Wrangler Dragon Read online

  There were little cracking sounds that came from the man’s hand as Clancy shook it up and down, wearing the friendliest smile to hide his utter rage. The guy let out a pained, whining sound from the back of his throat as his eyes bulged, but he did an admirable job of not screaming right there in the middle of the store.

  “Always nice to make a new friend.” Clancy’s eyes shuttered, and his grip tightened, hard enough that the man tried to pry his hand away, to no avail.

  The man’s face was going pale, his teeth chattering, when Clancy finally released him, and he let out a harsh gasp as he moved away, uninterested in further discussion.

  Clancy leaned back on the counter in front of Billie. The next guy that dared approach would get a “friendly” pat on the back the likes of which they’d never forget.

  “So many customers. So busy. Maybe y’all should come back another time. Maybe never if ya know what’s good for ya.” Clancy glared out at the room.

  He heard a growl from scarface, and Clancy looked over to see anger in those almost-black eyes.

  The guy was reaching for something tucked into the back of his jeans, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what that was. “I’m tired of waitin’. You scram, or I’m gonna—”

  “Gonna what?” Clancy still wore his smile, but his tone was sharp. Before the man could move another centimeter, Clancy reached into his vest and unholstered a snub-nosed .38 he always kept on him for moments like this, his gunslinger reflexes kicking in without even the slightest thought.

  He kept the gun tucked to his chest, just letting the barrel peek out, pointed right at the guy’s face. But Clancy kept his body angled so Billie had no way of seeing it past his big chest and shoulders unless she physically came around the counter (which she was unlikely to do right now).

  No need to worry the pretty lady, after all.

  The man froze where he was, and the others with him did too. If they had half a brain at all, they’d watched as Clancy had drawn so quickly none of them had even known he’d been carrying in the first place.

  “I wouldn’t go doing whatever you were just thinking, friend…” Everything was utterly still in the shop. “Not unless you an’ yer friends wanna walk outta here with a few more holes than you walked in with.”

  The man with the scar grimaced but reached his hands out in front where Clancy could see them. Clancy kept his eye on all the men in the store in case any of them got ideas of testing him today too.

  Then the leader looked over at the coin in the case, then at Clancy, and huffed. “It ain’t worth it.” He glanced over at Billie, and Clancy wanted to lay the man out just for the way he looked at her. “But we’ll be back for what we want, little lady.”

  “Git, or I’ll make ya,” Clancy demanded.

  And with a nod to his compatriots, scarface and the rest strode for the exit, the one with the broken hand nursing it as he skittered away behind the rest.

  It made Clancy wonder what anyone would want with the dragon’s talon, especially after so much time.

  Even stranger was how all his years of experience as a gunslinger came back to him faster than lightning could strike the prairie, all because a few thugs were bothering a woman he’d barely met all of five minutes ago.

  Clancy eased down the hammer of his gun and slid it back under his arm. But it took a long moment to calm his nerves. To calm the dragon inside him that was pacing back and forth protectively.

  “What just happened there?” Billie’s voice cut through the silence, and Clancy turned around to face her, glad to see confusion in her eyes instead of fear.

  He could never abide any man that put fear into a woman’s eyes. But for some reason, especially this one.

  “I guess those gentlemen had other business to attend to,” he said, trying to sound relaxed. In his experience, the best way to ease others’ nerves was to act calm.

  “I’m not even sure who they were.” This close, he could see the freckles dotting her cheeks and nose. See how full her lips were. For someone that tried hard to not gussy themselves up, Billie was incredibly pretty.

  “How about you close up and we can talk?” he offered.

  She let out a pent-up breath that puffed her cheeks for a moment. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  “I’ll take you out to dinner. There’s a place down the way I want to try, Custer’s Last Sandwich.”

  To his surprise, she got a stern look and shook her head emphatically. “No.”

  Clancy almost barked a laugh. No one had ever said no to him. “Pardon?”

