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Sheridan heard the promise in his voice. She swallowed the fear that was trying to cripple her and held her head straight. She walked behind him with Omar and his no name blackguard friend caging her from behind. She knew what they would do to her. They would beat, rape, and break her until she bent to Mr. Sullivan’s whims.
They would not know she was taken at the ranch. No one would inform them and it would be hours before they realized her whereabouts then probably days before Elijah, or anyone could find her.
She fisted her hands against her stomach and pressed deep hoping to still its nervous churning. She wanted to scream and cry, to rage at the terror that held her in such a tight grip. Her breath strangled as she realized this was possibly how Elijah’s wife had felt. Oh God. Sheridan braced herself as they stepped into the dim saloon. The smell of unwashed flesh and strong drink assailed her nostril. The noise in the saloon died down, but she did not take her gaze off Jericho Sullivan slouched behind a table in the far corner near the bar counter.
She saw what he would do to her in his eyes, from his slow perusal of her body. The smile that creased his face made the tears she had been trying to hold back spill freely. She took no comfort from the fact that he would keep her alive long enough to marry her and claim her wealth.
Hope surged when she realized Tom was missing. She prayed it meant he was trying to find a way to aid in her rescue, and not that he had deliberately made his escape and left her in their care. Regardless of Tom, she knew what she needed to do. Despite wanting to scream and succumb to her fear, she needed to fight, to stay alive until Elijah found her. Even if it took him days. She could only pray that she would be able to recover after how they would use her.
***
A boy rode hell bent onto the range on a horse that had seen better days.
“It’s Oliver…the mercantile’s son, Patron,” Miguel murmured from where he stood beside Elijah on crutches.
The boy was covered in a film of dust from his face to his boots. He tumbled off the horse and ran the rest of the distance to Beth who was walking Grayson cradled in her arms.
Elijah strode toward them, his chest tightening. He’d discovered Sheridan had ridden out, but he had relaxed knowing Tom and Jason travelled with her. While Tom was young, Jason was seasoned and had worked alongside Elijah’s in the war. Jason’s mettle was tough.
“Mrs. Galloway…she in trouble.” The boy’s panting voice travelled to Elijah.
Beth grabbed the boy’s shoulder. “What happened to, Sheridan?”
“Men took her and went into the saloon. She fought but they still dragged her there. There are talks that they will take her to the Crazy S after.”
Elijah went motionless, thought his heart hammered in his chest. “Tom and Jason?” he asked.
The boy turned his dirt streak pale face to Elijah.
“They are at the Doc...Jason was beaten…and they stuck Tom in the belly with a knife.”
Beth released the boy as if she had been burnt. She paled to a sickly white and turned in a daze, staring at Elijah with terrified eyes.
“They took Sheridan?” Beth gagged and started screaming.
Elijah’s gut tightened at the fear that crossed her face, and he then understood some of the nightmares that haunted Beth. He tried to take her son from her and she became even more frantic. He gently slapped her. Her screaming came to a sudden halt even though Grayson still wailed, frightened by his mother’s reaction.
Elijah kept his voice low and gentle. “Go inside Beth, Grayson needs you. I will bring Sheridan back.”
Beth searched his face for endless moments and whatever she saw reassured her. With a firm nod she pulled from him, crooning soft words to her wailing son.
Elijah turned to the boy. “Who took Mrs. Galloway?”
The boy still struggled to speak. “Men...some say they belong to the Crazy S outfit. Others say they are Mr. Sullivan’s hired hands. But Mr. Bartley was there. They dragged her into the saloon. No one helped her,” he ended hoarsely.
Elijah clasped his shoulder. “Thank you.”
The boy nodded and then his shoulder wilted as if exhaustion weighed on him.
“I will ride with you, amigo,” Miguel said and stepped toward him.
Elijah glanced at the sweating boy. “No. Take Beth and the boy inside. See that every ranch hand is armed and scattered across the range, but never too far from each other. If anyone approaches that is identified as Sullivan or Bartley’s men, shoot first and then question later. I will bring Sheridan back.”
“No... No,” Beth moaned weakly. “You cannot go alone, you need men. Please, Elijah, I know you have no love for her but do not go alone.”
He wanted to take the time to reassure Beth, but he could not. With a deep sigh he spoke, “See it done, Miguel.”
Miguel nodded sharply once. “Si, Patron.”
