by Golden Angel
Precious seconds to follow the unknown horseman.
Thankfully, the land was flat, and we could see him, even if he was just a tiny silhouette on the horizon. I clenched my jaw with anger as I saw the way Sassy’s legs, arms, and head were flopping. She must be unconscious. He was going to pay for that.
We’d promised to protect and cherish her, and today, we were failing on both fronts.
We followed him for several miles to a break in our fence, which had Clive and me exchanging hard looks. That was new. I’d just walked this line last week. It was damn lucky we hadn’t lost any cattle through it, although part of me was grateful the horseman hadn’t had to jump the fence with Sassy perched so precariously on his lap.
About a mile off our lands, near the river, we could see a campsite ahead. Smoke came from the fire, and the horseman with Sassy had slowed to a walk.
I grit my teeth, watching as two men jumped up to help lift her down from her kidnapper. They were touching our wife… none too gently either. As we came closer, I could see her head lolling.
One of the men was already backing away, holding onto her, while her kidnapper and the other man turned to face us, hands on their holsters. I don’t know why they didn’t draw, but they were going to regret not taking us seriously as a threat. Clive and I were damn fast with our draws, and these two didn’t look comfortable in their stances. We got down from Blaze and Thunder, stepping in front of them. The horses snorted but didn’t move.
A fourth man, one I hadn’t noticed until we were almost upon them, stood up next to the fire as Clive and I came to a halt about fifteen feet away. The man holding Sassy had stepped back beside the man next to the fire, so he could see her face.
Dark-haired and tall, his handsome face was ruined by a vicious red scar that ran across his entire face. His eye on that side was damaged. Whoever slashed him had gotten him right across it.
“That’s her,” he said, his voice filled with anger and satisfaction. His accent was different from Sassy’s, that of an English lord rather than a commoner. This had to be Lord Carmichael, come all the way from England to find her.
Remembering what Clive had said about her assaulting the man, I could only guess she’d been the one to give him the scar across his face. He hadn’t just been hunting her because he’d wanted her… he likely wanted revenge.
“That’s our wife,” Clive said coldly, making Carmichael finally turn to look at us.
His lip curled up in a sneer as he looked us over, clearly unimpressed.
“Then you should be thanking me for taking this whore off your hands.” He barked a short laugh. “Although I shouldn’t be surprised, a harlot like her would end up with two husbands. Apparently, she could only change her ways so far.”
Anger bubbled up in my gut, roiling and seething, and if I could have done so without endangering Sassy, I would have thrown myself at him right then.
“He said, that’s our wife,” I responded, my tone lethal. “Give her back to us, and we’ll let you go quietly and forget your insults to her.”
The lord’s eyes widened with incredulity. “Are you threatening me?”
It had taken him long enough to notice.
12
Sassy
* * *
Voices stirred through the darkness as my throbbing head drew me back to consciousness.
“I admit she’s a good fuck, gentlemen, but she’s hardly worth dying over.”
I recognized that voice, and it filled me with horror and despair. My head throbbed harder, and I fought back a whimper. Maybe if I could fall back into unconsciousness, I’d awaken again to find this was all a dream.
“I’m glad you feel that way.” That was Clive’s rough voice. Clive was here for me? Even though… even though… Anguish filled me as I remembered his anger, his fight with William. That hurt even more than my head did. “Hand her over, and you won’t have to die.”
“Has it escaped your notice that you’re outnumbered?” Lord Carmichael’s voice hardened, and my breath caught in my throat. Oh, God… my husbands were going to be killed, and it was all my fault.
My eyes popped open as I began to struggle against the arms holding me. I was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground, knocking the breath from me. The sight that met my eyes did nothing to make me feel better.
William and Clive were both there, hands on their holsters, glaring daggers at the two men standing in front of me. I could see my husbands through their legs. I glanced up to see Carmichael on my right, glaring at my husbands. Carmichael’s face was horrifically scarred, and I gasped when I saw my handiwork, jerking my gaze away. Twisting my head around, there was another unknown man standing behind me, blocking off any chance of escape.
I peeked at Carmichael again.
No wonder he’d chased me across the ocean and into the west. I had ruined his face and one of his eyes. Likely ruined his chances of a good marriage. How would he have explained such a scar? Most women of the ton would have run screaming at the sight, although there would likely have been those who would hold their noses for his title… though he wouldn’t have wanted to marry any of the latter.
He’d been one of most handsome men in England, and I’d taken that from him. I’d done more than reject him and steal from him—I’d taken away his face.
He was here for revenge.
None of the men looked at me, not even Carmichael, disregarding me as unimportant. They were all focused on William and Clive, who both snorted at Lord Carmichael’s words.
“Last warning,” Clive said, glaring at Lord Carmichael. I clapped my hands over my mouth, not wanting to distract them.
“Kill them,” Lord Carmichael snarled. I screamed as rough fingers grabbed my hair, pulling upward. The pain in my head intensified, my scalp burning, and I lashed out, kicking hard as the sound of gunshots filled the air.