  “I’m not sure what you’re implicatin’, mister, but I ain’t looking to date. My pa always taught me to pay for my own meals, so I don’t accept charity from men. Especially fancy men like you who come in from the city, thinking us country bumpkins will give them whatever they want.”

  So she assumed he was just after the coin again?

  She was technically right. But there was something about her that interested him as well.

  Maybe he’d just have to get to know her better…

  Clancy tapped the glass, looking down at the coin. “So they were after this?”

  She nodded. “No clue why.”

  He had ideas, but they were just ideas right now. “It looks to me like you’re pretty obsessed with this guy. You even know what he looks like?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  For some reason, a pink hue spread over her cheeks, and he got the distinct image in his head of kissing her. Of wanting to see that blush on other parts of her.

  “Everyone knows that the Quickdraw Dragon was handsome. But that’s beside the point. People’s outer looks don’t mean much to me, mister. It’s more about what kind of person someone is inside,” Billie said.

  Clancy had to agree with that.

  “You have a wanted poster of his? Anything?”

  “Well, sure. No one ever got a photograph, but I have a couple of wanted posters with his face. Why?”

  “I’d love to see one,” he replied, unable to suppress a slight grin.

  She leaned down to grab something from beneath the counter, and she pulled up a laminated piece of paper. “This one’s just a copy, but I have the real ones in the back.”

  Billie unrolled it onto the counter, still unsure what Clancy could possibly be getting at, and they both looked down at the poster.

  It was roughly drawn, and even the copy looked old as hell. From the looks of the poster, you’d think the artist had seen an angel, not a deadly gunslinger. It was a bit of an exaggeration.

  He just smiled down at it, waiting for the realization to kick in.

  Billie looked at the poster, then up at him, and her eyes went a bit wide. For a moment, she just went back and forth until he could practically feel her sudden surprise as it spread across her features.

  “Holy heck, mister. Has anyone ever noticed you look kind of like him?” she exclaimed.

  “No, darlin’, because I’m pretty sure you’re the only one who knows or cares that this guy even exists,” he replied, annoyed at how stuck on this she was. “Which is why you should just let me take that coin off yer hands for good.”

  She shook her head, though there was a sparkle in her eyes as she looked at him now.

  It was clear to Clancy that she wouldn’t let this go easily. And it both bothered and amused him how this refreshing, intriguing woman had the singular ability to stand up to him like no woman ever had.

  “If I told you that I was related to him, I assume you’d believe me,” Clancy said, trying a new angle.

  “I sure would,” she said.

  “And by the way, I’m not a big city guy like you said. I’m from around here,” he said, wanting to set the record straight. He dressed fancy, but he wasn’t some bigwig out-of-towner like she thought.

  “Really? No way. What spread are you from?” she asked, still retaining a hint of doubt.

  “Dragonclaw Ranch.”

  She went wide-eyed for a second time, barely co
ntaining her ridiculous, infectious excitement.

  “Holy cow, Dragonclaw Ranch?”

  “What, are you a Dragonclaw Ranch enthusiast as well?” He had to smile because this lady was just too much.

  “You bet your buckles I am!”

  “Why? What have you heard about it?”

  She glanced to the side. Then her brown eyes met his. “Mostly just conspiracy theory stuff on the internet forums. But it’s still a local legend regardless. Stories about that spread date all the way back to the Wild West.”

  He grinned. Clancy knew he had her interest sparked now, between the mention of Dragonclaw and the poster.

  “I bet you think you know more about Tucker Thompson than anyone alive,” he said charmingly. “But I’d bet I know more than you.”

  She shook her head and folded her arms, showing off her pretty curves. “Oh, I doubt that, mister. I know something that no one else knows. But I can’t tell you what it is.”

  Clancy was intrigued to know what that could even be, given who she was unwittingly speaking to right now.

