RustlingUpaBride

by Nicole Snow

  Outside, as I climbed inside the truck for the short hop home, I shook my head. Daddy was a strange, frightful, and confusing man.

  The weird mix of scorn and kindness he'd just shown me was the strangest yet. It also reminded me I wasn't yet completely free from the past.

  I took the test, and then instantly threw it out, burying it deep in the trash. I was definitely pregnant with Clay's baby.

  I should've been crazy thrilled, giddy with happiness, but the encounter with Daddy poured cold water on my heart. He'd infected me with his damnable uncertainty.

  It was a hard dinner with Clay. He reminded me we were due for the big horse race tomorrow, a local event where he was playing jockey to raise money for charity.

  I nodded and smiled. Wasn't entirely fake either – seeing him on an animal again promised to be dead sexy – and I honestly looked forward to it. But I looked forward to telling him about our child more, if only I could push Daddy's warnings out of my head.

  The next day was perfect. Balmy, without being overwhelming hot. I had a front row seat to the action.

  Once it began, it was riveting as all hell. One drawn out trumpet note over the speaker set the horses tearing out of their stables.

  Clay wasn't shirtless this time, but the sleek jacket he wore clung tight to his well shaped body. He whipped his reigns in a frenzy, absolutely wild to get to the finish line for this first round.

  I held my breath as two other big guys on their horses came up behind him. Everything went dead silent.

  “Come on, Cleggy. Come on! Don't fucking fail me here.” A man behind me hissed.

  He was way more invested in the race than he should've been. It was no secret some folks were betting privately on these races.

  Whatever, I just wanted Clay to win. Maybe seeing him tear across the finish line would give me the courage I needed to bury Daddy's crap and seize the life we deserved.

  The race was over fast. I looked away at the last second, just when it seemed one of the other riders was about to overtake Clay from the finish line.

  Then the trumpet blew again and the announcer came out. “Ladies and gentlemen, helluva close one this round! We almost had a tie, but almost isn't good enough. The judges are giving this one to Mister Clay Samuels and Lucky Ace!”

  The crowd went wild. I clapped my hands raw. The man behind me slumped and brushed my

  shoulders with his legs, either exhilarated or crushed. I honestly couldn't tell, but I had a feeling it was the latter.

  Clay pushed past the photo op waiting to shoot him with a wreath around his neck and a big trophy in his hands. He was heading for the gate to the stands, and when he pushed his way in, he went right for me.

  I squealed as he picked me up, purring with pleasure.

  “Did you see that, baby? Thinking about you gave me the last little burst of energy I needed. Only fair you should be sharing this fucking victory too. Healthy Hearts is gonna have a lot of money coming their way.”

  I laughed. “Was Lucky Ace thinking about me too?”

  “Now, now. Gotta give the horse and the rider equal credit.”

  I razzed him playfully. Clay dragged me over to the photo op. I was nervous, but I worked up the energy to stand next to him, smiling as he kept his hand around my waist.

  Later, we came home exhausted, trailed by a truck with his old riding buddies. They were a couple rough local guys he'd known since childhood. I fixed ribs and fries for the boys, and then crashed on the sofa in the other room in front of the TV, giving them some alone time while I rested.

  Wonder if pregnancy is making me this exhausted, or if it's just another adventure with him?

  I was half-asleep when my ears tuned into the conversation in the kitchen. The guys were drunk and laughing their asses off about something. I heard more than a few words that said the talk had turned in a lewd direction – something about strippers and sweet asses at the bar.

  “You're a lucky fucking man, buddy. Never thought you'd settle down. Shit, marrying old man Sherwood's daughter is worth giving up all the free pussy willing to spread it for you.” I recognized the voice as Craig's, one of his two old friends, a lean man with a big, leathery face.

  “Fucking right. You got yourself a gold mine in a skirt. Can't wait for the wedding. Bet they'll have Jack and beer flowing like a drinking fountain.” The other man, Louis, chimed in, sounding just as nasty as Craig.

  Now, I was awake. My stomach rumbled something fierce and I waited for Clay to tell his friends they had it wrong.

