by Leah Brooke
“All right! Just go.”
Maggie left the kitchen and went out the front door, swearing under her breath when Savannah called out to her uncle. She paced back and forth right outside the door, pacing as she waited for the men to join her. As soon as they did, she confronted Wyatt.
“How long have you known Savannah?”
He took her arm and led her around to the side of the house, looking back over his shoulder toward the house. “Since a few days after we came to town. We’ve seen you with her. You’re her friend, Margaret, aren’t you?”
“I am.” She kept her voice low and watched as Hayes came out, barely glancing at her as he went ahead of them to look around the corner. “You’d better not cause any trouble for her.”
Spinning, Hayes speared her with his gaze. “The last thing we want is to make trouble for Savannah. We’ll be there tomorrow when you meet her, though. We want to talk to her, too.”
Tugging her arm out of Wyatt’s grasp, Maggie took several steps back. “That won’t be necessary. Besides, I want to talk to her alone.”
Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest, all arrogant male, something she’d had enough of today. “So do we. I’ll make a deal with you. We’ll give you some time alone with her if you’ll afford us the same privilege.”
Maggie lifted her chin. “That’s up to Savannah.”
Hayes came back to stand on the other side of her. “Then no deal.”
He cursed, whipping an arm out to pull her behind him. “Two riders are coming. I think it’s the Tylers. I heard about them earlier. Who are they? Your guardians?”
Maggie panicked at the thought of Eb and Jeremiah finding her and starting a ruckus when it just might get Savannah in trouble.. “No, but I have to leave before they get here. You’d better get out of here, too.”
Wyatt glanced over his shoulder in the direction Eb and Jeremiah approached. “We’ll wait until you’re gone.” At her wary look, he smiled. “We’ll leave, I promise. We’ve got some things to do before we see Savannah tomorrow.”
Maggie paused and turned, asking the question that had bothered her ever since she saw the way Hayes looked at her friend. “Why do I get the feeling more than one of you is interested in Savannah?”
Wyatt shared a look with his friend, staring after him when Hayes bit off a curse and walked away. Turning back, he sighed impatiently. “It’s a little hard to explain. Let’s just say that we both care about what happens to her and leave it at that.”
He turned away abruptly and took several steps before coming to a halt. With his hands on his hips, he turned slowly, glancing again in the direction Eb and Jeremiah approached before turning to her, his expression softening. “I heard from the shopkeeper in town that Eb and Jeremiah Tyler want to take you with them when they leave Kansas City. Don’t worry about your friend. We’ll take care of her.”
Before she could reply, Hayes came back and grabbed her arm, pulling her with him to the corner of the house. “Savannah just went into the barn. Go.”
Maggie stopped, digging her heels in when he tried to push her toward the trees. “We’re not done talking about this. If I find out you’ve hurt Savannah, I’ll let Eb and Jeremiah loose on you.”
Hayes went still, menace in every line of his body. “The last thing we want to do is hurt Savannah. Now, go before someone sees you.”
“What about you?”
His cold smile sent a chill up her spine. “I’m going to have a little talk with the reverend first. Now, get out of here before you’re spotted.”
His slow wink relieved her, assuring her that they’d take care of Savannah. Maggie cursed the fact that she wouldn’t be there to witness their little talk with Reverend Perry. Reluctantly turning away, she crouched low and headed for her horse, cringing when she heard the icy snap of Eb’s voice from behind her.
“Who are you, and what the fuck are you doing with Maggie?”
Knowing Eb’s temper, Maggie cursed and quickly mounted to race toward the side of the house where he and Jeremiah surrounded the other two men. She looked over her shoulder toward the barn, hoping no one heard them and barely managing not to yelp when Jeremiah whipped an arm out and yanked her from her horse to his.
“You’re not going anywhere until we find out what the hell’s going on.” His threatening tone startled her, sending a fissure of fear down her spine and sounding nothing like the playful Jeremiah from her past.
