by Paty Jager
“I imagine the group that’s down there right now won’t do anything until Cutter or Marsh return.” Barton glanced up at him. “That’s one thing we learned early on about this bunch, none of the lackeys have a lick of brains between them. It’s Cutter who has the smarts. Marsh would if he could get beyond his brother’s death.”
Zeke stared at the compound below them. Marsh was the biggest threat. Cutter could be bought or manipulated, but a man with revenge in his heart had only one mission—retribution.
“I hope Cutter has Maeve and not Marsh.” Even as he stated it, he wished neither had her. A stick snapped behind him.
He froze.
Did the outlaws sneak up on them? They’d taken refuge on the west side of the compound believing the group would return from the east.
He reached down for his knife and glanced to see if Barton heard the noise. The man stood and smiled, extending his hand toward someone behind him. Damn. The man was in cahoots with the outlaws.
Zeke whipped around, he wasn’t about to go down without finding Maeve. The hand holding the knife sliced through the air inches from his youngest brother’s face.
“Dang, Zeke that’s a heck of a way to great your brother.” Gil’s words might have been joking, but the grim set to his brother’s mouth felt like someone cold cocked him again.
“How’d you find me? Is Maeve all right?” He dropped the knife and hugged his brother. Finally, someone he trusted.
Gil pulled out of the embrace. “Maeve told Darcy the outlaw’s had you here.” He wiped a hand across his weary face. “But I can’t tell you where Maeve is. On my way to Boyd, I followed the tracks of nine horses. About two miles out of Monument they split into three groups. None of them headed straight this way. So I kept coming hoping to get here before the rest of them.” He slapped Zeke on the back. “Looks like you don’t need my help after all.”
“This here’s Barton. He’s a Pinkerton.”
“Pleased to meet you Marshal Halsey. Zeke didn’t tell me he had a brother in law enforcement.” Barton raised an eyebrow at Zeke.
“Didn’t think it mattered. They have Maeve. Told me if I behaved they wouldn’t kill her.” He didn’t want to think what they would do to her when they found him gone. “After they left with her, me and Barton got loose and tied up the man guarding us.” He nodded his head to the man trussed up to a tree.
“Darcy said the man had a gun on Maeve and used her as a shield during the robbery.” Gil stared beyond him. “Looks like another group coming in.”
Zeke turned so fast, he nearly knocked Gil over. “Jacks and Jezebels. It’s just more of the gang.” His heart stopped. “Maeve is with Cutter and Marsh.” Could Cutter save Maeve from Marsh? Would he even try?
“We need to be closer to the shacks when they arrive. If not, they could shoot Maeve as soon as they see I’m missing.” Zeke picked his knife off the ground and slid it into the sheath in his boot.
“Let’s even the odds, gentlemen.” Barton stood, handing Gil a slingshot and keeping one for himself. The wood had been carved into a Y-shape, and he’d fastened what appeared to be portions of his suspenders to the Y. “These are quiet and all we need for ammunition are some small rocks.”
Zeke looked at Gil and grinned. As boys they’d gotten in more trouble with slingshots than he wanted to count.
Barton and Gil found a pocket full of marble-sized rocks, and they all stealthily made their way down the side of the canyon to the buildings.
At the barn, Zeke whispered, “Let’s each take a shack.” He motioned Barton to the one on the left, Gil to the middle one, and he set out for the shack the farthest way. Peering in the window, he found all the returned outlaws playing cards and drinking whiskey. They weren’t expecting anyone to sneak into camp, least of all the men who’d escaped.
He leaned against the building. Storming the place with one gun and slingshots wasn’t a good idea. They’d just have to wait until the outlaws came out one at a time to relieve themselves. When Gil and Barton joined him, they both agreed and took spots where they could keep an eye on who returned and the men in the shack.
Zeke had barely found his spot when a man stumbled out the door and headed to the corner of the shack. Barton nailed him in the head with a stone. The man went down with his dick hanging out. Zeke grinned as he helped Gil drag the man to the other shack. They gagged and tied him up before heading back to their hiding spots.
