of Fury. He filled it with whiskey.
"Hey, bartender!" bellowed a large man sitting at a poker table. "You gonna serve a kid?"
Fury drew her expected share of unwanted stares, murmurs, and snickers, but experience had taught her that the reaction soon dissipated as everyone returned to playing cards and drinking. But on occasion, Fury drew trouble and she felt this would be one of those occasions.
The blustering drunk, in a mood to cause trouble, thought it would be great fun to antagonize the boy at the bar. Fury had dealt with similar situations a few times; men wanting to feel manly by bullying someone they perceived as weak.
It will blow over, as long as the bartender doesn't tell him who I am.
"Hey, kid!" the drunk barked again. "Does your mama know you is here?"
He laughed as chuckles waved across the room. The reactions of others egged the drunk on.
"I bet if she knew you was here, she would come in and grab you by the ear. Then she would take you to the woodshed when you got home." He howled with laughter.
"For heaven's sake, Morley, shut up! Don't you know this is Fury? You fool."
Fury glared at the bartender. I don't know who is the bigger idiot.
She hoped her reputation might frighten the man, but it made him more determined.
Morley slapped his knee and laughed. "This…this is the dangerous and deadly Fury? He don't look that deadly to me; in fact, I would say he is downright scrawny. Why, I don't think them thin little arms could even hold a gun."
Fury turned to face the blowhard when she heard someone speak from the end of the bar.
"Mister, move along, you have had your fun. Leave the boy alone."
Nothing infuriated Fury more than someone thinking she needed to be rescued. If she ever allowed anyone to intervene for her, she would appear weak and her days of bounty hunting could be over. The last thing she needed or wanted was a knight in shining armor.
Fury turned and glared at the man who spoke. Travis! Fury had learned how to keep her emotions in check, but seeing Travis, she struggled to keep her composure. She would not, could not, let a rush of emotions take over.
"Butt out, mister!"
"Well, folks, he kin talk. And I do agree with the boy, mister, you need to butt out."
"It's ranger, not mister. Texas Ranger Travis Parker, to be exact, and if you don't do as I say, I will arrest you for disorderly conduct and threatening a minor."
"Minor!" Fury was livid. "Who are you calling a minor?"
"You. I'm calling you a minor. Now be quiet, kid, and let the grown-ups talk."
"Shut the f—"
"Don't say it, kid." Travis was losing his temper with this ungrateful boy. "All right, kid," Travis held up his hands, "have it your way. I'll be here by the bar if you need me."
"Fat chance," she sniped at the ranger.
Fury returned to her drink sitting on the bar.
"Hey, kid!" Morely bellowed once more." I ain't done with you yet. Turn back around and face me, or is the great Fury scared?"
Fury took a gulp of her drink; she liked how whiskey burned the back of her throat. She turned toward the man.
"Well, Mr. Fury, the great bounty hunter, could take on ten men at a time, I heared. Why don't you just take on one man, me, and let's see what you can do. Here," he said, pointing at his chin, "take a free shot."
Fury rested her back against the bar, both arms extended across the top of the bar propping her up.
"Morely. It is Morely, isn't it?" Fury asked.
"Yep!" the big man gloated.
"I will oblige you, but first I need to ask you something."
"Sure," sneered the oaf.
The entire room went silent. Even Travis leaned forward to hear Fury's question.
"Well, while I have been talking to you, I've noticed something curious about you. I have noticed, as I am sure everyone here knows, that you are quite a large man."
"That I am," Morely answered with pride.
"Yes, you are," Fury added, "but I also noticed that you have very small feet for a man of your size."
Morely looked down at his feet. "So?"
"I would like you to clear up a question I have. Is it true what people say about men with little feet?"
There was a moment of silence, then the room broke out in a cacophony of laughter. Even Travis joined in. It took Morely a bit longer to realize that Fury had insulted his manhood. His face burned crimson red as his temper reached its limit.
Fury studied him, waiting for his reaction. Then she saw it. Morely leaned forward and charged straight for Fury. But Fury was quick. She stepped toward the charging drunk then moved to her right and stuck out her foot. Morely tripped over her foot, and with his forward momentum, ran his head straight into the side of the bar. He was out cold.
The room roared with applause, but Fury was not happy. Because of this altercation, she would not be able to question anyone tonight. She turned and walked out of the saloon.
"Damn idiot," she grumbled as she untied her horse from the hitching post.
"Hey, kid!" Travis called out.
Fury turned to see the interfering ranger had followed her out of the saloon. Steady. She tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She looked at him but did not respond.
"Kid, I loved how you handled that drunk. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."
Travis, why him? I need to get rid of him. Sadness plopped down in her heart. She needed to get rid of Travis, the man who, for a short time, she had felt she might have a future with, the man she thought she could love. But those were Belle's dreams; they could never be her dreams, or could they?
"The name is Fury."
"Sorry. Fury, do you need any help or a place to stay?"
Fury tossed him a confused look. "Why in the hell would I need your help? No thanks, I have my own money."
"Didn't your mother teach you to watch your language? I was trying to help you, you ungrateful brat."
Fury mounted her horse and gazed down at Travis. "No, my mother didn't teach me to watch my language, and I don't need help."
Fury nudged Swift's flanks with her boots and rode toward the livery stable.
Travis shook his head. Never had he met such a stubborn, rude kid. Then he chuckled, remembering he used to be just like the kid, stubborn, proud, not needing anyone's help. Travis lost both his parents by the time he turned fourteen. Alone in the world, he probably would have ended up in jail, but fate had been good to him when a ranger took him in and gave him a home. Maybe that's why he went after Fury, to return the favor and help another lost, lonely young boy.
Chapter 6
"You're just in time; I was about to close up and go home," Fury heard Miles Keaton shout out as she came into his livery.
"Hi, Miles."
"Fury, is that you?"
"Yes." Fury dismounted and handed the reins of her horse to her friend.
Miles Keaton was one of Fury's few friends. She'd tracked down his wife's murderer, and Miles would do anything for Fury.
"Whatcha doing in town?" Miles asked.
"Lookin'