One Tough Cowboy

by Lora Leigh

  He glanced back again, his heart filling his throat as he saw the two men kneeling, raising their rifles.

  “The trees,” he screamed, jerking Sam forward then coming to a halt and slamming her to the ground as a crazed figure rose up in front of them.

  He covered Sam’s body, staring up at Jacob in amazement as he stood over them, the M16 in his hand spewing out cartridges like a summer storm spills its raindrops.

  “Get!” Jacob didn’t spare them a glance as he screamed the word.

  Hunter jerked Sam to her feet and pushed her back to a dead run. They were nearly there. With Jacob’s help and the damned canon-sized weapon he was carrying, they at least had a chance now.

  “Get to the Jeep!” he screamed at Sam. “If we’re not in it with you, then get the fuck out of here.”

  “Like hell!” she yelled back, breathless with fear and flight as they tore from the mountain.

  “Keep her running!” Jacob called out behind them. “We have more coming. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “Fuck. Fuck.” Hunter pushed harder, hope filling him as they broke the line of trees. “Jeep.”

  They ran for it as Hunter grabbed the keys from his pocket. It was the last thing he knew. He heard Sam scream, but as he fought the darkness overcoming him, he prayed that if this was his last breath, then Jacob could protect her.

  chapter twenty-four

  Thank God for Rambo, wherever the hell he came from, Samantha thought as she ran. Almost there, almost there, she looked back and saw Hunter and Rambo go down. “Hunter!” she screamed. For just a moment she thought her heart stopped. She started toward them when a hand seized her arm and spun her around.

  “Where you going in such a hurry, Samantha?” Tom said with a sneer.

  She had no time to think, running on pure emotion and adrenaline. She struck out with her free hand. He caught her and held her against him in an iron grip. Tom had always been ridiculously strong. She stiffened, twisting against his hold. She distracted him enough to stomp on his instep. He grimaced and cursed but held her firm. His fingers dug into her flesh, and he shook her hard, rattling her teeth.

  “You bastard, you fucking bastard,” she snarled and kicked out. Her knee missed his groin by an inch.

  “Stop,” Tom yelled.

  “Like hell.” She grunted as he jerked her against him again. She looked up, surprised to find he wasn’t talking to her. She turned and saw two men standing over Hunter and Rambo, guns aimed at their heads.

  Panic rose in her and she fought.

  “No.” The word screamed in her brain, though it escaped her dry throat as a plea. Tom’s grip was unyielding as he squeezed her arms harder; she winced but didn’t take her eyes from Hunter.

  “Don’t worry, love. I want him alive.” He lowered his head and ran his tongue over her ear. “For now.”

  The caress made her blood boil, and her stomach clench. She wanted to recoil in disgust. Instead, she turned her head quick and bit his cheek as hard as she could. She tasted his blood and spat onto the ground. He yelped and pulled away from her. She used the moment to wrench free. She made a mad dash for the gun she knew was in the Jeep, only to be caught by Decker and Rodgers, the two idiots. She twisted futilely against their hold.

  Tom stalked toward her. His hand touched his face, and then he looked at the blood on his fingers. She saw the rage in his icy glare.

  She knew she was outnumbered, but she’d be damned if she’d give in or make it easy for them. “Go to hell, you son of a bitch.”

  Fury flashed in his eyes. He stood over her, fisted his hand in her hair and yanked her head back, his nose touching hers.

  “You will always belong to me!” he screamed, his body shaking with rage. Suddenly he went still and calm. “Did you really think I’d stand by and do nothing while you whored yourself out to this redneck trash?”

  Samantha glared at him, refusing to look away. “I will never belong to you.” She pushed the words through her clenched teeth.

  He slapped her hard. Her head snapped back. He waited till she turned back to him. His breath was soughing in and out of his lungs, but his voice stayed eerily calm.

  “You do. And now that hillbilly sheep fucker is going to see. He’s going to see that you are mine, and then he’ll die knowing.”

  “He knows better.” Samantha kept unflinching eye contact.

