The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal

“You’re safe here. No one will hurt you.” His intensely blue eyes drilled straight through her, invading her mind, probing her heart. If only she could accept his words, allow herself to settle back and feel safe.

But she had Belle to consider. Besides, no decent man would ever look at her without judgment or lust in his eyes. She’d performed dances that made her grateful her mother couldn’t see. And men touched her, their hands soiling her soul every bit as much as Thorton’s belt damaged her body.

“I can’t stay,” she murmured, unable to break from his promising gaze. “Please take me back.”

He straightened. “Never.” His eyes blazed. “I saw how that man treated you.”

She lowered her gaze. “I can take it.”

He perched on the edge of the bed. “I understand how you fear him, but there is no need. He can no longer harm you. No one here will let him.”

Linette murmured agreement.

“So you rest and get better. Things will sort themselves out. You’ll see.” He patted her hand.

She nodded. Obviously she was going to get no help from him or likely anyone here. They all saw themselves as noble rescuers. But she would find her way back. She must.

Ward watched her closely. “Your coloring is coming back. That’s good.”

Self-consciously she brushed her hands over her hair. For half a wooden nickel she would shave off that offensive red hair. Wouldn’t Thorton find that idea just lovely? “I’d like to get up now.”

Ward shook his head. “Think you better give your head a chance to get back to normal.”

“For all you know, this is normal.” He knew nothing about her or her circumstances and she was happy to leave it that way.

Ward’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “You forget I saw how nimble you are on your feet.”

He was too close, too big, practically blocking everything else from view. “I still am. Let me show you.” She shoved him aside and swung her feet to the floor, feeling the blood drain from her face. Her skin grew clammy. No way could she stand up without clutching support. For sure she couldn’t do anything nimble. But he didn’t need to know it. She pulled in a breath, sucked strength from it and forced her legs to hold her upright. “See? I’m fine.”

But by the way Ward hovered at her side and the anxious look on Linette’s face, she knew she had not convinced them.

“I’ll just sit a moment on that chair.” She indicated the hardback chair a few feet away.

Ward jerked it closer. She didn’t know if she should be annoyed that he didn’t think she could walk that far or grateful that she didn’t have to prove she could. Her knees waited until she reached the chair before they buckled. Still she sat straight, trying hard to convince everyone in the room she was okay. It was hard to say if either of the others thought she was fine. She knew she wasn’t.

She could not make it back to the saloon without help.

Help was not to be found from Ward or Linette.

Where would she find it?

“I’ll let you handle her.” Ward nodded toward Linette and headed for the door. He paused, turned to consider Red. “I’m glad you’re on the mend and hope you’ll soon feel safe here.”

She scowled at him with all the strength she could summon from her uncooperative body. What right did he have to come into her life and complicate matters? He knew absolutely nothing about what was at stake.

She could not continue staring at him. It made her head hurt like fury. She settled for simply nodding—let him think what he wanted from that—then lowered her gaze and studied her fingers, noting how they twisted together until there were spots of white and red. Let them think what they wanted about that, too. Put it down to tension or pain. They would never guess how worried she was.

Ward finally left, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

Determination filled her, giving her strength to remain sitting upright. “I’m fine,” she insisted.

She had to get her strength back. But with Linette hovering, she couldn’t move. “I think I’d like to rest now.”

Linette hurried to her side and held her elbow.

She let Linette ease her to the inviting bed, and snuggled down like she meant to have a long sleep. Linette spread an afghan over her, then tiptoed from the room. Red sighed. It was tempting to close her eyes and give in to the lethargy of her body.

But that would not get her back to Belle.

She remained tense, waiting for Linette’s footsteps to fade, then she pushed herself to the side of the bed and took deep breaths to stop the dizziness. Holding carefully to the frame on the foot of the bed, she again made her way to the window and rested her forehead on the glass. Men went back and forth outside. Too many for her to slip away unnoticed. Even if she had the strength.

But she must find the strength somewhere. Somehow.

Too bad she no longer believed God would help her or she would pray for His intervention.

Chapter Two

“Boys.” Eddie stepped into the cookhouse as the cowboys ate their breakfast. “Red is missing.”

