A Wild West Incident

Josie gets a surprise visitor. 300-word flash

A Wild West Incident

“You aren’t welcome here,” Josie said tersely, as she raised and cocked her rifle.
“Josie, don’t you remember me?” the drawn and scruffy man said.
“Oh, I sure do remember you, Seth Coombs. How could I forget!”
“It weren’t my doin’. I had to leave so’s you’d be safe.”
“Bull roar, you left because domestication got the better of you! Just the thought of spendin’ your life with me, sent you runnin’” she said hotly.
“You’re lookin’ prettier then ever! Would you have some water and grub for a tired man?”
Josie uncocked her gun and lowered it with a sigh. She never could resist a bad boy. She opened the cabin door wider and stood aside. The dusty, thin man walked in and sat down.
The woman poured him coffee the way he liked it, three sugars. Then she sat down away from him and looked him over.
“So, where you bin Seth? You bin gone a long time.”
“Bin in prison. Just got out.”
“Prison? So, they finally caught you!” Josie swung her gun onto her lap.
“No need fer that, I were framed for somethin’ I didn’t do!”
Josie stifled a belly laugh.
“Far as I know, there ain’t nothin’ you wouldn’t do in this life!”
“I’m reformed, fer the love of a good woman, if you’ll have me.”
“How do I know you won’t just love me and leave me again, when things get tough?”
“I took off for the California gold fields,” Seth said throwing a large pouch on the table.
“How much?”
“Enough to get us a good start on a prize-winnin’ herd.” He reached into his watch pocket.
“And this, o’course,” He held up a gold ring.
Josie was speechless for once as he put it on her finger.