  Her teeth marks were plain to see in the drying blood on his cheek. A sinister smile slowly curved his lips. She wondered why she hadn’t see this side of him in the beginning, or at least at some point. He was insane. What had ever made her think she could care for this man? Rodgers and Decker were chuckling, standing too close, their fingers digging into her arms, rubbing against the outside swell of her breasts.

  “Those trees over there will be perfect for what I have in mind.” Tom gestured with a nod of his head. “Tie them up,” he said to the armed men.

  They hesitated for a moment. One spoke up, his heavily accented words were terse with irritation. “Why are we wasting our time with this bullshit? Kill them. There’s too much to do to prepare…”

  “Do it!” Tom interrupted. “Make sure the sheriff has a good view.”

  The armed men grudgingly went about doing as instructed.

  Rodgers and Decker dragged Samantha to the place where Tom had directed them. He sauntered up to her with the rope from the Jeep, watching the men tie Hunter and Rambo to a tree not far from them. That same smile was still fixed on his face as Tom stepped closer. With a pocketknife, he cut the long rope into three shorter pieces. Samantha struggled, twisting her body, tugging her arms.

  “Damn, bitch. Be still!” Rodgers spat.

  Tom rolled his eyes at Rodgers as he knelt down and tied a length of rope to her ankles. He backed up on his haunches, measuring distances by sight then motioned for them to bring her forward.

  He stood, pulling the ropes, and her feet came out from under her. Rodgers and Decker dropped her. The breath whooshed from her lugs as her back hit the hard-packed dirt. Decker planted his booted foot on her chest. She fought for breath as Rodgers knelt quickly and grabbed her arms, jerking them over her head. He tied them together while Tom gazed down at her as though he was studying her. He motioned for the armed men to come forward. “Grab a leg.”

  One of the men unwrapped the rope from her ankles then each man took a leg. Realization struck her like an anvil to the chest. She kicked and bucked, but Tom just laughed as the men spread her legs wide and tied them down.

  “What the hell?” Henderson was out of breath and sweating like the pig he was as he came upon the scene, taking in what was happening. “Have you lost your fuckin’ mind, Novak? Just kill ’em and be done with it.”

  Tom scowled at the man. “I’ll handle this the way I see fit. If you can’t stomach it, then take the men and go back to the cabin.”

  They glared at each other for a tense moment, until finally Henderson waved a hand. “Fuck it. Do what ya want. The nosy little bitch and her fuck buddy had it comin’.” Henderson turned and motioned for the men to follow.

  The tiny sliver of hope Samantha had faded away. Tom knelt between her legs and began cutting her clothes from her body. She grit her teeth, pulling against the ropes that dug into her wrists and ankles. Her stressed joints burned as she bucked and jerked. Samantha knew what was going to happen. She refused to think about the fact that Rodgers and Decker stood to the side, their arms crossed, their eyes glassy, waiting for the show.

  She shuddered with revulsion as she watched Tom. His hands roamed over her, cutting away her shirt, her bra. She held her breath as the knife lightly circled her nipple. Hating that they involuntarily tightened from the shock of the cold metal, she swallowed the knot of fear and anger that rose inside her, threatening to choke her. He sat back and let his gaze travel over her naked body hungrily, predatorily.

  “Wake him up,” he said with a grin.

  She wanted to cringe but she didn’t. She faced him
, hated him with everything in her for what he was about to do to her, to Hunter, to their relationship. She’d feed on that hate. Tom’s hand replaced the knife, trailing over her breast. He squeezed. Her stomach lurched and she swallowed.

  “You disgust me,” she snarled.

  His gaze locked with hers, his features contorting as his fist plowed into her jaw. Pain flashed through her skull as her head bounced off the ground. Breathing deeply through her nose, she tried to resist the need to puke. Glaring at him, she worked her jaw to assure herself that it was still intact. An ominous growl reached her ears, and she knew it came from Hunter.

  “You stupid whore,” Tom grunted. He turned, facing Hunter. Samantha clenched her teeth as Tom shoved his fingers inside her, sending sharp pain radiating through her. “This is my cunt. I’m taking it back. You’re going to watch,” he snarled and began unbuckling his pants.

