breeze, a mixture of horse, whiskey and sweat, that had reminded her of her father and she had begun to weep.

He had passed on only two weeks before and everyday was still a bit of a struggle. While he had never been a soft or kind man, he had made her tough, he had made her strong and she had loved him with all her heart.

Oh well, no time to dwell on the past. There were furs to sell, supplies to buy and a cabin to get back to. The less time she had to spend in town, the better.

***

Jonah stepped into the diner and his eyes barely had to scan the crowded interior before they found Scarlett. She was dressed much simpler today yet still very much a lady in her emerald green satin gown with black lace trim around the bodice and collar. The gown was high necked, hiding that soft chest he had enjoyed looking at so much the evening before.

The sleeves were long and tight and this dress pulled away just before her hips, swelling out and hiding her natural curves from his view.

Once again though she was alone at the table when he approached.

“Good morning, Miss Reign.” he said, hoping to hide the disappointment at her prim and proper attire from his voice. He’d really been hoping to see that chest some more. It sure would have made the runny eggs and lumpy gravy this place called breakfast taste a whole lot better.

“Good morning to you as well, Mr. Winchester.” Scarlett replied, signaling with a wave of her hand for him to take a seat. “I trust you slept well?” she added with a playful wink.

Jonah shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.

“Yep.” he lied. Truthfully he hadn’t slept worth a damn. Nothing he’d done had eased the raging arousal that Scarlett had awaken in him and all he had been able to think of all night was continuing that kiss, touching that body, tasting that soft skin of her neck and chest. Working his tongue lower as her dress fell to the floor, pooling around her ankles..

His pants began to feel a little tighter and he was glad when the server brought them their plates of breakfast. Eating this slop would certainly take his mind off of carnal thoughts.

“I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for you again.” Scarlett said apologetically as she laid her napkin across her lap. Jonah looked up in time to catch her winking at him. “I thought that steak and eggs might give you plenty of energy.”

“For?” Jonah inquired with a raise of his brow and Scarlett laughed lightly.

“Whatever you might find yourself getting into today.” she practically purred. Jonah knew there wasn’t any amount of runny eggs that were going to make his mind stray away from the lusty images her words and flirtatious laughter had suddenly caused to begin dancing around in his head.

“Guess I’ll get to eating it then.” he agreed.

Once again, Scarlett kept the conversation flowing, light and airy as they ate. They spoke of her life back east and she and her brothers adventures coming west and Jonah found himself captivated by her flirtatious glances and all the tiny nuances of her face. Her laughter light and airy was like a drug and he found himself waiting in anticipation for the next chance to hear it.

When they finished their meal, Jonah helped her stand and she smiled up at him coyly, causing his heart to pound and his fists to clench as her alluring feminine scent filled his nostrils, bringing to mind fields filled with the first fragrant wildflowers of spring.

His mind suddenly snapped back to reality when Scarlett moaned and covered her stomach with her hand. She raised the back of her free hand to her mouth and looked up at him, her big brown eyes looking pitiful and sad.

“Are you okay?” Jonah asked with concern and she shook her head.

“I’m afraid I’m suddenly not feeling well.” she replied sadly. “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Winchester. I was hoping to spend more time with you this morning.”

Jonah smiled comfortingly and tipped his head.

“There will be time for that later, right now we must focus on getting you well. Should I go find a doctor?” Scarlett shook her head.

“No. No, I have a weak stomach at times. I think I simply need to go lie down for a while.”

“Of course. I’ll walk you upstairs.” Jonah allowed her to take his arm and then led her out of the diner and to the hotel stairs.

Once outside her door, he prepared to bid her goodbye for a few hours to let her rest when she shocked him by opening her bedroom door, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him in with her.

Jonah stood there, still as a stone as she breezed across the room, suddenly the picture of health. Scarlett laughed lightly when she looked back at him and saw him watching her with shock.

“I had to come up with some excuse to get you in my room.” she purred as she went about filling two crystal glasses with brandy. “Would you mind shutting the door, Mr. Winchester?”

Jonah nodded slowly and closed the door with a click.

“Here you go.” Scarlett said as she handed him a glass of Brandy. Jonah watched in shock as she took a large swallow of her own. “Why so surprised, Mr. Winchester? I told you that I live the way I choose to. I do what I want and believe in making myself happy.”

“Just haven’t meant anyone like you before, Miss Reign.” he replied before downing his Brandy in one quick swallow.

“Do you know what would make me happy right now, Mr. Winchester?” she asked, glancing at him through her long dark lashes, over the rim of her crystal glass.

“No ma’am.” Jonah replied, feeling his pulse starting to race. Scarlett sat her glass on the side table and grabbed the lapels of his duster coat. Jonah couldn’t keep from grinning as he allowed her to lead him toward the bed.