  “Don't get too excited, guys. Girl's not on the best terms with her old man right now.” Clay stopped there.

  “That's too fucking bad,” Craig said, loudly taking another swig of his beer. “Never liked that asshole anyway. It'll be damned good to see one of our own get their hands on some of his money. You're our Robin Hood, man. That old fart will leave it to his daughter eventually, no matter how pissed he is now.

  I hear somebody's been stealing his equipment around the ranch. You know what? I say more power to

  'em.”

  Craig hiccuped loudly. Clay made a disapproving growl.

  “Never say never. I've read about jackasses who'll Scrooge their own family when there's a grudge.

  Better have your girl sweeten him up before the wedding. Get Daddy to think you're a stand up guy.”

  Louis' voice broke with a laugh, and then simmered lower. “Tell him you've gone soft. You wanna play hubby and family man now instead of ladies man. He'll take a shine to you real quick.”

  “I haven't gone soft,” Clay growled. “I love Nellie and I'm not afraid to say it. But she hasn't changed me. Never has, and never will. I'm my own man.”

  “Yeah, you are. Won't be long after the honeymoon before you're back to old habits.” Craig chuckled.

  “Just be sure to suck that old bastard dry after you and the girlie are hitched first. Don't let a pre-nup get in the way of good money,” Louis said. “Everybody deserves their piece of Sherwood for the way his family's sucked up all the money in this shitty town.”

  “Whatever. Tell me more about what you've been hearing at the Sherwood place,” Clay said.

  Craig went on in a lower voice I couldn't hear. The guys laughed.

  Several bottles clinked. For all I knew, Clay's was part of the cheers too.

  The heartbreak building in my chest finally snapped. I felt like the biggest fucking idiot in the world.

  This whole time, I'd been so afraid of him using me for my body that I didn't see him as a gold digger. Worse, Daddy was right – painfully, horribly right.

  I barely held back tears as I raced up to my room. I tore apart the drawer, quickly packing the nice summer dresses and jeans I'd picked up since moving in with him. I prayed the men wouldn't notice, too deep in their drink.

  I didn't even want to look at him again. I knew it would hurt too much.

  While I was rifling through the closet, I stumbled across a little black box that could only hold one thing. It hadn't been there last week. For a second, I wanted to pry it open and look at the ring he'd gotten me.

  I picked up the box, squeezed it in one hand, and then threw it on the floor.

  “No!” I whispered to myself, forcing back the tears.

  What are you thinking? A ring from a man who's lost to you doesn't matter.

  Pack it in and go while they're passed out. Let him figure out what happened later.

  When I came downstairs, I was in luck – if there was any luck in discovering the man you worshiped and adored was nothing but a money grubbing rat.

  The chatter in the kitchen had stopped. I listened closely, and heard nothing but snoring. A peek around the corner confirmed the guys had passed out, napping off their food and drink.

  I went out the back door and got in the truck. I'd find a way to return the vehicle later. Right now, all I needed was get the hell out of there, clear my head, and evaluate how badly my whole future had been warped by his drunken words.r />
  The whole drive to Daddy's place, I wiped away tears. Some slow, mournful country music blared over the crappy radio. It was stuff I normally didn't listen to, but tonight the anger and sadness in those songs mirrored my world perfectly.

  I still had an electronic opener in my purse for the big iron gate at the entrance to our estate. I punched the button hard and made the slow drive up to the grand old house. The orange lamp was on above the front porch, as always.

  Daddy sat outside on the bench waiting for me.

  “Forget about him, Nellie. You'll get over it. Take some time to clear your head.” Daddy spoke to me with my back turned as I lay in my old bed.

  I couldn't face him, couldn't tell him why I'd returned so suddenly. It hurt too damned much.

  I slept the whole morning away and the afternoon too. Shortly before nightfall, I went downstairs for some food. My father hadn't returned from business in town.

  Autumn was usually a beautiful time around our old ranch. This evening, it made me think of death and decay, as if the sudden loneliness inside me were spilling out across the whole landscape.