By the fourth man down, he began to wonder about the remaining men. Didn’t they think it strange their cohorts hadn’t returned? When the next to last man came out, Gil hit him, knocking the man to the ground, and Zeke entered the shack. The remaining outlaw was so drunk he wasn’t even scared.
“Hey, you’re the guy I knocked out. I didn’t think you’d go down so easy.” The man laughed, and Zeke knocked out two of his teeth before his fist sunk in the man’s gut. He hauled the moaning man to the building housing all the outlaws.
“He put up a fight?” Gil asked, gawking at the blood spurting out the man’s mouth.
“Nope.” Zeke shoved the man onto a chair and started wrapping him with rope.
“You just beat him up because you felt like it?” Gil crossed his arms and stared at Zeke.
“Yeah. He’s the one who cold cocked me when I tried to see where Cutter took Maeve.”
“So he deserved it.” Gil watched him like a disapproving old woman.
“Yeah, and it felt good. So stop being a goody-goody lawman and think like a brother.” Zeke stood and faced him. Gil might be the law, but he’d still whip his ass if the need arose.
“Boys, we need to make a plan for the return of Cutter, Marsh, and Miss Loman.” Barton stood at the window peering through the burlap curtains.
****
Maeve’s stiff body refused to uncurl when the toe of a boot jabbed her in the backside. “We’ll be back to your husband by the end of the day if you get up and get moving.” Cutter’s words sent her heart fluttering. She wanted to see Zeke. It was all that kept her from fleeing during the night. That and the fact she didn’t have a clue which way to go to escape the men watching her. One like a ravenous wolf, and the other like a deadly rattler.
She pushed into a sitting position, raising her body off the cold, hard ground and held back a whimper. Her stiff legs didn’t want to move.
“Come on, we ain’t got all day.” Marsh grabbed her arm, jerking her to her feet. Her legs buckled, and Marsh drew his gun, pointing it at her head.
“Go ahead. Put me out of my misery.” She stared up the barrel. “You’re just going to shoot Zeke the minute you see him anyway and then me. Why not just get it over with.” She’d thought about it all night. There was no way they were going to let either of them go. All she could hope for was Gil found Zeke and they got away or he would find their bodies and give Zeke a proper burial.
“Put that thing away!” Cutter grabbed the pistol and back-handed Marsh, knocking the smaller man on his backside. “You aren’t going to shoot her. Least ways not until I’ve had some fun.”
He wasn’t keeping her alive because he cared. She knew better. He planned to have his way with her. She cringed, knowing she’d rather take a bullet than bare her body to the man. But she had to stay alive until they returned to the ranch. She had to know if Zeke got away. Then she’d shoot herself before she’d let the man touch her intimately.
Cutter took hold of her arms, drawing her up off her knees. He dipped his head, and she raised a hand, placing it over his lips. “I said I won’t carry on with you until Zeke is free. If you kill him or don’t set him free, you won’t get anything.” She peered into his eyes, “And if you force me without doing as I ask, I’ll kill you.”
“You threatening me?” he growled, grasping her hands and pulling them down to her side as he leaned in to press his lips to hers.
She thrust her knee into his groin as hard as she could and backed away before he hit her in the head as he doubled over.
“You
bitch! I should kill you now!” Cutter clutched between his legs and writhed on the ground. Marsh stood by the horses grinning like a man with a fist full of money.
Maeve strolled to her horse and mounted. She walked her horse up next to Cutter. “I said on my terms. If you want me warm and willing that’s the way it will be.” She motioned for Marsh to lead the way and fell in behind his horse. It was some time before she heard Cutter’s horse trotting up behind her.
She sat tall in the saddle as her insides churned and her heart pounded like a runaway horse. Maiming his manhood was a low thing to any man. She wasn’t sure Cutter would be willing to wait her out now that she’d harmed him. For all she knew he’d point a gun at her and leave her alongside the trail.
“You do that to me again and I won’t spare you from Marsh,” Cutter said, riding even with her horse.
She nodded. “Then don’t push your affections on me until my husband is free. I won’t give myself to anyone until I know he’s safe.”
