Captain CanaryâWestern AUâ âTell me again why youâre naked?â
âSo⊠Tell me again why youâre naked?â
Sara and Mick shared a look before returning their gaze to Leonard, who was calmly leaning over a banister while taking in the sight of his wife and his best friend who were both naked as the day they were born.Â
âYou see, Boss⊠We were enjoying a drink down at the saloonâŠâ started Mick.
âWhen Sheriff Hunter and his crew came in, saw us, and started a brawl,â continued Sara.Â
âWe managed to take most of them out with a few punches and bottles to the head,â said Mick, who then grunted in amusement. âThrew Hunter right out the swinging doors and into a big pile of horse shit.â
âGo on,â said Leonard, already amused by the story. He had on a black duster, something he could easily offer Sara, but he knew sheâd have some sort of offense at the gesture. If she were cold or uncomfortable, sheâd have asked for his jacket. Instead, she seemed to be enjoying being bare to the elements⊠And Leonard had to admit he was surprised Mickâs gaze didnât wander more than it had already. Mick was doing his best to be loyal to him and respectful to Sara.
âWell he got right prickly after being tossed in the dung,â said Sara, eyes sparkling with glee as she tossed back her wet, muddy hair over her shoulder. âSo he decided to cheat by bringing out his gun.â
âAlways needing his toys to feel manly,â muttered Mick. âHis gun jammed and we got the hell out. Decided to cut through the marsh...â
âDamn skirts weighed me down so I got rid of them,â said Sara with a shrug.
âAnd your excuse?â asked Leonard, looking to Mick.
âWell, hell, if she was gettinâ naked then so was I!â Mick let out a belch. âWouldnât be right to let her be the only one standing out if someone were to catch us.â
âYouâre both filthy,â commented Leonard.
âWell, it was basically a swamp we just trod through,â said Sara, who cocked out her hip and placed her hand on it. âAs if you donât enjoy the view!ââOh, I do,â said Leonard, his voice a low purr. He then turned his attention to Mick. âGo clean yourself up!â
Mick gave Leonard a salute then headed to the small part of their hideaway that was his and his alone. Leonard wasnât sure if heâd actually go wash himself up, but he wanted Saraâs full attention. He straightened from his lean on the banister and moved down the porch. His boots thunked against the wood as he traveled down the steps. He grinned as he got to Sara, tipping up his hat slightly before reaching out with his gloved hand to trail a finger down her arm. She shivered at the contact. His blue eyes watched with keen interest as the cool air and her excitement worked together to pebble her nipples.
âSara...â Another shiver. âSomeoneâs been bad...â
âYou like it when Iâm bad,â she said, stepping into his space, absorbing some of his warmth.Â
âTrue... But I like it more when you donât smell like a swamp.â
âWell, hell, did you want me to get caught instead?â asked asked, giving him a swat on the chest. Her hand was dirty and it left some residue on his shirt. He ignored it, instead pulling her in closer to him, making her squirm. âLeonard!â
âSay pretty please,â he murmured into her ear and she sighed.
âYou cheat. You know Iâm a sucker for your drawl,â she murmured, pressing her lips to his.
âNot all of us... Can be... Proper folk,â he said between each kiss, his voice more breathless with each passed word.
âIâm not proper,â she said, biting his lower lip.
âNot anymore,â he countered, hauling her up flush against him. âHow about we make ourselves a bath and continue this inside?â
âYeah, good idea, the mud is starting to set.â
They took their bath. Took extra time to make sure each spot on their bodies was squeaky clean. They then settled on the sheets in the bed they called theirs for now, knowing it was only temporary because Hunter and his men could find their location at any time. When and if they did, the trio would move on as they always did.Â
Because the only thing they really needed was each other.
Oh, and the money they kept stealing and stashing away throughout the county.