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“Well, you see, I’m not sure I could find it again. It was raining so hard and…” The words slipped out without thinking, and Sadie could’ve kicked herself for bailing out that no-good liar Wally instead of fixing things for her and Teddy.

“Ha! Thought so. You’re still protecting him.” Otto stood straight and spit again, making her jump slightly.

“Now, Otto,” Amos said, but was quelled with a glance from the giant.

Some sheriff he is. Thank goodness her mama and daddy had enough sense to say no when he’d asked for her hand. They’d tried to say no to James, as well, but she’d gone with him anyhow. She supposed that was why Amos remained so ruffled when it came to her.

“Eli’s been gone too long,” Otto ground out. “I know deep in my gut he ain’t on this earth no more, and I’m going to personally squeeze the life out of anyone had a hand in it, man, woman, or child.”

Ice poured down Sadie’s spine at the threat. Over her dead body he’d touch a hair on Teddy’s head. But if Otto had his way, he’d arrange for that too.

Was Wally really worth her risking Teddy’s life? If she told them the truth of how Eli died and led them to the ship, she’d be free and clear. He couldn’t blame her, or especially Teddy. He shouldn’t really blame Wally, either, as it was an accident, but he would.

Otto leaned low again, his rotten breath washing over her face and making her stomach turn in its tight quarters. “I know he was at your place. And I know you’re lying about something. When I find out,” he leaned further over her ear so Amos couldn’t hear, “I’m going to make you watch as I take your son’s life. Then you’re gonna beg for the mercy of death.”

Sadie’s hand tightened over the garter beneath her skirts. “Don’t you dare threaten my boy!” she yelled in his face.

Otto’s large hand clasped down tight over hers, squeezing it against the gun until she cried out in pain.

Amos cleared his throat and came around the desk to put a hand on her other shoulder.

“Now, now, Otto.” He smiled down at Sadie. “I believe we’ve talked about the proper way to treat the townsfolk if you want to be deputized like your brother.”

Otto stood, releasing her, and cracked his knuckles. “I don’t care what title you want to give me to make it proper, Amos.”

“Sadie, why don’t you come to dinner with us?” Amos said, trying to smooth things over. “We can discuss this theory of yours more. The one about the future people.”

At least he finally got the concept. But Sadie wasn’t leaving Teddy alone for a minute longer than necessary from then on, nor did she trust these men a hair.

“No thank you, Amos.” She stood and grasped the edge of the desk, waiting for the dizzy spell to pass. “I need to get back to my sick child. Besides, you seem to have your hands full with keeping Otto’s wild theories under control.”

She smiled as best she could and leaned over to plant a kiss on Amos’s cheek, his muttonchop tickling her nose. As much as she loathed it, if she could get him on her side somehow, it may help her situation. Though whether he could stand up to Otto or not remained to be seen.

“Sick child,” Otto muttered as she left.

Even as she hurried down the steps toward Target, she could feel his presence behind her.

Sadie whipped around to confront him and found herself face to chest with him, making her stumble backward up against her mare.

“I’m going to escort you home so no future people attack you.” His announcement left no room for rejection, nor did his body language as he towered above her.

“And when we get to your ranch, we can have a nice long talk about what exactly you saw and what really happened that day when Eli visited.”

His ridiculously large hands reached out and grasped her around the waist before she could make a sound. In one dizzying moment, she was set on the saddle, and Otto climbed on behind her, grasping the reins on either side of poor Target, who stumbled slightly from the weight.

His body pressed against hers like a brick wall. His arms squeezed her sides menacingly, then he urged the horse forward and into a gallop by jamming her flank with his spurred heel.

“Be careful with my horse,” she said, wiggling back so she didn’t feel like she would slide off.

“I know just how to treat a filly to make her do what I want,” Otto said over her ear again. His tree-trunk thick thighs squeezed around her like a snake and his arms tightened together so that one wrapped right over the tops of her breasts.

Sadie knew she couldn’t risk pulling the Derringer now. He’d stop her in a heartbeat, and she’d lose her only surprise recourse. She had to stay calm and think this through.

Fat drops of rain pelted down seemingly from nowhere, icy cold against her skin even in the humidity as they galloped forward across the desert. The dirt trail turned to mud, making Target slip as they pulled abruptly onto the path in front of the house. Otto dug in his spurs in response, and her beautiful horse reared up in pain and panic, tossing both of them backward into the sludge. Pain burst through the back of Sadie’s head as the wind was knocked from her. She lay motionless for what felt like a full minute as Otto clamored to his feet, covered in muck.

Sadie jumped into action as he drew his pistol and aimed right at Target, who remained flustered and confused. Still on the ground, she yanked up her skirts and grabbed for her own gun.

“Stop right there or I’ll end you, Otto.” She yelled through the rain.