Emeralds and Evergreen

She will do all she can to keep the handsome cowboy lawman for learning her true identity, only because she doesn’t know who to trust. It doesn’t matter how pretty she is, he has vowed to protect her. Will working together help—or hinder their situations?

Texas Ranger, Dallas Sterling, has had nothing but trouble since being entrusted with a safe full of expensive jewels. All he wants to do is deliver them to Montana then return to his home in Texas. However, the case is no longer a secret and bandits want to steal gems, but it’s the lovely lady he meets that continues to get in his way and distracts him in the worst way.

Pinkerton Agent, Emma Johnson, is traveling with her partner on a case to find the stolen emeralds. From what they have been told, the bandits are posing as lawmen. Wanting to make a good impression as a new agent, she is determined to hogtie any bandit that remotely looks like a thief disguised as a lawman, especially if he’s traveling with a safe, like the so-called handsome Texas Ranger.

With everyone trying to steal the gems, who will save whom?

Dallas Sterling looked down the rifle barrel that pointed toward him, so close that it could almost touch his nose.

Trying to calm his fiercely beating heart, he reminded himself that this wasn’t the first time he’d been in danger and wondered if this was the time he’d get shot. As a Texas Ranger, he doubted it would be the last time he had a gun pointed his way. Of course, if he couldn’t convince the three bandits that they would never get the rubies Dallas had been paid to guard, this just might be his last act as a Ranger.

He swallowed hard and glanced quickly around at the others being held at gunpoint. Both stagecoach drivers had been wounded, one worse than the other. The young woman passenger and her slightly older companion sat on the ground, grasping each other in comfort. Their faces were as white as the Montana winter blizzard that was headed their way. And Dallas feared that if he didn’t do something soon, the older gentleman passenger on the stagecoach would keel over and die from a heart attack. Collin, the deputy from Three Forks, who Dallas had hired to ride along with him to Bozeman, stood nearby, but unfortunately, they had all been stripped of their weapons once the bandits took control of the stagecoach.

Grumbling under his breath, Dallas wished he could have killed all the masked men with guns as they swarmed those who rode toward Bozeman on the coach. However, only four of the other bandits lay dead along the trail.

Dallas and Collin had volunteered to ride their horses instead of taking the stagecoach. After all, being out in the open, they could see better in case of an attack.

Dallas grumbled again. Little good that did. Collin had acted like a frightened woman who’d never held a gun before. How had the man become a deputy if gunfire frightened him? Then again, Dallas was told the man was still wet behind the ears. Perhaps he shouldn’t have expected perfection.

Sadly, they were now under the masked bandits’ control. Dallas doubted the coming blizzard could stop them.

The tallest of the three outlaws kicked his foot into the cold earth, lifted the red bandana covering the lower half of his face, and spit on the ground. From what Dallas could tell, this one seemed to be the leader.

“You must forgive us for choosing such a bad time to rob you,” the man said in a nasal-sounding voice as he motioned a hand toward the storm clouds turning grayer by the moment. “But we couldn’t let you get to Bozeman.”

The cool wind nipped at Dallas’ cheeks, causing an uncomfortable sting. Of course, since he had lived in Texas most of his adult life, he wasn’t used to Montana’s winters. He wished he could pull the collar of his duster around his throat more to ward off the chill, but Dallas worried that the bandits would think he was trying something and shoot him.

Dallas nodded. “Yes, the timin’ is way off, and if we don’t conclude our business soon, we’ll be in the middle of a blizzard.”

“Then I hope you do as I say quickly.” The bandit arched an eyebrow. “You are now responsible for these nice folks to make sure they get to Bozeman without freezing to death.”

“Actually,” Dallas cleared his throat, “I believe they all know who is responsible for what is happenin’ here.”
The man with the nasal problem lifted his rifle a bit higher. “I’ll ask you one more time.” He paused, probably more for effect than anything. “Hand over your money.”

Dallas shrugged. “I think you’ve taken everyone’s money.” He scanned the frightened nods around the group again before looking back at the man who was slightly taller than Dallas. “So, please be on your way so I can get these people to Bozeman before the blizzard hits.”

Growling, the third bandit whipped his pistol out of the holster and pushed the barrel against Dallas’ forehead. “I know you have the rubies. We’re not leaving until you hand them over.”