“I’m afraid you’re wearing far to many clothes for what I have in mind.” Scarlett stated as she tapped her long nail against her full bottom lip.

“Is that right?” Jonah asked, and Scarlett felt her body heat up at the deep rumbling huskiness now in his voice. He was a good looking man that was for sure. All broad and hard… She couldn’t wait to see just how hard other parts of him would be.

Scarlett was blessed in her life with a husband who loved her and didn’t mind her little excursions with other men. It kept her from getting bored and made her very grateful and giving when she and Harmon were in bed together.

Jonah slid off his duster coat and was about to remove his shirt when Scarlett took his hands and stopped him.

“Let me take off what is in my way.” she ordered and Jonah raised his hands in mock surrender. It had been too damn long since he’d had a woman and he’d never been with a teasing woman like this. It should prove to be well worth the hassle he was sure to continue getting from Reb and Bart.

Jonah felt himself growing hard as Scarlett’s tiny hands undid his gun belt and unbuttoned his trousers. She slid them down his legs and then shoved him backward, causing him to get tangled up and fall in his backside onto the soft feather tick bed.

“Yes, that should work nicely.” Scarlett said with appreciation. Jonah was unable to breath let alone speak as Scarlett dropped to her knees in front of him and pushed the bottom of his shirt up and out of her way. He looked down at his cock, hard and throbbing, aching for a woman’s touch and he nearly lost all control of himself when Scarlett’s eyes widened as they fell upon it.

“Why, Mr. Winchester, you sure don’t’ disappoint.” her voice was full of awe and then her eyes looked up at him and a smile curved her lips. “I’ll try my best not to disappoint as well.”

Jonah nearly shot off the bed when her full lips were suddenly laying feather light kisses to his swollen arousal.

His fingers gripped the bed sheets with crushing force when she opened her mouth and took him inside her, surrounding him with that moist heat that nearly had him spending himself right there.

Never had he had a woman do this to him.

His head fell back as he moaned her name and one of his hands went to her hair, burying itself inside the soft locks and pushing her down further, causing more of his cock to disappear into her mouth as she moaned her approval.

Jonah had never known a woman’s mouth could work such wonders, Sucking, licking, working around and around until he thought for sure he couldn’t take it another second.

The pleasure built as he continued to push her head up and down at a fast rhythm that had her hair, bobbing back and forth.

Jonah growled out her name and barely managed to yank her head out of the way before his release blinded him.

When his heart rate slowed and the world began to come back into focus Jonah looked at Scarlett still kneeling down in front of him and smiled.

“Damn, woman, I didn’t expect that.”

“Are you up for repaying the favor?” Scarlett asked with a coy wink and Jonah nodded, but just as he was gripping her arms to pull her up into the bed with him, an angry pounded came to the door.

“Scarlett Reign, I know you’re in there! And I heard a man! What the hell’s going on!?” a man exclaimed. Scarlett’s eyes widened with shock and she jumped to her feet.

“You have to go!” she whispered desperately. “Leave now!”

“Who is that?” Jonah asked as he got to his feet and quickly redid his pants and gun belt. “Your brother?”

“Yes. Yes and you have to go!”

“I don’t’ want to leave you alone.” Jonah argued, grabbing his duster coat quickly as Scarlett let him toward the window. “He sounds angry.”

“Yes and he’ll be angrier if he catches you here.” she informed him, then she laid a gentle hand on his cheek. “I’ll be fine, Mr. Winchester.” Jonah was torn between his urge to defend her and his knowledge that being caught in her room with her hair a mess and a wet spot on the front of his trousers would probably only serve to get her in a deeper hole with her brother.

“I want to see you again.” Jonah said earnestly and Scarlett nodded.

“Of course you do. Now go!” she urged and Jonah stole a quick kiss before climbing out the window and shimmying down the drain pipe.

Scarlett walked to the door and opened it to find Harmon standing there with a smile on his face.

“Did you have fun?” he asked.

“I could have had more if you’d have waited just a bit longer.” she stated grumpily. Harmon laughed and let himself in before closing the door behind him.

Scarlett crossed her arms over her chest and waited for an explanation.

“You can’t give him all the goods so quickly, wife. You have to keep him wanting more.”

“Yes well, he certainly wanted more.” Scarlett replied. “He’ll do just fine. I have him eating from the palm of my hand. He’ll be the perfect man to take the fall for us.”

“And just how exactly are we going to get him to come with us to Barbadine?” Harmon questioned. “That’s the nearest bank for us to rob.”

“I know that, Harmon. Don’t worry. I have it all planned out.” Harmon nodded and then ran his finger along her lips.

“How did he taste?” he asked, his eyes darkening. Scarlett’s tongue darted out and skimmed across the rough pad of his thumb.

“Not as good as you.” she replied with a purr and Harmon smiled before quickly covering her mouth with his.