“How do I know he won’t come back after you?” He narrowed his eyes. “How do I know you don’t have something set up where you’ll do me in and return to him?”
“I only want Zeke safe. I’ll do whatever it takes to make him leave.” Her heart ached at the thought of what she would have to do and tell him to get him to leave. He’d been so persistent for better than a year to get her to love him and marry him. She bit down on her bottom lip to stop the tears forming. She’d fallen hard for him. He’d shown her commitment, love, and acceptance of her past and her father’s past. She hiccupped, holding back the tears. She loved him and needed him.
Maeve jerked her horse to a stop. She didn’t need anyone. Cutter booted her horse in the rump, the animal jumped forward with her clinging to the saddle horn. To be in Zeke’s strong arms right now and know he would get her out of this—she did need him. And not just to get her out of this mess. She needed his strength to learn to trust.
These thoughts banged around in her head as they kept a steady trot-walk pattern all day and into the late afternoon.
Marsh stopped at the opening of a valley. Maeve looked beyond him and spotted the shacks and barn. Her stomach tightened. She’d soon know if she and Zeke would get out of this alive.
“Somethin’s not right.” Marsh stared at the buildings. “There’s no one moving about. Everyone else should have made it back by now.” He shifted his gaze to the horses and counted out loud. “All the horses are here.”
Cutter grabbed the reins of her horse. “Let’s split up. You head in from the east, I’ll take the south.”
Marsh nodded and moved into the trees, heading toward the buildings from the back. Cutter led her horse into the trees in the opposite direction. His gaze never left the buildings as he maneuvered the horses in behind the barn.
He dismounted and pulled her down off the horse. “You don’t go shoutin’ or I’ll have to shut you up.” He pointed his pistol at her head. The click of the hammer as he cocked the gun made her flinch.
She gulped and nodded. He grasped her hand so hard pain shot through her fingers, and she stifled a cry. Cutter set off in a crouch toward the first building. He peered into the window and moved to the next shack.
He hissed out a breath and leaned against the building. “I think your husband is waiting for us.”
The sound of a rifle cocking reverberated in the air around them.
“You’re right, I am.” The sound of Zeke’s voice wrenched a sob from her chest.
Cutter wrapped an arm around her before she could think about running into Zeke’s strong arms. “Remember our deal? You’re gonna be my outlaw in petticoats.” He said, placing his lips much too intimately against her cheek.
Zeke’s eyes narrowed and his lips formed a straight disapproving line. She wondered if the outlaw would hold to the deal. Was it worth hurting Zeke to find out?
“Tell him. Tell him you’re gonna stay with me.” Cutter squeezed her and she squeaked.
Zeke stepped forward. She put her hand up as Cutter clicked the hammer back on his pistol. Who would shoot first? Most likely Cutter since he held her in front of him. Zeke would have to take a chance on hitting her should he shoot.
She had to stall. There was still a chance Zeke could take him without getting hurt.
“Zeke, I’m staying with Cutter.”
“I don’t believe you.” The gun in Zeke’s hand faltered slightly as he tore his gaze from her face to the man cupping her breast.
Her throat tightened with revulsion. She wanted to shout at Zeke to shoot the disgusting man, but they’d both die. She had to believe Cutter would let him go.
Gulping down the bile and fear clogging her throat, she placed her hands on either side of Cutter’s face. She didn’t dare look at Zeke. Not if she planned to be convincing. Her heart bled with regret, and she fought her body’s revulsion as she lowered her lips and kissed the vile outlaw.
Chapter 19
“No!” Zeke couldn’t believe the sight before him—Maeve kissing a man who fondled her as if she were a whore. His heart ripped in two. “You don’t mean this.”
He dropped the gun to his side and walked toward them. If he could just touch her, get her out of that man’s arms. Cutter’s gun came up, only this time the barrel pointed at Maeve.
“She and I made a deal. She’s mine and you leave. Now!” Cutter pulled back the hammer and placed the end of the barrel against Maeve’s heaving sides.