  “What if I invite you up to Dragonclaw Ranch for a week? Show you a real western experience like you’ve never seen? Share some inside info on Tucker Thompson no one else has ever heard before. Would that be enough to consider for the coin?” He tapped one finger on the glass above the display.

  She thought for a moment. “Well… what I know about him is pretty valuable. And having his coin is valuable to me as well, for the museum I’m going to open.”

  “I promise, if I haven’t given you enough of a genuine Tucker Thompson Wild West experience to satisfy you by the end of the week, then you can keep the coin forever. How does that sound, Billie?”

  She considered it for a minute, and Clancy liked that she wasn’t one to instantly trust him. As it was, she placed herself on equal footing with him instead of melting instantly like most people did in his presence.

  Then her face lit up in a smile, and she snapped her fingers.

  “Well, I’d say that’s a deal I could talk about over dinner.”

  He smirked. “You’re just hoping to get some extra free information on Thompson, now that you know I have it, aren’t you?”

  She shrugged, pretending to sound disinterested, though the façade was paper-thin. “Maybe I’m just seeing if it’s a good idea to go to the ranch or not. Anyways, I gotta close up the store. I’ll meet you at that restaurant down the block in twenty minutes.”

  Clancy smiled, then pointed down at the talon. “Better bring that along, just in case you change your mind about letting me have it.”

  “Oh, you know me better than that, Mister Clancy.”

  “Just Clancy.”

  And at that, he left the store before she could change her mind.

  But instead of heading for the restaurant, he stood across the street, watching her work inside, oddly protective of the strangest woman he’d ever met in his entire life.

  And perhaps, in spite of himself, for some reason, he was still looking forward to dinner with the interesting creature.

  4

  “Howdy, y’all want some recommendations for the evening?”

  Clancy looked up from his menu to their waitress, noting her overly exuberant smile and hungry expression as she eyed him. He was used to it at this point. Most women acted this way around him.

  Most women.

  All except Billie, who was hemming and hawing over her menu, her beautiful red hair bouncing as she cocked her head back and forth.

  “I’ll just have the egg salad,” she said finally, handing her menu over to the waitress.

  “Anything to drink?”

  “Just water, thank you.”

  Clancy cocked an eyebrow. “Egg salad and water? Why those two things?”

  “Oh, they’re the least expensive,” Billie said with a shrug. “I wanted to get to know you better before I make any decisions. I also didn’t want to take advantage of you. After all, I wasn’t sure if this was a date… er, well, since you asked me out to eat.” She flushed bright red.

  “No, no, I got this,” Clancy replied easily, chuckling. “Ain’t no way I’d ever ask a woman out to eat and then make her pay for herself.“ He looked up at the waitress. “I’ll have the pork chops, and she’ll have your finest ribeye, cooked to perfection.”

  Billie’s eyes went wide at that. “No, you really don’t—”

  “I insist.” He shot her a wink, then waved the waitress away.

  “Wow, thanks,” she said. “I don’t eat out much or spend money on fripperies. It took most of my savings to get that coin. I’m hoping that I can use it to make the foremost Tucker Thompson museum in the US.”

  “How many are there? Thompson museums, I mean.” He reached out and took his glass, bringing it up to his lips for a sip as he eyed the rest of the restaurant. It was quaint with small, gaudy chandeliers hanging here or there and booths with purple leather seats. Black carpet covered the whole main dining room.

  “None. That’s why mine will be the premier,” Billie said proudly. “It will be the best because there’s only one.”

  “Why do you think this guy needs a museum anyway? Seems to me all he did was go around shootin’ folks. After all, he was just a famous gunslinger.”

  “No,” she retorted haughtily. “He was so much more than that.” She went red again. “But there’re some things I can’t say.”

  Clancy studied her for a second, enjoying the way the evening light played over her sharp, beautiful features. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was obviously smart and incredibly tenacious.

  He’d never heard of anyone outside of Dragonclaw that knew or believed so deeply in the Quickdraw Dragon.