  I saw a light on in the nearest barn where we kept all our personal equipment. There was a big truck parked near the main metal door.

  Strange, I thought. Most of the employees should be off by now. Maybe he had guys staying late to help with the harvest...

  The tools in this barn were usually kept separate from company business too. Something weird was happening out there, and I didn't like it.

  The eerie lights twinkling around the dimming landscape didn't help. I tried to shrug it off as paranoia brought on by pregnancy and way too much hurt the last twenty-four hours.

  Then the big truck parked near the building dropped its ramp and a man drove one of Daddy's huge riding lawnmowers up it – a man I recognized.

  One second, everything in my body went numb, like my nerves were on fire. The next, I went

  running, screaming at them over the noise of the mower's engine.

  “What the hell are you doing here? Get off our property before I dial up the cops!”

  Shit. I should've brought my phone to back up the threat.

  Too late for that.

  Craig hopped off the big machine and glared at me from inside the truck. “What're you doing back here, bitch? Clay isn't good enough for you?”

  “I mean it. You need to leave. Right now.”

  God, I sounded weak and small. Venom ran through my veins. The angry tremor in my voice didn't put any fear into these assholes.

  I'd never seen the big man he was working with before. He stepped up to me and grabbed my

  shoulder.

  I tried to kick myself away from him. When my flailing didn't work, I screamed. Craig jumped down from the truck and slapped me across the face.

  “Shut the fuck up, lady. You're lucky I don't burn this place down instead of taking some old equipment. It's nothing for your daddy to replace it. Stop being such a greedy little cunt.”

  I started shaking. No denying it, I was scared now, seriously unsettled by the way Craig and his friend were looking at me. The big man let out a low laugh as he squeezed my wrists, holding me prisoner.

  “Be a good girl. Let me take what I want and leave in peace. I've done it before and nobody said nothing. Your family isn't any worse off missing it. You've seen too much here, but I think we can keep this a secret from Clay and old man Sherwood too, yeah?” He traced a slow finger along my chin.

  His touch was repulsive. I jerked away, almost throwing up.

  “Stubborn, eh? Damn. Doesn't take much to see why Clay's lost his fucking head and he's so damned hot for you. Maybe there's more here for us to sample than Daddy's property. What do you say, Ed?”

  He looked up at his buddy.

  The big, dark man answered with another laugh. His fingers tightened more, cutting off my blood flow.

  “Get her up there and pull her clothes off.” Craig licked his lips, eyes shining with brutal excitement.

  I started to scream, but before I could get it out, the giant cupped my mouth. Craig motioned to the truck and he began walking me toward it, forcing me up inside it.

  I swallowed my next scream, roaring into his hand. When I had to stop to catch my breath, I heard something else.

  Roaring engines. Lots of engines.

  Craig glanced away from me, eyes darting with lust. His partner behind me seemed confused too, loosening his hold on me slightly.

  A minute later, half a dozen motorcycles stormed in ahead of Clay's truck. The bikers were in full leather, yelling with glee as they circled Craig's big vehicle.

  My heart was pounding. The man holding me made a sound like he'd swallowed his tongue. He let me go, jumped out and ran, only to be knocked flat by a bike that barely stopped in time.

  Clay got out of his truck. Rage flashed in his eyes.

  When he saw me trembling in the dark truck, he looked away, and went right for Craig. Half the bikers were parked and off their bikes. I noticed the Noon Wolves patches on all of them. They looked like vicious pirates with their long hair and beards.

  “Holy shit! Hey man, I wasn't really gonna do it...this was a joke, Clay. Gotcha good, didn't I? You can't do –“

  Craig held his hands out on the ground. Not fast enough to stop the brutal kick Clay leveled into his side.

  Two bikers ran over and held him down as Clay smashed his ribs with his boot again and again.

  “Motherfucker! Stealing like a little bitch is bad enough. You holding my girl against her will...now that's just fucking stupid.”

  He kicked him again. Harder.