She automatically grabbed at him, afraid of falling, but it immediately became apparent she shouldn’t have worried. The muscles in his arm bunched and shifted under her hand as he settled her in front of him.
“Please. We have to go.”
She turned to Eb and, to her horror, saw he had his gun aimed at Hayes and Wyatt with practiced ease. “No!” Remembering the need for silence, she glanced toward the barn again and whispered furiously. “They’re friends of Savannah’s. We’ve been worried about her.”
Hayes stepped forward, inclining his head toward the gun, but not looking the least bit intimidated. “I appreciate your concern, but we have no designs on your woman.”
Wyatt looked around the corner of the house just as Savannah came out of the barn with two empty pitchers and hurried toward the house. Frustration poured off of him. “Maybe now’s not the best time for introductions. Get her out of here. We’ve got some business to attend to with the good reverend before we go.”
Jeremiah tightened his arm around Maggie when she shivered. “Maggie, these men haven’t touched you?”
Shaking her head, Maggie eyed Eb nervously. “No. I swear. Please. I’ll explain it all later. We have to get out of here before Reverend Perry sees us. Wait!”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Maggie smiled coldly. “I don’t care if he sees you. Savannah’s in trouble. Her uncle hit her. She has a black eye.”
Eb’s eyes widened, and then narrowed. “What? That son of a bitch! Wait here.”
Hayes stepped forward, holding up a hand. “No. I appreciate your concern, but Wyatt and I, we’ll take care of it.”
Eb didn’t even spare him a look and started past him.
“Take Maggie home, Jeremiah. I’ll take care of this.”
Hayes blocked his way, placing a hand on the horse’s neck. “No.” He waited until Eb met his gaze and inclined his head toward Maggie. “If this was her, wouldn’t you want to take care of it yourself?”
After a brief silence, Eb smiled coldly, glancing at Maggie and nodding once. “Absolutely.”
Wyatt came forward, crossing his arms over his chest and raising a brow. “Then you’ll let us take care of what’s ours.”
Maggie cringed at his arrogant tone and could hear her own heartbeat as the tense silence dragged out, knowing from experience how dangerous a situation like this could become.
Finally Eb nodded and stuck his gun back in his holster, his expression grim. “I expect to hear the whole story.”
Wyatt inclined his head, saying nothing.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Maggie slumped against Jeremiah, turning her head to catch his words.
“No one here wants trouble, Maggie. Just calm down. Are you sure you’re all right?”
Maggie nodded, her head brushing against his jaw. “I’m fine.” She covered the hand he placed over her stomach, keeping her voice at a whisper. “Eb wouldn’t really have shot him, would he?”
“Of course. Just be still.”
To her surprise, he reholstered his own gun, one she hadn’t even been aware he’d drawn, and placed his hand over her thigh.
“Savannah! Hurry up with those cakes.”
Hayes’ eyes iced over. “First things first.” He disappeared around the side of the house with Wyatt right behind him.
Maggie pushed against Jeremiah’s hold. “Let go of me so we can get out of here.”
Jeremiah adjusted his hold, pulling her more firmly against him, settling her so that his cock pressed against her bottom. “I like you where you are just fine.
”
Gathering the reins of her horse, Eb moved closer, reaching out to touch her thigh, his caress sending a blazing trail to her folds, where it spread to her pussy and clit. “We’re going to talk about this, honey. You’re gonna learn real quick to do what you’re told.”
Unsettled when her pussy clenched, leaking moisture, Maggie looked away, trying to keep her breathing steady. She wrapped her arms around herself against the chills that went through her, despite the warmth of Jeremiah’s body along her back. As they started back through the woods, Maggie fought for the bravado they’d cut through with alarming ease, assuring herself she’d done what she had to do.
She didn’t care whether Eb and Jeremiah approved or not.
They weren’t the only ones who’d changed in the last five years.