Ward dropped his fork and stared. Yesterday she could barely stand. Now she was gone?

Eddie continued. “Her room was empty when we got up this morning. I’m telling you, Linette is some concerned about her. Figures she’s lost her memory again and is wandering about, lost and alone. Or worse, passed out somewhere.” He scrubbed at his neck. “Boys, we have to find her before Linette gets it into her head to go looking. We can’t have that. Especially in her condition.” Linette was in the family way, and Eddie worried constantly about her.

Ward was already on his feet. “I’ll check the barn.” He was out the door while Eddie ordered men to various corners of the yard to search for the missing woman.

Ward raced to the barn. Had she wandered out in the dark? Fallen in the river? He shuddered as he imagined her alone. Further injured. Suffering. He’d rescued her from a harmful situation. He could only pray she hadn’t fallen into a worse one. The door squawked a protest as he pushed it open and stepped into the warm, dusty interior. “Red,” he yelled, wondering if she could hear his voice. Would she respond even if she did? He headed down the alley, paused at the first stall. It was empty. The horse that should be there was gone.

Gone? Had the animal let himself out? Probably not, since it was Moon that should have been in that stall and Moon liked the comforts of the barn too much to wander.

Suspicion crept into Ward’s thoughts. Red kept saying she wanted to go back. He went to the tack room and counted the saddles. Sure enough. One missing.

His jaw clenched. Even though he knew it was useless to search the rest of the barn, he did so. More out of wishing she was here than thinking she was. Then he headed back to the cookhouse. Eddie paced the floor, waiting for someone to return with good news to ease his wife’s worry.

“’Fraid I have bad news,” Ward said. “There’s a horse missing. And a saddle.” Even though Eddie looked ready to chew nails, he might as well tell it all. “There were small footprints in the dust. Lady-sized.”

Eddie groaned. “She stole a horse? Don’t hardly call that gratitude. Do you?”

Ward didn’t say one way or the other. “I’ll ride after her and get the horse.”

“You do that.”

Ward hesitated. Did Eddie want him to turn Red over to the Mountie as a horse thief? Though Ward was beginning to think the only place Red would be safe was behind bars.

“Just get the horse back.” Eddie spun about and paced to the far side of the room. He stared out the window as Ward waited. With a gut-deep sigh, Eddie turned. “And bring her back, too, or Linette will have both our hides.”

“Boss, you expect me to tie her to the saddle?”

Eddie grinned. “Ward, charm her into coming back.”

“Yeah, right.” So far neither charm nor superior strength had convinced Red she didn’t need to go back to that man Thorton. “Why in the name of all that’s right would she want to return?”

“I don’t know. Doesn’t make sense. He must have some hold on her, though I can’t imagine what it could be.”

Ward turned and headed back to the barn. Whatever Red’s reason, he intended to stop her. No way he could stand by and see a person subjected to the abuse he knew she received. As he saddled up, he prayed for a way to convince her. And, Lord, keep her safe. In her condition she could have fallen from the horse and received further injury.

Following her tracks presented no challenge and he galloped down the trail. The sun rose higher in the east, bringing with it the promise of heat.

Was Red in that silly dress she clutched in her arms yesterday? If so, she’d soon be burnt a matching color. Though anyone riding back into her situation deserved to suffer some misery. Might make her reconsider her decision.

But worry soon replaced his annoyance. And a large dose of confusion. He knew firsthand the pain and fear of living with someone who controlled with fists to the flesh and a belt across the back...or anywhere it landed. Why would she return to such a situation? Eddie said the man must have a hold on her. But Ward couldn’t imagine what that could be.

He settled into a lope. An hour later he glimpsed her in the distance and urged his horse to a gallop.

As he closed the distance, she turned, saw him and kicked poor old Moon into a jarring trot. Ward knew from experience how rough a ride Moon was and almost felt sorry for her.

He easily overtook her, grabbed the bridle and pulled them to a standstill. “What do you think you’re doing?” At least she’d chosen to wear the brown dress rather than the revealing red one.

“I’m going back where I belong.” Her green eyes blazed with defiance.

“You know the kind of trouble you can get into for stealing a horse?”

