That seemed to amuse him. “I do what I have to.” He paused. “Could be worse, and it has been. Working the railway would be better, but Ace Valentine isn’t so bad.”

“Except when you’re getting into fights?”

He chuckled. “Like I said, a misunderstanding.”

“Mhmm,” Ashe said, nearly rolling her eyes.

“Julian bet the other farmhands I could shoot a playing card from fifty yards.” He tilted his head back with a grin. “They didn’t much care for losing that wager.”

Ashe sat up a little straighter. “You shoot?”

“Since I was a pup.” Jesse’s eyes narrowed, as if he saw the meaning beneath her question. “You?”

She shrugged noncommittedly. “I’ve been known to dabble.”



- Deadlock Rebels, Chapter 2