* * * *
Eb shot a look of impatience at his brother and turned his horse toward the woods, intending to have it out with Maggie as soon as they got back to the Shenandoah.
He’d only been around her a day and already she seemed hell-bent on driving him crazy. The spirited young girl they’d left behind had become too independent and headstrong in their absence, something he and Jeremiah would have to take care of right away.
Distracted by her incredible beauty, a body that would rival any of Trixie’s girls, and beautiful eyes that breathed fire one minute and darkened with passion the next, he could tell already that he would have a hell of a time keeping her in line.
He’d spent hours riding with his father and brother as his father showed them the changes he’d made to the ranch, but his mind had been on Maggie the entire time.
Everything about her fascinated him, and every moment he spent with her just made him want her more. She held his attention like no other women ever had, even with their experienced ways and erotic tricks, which he enjoyed but that left him cold.
The warm, sweet scent of Maggie’s impossibly soft skin nearly brought him to his knees.
He’d expected her to be grown up. He just hadn’t expected the grown up version of her to affect him so strongly. The scent of her, those full, voluptuous curves, that pink mouth and the fullest, softest lips he’d ever kissed had sent his senses spiraling, and he hadn’t been able to get them under control since.
For a man who prided himself on his control, it was a hard blow to take.
It angered him that she could shake him so easily, and with no apparent effort. The desire to shake her just as badly raged inside him along with the hunger for her that seemed to grow each time he saw her.
He wanted to yank those pants down to her knees and fuck her long and hard from behind and teach her who was in charge, while giving her more pleasure than she could imagine. He wanted to hear her scream his name and beg for more and come hard, gripping him with her pussy and coating his cock with her juices.
Damn it, he wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. He’d never have the upper hand with her as long as she had this hold over him.
Hell, he’d only been back a few hours and he could already feel his control slipping.
The thought of fucking her with his brother, the two of them taking her ass and pussy at the same time and filling her completely had his cock throbbing painfully.
Maggie wouldn’t stand a chance of denying them. Once they’d taken her and she knew the full pleasure to be found in their arms, she’d be much easier to control. They could provide or deny pleasure as they needed to keep her in line, and maybe then he could rein in this wild hunger for her.
This kind of desire weakened a man and would keep him from doing what he had to do.
Once he had her and he and Jeremiah had the upper hand, everything would be as it should be.
Tonight would be the perfect opportunity to give her a taste of desire and to give her a taste of what would be in store for her when she defied them.
And she would.
It would also fulfill his need to have the power over Maggie every man should have over his woman.
Her silence now bothered him. Of course he preferred that she remain silent as they rode through dark woods, but in the past, she’d usually chatted like a magpie. He and Jeremiah would have spent the entire trip back impatiently telling her to be quiet until they got out of the woods and listening for any sign of trouble.
It troubled him that he couldn’t read her moods as easily as he had before, something that unsettled him more than he wanted to admit. He studied her expression but couldn’t figure out if her silence came from anger or fear.
Hell, for all he knew, she could be planning something.
They came out of the woods on the western edge of the Tyler land, several hundred yards from the main house. Once they emerged from the trees, Eb rode beside his brother, taking in Maggie’s stony expression. The light from the moon allowed them to see her better, but she just stared straight ahead, not looking at either one of them.
Where was the girl who used to follow them everywhere and hang on their every word?
The rebellious nature she appeared to have developed toward them set his teeth on edge. When she was younger, he’d usually been amused at her antics and quick-fire temper, even when it had been directed at him. But in the past, she’d always deferred to him and teased Jeremiah, saving her stubbornness and defiance for others.
To have them directed at him now put distance between them he didn’t care for a bit.
She’d been spoiled over the years, something he admitted he’d contributed to, but he couldn’t allow that any longer. She’d be living in a cruel land, where wild animals and wilder outlaws roamed free, and she wouldn’t be allowed to have the freedom she had here, and she’d damned well just have to get used to it.
