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“Did he put anything inside you? His finger?”
Naomi trembled against his hard body. She couldn’t say the horrible words. She shook her head slowly and broke into tears again.
“What on God’s green earth?” Bessie burst into the office tent, Davey on her heels. “We heard gunshots. Oh, my!”
Naomi followed Bessie’s gaze to Ike motionless on the dirt, crimson blood oozing through his cotton shirt and dungarees. Her throat constricted, and she buried her nose in Bobby’s shirt again.
“What in the world happened here?” Bessie demanded.
“Ike tried to have his way with Naomi.” His arms tightened around Naomi as he spoke. “Luckily I got here when I did.”
Bessie knelt down and placed a hand on Ike’s neck. “Christ, Bobby. He’s dead.”
Naomi gasped. Her stomach roiled with dread. Bobby had killed a man for sure this time.
For her.
His hard body stiffened against hers, though he continued to rub her back in soothing circles. “He sure as hell is. I know how to aim to kill. Truth be told, I wish he’d come back from the dead so I could kill him again with my bare hands. I’d make him pay for putting his filthy hands on her.”
Naomi, her head still embedded in Bobby’s shoulder, heard Bessie’s soft sigh.
“I’m taking Naomi away from here,” Bobby said. “I need you two to cover for us until nightfall. Don’t call in the law. Trust me. Ike got what was comin’ to him.”
“Uh...well...I suppose.” Bessie stood.
“It’s not like me to be so wrong about a man. To think, I trusted that slug.” Bobby caressed Naomi’s neck, massaging some of the tension out of her.
His touch stilled her shivers and she sighed.
“To think we all did,” Bessie said, and turned to Naomi. “Honey, are you all right?”
“Yes.” It was a lie, but not
hing else would come out.
“Come on. I’ll take you back to my room to rest.”
“N-No. Thank you, Bessie. All I want right now is to leave this place.”
“I understand,” Bessie said. “You take care of her, Bobby. She’s gonna need a tender hand tonight.”
“She’ll have it.” Bobby knelt down next to Ike’s body and pulled a leather wallet out of his pocket. “The money I paid him for her transport,” he said to Bessie as he counted out some bills.
“H-He said...” Naomi stammered, remembering Ike’s foul words.
“What, angel?”
“He said you paid with me. That I had to...”
Bobby’s face reddened, and the muscles in his jaw clenched visibly. “Bessie, Davey, don’t expect to see me back here again. Come on, angel.” He led her out of the tent and then turned back to Bessie. “If you can, send a wire to Dugan, to a Reverend Blackburn. Tell him Naomi is all right and she’ll be home soon.”
“Bobby—” Naomi said.
“Don’t sign my name. I’m wanted there.”
Naomi clamped her hand to Bobby’s arm as they walked toward a beautiful roan stallion. He helped her onto the mount and swung up behind her.
“Angel, I’ll take care of you,” he said into her ear. “Whatever you need. I swear it.”