Oh God, they’re dead, and it’s all my fault.
Tears burned my eyes, from more than the pain, and I found Carmichael’s hand in my hair. I grabbed onto him, digging in my nails, kicking and screaming for all I was worth.
I knew he meant to kill me, too, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for him. I felt my foot connect and dug in my nails harder, sinking them into the flesh of his hand, scratching like a hellcat.
I heard him bellow, then felt the blow across my face that left my ears ringing.
Another shout, more gunshots, horses whinnied, and more shouting. I couldn’t take in the words, couldn’t make sense of them. Everything was too chaotic. There was so much dust, and my eyes were full of tears, even though I hadn’t thought I had any left.
I kicked and kicked and kicked. Arms wrapped around me from behind, and I screamed so loud, it hurt my throat.
“Let go, Sassy, let go, sweetheart, I’ve got you,” William said in my ear, gentle, soothing.
I sank back against him, sobbing and blinking, only now realizing Lord Carmichael’s grip on my hair had loosened. William rocked back, pulling me onto his lap and holding me in his arms. I clung to him, selfishly taking in every drop of comfort he offered, even though I knew I didn’t deserve it.
The sound of fighting drew my gaze, and my eyes widened. The two men who had been standing in front of me were dead on the ground, blood stains on their chest. I couldn’t see them very well, they were too far away from me, but I could tell they weren’t moving. Just past them, Clive was rolling around with the man who had been standing behind me.
“Clive!” I whispered his name, jerking forward, but William held me back.
“Stop that, sweetheart. He’s enjoying himself.” William tightened his arms around me. “He’s got quite a bit of anger to work out.”
I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand any of this. How was this possible?
“Well, these guys seem more used to fists than pistols,” William told me, which was when I realized I’d asked the question aloud. “Clive and I got the draw on them, then I shot Carmichael while he was trying to d
rag you up in front of him as a shield.” His tone gave Carmichael’s title a sardonic twist. “Clive decided to jump on the last henchman and work out some of his issues, instead of shooting him, I suppose.”
“He’s dead?” I twisted around on William’s lap. Deep down, some part of me knew Carmichael was dead, or William wouldn’t be holding me, but I had to see for myself.
William tried to stop me from looking. “Sweetheart, don’t—”
“No, I need to see him,” I whispered, pushing his hand away from my face. “I need to see it for myself, William, or I’ll never believe it. Not deep down.”
He sighed but let me look.
I almost gasped again. I hadn’t realized Carmichael’s body was so close to us, only a few feet away. He was lying on his back, eyes wide open and sightless, staring at the sky. There were two holes in his chest, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Definitely dead.
The sight both unnerved and reassured me. I buried my face in William’s chest, almost wishing I hadn’t looked. Guilt welled at being reassured by a man’s death, even though I knew he wouldn’t have felt an ounce, causing mine or my husbands’ death, had the tables been turned. I didn’t like knowing I was the reason anyone had died.
Muttering a curse low, under his breath, William shifted around, his arms tightening around me as he got to his feet, easily lifting me.
“Clive, stop playing with him,” William barked out the command. “We need to get the Sheriff here.”
A new fear gripped my heart, and I lifted my head again.
“The Sheriff?” The question came out in a worried whisper, my throat too tight to speak any louder. “Aren’t you going to be in trouble for… for…”
Three dead men and one beaten into submission. Clive stood over the man he’d just been brawling with, tying his hands behind his back. If he and William faced any consequences, that would be my fault as well.
Why couldn’t I do anything right?
I was breathing faster, yet couldn’t get enough air, as if an iron band was squeezing my chest so tightly, I couldn’t really get a full breath. William gave me a little shake.
“Breathe, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned my head against his shoulder and whimpered. The pounding in my head returned with a vengeance as if someone was hammering on the inside of my skull.
“Sassy? Sassy, what’s wrong?” William sounded panicked.
“My head hurts.” I whimpered again, then everything went dark.
Clive
* * *
“Looks like he hit her good on the back of the head, but she should be fine after a couple day’s rest,” Doc said, packing up his kit. “All her other injuries are minor.”
William and I both breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing for the first time since Sassy had passed out in William’s arms. I’d taken her back home while William had raced to fetch the doc and the sheriff.
She looked so pale and small, lying in the middle of our big bed, lips tightened with pain.
“If the pain gets to be too much, give her a couple drops of this with some water.” Doc handed me a small glass bottle with a stopper. I curled my fingers around it, holding onto it as though it was precious. It kind of was, wasn’t it? I couldn’t stand the idea of Sassy in pain.
“Thanks, Doc,” William said, clapping the man on the shoulder. “We appreciate you checking her over.”
“Of course.” Doc glanced at her again and shook his head. “I hate to see one of our women laid low, but I can tell she’s a fighter.”
I chuckled. “You should see the other guys.”
If Sassy hadn’t started screaming and fighting, things wouldn’t have gone quite as easily. She’d distracted Carmichael and his last hired hand, making it a lot easier for William and me to take them down when we could have easily been shot instead.