If anything happened to her because he’d failed to protect her, he’d never forgive himself. Although Maggie was well suited to ranch living, he could see that in order to keep her safe, he’d have to keep a tight rein on her.
He hadn’t counted on how much freedom she’d be allowed as she got older, freedom he would have to take from her.
Starting now.
Both he and Jeremiah stopped their horses when they were still too far for anyone at the ranch to see or hear them.
The bright moon allowed him to see Jeremiah’s expression, frustration, anger, and hunger warring for supremacy.
Eb understood his brother’s emotions well and knew Jeremiah would be just as relieved when they got Maggie settled down.
He moved his horse to stand in front of her and sat unmoving, grinding his back teeth together when she wouldn’t look at him. Waiting her out tried his patience, and by the time she finally looked up, his impatience had turned to anger and added a bite to his tone.
“I don’t know if the rules you’ve been living by have changed or not, but you’ll live by our rules now. You won’t go to town again without our permission, and you won’t go anywhere alone.” Smiling coldly when she glared at him, he folded his arms across his chest, a warm satisfaction welling inside him at her display of emotion.
At least he knew he had her attention now.
Lifting her chin, she glared at both of them. “You can’t just show up here after five years and try to tell me what to do.”
Eb pushed back the urge to shake her and exchanged a cool smile with Jeremiah while moving in closer. “You’re wrong about that. We’re marrying you and taking you home with us. Your life is with us now, and you’ll do as you’re damned well told.”
Damn it, he itched to spoil her again, but he couldn’t take the chance of doing it now. The sooner he forced her to become malleable, the sooner he could do all the little things that earned him one of her sweet smiles.
Jeremiah gripped her chin, forcing her to face him, his hand sliding up to rest beneath the swell of her high breasts. “It’s for your own good. You’ll only get yourself in trouble if you don’t obey the rules we give you.”
Maggie stunned Eb by pulling out of Jeremiah’s grip and crossing her arms over her chest, in
an apparent attempt to mimic his pose. She only managed to push her breasts higher, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of the upper curve of their round fullness. She gave him her most haughty look, but he heard the catch in her breath.
“Then I guess I’d better stay here where I’m safe. Besides, I like being here in the city. Why would I want to live out in the middle of nowhere? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired. It’s been an eventful day.”
Eb gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to yank her against him and kiss her until she surrendered. He met her smug smile with a cold one, not about to let her rile him into anger. “It’s about to get even more eventful, sweetheart, and no matter what you say, you’re coming to the Triple T with us.”
She lifted her chin, making him hungry for the taste of those full lips. “I’m staying here.”
Jeremiah lifted her by the waist, turned her, and settled her across his lap, grinning when she struggled. “No. You’re coming with us. We’ve made a home, Maggie, one that you’ll like. Life’s much different there than it is here, and it’s dangerous. Yeah, it’s in the middle of nowhere, but that’s so we can live the way we want to with you. The only way we can keep you safe, though, is if you do what we tell you.”
Maggie cocked her head in that way she had when she was at her most impudent. “If you’re so damned ashamed of me that you only want to live with me in the middle of nowhere, why the hell would you come back for me?”
Eb gritted his teeth, wondering why her smart mouth, which he used to find so adorable, now gave him the urge to turn her over his knee and paddle her ass. “We’re not ashamed of you, damn it. But the three of us can’t live together—”
Her sassy smile made his hand itch to connect with her curvy behind. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“Damn it, Maggie.” Stopping short, he clenched his jaw and took a deep breath to calm himself, not about to give her the satisfaction of making him lose his temper. “You can’t have two husbands in a town like Kansas City. Be careful, little girl. I’m running out of patience with you.”
Maggie’s chin went up, sparks flying from her beautiful eyes and making his cock impossibly harder. “I’m a grown woman, not a little girl, and I know that having two husbands is against the law.”