“About the same you will be in for kidnapping me.”

“Kidnapping!” She had to be joshing. “I rescued you.”

“Don’t recall saying I needed rescuing.”

He reached out and touched her back where he’d seen the red welts and knew a fleeting sense of triumph when she flinched. “You planning to tell me you like that kind of treatment?”

“Wasn’t planning to tell you anything.”

“I know what it’s like to have a belt used on me. I know what it does to your mind.”

Her eyes darkened. She pressed her lips together. For a moment he thought she might soften. Admit the pain. Relent. But then her shoulders went back and her chin went up and he knew she wouldn’t give in.

“Nothing touches my mind.”

Ward shrugged. “You’ll never convince me, ’cause I know better. Not only does it affect your mind, it affects your heart. Teaches you to build guards around it so no one can get in.”

“Speak for yourself.” She jerked away and urged the horse forward.

He grabbed the bridle again. “You ain’t going anywhere.”

She yanked at the reins, trying to get free. When that didn’t work, she slapped his hands, tried to kick his horse.

“Stop it.”

“Let me go.”

They stared at each other, both breathing hard. He knew his eyes were as hard and unyielding as hers, which blared brittle, green shards. “Why would you want to go back to such a situation?”

He could feel her measuring him, trying to gauge him. He could see her throat work as if she struggled to swallow.

Finally she nodded. “He has my little sister. Belle’s only eight.”

The words thundered through him. A person would do anything to protect a little sister...or brother. Hank was only six when Ward left, Travers, thirteen. He did a little mental arithmetic. That was seven years ago. How had time passed so quickly, silently...sadly?

He wished he could know if leaving had made it better for Hank and Travers.

“Has he hurt her?” Each word ripped a piece of flesh from his heart.

All the starch left Red and she sank forward. “You talk about how cruel treatment touches the mind and heart. I see it in her. But so far I’ve protected her from worse.” She scrubbed at her eyes. “I have to get back to her.”

He understood that there were other kinds of torture, especially for a little girl. He nodded and together they rode onward. “We need to get her out of there. You, too.” Though technically Red was out of the situation, he now understood why she would return. Why she felt compelled to.

“He will never let us go.”

He heard the resignation in her voice. But he wasn’t about to accept defeat. This time he would fight to make sure a man like Thorton could not continue to rule by the power of his fists. “Have you ever considered going to the Mountie?”

“Thorton never lets us out together unless he’s with us. If I ever went to the Mountie on my own, I fear what would happen to Belle.”

“I figured as much.” He considered the situation for the next few miles. “Here’s the plan. I’ll go with you to the Mountie and he’ll make Thorton release your sister.”

Red didn’t answer for a moment as she studied his suggestion. Finally she nodded.

He considered her from under the brim of his hat, wondering if she only pretended to agree. He was learning she didn’t easily go along with plans others suggested. More than that, he understood why she would agree to something with her mouth while dissenting with her mind.

The sun reached its zenith as they neared town. It blared down on them without pity. One of the first buildings was the Mountie station. A horse stood patiently at the front. Hopefully it belonged to the lawman. Their whole plan rested on him being there.

Ward swung from his saddle and hustled over to help Red dismount. He guessed from the way she pursed her lips she might have protested but reconsidered and allowed it with barely a hesitation and likely only because her leg hurt. But after she gained her feet she pulled away so they marched side by side toward the door. Ward fell back to let her step in first.

The Mountie sat behind a desk, writing in some sort of ledger. He glanced up at their arrival. Ward got the feeling he saw them both in detail but his eyes lighted on Red and he slowly rose to his feet. “Thorton said you’d been kidnapped. This man the one responsible?”

Ward’s neck tingled. His plan didn’t include getting arrested and maybe hung.

“He didn’t seem particularly worried about it, I might add. Said you’d be back soon enough.” The Mountie considered Ward from head to toe, no doubt silently examining him for a weapon.

Ward could assure him he carried no hidden pistol or knife. In fact, he kind of counted on the Mountie’s authority to accomplish what they needed. “I didn’t kidnap her. She was injured. I took her to a friend to be doctored.”

“That right, miss?”

