Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Knox agreed, struggling to understand that for a moment it disturbed him to think of bidding her farewell.
He cleared his throat. “Phelan sent Rankin to sniff. Make no mistake, Phelan is going after the bounty. If he gets to Autumn first, he’ll use her to his advantage.”
Dru let out a slow breath. “And that leaves us with the question—who? Who could possibly want Autumn dead?”
Knox didn’t answer right away. The mare’s steady gait carried them along the leaf strewn path.
Dru twisted slightly, watching him. “Do you know any more than you’ve already told me about Autumn?”
Knox kept his gaze on the road ahead. “She was raised away from his household. And he’s never met her.”
Dru scoffed. “Aye, well, that tells me nothing about her—only about him.”
Knox gave her a look, but she continued.
“It’s obvious Torrance doesn’t give a hoot about Autumn and why should he when she was never in his life, probably by intention. His father didn’t intend for the siblings to mingle. That tells me that he also didn’t give a hoot about his daughter. Autumn is nothing more than chattel to her half-brother.”
“On the other side of the coin, she is a problem for someone and needs to be eliminated. It could be someone opposed to the marriage Torrance has arranged for Autumn.”
“Or someone with intense dislike for Torrance, which would be a wide range of people,” Dru said, trying to adjust herself in the saddle, her bottom getting a bit sore.
Knox shifted her to stop her squirming, fitting her more firmly against him. More comfortable for her but a bit of a surprising challenge for him. If he didn’t find her appealing, why was his manhood responding to the way she rubbed against it as they bounced along in the saddle?
Trying to get his mind off his unexpected reaction, he asked, “What do you know of Autumn?”
“Not much, only whispers here and there,” she admitted.
“How does she vanish without so much as a trace?”
“Survival,” Dru suggested. “Maybe her mum made her aware how her father would use her to benefit himself and the clan. And she chose not to leave herself vulnerable to his whim.”
“That does make sense.” He shook his head. “But vanishing without a trace would take help. Maybe that healer is the one who helped her. We need to find her.”
Dru wiggled in place and Knox thought it might be wise of him to find a willing woman when given a chance. A glance down at Dru reminded him he had a wife and though their vows hadn’t been sealed there was no way he would dishonor them.
“Sit still, Dru,” he snapped.
She glared at him. “My bum is getting sore.”
“It wouldn’t if you had more meat on your bones.”
His insult sparked her anger, and she jabbed him in the chest. “You’re not a very kind husband, insulting your wife the way you do. How do you expect to find love if you treat your wife so poorly?”
He huffed. “I’m not looking for love.”
“But your wife might be.” She shook her head slowly. “Again, not a good husband, denying her your heart. Why would she ever marry you?”
“A mutual agreement,” he said, growing annoyed.
“We have that and it’s not working out well. You need to do better if you want to find yourself a wife. You tell me I’m pretty enough, and then the next second destroy the compliment with an insult. Not good, Knox. Not good at all.”
He had learned not to anger easily, it could cost one a fight, but with Dru that was proving to be a challenge. “Our agreement doesn’t include me treating you as if our marriage was official.”
“True enough.” She shrugged. “But if you don’t treat your fake wife decently, what makes you think you’ll be any different when you have an official wife?” She wiggled uncomfortably again.
Knox brought his mare to a halt and with an arm around Dru’s waist, easily lowered her off the horse. “Walk.”
She looked up at him shocked. “I’m right. You’d make a lousy husband.”
“You said your bum was sore. Like a good husband, I listened.” He wore not the slightest smile. “I fixed the problem. With you walking, it won’t be sore anymore.”
Dru could see by his stoic manner that he assumed he’d won their little altercation.
Foolish man.
She smiled as she ran her hand down the mare’s neck. “How thoughtful of you, husband.”
Knox cracked a smile then. “I’m glad you recognize my worth as a husband.”
She chuckled. “You are a wonderful husband, giving me free rein.”
His brow narrowed. “Free rein?”
“Aye,” she said taking quick steps away from the mare. “I’ll meet you at Dugan’s.”
She turned and ran into the woods laughing.
Knox let several oaths fly before he shouted, “DRU! COME BACK HERE!”
All he heard was the echo of her laughter.
When he got his hands on her, she’d learn fast enough what kind of husband he was.