The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal

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.