Zeke sought her face. Her eyes pleaded with him. For what? To save her or to leave? There was no way in two days time she could have fallen in love with Cutter. Love meant trust. She wouldn’t have trusted him as far as she could toss him.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She made the deal with Cutter to save him. The realization nearly brought him to his knees. He’d worked so hard to get her to accept his love. And now she’d given the ultimate sacrifice.
Where the hell were Gil and Barton? He growled and took a step backwards. There was no way in hell he’d leave Maeve to that man. He didn’t care if she did kiss Cutter and allowed his hands all over her, her eyes said otherwise—she needed him.
He dropped the rifle on the ground. “She’s all yours. I only said we were married to save her hide. Now I see how fickle she is.” His heart squeezed when she flinched at his words. If Maeve believed him, and he could get Cutter to think he didn’t care what happened to her, he might have a chance of getting her away from the outlaw. He’d have to harness his anger and revulsion at the man and love for the woman to make it happen.
“You really ain’t married?” Cutter looked at Maeve. Zeke caught a glimpse of someone at the corner of the building. He hoped it was Gil.
Maeve shook her head and croaked, “No. We aren’t really married.”
He kept his gaze locked on the two in front of him to not give away his brother sneaking up behind Cutter and Maeve.
“She cooked up the idea of us being married,” Zeke continued to keep the outlaw’s attention.
“Your idea?” Cutter looked at Maeve. The leer and satisfaction in the man’s voice made Zeke’s teeth grind. He needed to keep the man’s eyes forward.
“Yeah, makes me wonder what other schemes she’s been cooking up.” That snapped the outlaw’s gaze back to him. The outlaw’s gun wobbled, and his grip loosened on Maeve.
Gil grabbed Maeve, throwing her to the ground. In one fluid motion, Zeke pulled the knife from his boot, hurled it toward the outlaw, and dropped, rolling to the side. He’d preformed this act more times than he cared to remember while helping Gil.
Cutter fired. The bullet whizzed through the air where Zeke had stood. The second shot went into the ground before the gun dropped from Cutter’s hand, and he clutched the knife protruding from the middle of his chest.
Crawling on his hands and knees, Zeke hurried to Maeve. Gil rose off the woman and attended the wide-eyed outlaw. Zeke pulled her into his arms, clutching her to his pounding heart.
“You’re safe. S
hh.” He pushed back loose strands of hair and kissed her forehead. Her tear-rimmed, beautiful, blue eyes held his gaze. “I’ve been so worried about you. And when he…” Zeke studied her face. Her quivering lips and shaking hands did little to settle his nerves.
“I-I only told him t-that and k-kissed him so he would let you go. Please don’t hate me.” She bit her bottom lip as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I know you only did it to protect me. There’s no way you would fall for someone that easily. Shucks, look how long it’s taken me to get you to care whether I live or die.” He smiled, trying to reassure her.
She scrubbed the back of her hand across her lips.
“Here let me help.” He dipped his head. There was one way to take away the reminder of what she’d done. He covered her mouth with his, seducing her lips. Slowly, she relaxed in his arms and returned the kiss with enthusiasm.
“Ahem. We’re still missing one.” Gil’s voice broke into his euphoria.
He continued to hold Maeve as he looked up at his smirking brother. “Well, what are you doing standing around here, go find him.”
“I’m not leaving you two sitting here in the open not paying attention to anything but each other.” Gil toed Zeke in the backside. “Get up and at least get in a building.”
Growling, Zeke glared at Gil and stood, pulling Maeve up beside him.
Barton appeared. “Marsh high-tailed it when shots were fired.” He spotted Maeve and stepped forward. “Do you mind?” he asked and folded Maeve into a hug without waiting for an answer. “Young woman, you are truly your father’s daughter!”
Maeve pulled out of his embrace. Was that a compliment? She stared at the man and looked at Zeke beaming like a proud parent. What was going on?
“What do you mean? I thought my father was an outlaw, how can I be like him, unless you mean because I participated in a robbery.” She glared at the man. “And I surely don’t see that as being something to be proud of.”