Red dismissed his question with a wave of her hand. “I’m here to tell you the truth.”

“Always interested in the truth.”

“Thorton’s got my little sister under lock and key. That’s how he knew I’d be back.”

The Mountie came to rigid attention. “That’s a serious charge. One I intend to follow up on.”

“We’re counting on it.”

He grabbed his wide-brimmed Stetson. “Let’s go talk to Thorton Winch.”

Ward and Red trotted after the Mountie. Red would have burst into the saloon ahead of him but he pressed her back. “I’ll deal with this.”

Ward could feel Red’s hot impatience as they followed the Mountie inside. Mr. Winch jolted his chair to all fours when he saw the three of them. “Told you she’d be back.”

“She tells me you have her little sister locked up here.”

Thorton chuckled loudly. “She’s addled. Don’t know why I keep her.” But Ward saw the evil glint in the man’s eyes and knew he would beat Red unmercifully if he got his hands on her.

Ward didn’t intend he should get the chance.

“Have a look, Constable.” Thorton waved his arm to indicate the whole place was open to him.

“I’ll show you where she is.” Red stomped past Thorton, being sure to stay out of arm’s reach.

Ward and the Mountie followed.

Red threw open the door to a tiny room with a narrow bed against one wall. But the place was as clean and tidy as an unused manger. “She’s gone.” Before either man could think, she dashed back to the grinning Thorton and tried to claw his eyes out. “What have you done with her? Tell me.”

The Mountie peeled her off the man. “Sorry to bother you,” he murmured to Thorton.

Red broke from the Mountie’s grasp and raced outside.

Ward noted that Thorton appeared totally unconcerned. The man knew he had Red in his clutches.

Without a doubt his ace was Belle, Red’s little sister.

Where had he hidden her?

* * *

Red swallowed back a yard-wide wail as she stood in the center of the street. She stared the full length one way. Where was Belle?

She turned slowly and studied the other side of town. Slowly her thoughts settled. Thorton would not let Belle go if for no other reason than it forced Red to dance for the despicable creature who considered himself her owner. Belle was around here somewhere. Close enough that Thorton could mock Red’s frustration. She shuddered. He delighted as much in tormenting Red as in anything else.

Where would he hide Belle? Likely any number of men would help him. Men of the same quality as he. Like Mr. Shack, who ran the feed store. Or dirty Old Mike Morton, who worked at the livery barn. Mike had a little cabin behind the barn where the owner allowed him to live.

The perfect place to lock up a little girl.

Without a backward glance or a considering thought, she steamed down the street, crossed behind the store to avoid being seen approaching the livery barn. She reached the tiny cabin. Sure enough, it was locked solid and the windows were boarded up tight as a drum. She tapped the door. “Belle?”

Did she hear a rustling? “Belle?” She dare not call loudly and alert any of Thorton’s willing cohorts, but she was certain something—or likely someone—moved inside.

The padlock was solid. No way she could hope to break it.

The wood on the windows was thick and nailed to last eternity.

No willing tool stood ready for her use. She glanced toward the sky, her frustration longing to escape in a scream. But she bit back any sound.

She looked to the right and the left. Saw the woodpile behind the store. Where there was wood, there was an ax. Exactly what she needed. She clambered over the debris between the yards, found the ax with its head buried in a log, wriggled it loose and stomped back to the shack. Gritting her teeth, she swung the ax with all her might against the padlock. When it refused to give, she attacked the door. Chips flew but the door did not give way. Again and again she swung. If only she was stronger she could inflict real damage.

The racket brought Old Mike from the barn. “Whatcha’ think you’re doin’? That’s my house. Get away.”

When he tried to drive her off, she swung the ax at him.

He wisely backed off.

The storekeeper and several other men joined him in a knot.

“Someone fetch Thorton. He’ll put a stop to this.”

“Yeah. Seems he’s the only one who can make her behave herself.”

Their words lent power to her arms and she swung harder. Now she could see inside. “Belle, keep back. I’m going to free you.”

“Who’s she talking to?”

“She’s strange. Just like Thorton says.”

