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“And when you’re done here, you’ll come back and eat with us. Doc makes a mean cornbread with beans, and there’s plenty. You’ll need your strength for the days ahead.”
Shedespisedbeans, and only ever ate porridge or bread and butter with eggs at home, the food her cook placed upon dainty plates for her.
“I’m not hungry,” she lied, her stomach growling in betrayal.
He laughed mirthlessly. “I didn’t ask if you were hungry. I told you you were going to eat. Now, pretty girl, you have two choices,” he said, as they came upon the edge of the creek. “You’ll either do as I tell you,” he paused, his voice dropping as he fixed her with a stern glare, “or disobey me and earn another trip over Daddy’s knee. Understood?” He stopped walking and looked expectantly in her face. His eyes had hardened, his jaw set.
She swallowed, unable to swallow the fear that set her heart stuttering. “Fine,” she hissed.
His hand shot out before she even knew what was happening, delivering a startling swat to her backside. “You watch that tone, young lady,” he said, all teasing now gone from his eyes. “You’ll respond properly with ayes, Daddy,or I’ll spank your pretty bottom right here and now.”
Thenerve!
She pursed her lips but truly did not want to be punished again. She had no doubt he meant what she said. She inhaled, keeping her anger in check with considerable difficulty. “Yes, Daddy,” she nearly growled.
He grinned. “Good girl. Now go take care of business, and remember what happens to naughty girls who don’t obey their daddies. Go, now,” he said, pointing to the creek. Silently cursing him out, she obeyed.
Chapter Four
Love me or hate me, both are in my favor. ? William Shakespeare
Cole watched her choke down the food she no doubt despised, while she glared at him. He narrowed his eyes at her and took a large bite, chewing quickly. They couldn’t stay for long, and had to get moving on the trail. Out of the corner of his eye, he took in Junior, who was piling the dirty dishes together ready to be washed, and his brother Justice, who was brooding on the side, watching all that went down. His brother had always been unpredictable and cruel, which served him well in their posse. But for the first time, Cole began to fear that his brother’s character threatened the girl. Justice had kept his amorous pursuits hidden from Cole, but he’d heard rumors. Now Cole wondered exactly what he was capable of.
“You need more, darlin’?” Cole asked, but the question was scornful, not kind.
“No,” she hissed.
He narrowed his eyes and wagged a finger. “You mind yourself, pretty girl. I’m only makin’ sure you’ve got plenty in your belly before we mosey on.” She pursed her lips as he took another bite of bread. “Now, it seems to me I’ve been remiss. You ain’t been properly introduced to the rest of our company.”
He pointed a lazy finger at Justice, who sat furthest away from the group. His brooding eyes met Cole’s as he spoke. “Justice, my younger brother, fastest gunslinger in our company, fearless.”And unpredictable, he thought grimly to himself, remembering how badly he’d wanted to knock his brother’s teeth down his throat when he’d had the nerve to touch her. He wasn’t sure what angered him more: the fact that his brother’d crossed a line and attempted to assault Aida, or his own anger that rose up in her defense. It wouldn’t do to grow soft when he had a mission to accomplish. Not at all. Justice nodded. “You two have met,” Cole said, barely tempering a growl. Aida, to her credit, was unmoved.
“Over here’s Doc,” Cole said, as Aida reluctantly followed his gesture. Doc was Cole’s age, a widower in his early twenties, an educated man who’d turned to darker ways when he lost his wife to murder six months after they had wed. He was invaluable as a healer in their group, when gunshot wounds, illness, and disease threatened them. He was also the brains of the group. Tall, with thick brown hair, blue eyes, and spectacles, Doc appeared to be every bit the gentleman and scholar. But Cole well knew what he was capable of, and relied on him when the chips were down.
“Pleased to meet you,” Doc said, tipping his hat to Aida. She gave the slightest nod of her head, but her gaze did not soften.
“You’ve met Junior,” Cole said, pointing another finger at the young blond, who grinned at her while he cleaned his fingernails with the tip of a dagger. Maybe Aida could be tricked into trusting him.
“Howdy,” Junior said. Aida’s eyes softened just the slightest bit. Lucky for Junior he looked innocent. Cole used that to the advantage of his posse on more than one occasion.
“Last of the crew,” he said, pointing a final finger to Preach, shorter but heftier than Cole. Though he was a dependable member of their crew, he held fast to select morals. He had a shock of black hair, piercing brown eyes, a heavy beard, and a well-fed belly. He lifted his bowl to his lips and finished the rest of his beans before lifting a hand to his temple and saluting Aida as Cole introduced him. “Preach. If we need a man with morals, we draw on him,” Cole said, eliciting snickers from the rest of the men and a grin from Preach. The truth was, Preach was the brawn of the group. Having lost his betrothed in a bar brawl in his youth, he’d turned to religion before he’d turned to their dark ways. He was fearless and brutally strong.
“And now, darlin’,” Cole said. “Why don’t you introduce yourself.”
She shoved a corner of cornbread in her mouth and glared silently. Cole clenched his jaw. It’d been less than twenty-four hours since he’d thrashed her, but she was cruising for another trip over his knee before the sun set. He placed his bowl down and pushed himself to standing. Maybe if he bared her bottom in front of the other men, she’d think twice about defiance. But watching him prepare to advance on her, her eyes widened slightly, and she swallowed her bread.
“Aida Perkins,” she said. “And I’ve no doubt you all know who I am, or you wouldn’t have taken me from my home.”
Cole winked at her. “You catch on quickly there, darlin’,” he drawled. “But let’s hear who you are from your own lips. Who’s your daddy?” As the words left his mouth, he felt the reminder in his gut. Some would call him a sick bastard, but he loved making her call him Daddy. It made her squirm, and made his cock harden to see her reluctance to say the name.Daddy.
“George Perkins,” Aida said, lifting her chin defiantly. “Owns the ranch you all raided, and I’m his only daughter.” To Cole’s surprise, she offered no more information, and as she spoke of her father, her jaw clenched. There was something behind her shuttered eyes that looked like barely contained hatred. There was a reason why they’d been sent for her. He’d uncover that reason.
“Excellent,” Cole said, drawing himself to his full height as he turned to face them all. “We leave shortly, move as quickly as we can while the light of day shines. We should reach our destination by nightfall.”
To his surprise, Aida spoke up. “And where is your destination?” she asked.
He merely smiled at her and cocked his head. “Well now, darlin’,” he said. “I can’t be givin’ too many of our secrets away, now can I?” He sobered, his voice dropping, as he walked over to her and the men got busy clearing their dishes and preparing to move on. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “No need for you to worry about any of that. You just keep your eyes on me and do as you’re told, yeah?”
Though her lips were pursed and her eyes gleamed, she nodded. But they all froze, as seconds later, the sound of a horse’s hooves pounding in their direction caught their attention. Aida got to her feet. Cole grabbed her arm lest she thought to take advantage of the distraction and make a run for it. But she stood as still as he did.