  She turned her head then. Hunter was watching her, his gaze locking with hers. Fury reflected in his hard, cold eyes. He strained against the ropes binding him, his expression murderous. The muscle in his jaw jumped, the muscles and veins in his neck bulged.

  If somehow they lived through this, it would never be the same. Once Tom raped her in front of him, Hunter wouldn’t be able to get that out of his head. He’d never look at her the way he once had. She would be lost to him. The only man she had ever loved. No matter what Tom did to her, her heart, her mind, her soul would belong to Hunter. Only him. She couldn’t help the tears that fell across the bridge of her nose. So many things she never said. “Hunter,” she said, whispering his name.

  chapter twenty-five

  “No! Goddamn you, Novak!” Hunter screamed, every bone and muscle in his body rioting as agony flashed through his soul. Novak was daring to touch her. He would kill the son of the bitch; if he had to do it from the grave, he would kill him.

  Sam. His Sam. God, why hadn’t he told her he loved her, told her what she meant to him? He saw the tears slide along her bruised face as the bastard touched her. He felt his own tears searing his eyes. Fucking bastard, he was going to kill him. He would kill him with his bare hands. He fought the ropes at his wrists, refusing to watch what Tom was doing to her. He kept his eyes locked with Sam’s trying to show her he loved her, to give her the strength he knew she would need to get through this.

  God help him, he prayed. Please God, don’t let that bastard rape her. He felt his skin breaking beneath the ropes, felt the warm sticky moisture of his own blood, but he couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop. He had to get free, how could he let his happen? Sam would never survive such brutality.

  Jacob had called in the highway patrol. Hunter knew that. How Jacob knew what the hell was going on, Hunter didn’t know, but he knew help was coming. He just had to distract Novak, had to delay him.

  “Novak, you don’t want to do this!” he screamed out again as Sam flinched, her eyes dazed as Tom shoved his hand between her thighs.

  Novak pulled his hand away and licked his fingers as he turned his head back to sneer at Hunter.

  “She tastes good, doesn’t she, Hunter?” he called out. “Our little Samantha gets so hot and wet. Does she beg you like she used to beg me?”

  A red haze of rage went over Hunter at those words.

  Sam mouthed the word “no,” repeated it over and over, as though she needed to deny his claim.

  “Only a weak, cowardly piece of shit forces a woman, Tom.” He fought to hold the other man’s attention. “You know Sam, man. She’ll kill you when she gets free. And if she doesn’t, then by God, I will.”

  “Samantha!” Novak screamed as he came to his feet. “Her name is Samantha, you stupid sheep fucker. She’s not a pokey hick Sam.”

  “Then Samantha will kill you,” he snarled bitterly. “Your ego is making an ass of you, Novak. She doesn’t want you.”

  Novak glanced down at Sam’s bound body, watching her struggle as Hunter fought to get free.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he sneered. “She belongs to me. I’ll take her anyway and you’ll watch. Watch as I fuck her and as I kill her. And you’ll die knowing I was the last man to have her. That I took back what belonged to me.”

  “No. Stop.” Hunter’s lips curled back from his teeth as Novak went to his knees again, his mouth latching onto the flesh between Sam’s thighs as she screamed out in pain.

  The sound tore through him like a thousand blades. Her eyes closed as she strained against the ropes, fighting like a demon, demented, unable to accept what was happening to her.

  “I…” He started to tell her he loved her but he stopped. He couldn’t tell her like this. She couldn’t associate those words from his lips with this brutal assault. “Sam.”

  He kept struggling, fighting the ropes as terror lit a fury inside his soul that threatened to drive him insane. He screamed out Novak’s name again, heaving against the ropes that restrained him like an enraged bull.

  Then he heard the disgusted hiss behind him. “Shut the fuck up before they see me, you moron.”

  The unfamiliar female voice was filled with anger, as she tucked a gun into his hand. “Hang on, I’ll cut you loose.”

  Hunter started praying. He watched in horror as Novak’s mouth came away from Sam’s thighs, a sneer on his lips as he rose to his feet, his hands going to the crotch of his pants to pull his penis free. Then he glanced at Hunter. The knife sliced through the rope as Novak’s eyes widened.

