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the approaching figure, he added, “Make it a few hours earlier.” With that, Gil crossed the street. As the lawman approached Catherine with quicker steps, Gil was more than happy to be on his way.
    Catherine walked up to the man as Gil rounded a corner. Reaching out with both hands, she grabbed his coat, pulled him to her and planted a kiss squarely upon his lips.
    “My hero,” she whispered after leaning back just enough to get the words out.
    Nick’s hands went reflexively to Catherine’s hips, but his eyes darted toward the corner Gil had just turned. Even though the other man was nowhere in sight, Nick watched that spot for a few more seconds.
    “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get off this street.”

THREE
    Nick and Catherine walked back to the Tin Pan and stepped inside just as the barkeep was about to lock the door. She said a few words to the barkeep and then held the door open so he could leave for the night. After giving her employee a quick wave, Catherine locked the door and pulled down the shade in the front window.
    Leaning against the bar, Nick reached over the top and fished out a bottle of clear liquid. He used his other hand to get a glass, poured himself a healthy dose of the liquor and took a sip. “Sometimes I think it was a mistake to stay here,” he said as the vodka worked its way through his system.
    “No, you always think it’s a mistake to stay here,” Catherine said as she leaned against the bar next to him. “It’s almost to the point where I think you regret marrying me.”
    Nick looked into her eyes and smiled. The gesture seemed odd for features as harsh as his, but it was genuine enough. A thick beard covered his face, making his cheeks seem fuller and rounded.Cool, steely blue eyes took in the sight of her as he reached out to run a callused hand along the side of Catherine’s face. “You’re the only reason I’d even consider staying,” he said. “You know that.”
    “Sure I do, but it’s still nice to hear every now and then.”
    “Well, you just heard it.”
    After draining the glass, Nick set it down and reached for the bottle.
    “You haven’t had that much to drink in a while,” Catherine said.
    “You’re the only place in town that bothers keeping any of this for me,” Nick replied as he tapped the bottle of vodka with the edge of his glass. “I’d hate to see it go to waste. Are you going to tell me about that fellow you were talking to, or do I have to wait until you warm up to the subject?”
    Catherine blinked and took a step back from the bar. Crossing her arms sternly, she said, “Sheriff Stilson must be working you awfully hard for you to be so cranky.”
    “He’s got me walking the same rounds as before and I can’t blame him for it. Even with what little he knows about me, it’s a miracle he deputized me at all.”
    “The way you handled that bank robber who rode through here a few months ago should have been enough to convince anyone. That is…unless he came here because he knew you from your wildyouth.” Although she’d been kidding when she’d said that, Catherine quickly recognized the expression on Nick’s face.
    “ Did he come here looking for you?” she asked.
    Nick let a few seconds pass before he answered. “He won’t be coming around here again.”
    “That’s because he’s buried in the cemetery.”
    “As far as Stilson knows, he is.”
    “What?” Catherine asked. “He isn’t?”
    Nick shrugged and waved the bottle as if he was about to pour. Before he could refill his glass, Catherine reached over and took the bottle from him.
    “He isn’t?” she repeated.
    “I’m trying to live a quiet life here. Isn’t that why I allowed you to talk me into wearing this ridiculous thing?”
    Seeing that Nick was pointing to the badge on his chest, she replied, “That ridiculous thing earns you some respect and it puts people off your trail.” She paused and shrugged before adding, “I thought it was a pretty good