Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Clearly, they’d done this before. Likely many times.
It wasn’t until Cole’s arm went around her shoulders that she realized she was trembling so badly her teeth clattered together. When his mouth came to her ear and whispered, “Hush now, darlin’. You’re all right, and no harm will come to you,” she noticed the trembling began to lessen. She wondered at first if his tender side was just a show for the woman, so she’d trust him, but the woman was off with Doc, and Cole and Aida were nearly alone. Still, she would not, could not soften, even now.
“I’m fine, thank you,” she said, attempting to pull away from him. He merely gave her a sidelong glance and held on tighter.
“You be a good girl, and you will be fine,” he replied. Given the choice to fight and provoke him or pretend to comply, it seemed the best option was feigned submission.
If feigning submission was what would help her get to safety and freedom, she’d put on her best show.
She bowed her head and whispered, “Yes, sir.”
The grip on her elbow did not slacken.
Chapter Six
One need not be a chamber to be haunted. ― Emily Dickinson
Cole watched his men assemble in front of him.
“And what do we do with the woman and baby?” Justice said, a lip curling, glaring at Cole as if somehow he was responsible for their larger party. “She got a name?”
“Patricia,” Cole said.
Justice frowned. “We’ve no time for this bullshit, and another woman and a baby in our group’ll complicate things.” Justice had no use for those weaker than himself, unless it was to use a whore to his advantage. He was brief, he was cruel, and he moved on. To him, expending effort protecting them was a preposterous notion.
“Drop ‘em by the river and let them fend for themselves,” Junior said, his lips pursed with sarcasm. “Is that what you’d have us do?” Junior’s penchant for pretty ladies would harm them one day, Cole was sure of it. His brother’s ruthless nature was far more useful in their line of work.
Justice made a move to advance on Junior and Junior turned to face him. Cole held out a hand, prepared to pull them off each other and beat the tar out of both of them if they fought.
“Enough.” They knew not to push him. Both men froze, glaring at each other.
“She said her family’s nearby, no?” Preach said. All eyes turned to him. “She’s got kin just over the river,” he said. “We’ll be behind in our plans if we all go deliver her, but I can escort her. Won’t be but a half day’s journey. I’ll meet y’all up at Lawson’s mornin’ after next.”
Cole shook his head. “Not sure it’s right to split,” he said, removing his tobacco pouch from his pocket.
“What other choice do we have?” Preach asked. “Leave a woman with a baby? You know me, Cole. I’ll bust the nose of any man I need to, and just as soon pump iron into a man deservin’ of it as I would pick my teeth after dinner, but I won’t be party to abandonin’ a woman and child.”
Justice glared at him and spat on the ground furiously. God, Cole had to get him hooked up with a woman of the line the next town up. He had to calm the hell down.
Cole gave a curt nod. “We can’t all go together,” he said. “That much is true. Seems there’s one bad choice and a worse one on the table here.” He cursed, kicking the toe of his boot in the dirt while he took a tug on his cigarette. Slowly exhaling the smoke in wispy tendrils, he narrowed his eyes on Aida and Patricia. The women spoke to one another in hushed whispers. Cole frowned. It wouldn’t do to have Aida telling her anything about their group. He’d allowed them to stay together to keep them quiet, but now he wondered. If Patricia knew she’d been kidnapped… But before he met with his men, he’d threatened Aida with another whipping, warning her not to tell Patricia the truth. If she responded to fear, then fear would be his ally. And she knew he was a man of his word. As he glanced over at her, she tucked in a blanket around the sleeping baby. After the commotion, the infant squalled loud enough to wake the dead, but Patricia had quickly hushed him with feeding and rocking. Now the two women and baby sat at a distance while the men convened.
If Aida obeyed, now would be the time to turn on his charm. Fear, then feigned kindness, would ensure her submission. He might even earn her loyalty, if played right.
He glanced back over at Patricia. Preach was offering to take her to her family, but Preach was an integral part of his play. The timing could work out well. He ran a finger along the stubble on his jaw as he mulled everything over.