A whole section of the door gave way. Holding the ax ready to use as a weapon, Red poked her head through the opening. Belle sat shivering on a crude bed. “Belle, honey. It’s me. Come here.” She held out her arms.

Belle’s eyes were wide and staring.

What had these men done to her in the three days that Red had been missing? She swung about and faced them, the ax lifted like a sword. “Anyone touch either of us and I’ll leave you in pieces.”

The men kept back a safe distance.

She turned back to her sister. “Belle, come here. I’ll look after you. Just like I always do.”

Whimpering, Belle slipped from the bed.

“What’s going on here?”

Red slowly turned to face the Mountie with Thorton on one side and Ward on the other.

“She’s trashed my house.” Mike pointed. “Arrest her, I say.”

“Red, what are you doing? Give me the ax.” The Mountie gingerly reached for her weapon.

Red didn’t budge. Didn’t offer to release it. Nor would she until Belle was safe and sound. “Have a look for yourself.” She stepped aside and indicated the Mountie should look in the hole.

He watched her carefully as he edged forward. She kept her back to the shack as she watched the circle of men for any threat, but she knew the moment the Mountie saw Belle because of his indrawn breath. “Come on, child. You’re safe now.”

Red kept her eyes on Thorton. She saw his intention to escape and sprang forward, waving the ax.

Ward also saw his intention and grabbed an arm and twisted it behind Thorton’s back.

The Mountie lifted Belle through the opening. She glanced about at all the men and pressed her back to the shack.

Red dropped the ax and held her arms out. Belle hesitated a moment, then raced to her sister.

“Thorton Winch,” the Mountie said, “I’m arresting you for kidnapping and a number of other charges. Take a good look at the sky. You won’t get many more chances.”

As he was led away, Thorton turned to Red. “Don’t think this is the end. I’ll get away and I’ll find you.”

The Mountie jerked his arms. “You aren’t going anywhere.

“Mike Morton, you are under arrest, too. Ward, would you bring him along?”

Thorton gave Ward a look fit to cure leather. “I’ll find you, too, and make you regret your part in this.”

The Mountie pushed him along.

The men shrank away, muttering they didn’t know about a child. She expected most of them told the truth.

In a few minutes Red and Belle were alone.

“What are we going to do?” Belle whispered.

“We’ll be fine.”

“Who’s going to take care of us?”

“We’ll take care of ourselves.” She spoke so reassuringly she almost believed her words. But she had no money. No clothing except the dress on her back and grateful she was for the brown one Linette had given her. But they had their freedom.

“Let’s go.” She took Belle’s hand and headed out of town, a different direction than the one that had brought her back a few hours ago.

“Where we going?”

“To a new life.” One, she vowed, where she would never again depend on a man. Or trust one.

They marched bravely onward until Belle dropped to the edge of the trail.

“We’re lost. And I’m hungry.” Silent tears trailed down her pale cheeks.

Red hated those tears and that silent cry, even though she felt like sitting at Belle’s side and joining her in a good wail. Her leg hurt even though she’d looked at it closely when Linette changed the dressing last night and knew it was a minor injury. Her head pounded like a thousand horses kicking to be released. “We’ll be okay.”

Belle shook her head. Not that Red blamed her for not believing. She had no plan. No options. “Come on. We can’t sit at the side of the road feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Belle didn’t move.

Red dried her sister’s tears on the skirt of the brown cotton dress. “Something will work out. It always does, doesn’t it?” Even though she said the words, she could think of too many times when things had gone wrong to be convincing.

“Can I call you Grace now?”

Red looked past Belle to the low bushes beside the trail. “I’ll never be Grace again. Continue calling me Red.” She yanked on a lock of hair. Why had she been cursed with hair that drew unwanted attention?

Belle sprang to her feet. Her eyes widened as she stared down the road. “Someone’s coming.” She bolted for the bushes.

“Belle, wait.” But Belle didn’t slow until she was well out of sight.

Red shared her sense of panic. Had Thorton escaped? She squinted at the approaching rider. He led a second horse. That fact alone sent shivers up and down Red’s spine. Slowly she backed away, aiming for the opposite side of the trail as Belle. That way if Red was caught, Belle might hope to escape.