  Red spittle shot out Craig's lips. I realized it was blood. The storm in Clay's eyes only grew. Behind him, several bikers held down the big guy, pummeling him in the stomach until he screamed like a bull going down.

  “That's enough. Let's drop these fucks on the side of the road. My old pal here is a greedy little dipshit, but he doesn't deserve to die. You learned a good lesson today. Right, Craig?” Clay leaned down, pushing his strong red face to the man bleeding on the ground.

  “Please. No more. I'll never do it again...”

  Clay gave him a light smack on the forehead.

  “Make sure you don't. You used to be my friend, and I'd probably give you a third chance if you fucked up a second time. But these guys with me wouldn't. You're lucky they aren't making me throw your carcass in my truck and drive it out to the boonies where nobody will ever find it.”

  Craig whimpered pathetically. He rolled, clutching his stomach, dripping blood from his lips.

  An older biker with salt and pepper hair looked up from punching Craig's friend – probably their leader, Pepper. “If you're good with that, Clay. I'll have Sandman drive 'em down the road, off this property. This asshole's phone isn't broken. They can call an ambulance down there.”

  I watched two bikers throw the groaning men into the back of the truck. Then they got in Clay's vehicle and sped away, down our long driveway into the growing darkness.

  I started to slide out of the truck when another vehicle arrived. My head was spinning with so much craziness I was about to pass out.

  I recognized Daddy's truck mere seconds before Clay reached up to help me down. “Shit! Watch out!”

  He flung open the driver's door, holding the handgun he always kept in the glove compartment. The biker's tensed up and reached into their pockets.

  With a mustache flapping snort, Daddy lowered his gun. He looked the older biker up and down, a man probably near his own age, but way more buff.

  “What the hell's going on here? Give me some answers before I call the cops.”

  “We're saving your property and your daughter, Mister Sherwood.” Clay pushed his way between the two men. “Brought a little help from my friends here as soon as I found out an old buddy of mine was up to stealing shit here. I'm just sorry Nellie had to get caught in the middle.”

  Daddy coughed once and turned beet red. He looked past
several bikes to the dark red stain Craig had thrown up on the pavement.

  “Is that blood?”

  “Yeah. We didn't kill anybody. Just roughed the fuckers up a little.” Clay's eyes narrowed. “I know you think I'm shit, but I just did you a solid. Wouldn't let anybody fuck around in this town like a common thief, even if I didn't love your daughter like a madman.”

  Daddy laughed. “So, you're the sheriff now? My, standards have changed.”

  He dropped his gun. The bikers relaxed, and so did Clay. I ran up next to him and grabbed his arm, fighting back tears.

  It hit me all at once how wrong I'd been. I didn't feel any better than Daddy or the other snobs, foolishly misjudging him.

  “We done here?” The older biker asked.

  “Yeah, Pepper. We're all set. Thanks for your help.”

  Several men climbed on their bikes and drove away. The others hung back a little longer, giving us some space.

  Finally, Clay turned to me.

  We stared at each other for a second. Then his big arms went around me, pulling me close, engulfing me in his rock hard muscles and rich manly scent.

  “Why, baby? You should've been at my ranch where you would've been safe. If I'd been a second later and those guys did anything to you...”

  He snorted with rage. Left no doubt there would've been a whole lot more gore on the ground and two bodies to disappear.

  “I...I heard you talking to your friends the other night.”

  “Not my fucking buds anymore,” he corrected. “Hadn't seen either of those fucks for six months until the big race. Heard the way Craig was spewing shit when I was there talking to him, before the race. I invited them home to get the real story. Had to find out if he'd really flipped his lid.”

  “I get it...I couldn't take the way they were talking. They made it sound like you were after me for my family's money. I made a mistake, Clay, and I'm so, so sorry.”

  He jerked his hands against the small of my back until I was closer, feeling his hot breath. “Mistakes are no sin. But baby, if you didn't get it before, you better now. I don't give a single shit about any of this stuff here, awesome as it is. I love you, and I want you to be the next Samuels woman, wife and mother of my child. Good thing you made this easy for me to find...”