Lawman Said "I Do" The Frasers

Chapter 1 Colt Fraser had been raised to appreciate God's gifts, and he was gazing appreciatively at one of them right now -- the curvaceous backside of the passenger climbing into the stagecoach ahead of him. The sweet hips and long legs encased in those pants clearly belonged to a woman. When the couple had arrived at the stagecoach relay station in New Mexico, Colt had assumed they were both men. Now he realized that this one was definitely a woman, even though she was dressed in a shirt, vest, jeans, boots, and hat. They were the only passengers who boarded the stage, and he sat down in the seat opposite them and offered his hand to the man. "How do you do? I'm Colt Fraser. Looks like we'll be traveling together." "Jeff Braden," the man said and shook his hand. "This is my sister, Cassie." Colt tipped his hat. "Miss Braden." He had already noticed she wasn't wearing a wedding band. She nodded and asked, "You a drummer, Mr. Fraser?" "No. I'm California bound." "That accent sounds southern," Jeff Braden said. "I'm from Virginia, sir." The "sir" was from habit; Braden looked like he wasn't dry behind the ears yet. "Most folks heading west stay on the Oregon Trail," the woman said. "It's unusual to cut off onto the Santa Fe Trail. You picked a good time for your sight-seeing; right now the Apaches are quiet. Of course, that can change from day to day." "I managed to dodge Yankee bullets all through the war. I figure I can do the same with Indian arrows," Colt said confidently. "You'd find it more difficult than you think. The Apaches are skilled warriors and you'd be fighting them on their ground. I imagine you were in the Confederate army, Mr. Fraser." "Yes, ma'am, the cavalry. I had the privilege of serving under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart until he was killed." "Sorry, I never heard of him." "No other cavalry officer can compare to his skill and courage in battle. Confederate or Yankee." "However, I have heard of that illustrious Confederate officer William Quantrill and the merciless raid he led on Lawrence, Kansas." Her tone was bitter. "It must have taken a great deal of skill and courage to order the slaughter of innocent women and children, along with the men." "That raid was not sanctioned by any officer in the regular Confederate army, Miss Braden. and those were not regular Confederate soldiers in his command, but renegades and drifters. Neither I, nor any of my fellow officers, held any respect for the man. He was a mad killer in the guise of an officer, and a blight on the Confederacy and the brave and honorable men who have served it." "My apologies, Mr. Fraser." She turned her head and stared out of the window. He couldn't blame her for what she said. Others had said the same. Seemed like since that incident, every soldier or civilian south of the Mason-Dixon Line had borne the scorn for that son of a bitch's actions. Colt studied her. Cassie Braden was intriguing. Despite her masculine clothing, she had an attitude that made him think of finishing schools and liveried servants. She certainly was as pretty as any woman he'd ever met, even without all the powder and stuff some women put on their faces to beautify them. Her eyes were the blue of a summer sky against the smooth, sun-deepened bronze of a face shaped with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a wide mouth with full, kissable lips. These features, combined with a curve of determination to her chin, gave her face both delicacy and strength. The same characteristics he had noted in her bearing -- a vulnerability when she asked about the war, along with a rebellious boldness. And the way those pants hugged her hips and long legs didn't hurt, either.[read more]