Somewhere Down the Crazy River, chapter 3

Such was her ire with certain members of the crew that if that lousy bar with the deceiving name of Nick’s Café had had a decent door, Kaylee would have slammed it shut on her way out. Nobody treats my boyfriend like he’s a gorramn leech. Kicking a stone, she tromped over to the mule where Simon sat in the front passenger seat glaring at the “medical” building that so offended him.

“They better get happier after this job or I swear…” Everyone thought she was little Miss Perky Lou all the time but if they kept acting like jackasses, they’d see a whole other side of Kaylee; the side that had inspired genuine fear in her little brothers.

“Just who do they think they are?” Crossing her arms, she glared at Simon, so angry on his behalf. “It’d serve them right, one of them gettin’ hurt…” Appalled, her fingers flew to her mouth, trying to take back her careless words.

Simon grinned. “That’s okay. Just awhile ago I was wishing a broken leg on Jayne.” Taking her hands, he pulled her to him. “But then I realized his mouth would still be working.”

Delighted at his uncharitable thoughts, Kaylee wound her arms around his neck. “Can’t you, Dr. Three Percent, do somethin’ ‘bout that?” She smiled coyly, beckoning him to kiss her. When he did, she settled between his knees for a long kiss, humming as they partook of a little steetside necking. She was impressed that Simon was game for such a public display. She, herself, greatly enjoyed public kissing. Liked it even more as it turned to public tonguey kissing.

Until…Simon pulled away. Kaylee was about to playfully thump him on the head when she saw his alarmed expression. Turning, she watched, her dread rising, as three men ran from the Sheriff’s office toward Nick’s Café.

“You don’t think?” Simon asked.

“Course not.” But Kaylee wasn’t confident. The way their luck had been as of late…

The barroom door banged open again, people spilled out onto the street, talking and gesturing angrily to each other. The