thrilled with the feeling of such power.
He reached for her skirts. She shook her head. "No, we mustn't, " she
whispered as he began to tear at the buttons. "There isn't time. It's
too dangerous."
"We'll make time. I want you, Rebecca. Now." She gave in to his
seduction and stepped back to strip for him. Her blouse was in
tatters, and she quickly discarded it, then unbuttoned her skirt and
let it fall to the floor. "We're fools to take such a chance, Donald,
" she said as she unfastened her petticoats.
He was panting while he watched her disrobe. He waited until only a
silk-and-lace chemise covered her golden body, and then impatience got
the better of him. He rushed forward, thrust his hand between her
thighs and roughly shoved her back on the bench. She peeled the
undergarment down her body, kicked it aside, then stretched out along
the length of the cushioned seat and spread her legs wide, beckoning
him to take her.
He wet his lips in anticipation as he greedily stared at her breasts.
He knelt on one knee between her thighs. He couldn't wait another
second, for he knew he would burst with his need if he didn't mate with
her quickly.
"You know you drive me crazy, don't you, bitch? " She laughed. "Oh,
yes, I know, " she whispered. "Who would have thought such a stuffy
and prim gentleman could have such a violent appetite."
"How much time do we have? " "At least fifteen minutes, " she
answered.
Donald was fumbling with the buttons on his trousers when he heard a
knock on the door. Had he locked it? He couldn't remember. He jumped
up and turned just as Cooper opened the door.
"Rebecca, I told you to lock . . . " he began as he pushed the door
wide. He was so startled to see her naked, he stopped. He couldn't
seem to take in the scene.
Donald stood behind the door, waiting for the marshal to come inside.
He frantically searched for his pistol in his pockets.
"What the hell? " Cooper muttered as he stepped forward.
She leaned up on one elbow, her heart slamming inside her chest, and
stared at Donald, silently willing him to take action. Cooper saw
where she was looking and turned just as Donald moved forward.
"Son of a bitch, " Cooper shouted.
Rebecca panicked. She spotted Donald's pistol on the bench an arm's
length away from her and rolled to her side, grabbed hold of the
weapon, and fired.
Cooper was going for his gun when the bullet struck him. The force was
so powerful, he was thrown backward into the corridor against the
windowpane. The glass shuddered from the impact.
Rebecca scrambled to her feet. To keep from screaming, she covered her
mouth with her hand and fired once again. She'd aimed too high the
second time. Cooper was already crumbling to the floor. The bullet
missed him but shattered the glass. It rained down on top of his prone
body.