Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“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.
Chapter Five
I desire the things which will destroy me in the end. ― Sylvia Plath
The pounding of a horse’s hooves halted as a large steed came into view. Aida’s hand involuntarily went to her chest, though she stayed stock still with Cole’s hand on her elbow. She blinked, surprised that the rider was a woman not much older than herself, with a strange swath of fabric tied to her back. The woman had been riding hard, her eyes wide with terror, as she came to a halt.
“Help me!” she screamed. The men in the party looked at her in shock. Cole leaned close to Aida and whispered, “You run, I will catch you, and make that whipping I gave you look like child’s play.” She hadn’t thought of running, so intent was she on hearing what terrified the poor woman in front of her, but his hissed warning scared her nonetheless. She nodded. Cole released her and stepped up to the woman.
“Tell me why you need help.”
Aida looked quickly at the other men around her. Justice was unmoved, his cold eyes calculating, but Junior’s hand was on his gun, Doc had stood and now his arms were on his chest, and Preach was standing in a sort of half-crouching position, as if ready to pounce. These men had kidnapped Aida and she’d been treated brutally, but they were not unmoved by a damsel in distress. Aida watched, fascinated.