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She looked around wildly. There had to be something, anything she could use to plan her escape. Something she could use to hurt them, and get away. All weapons were, of course, safely hidden on the men outside the wagon. Rope wasn’t very useful in escaping from a band of vicious kidnappers, and she couldn’t think of much else. Her eyes fixed on a few small candles tied together—again, useless. But as she continued to discreetly look at their wares, she noted the heavy iron skillet. She smiled to herself, but then frowned. Whatwouldher plan be? To whack the head of whomever she was closest to? Then what? Smack the other men? She sighed. She’d no doubt end up tied up and whipped again.
Her heart stuttered as the horse drew to a halt. She sat up, smoothing a hand over her chemise and hair. Though she was surrounded by a band of savage, wild men, it was still habit to fix herself and look as presentable as possible, something she’d been taught since before she could even walk. She hoped they’d actually give her something to wear soon. She could still hear Lucille’s clear voice, instructing her.Ladies turn themselves out properly. We carry ourselves with decorum.
Cole swung down from the horse, tying it to a post, and lifted her down roughly. Grabbing her by the arm, he marched her over to the horse that was trailing right behind them.
“Gotta check to be sure the trail ahead is clear,” he growled. “You watch her.” He released her arm and marched away.
An unfamiliar man stood in front of her. He had the same swarthy skin, same nose, same broad shoulders as Cole. But unlike Cole, his dark beard was more scant, and his eyes… those eyes. They were piercing blue, unlike Cole’s dark brown, and something about them sent a shiver down Aida’s spine. Aida knew just from looking at the man’s eyes there was nothing he was incapable of. Whereas Cole was implacable, this man was cruel.
“We’re stopping to eat. Cole’s dealing with an issue with the team, so you mind yourself. And unless you want to answer to him, you’ll do as yer told. C’mere. We’ll go sit by the clearin’ and you’ll help me cook.” He pointed to a small clearing to the right, while her mind swirled. The man in front of her narrowed his eyes. “You have ‘til the count of ten.” She began to walk awkwardly, her battered backside protesting with each move as the man came to her side. His eyes trailed down the front of her thin chemise, and Aida felt suddenly naked. He grinned wickedly and licked his lips. His voice dropped to a low growl. “Cryin’ shame Cole claimed you first. Ain’t fair the older brother gets first pick’a the spoils. I could make you scream in pleasure just as soon as I’d have you screamin’ in pain.”
Aida tried to pull up the front of her dress, but it was fruitless with her wrists bound. She couldn’t cover herself if she tried. He merely leered at her when she froze. The little hairs on her arms stood on end.
“You have five seconds,” he spat out. Reluctantly, she closed the small gap between them, but when she did, he reached for her and to her horror, snagged her by the hair and planted his mouth on hers in a crude, rough kiss. Her hands still bound, she had no way to get away as she moved her head and his hand grasped the back of her hair. But just as soon as the kiss began, it stopped, and to her shock, the brute was pulled away.
Cole stood in front of her, lifting the man up by the back of his shirt. He spun him around and shoved him away. The younger man swore, but cringed as Cole glared with a ferocity Aida hadn’t seen even during her punishment. “You’ll keep your fucking hands off her,” Cole growled. He grabbed the man by the front of the shirt, lifting him right up on the tips of his toes. “You ever put your mouth on her again, I’ll kill you.”
Relief flooded through Aida as she righted herself. She reveled in the fear that flickered in the younger man’s eyes as he nodded. But Cole wasn’t done. Still holding the younger man by the front of his shirt, he hauled him over to where Aida was. “You tell her you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” the man muttered, clearly furious but afraid. Aida didn’t respond, her mouth agape as she took the scene in. Was this some sort of game? Was she supposed to find Cole somehow more sympathetic? She’d heard of kidnappers playing such games, but found Cole’s furious countenance unreadable.
“Go finish cookin’,” Cole said, shoving him toward the fire. The other man shrugged his shoulders, as if to shake off what had just happened. Aida looked up at Cole, who slowly turned to her. He was still wearing his Stetson, which cast his dark eyes in shadow, but as he bent down to speak with her, his voice was softer than she’d yet heard. “Did he hurt you?” he asked. He placed a hand under her chin and met her eyes. He was probing. Aida was immediately struck by the difference between him and the man who’d assaulted her. But hadn’t Cole just whipped her?
She shook her head. “No,” she whispered.
Cole raked his eyes over her body, not the way the other man had, but as if to check her over. His jaw clenched. “You’ll say,no, sir,orno, Daddy.”
She glared at him. “No, sir,” she ground out.
Though his eyes narrowed, he nodded. “Very good. You need some privacy to visit the privy? And I’ve got a dress for you to change into. Wouldn’t want you catchin’ cold, darlin’.”
“How thoughtful.”
He lifted a stern brow. “I’ll send Junior down to keep watch while you freshen up. Then you’ll join us to eat,” he said, his hand now upon her hip. She knew then that he meant to be sure she didn’t get away.
“Junior!” Cole shouted. His hand felt warm on her skin. She wanted to hate him. But somehow, seeing him defend her from the threat of the other man made her soften, just a bit.
The young blond man came into view. “Yessir?”
“Take Aida down to the water to freshen herself up. Don’t let her out of your sight, but,” he paused, and turning to her, he raised a brow, “you gonna run?”
The two-second pause just before she shook her head was her mistake. His eyes narrowed. Of course she was going to run. What reason did she have to stay?
Cole’s jaw clenched as he quickly made a decision. “On second thought, I think I’ll escort her myself,” he said. “You see to the team bein’ watered, yeah?”
Junior nodded. “Yessir.” He tipped his hat and went on his way, as Cole took Aida by the elbow and walked her down to the creek, muttering under his breath.
The air was warm and stagnant, and a gleam of perspiration dampened her chest as he escorted her. It wasn’t until she was only a few feet away from the creek that she realized there was no ‘privy.’ She’d be expected to wash herself and take care of her duties with nothing more than cold water and leaves to dry herself off.
“I can’t do this,” she said, the ridiculous protestation sounding silly even to her own ears.
“What’s that?” Cole said. He looked genuinely confused.
“You want me towashin thewater?”she asked. It seemed a horrendous option. “Have you no soap? Nothing to dry myself, or truly freshen up?”
He grinned, pulling a rough piece of cloth and foul-smelling slab of soap from his pocket. “Course I do, darlin’,” he said. “You don’t think we’re a bunch of savages, now do you?” Something about his voice sent shivers along her spine, the implied meaning causing her stomach to clench. Of course they were savages.
She would have to make do.