  “So what about you, mister?” Billie said, swirling the straw in her water with her pointer finger. “How are you related to him? And how did you end up at Dragonclaw?”

  Clancy laughed and held up a finger. “Ah-ah-ah, clever darlin’, for the dinner, I’m happy to just give you my company. For more information, I need at least the hope of winnin’ that coin back.” He cocked his head to the side. “Besides, by the time I’m done tellin’ you about Tucker Thompson, you might not think he deserves a museum anymore. Did you think about that? It ain’t wise for people to get to know their heroes too deeply.”

  She frowned and shook her head. “Gee whiz, no! Nothing you could say will change my mind.”

  Clancy laughed inwardly, wondering if that could possibly be true. After all, he did happen to know quite a bit about Tucker Thompson.

  Everything, in fact.

  “Well, enough about Tucker, then,” he said, waving a hand. “Let’s hear about you.”

  “Sure, I guess that’s fair.” She ran a hand through her hair for a second, thoughtful. “I’ve been runnin’ around that antiques shop ever since I could remember. It’s a family business. Just me and my pa now. My ma passed away some years ago.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head, smiling. “That’s all right. My ma and pa raised me good, taught me to be strong. We didn’t have a lot, but I never wanted for love or affection.” She laughed. “And of course, we have Elmer.“

  Clancy cocked an eyebrow. “Elmer?”

  “Our pasture pal horse,” she explained. “But yeah, after my ma died, I decided to stay home and run the store with my pa. Been there ever since.”

  Clancy liked listening to her. He liked how animated she was when she talked about her family and her shop. He would have listened to her talk about it all night.

  “And what does your dad think about your Tucker obsession?” he asked, curious.

  She was about to respond, but their food was delivered at that moment, and Clancy laughed inwardly as she stared down at the ribeye like it was a million-dollar bill and not some piece of meat.

  Then she began to eat voraciously, and it was a few minutes before she got around to speaking again.

  “My whole family loves him,” she said. “Even my aunts and uncl
es share an interest in him, but nothin’ quite like me.”

  Damn, what exactly was going on with this family?

  He leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand and eying her. “Okay, well, is there anything else in your life you love? Any suitors in the picture?”

  He winced inwardly, wondering why in tarnation he was asking her about her dating life. It was probably just because, if she was coming back to the ranch, it would be good to know if she had a boyfriend or was dating anyone.

  Yeah. Definitely that.

  Her eyes went wide. “Good gosh, no. What would I want that for?” She shook her head solemnly. “They’ll just slow down my museum. I ain’t got time for love.”

  Clancy could honestly think of a lot of things this woman would want a suitor for. Damn, she intrigued him with her soft-looking lips, fiery red curls, and eyes that lit up like fireflies when she was talking about her family or her museum or Thompson.

  Her passion for knowledge and history seemed to be insatiable… albeit about a lost cause. It was still commendable, even if the subject of it was not.

  Though, he couldn’t help but feel a little flattered.

  “What?” he said, feigning surprise. “Beautiful woman like you? I’m sure just about every man in town’s gotten down on one knee and professed his undying affection for you.”

  She laughed. “For your information, that ain’t ever happened. And if it had, I wouldn’t be aware of it. Too busy.”

  “Well then, the men in your town are a bunch of fools,” he said, shrugging. “Their loss.”

  “Hah, that’s very kind of you…” She trailed off, a blush covering her cheeks. “Clancy.”

  His name on her lips sent an unexpected jolt through his body. As they ate dinner and chatted, he found himself even more entranced with her than he had been earlier today.

  He’d never met a woman like her. Bold and brash and passionate and impervious. She kept him on his toes, and he kind of liked that about her.

  In fact, as dinner went on, he found himself paying more and more attention to her, rather than the food.

  When they were both done, he waved down the waitress.

  “Would you like a check, mister?”