Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) - Rebel Carter Page 0,13

expensive clothing, August wore the durable denim and leather required by his occupation as a deputy. The man spent entirely too many hours in the saddle, and was always the first to respond to any altercations whether in town or in the more rural lands that surrounded Gold Sky. At his waist was a six-shooter, the handle of it gleamed in the afternoon light when he moved his duster to the side exposing it to view. Seylah felt a flare of anger at the sight.

August meant to intimidate Mr. Myers with such a display. But why?

“You stop that this instant,” Seylah blurted out jabbing a finger into August’s chest. He flinched and looked away from Mr. Myers.

“Stop what?” He asked with feigned innocence.

“Stop flashing your piece at Mr. Myers. This gentleman helped me and you mean to treat him like a criminal? I’ll not have it, August Leclaire! If you keep this up, I’ll see to it that you are scheduled for third shift rounds, and only third shift rounds, for the remainder of the month!”

August’s eyes narrowed and he stepped closer into Seylah’s finger. “Do it, I dare you, but I’ll not have some man pawing at you in broad daylight.”

“Elliot did nothing of the kind! And besides, you know I am capable of taking care of myself. Why are you in such a state over this?”

“Oh, so he’s Elliot now, is he? How long have you been acquainted with him? Is that where you’ve spent your morning?”

Seylah blushed, furiously, and drew herself up. “I do not have to explain my whereabouts to you. You are not my keeper,” she told him with a toss of her head.

“Ah, the lady was in trouble and I merely stepped in to ensure her safety. I did not mean to cause trouble between a couple,” Mr. Myers said, holding up his hands.

The pair of them whirled on the man. “We are not a couple!” They roared in unison.

“Are you…” He tilted his head to the side, eyes moving between the pair of them where they stood far too close for propriety’s sake, “quite sure on that account?”

Seylah stamped her foot. “Yes!” She blinked at her outburst and cleared her throat. “I mean, Mr. Myers, I—”

“Elliot, please,” he said, giving her a warm smile.

She nodded and continued on with a nervous laugh. “Elliot, then.”

“And I may call you Seylah?” Elliot asked.

“Of course!” She enthused with far more energy than she meant and colored at the misstep. “I mean to say, yes, please feel free to address me so.”

Elliot bent low into a bow that left her struck quite dumb. “My lady, it would give me no greater pleasure.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of her glove, the heat of his lips shot through Seylah like a bolt of lightning. It was like nothing she had ever felt before, perhaps for the reason that Seylah had never been courted by a man, never been given such intimacies as a kiss to the back of her hand, or any of the other things a woman of her age went weak in the knees for.

“Get your hands off—” August began, but Seylah silenced her friend with a well-placed elbow to the sternum.

“Ooof!” August sagged over, hands going to his chest as he struggled to breath.

“I thank you for such a thoughtful introduction, sir,” Seylah said, and she was not one bit remorseful over the simper she heard in her own voice. She smiled, broadly, despite the hacking sound of August trying to regain his breath at her elbow. “Are you new to Gold Sky?” She asked, stepping away from August’s bent over form.

“I am, just arrived today,” Elliot told her, giving her friend a curious look. “Is he all right?”

She waved a hand. “Oh, he’s fine. Very hardy.”

“I see…” Elliot nodded, though the man didn’t look the least bit convinced of her explanation, but Seylah noted he also didn’t look concerned at August’s welfare. “I am lucky to have met such a lady as you, though I would have much preferred out first meeting to be from less dramatic circumstances than—”

“Than a runaway coach?” She asked.

He held up a finger. “Yes, that, but at least I have made an impression on you, I hope?”

“You certainly have, Elliot.”

“Then I can think of no finer way to make my entrance to frontier life.”

“Where are you from, then? Where are you staying? Who are your people?” August asked, standing up and finally appearing