  Hunter wasted no time. With Sam’s screams still echoing in his ears, he brought the gun around as he went to his knee and fired. He took out Novak and Decker, each with a shot to the forehead, as four CHP vehicles screamed into the clearing. Then Rodgers fell as Jacob, freed by the same mystery woman, came out firing as well. Hunter swung around then for the three terrorists.

  He shot low, taking out a knee, an ankle, but Jacob went for the heart. The third was dead before he hit the ground. Before he could think, Hunter was on his feet and running for Sam.

  The woman who had cut him loose, obviously known to Jacob, was already cutting Sam loose and kicking Novak’s lifeless body to the side.

  “Sam.” He caught her as she began scrambling hysterically away from Novak’s body, her desperate sobs cutting into his heart as he jerked his T-shirt off and forced it over her head.

  She fought him as he dressed her, strangled cries pouring from her throat as she begged him to let her wash. To let her clean Novak’s touch from her body.

  “It’s okay, baby.” He pulled her into his arms as the hysteria began to slowly ease. His arms tightened around her, rocking her as police officers poured into the area and an official helicopter flew low overhead.

  “Hunter.” She clutched at him then, burying her face against his chest as she shuddered in reaction. “I didn’t. I never belonged to him.” Her voice was hoarse, dazed and shocked, as her nails bit into the skin of his shoulders. She fought to get closer to him as his arms tightened around her, his body bending over her, sheltering her, holding her as close as possible.

  “It’s over, baby.” His muscles were still taut as he fought his own reaction. He held her tighter, rocking her, holding her close, his eyes closing as emotion washed over him. Again the words “I love you, Sam” whispered through his brain, but he refused to say them. Not yet. “I’ve got you. Do you understand me, baby? I won’t let you go. I’ve got you.” He rocked her, whispered the strangled words in her ear, as he felt his own tears dampen his cheeks.

  So close, he had come so close to losing her, and she hadn’t even known that she held his heart and soul. He swore that as soon as he could, he’d tell her and he wouldn’t let a day go by without making sure she knew how much he loved her.

  Hell had erupted around them. Troopers were yelling orders back and forth, men cursing, screams filled the air as more sirens joined the melee going on around them. Hunter lifted Sam in his arms and carried her down the hill to the stream. There he held her as she washed, as she sobbed and fought to get past the terror she’d felt at a m
adman’s hands.

  She had known him, and though she hadn’t loved him, hadn’t liked him, she knew he was bad news. But she had never believed that such evil existed in him. That innocence had been stripped from her, and though Hunter knew she would survive it intact, she would never forget it.

  Back in the cave, he helped her dress after drying her carefully, thankful that she was slowly calming down, the color coming back into her face. He carried her to the farthest corner of the cavern, allowing her the privacy she needed to come to grips with it.

  Outside, Gabriel was calling his name, his voice fierce, imperative. There were reports to make and a briefing to get through, but Hunter hadn’t observed the rules since taking office, and he figured now wasn’t a hell of a good time to start. They would get what they needed when he got around to giving it to them.

  “Hunter.” Her voice, soft, husky from the tears she had shed earlier drew his attention to her.

  He turned around on the crate he had been sitting on, watching as she came from the shadows of the back of the cave. She was dressed in jeans and his shirt. Her wet hair brushed back, her face no longer so pale. She walked into his arms.

  Without hesitation, without the fear he had worried would be there, she came to him.

  “I want to go home, Hunter,” she whispered. “Take me home.”

  She sounded fierce, angry, his Sam. He listened to the commotion outside, thought again of all that needed to be done.

  “We’ll have to sneak away,” he whispered with a smile of anticipation. “They’re looking for us.”

  “Let ’em look.” Her lips caressed his neck as her arms tightened around him.

  epilogue

  Samantha whimpered as she watched Hunter from lowered lids while he licked and sucked her toes. She never knew the nerves in her toes were directly connected to the nerves in her core. She sighed as his tongue moved to her ankle, her calf, the back of her knee. He paused there nibbling, sucking, driving her crazy.