Doc snorted. “So, I heard. I believe I have an appointment to see one of them in the jail when I’m done here.” He gave me a look.
I shrugged. I had no regrets. I’d had a lot of anger to work out. The man was still alive, wasn’t he? That was more than the others could say. We’d had to even the odds.
“When will she wake up?” William asked, still worried.
“Oh, anytime now, I’d say.” Doc nodded reassuringly. “It could be five minutes, it could be an hour. She’s had quite a day.”
Yes, she had. She was battered and bruised all over. My lips tightened, and I wished Carmichael’s death hadn’t been so quick. He’d deserved to suffer more. If I could have given him a bruise to match every one of Sassy’s…
But he was gone, and she wouldn’t have to be afraid, no threat hanging over her head.
We still needed to deal with her dishonesty, but not until she was fully recovered. My cock tried to rise when I thought about spanking her perfectly rounded ass until she was very sorry, she’d ever lied, but I pushed back the thought. That was days away.
Doc left, and William and I sat down on either side of the bed, each holding one of Sassy’s hands and watching her pale face for any sign of movement.
“We’re going to have to get back to the ranch, eventually,” I murmured unhappily. We both wanted to take care of her, but part of that included taking care of the ranch. If our source of income fell apart, we would all suffer. Yet leaving our wife alone when she was injured felt plain wrong.
William nodded reluctantly. “We could trade off. Just for the rest of today and tomorrow. See how she’s doing after that.”
Sassy stirred, causing us to fall silent. Sitting up alertly, we waited to see what happened. Her lips parted, her eyelashes fluttered, and a little moan escaped. William and I squeezed her hands, giving her whatever comfort we could.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, just relax, you’re safe,” William said soothingly. To my surprise, she did relax as soon as she heard his voice. I was glad he was there. I hadn’t even considered she might wake confused, not realizing she was safe.
Slowly, her eyes opened, and she focused on us, one after the other.
“Lord Carmichael is dead?”
“As a doornail,” I said quickly. Her eyes widened, and William coughed. Damn, might have been too crass. “How’s your head? The Doc left some medicine if it hurts too much.”
“It’s okay.” She winced, wrinkling her nose as though she wasn’t sure of what she’d just said. “I think. It doesn’t hurt as much as it did… it…” Her voice trailed off, eyes shifting, then she tried to jerk her hand back. I tightened my grip, and she stared up at me. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be nice?”
To my horror, tears sprung to her eyes.
“You… you were so angry. You called me… you called me a… lying whore.” Her voice dropped, whispering the last two words, and my heart dropped as well.
I hadn’t realized she’d heard that. Shame filled me, and I hung my head, but I didn’t let go of her hand—I couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, I was angry that you’d lied to us, but I should have never said that, never called you that.”
“He’s got a temper, but it moves fast,” William said, also sounding apologetic on my behalf. “He says things he doesn’t mean sometimes.”
“I’m working on it,” I added hastily. I was never going to call her that again. Just the hurt look in her eyes made my heart ache. “If I forget again, William will pop me a good one.”
Instead of smiling, her lips tightened. “I didn’t like you two fighting. Not over me. I’m not worth it.”
Both of us scowled down at her.
“The hell you aren’t,” I said.
“Yes, you are,” William said, right over top of me. “You’re worth everything, Sassy.”
The expression on her face was disbelieving, which made me scowl even harder.
“I don’t care that you lied to us. I mean, I do care, and we’re going to discuss that later,
” I quickly amended, “but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“How you feel about me?” Her eyes widened again.
“I love you.” There, I’d said it. Something inside me eased once I had the words out. I’d never said them to a woman, other than my mother, but it felt right… because it was. Sassy was my wife. I was still ticked she’d lied to us, but my anger didn’t diminish my feelings.
“And I love you,” William said, right on top of my confession.
Sassy’s eyes filled with tears, and her hand squeezed mine tight.
13
Sassy
* * *
“How… how can this be possible?” I wanted to believe them, I wanted to believe them so badly, but it didn’t make any sense.
They knew what I was, what I had been… how could they possibly love me?
“How could we not?” William asked, a small smile curving his lips. “Why wouldn’t we?”
Clive’s grin was a little lopsided. Despite his words earlier, I could see how sincere he’d been in his apology. Their hands were warm around mine, comforting, and neither of them was willing to let go.
“I was a whore,” I said baldly, bitterly, watching them for any change in their expression, but they just stared back.
“And now, you’re our wife,” Clive said, finality in his tone. “Are you planning on returning to being a whore?”
“No!”
“Are you going to go looking for pleasure with other men for the fun of it?” William asked.
“No!” I would have shaken my head, but the smallest movement sent a little jab of pain through my skull, and I immediately stilled. Both of them were already leaning forward, looking at me closely.
“Are you alright?”
“Don’t shake your head like that, sweetheart.”
My lips pressed together as a sob rose in my chest. They settled back into their places on the bed, steadily regarding me. Did my past really not matter to them? It had seemed to matter a great deal to Clive.