Wanted

By J.M. Snyder

Jesse McCray ekes out a hard living cutting cattle from the local beef baron of Defiance, Texas. He's known for his quick draw and his steady aim; no one outguns him. Whenever he and his ragtag group of friends known as the Rustlers ride into town, the local cowboys hold their breaths, waiting for the men to ride through. But one evening, while playing faro at Billy's Saloon, Jesse's attention is drawn to a new face in the crowd.

Ethan Phillips is an idealistic tenderfoot from back East, passing through Defiance on his way to the California coast. He's heard tales of the gold that enriches the west coast, and he's looking for a way to make his dreams come true. When his horse pulls up lame, he offers to sing for the cowboys of Billy's Saloon to earn a few coins, but the men jeer at his song until a man in black quiets them. With one look into Jesse's dark eyes, Ethan finds himself falling for the man.

Ethan's horse heals but he stays in Defiance, enamored by his outlaw lover. But the cattle baron has a grudge against one of Jesse's outlaw friends, and a gunfight in Billy's Saloon puts a price on the Rustlers' heads. Can Jesse protect Ethan from the lawmen gunning for him and his friends?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Oct 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781611521979

J.M. Snyder

An author of gay erotic romance, J.M. Snyder began self-publishing gay erotic fiction in 2002. Since then, Snyder has worked with several e-publishers, most notably Amber Allure Press and eXcessica Publishing.Snyder’s short fiction has appeared online at Ruthie’s Club, Tit-Elation, Eros Monthly, and Amazon Shorts, as well as in anthologies released by Alyson Books, Cleis Press, and others.For more book excerpts, free fiction, and purchasing information, please visit http://jmsnyder.net.

Book preview

Wanted

By J.M. Snyder

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2009 J.M. Snyder

ISBN 9781611521979

Cover Credits: Sergii Pavlov, Stefankoem

Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

Cover Design: J.M. Snyder

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

NOTE: This book was previously published by Amber Quill Press.

* * * *

Wanted

By J.M. Snyder

Four men rode into the ramshackle town of Defiance, the dust from the trail rising beneath their horses’ hooves, stirred up into low clouds that hung suspended in their wake. The hot Texas sun beat down on the black cowboy hats that shielded the men’s eyes and offered little relief from the heat. Few people strolled along the wooden boardwalks that lined the leaning buildings, and those that did turned from the hard gaze of Crazy Kit Connelly, leader of the ragtag gang of cattle thieves known in Kennett County as the Rustlers.

Crazy Kit sat astride a bucking midnight steed that he barely held in check as his friends fanned out behind him. His eyes glinted like steel struck with flint, his gaze roaming the streets as if daring anyone to a fight. He was a hard, mean man, whose reputation came from rustling heads of cattle from local barons and branding them as his own before selling them to the slaughter houses in Abilene. He’d been known to kill cowboys who tried to stop his thieving—truth was, he needed little excuse to draw his pistol, and even less to shoot.

To his right rode Joey Jacobs, Jr., a ladies’ man and incurable flirt, who tipped his hat at two women as they appeared in the doorway of O’Leary’s Market. Joey Jr. had a shock of boyish blonde hair that curled beneath his hat brim and made women sigh for want of running their fingers through it, and his dark blue eyes sparkled like the ocean. With a saucy wink, he blew the younger woman a kiss, and a blush crept into her porcelain cheeks as she hid her face behind a lacy fan.

Across from him, on Kit’s left, was Diego Sanchez, a notorious card shark with a poker face and a penchant for drink. Diego claimed he was half Mexican, half Indian, though the tribe he came from changed with the wind. Some suspected he was just another gringo like all the rest, but few dared to contradict him. He had a quick, mulish laugh, which brayed out in triumph whenever he won a hand, and he was so crooked at cards, he’d cheat the Devil himself if given the chance.

Bringing up the rear of the group was Jesse McCray, a quiet man with cold eyes like shards of ice who was the fastest draw south of the panhandle. Beneath his black cowboy hat, his shoulder-length hair was smoothed into a tight ponytail that coiled into a black knot at the nape of his neck. His black outfit was creased with fine, white dust and he didn’t bother to look around like Crazy Kit, or nod to the women like Joey Jr. One hand held the reins of his dark horse while the other rested in anticipation on the ivory handle of the Colt .45 holstered at his hip.

Though many watched them ride through Defiance, and more than one wished they would keep on going, no one was brave enough—or stupid enough—to challenge the Rustlers as they headed for Billy’s, the only saloon in town.

* * * *

Inside the air was cooler and filled with the coppery scent of alcohol. The barkeep was Billy himself, a polished old man who nodded at the outlaws as they entered. Diego took a seat at an empty poker table, cutting the deck of cards already at the center and shuffling them easily between nimble fingers. Joey Jr. headed for the bar and a soiled dove he favored by the name of Marie, a pretty girl a few years older than himself who winked as he sat down at the bar. She giggled when he pulled her into his lap, one hand sliding beneath her petticoats to rest high up on her thigh. Crazy Kit plopped into a chair at Diego’s table and raised his hand, catching Billy’s attention.

Within minutes Billy had a bottle of Scotch in front of the ringleader of the Rustlers, along with three shot glasses wiped clean. Diego waited for Kit to fill two of the glasses before he took the bottle and drank straight from it. Jesse sat