The men nodded and started the search. Oliver tried to turn his horse but Melvin still held the reins.
“Ollie…”
“Yes,” he replied.
“You have to keep your head now, son,” Melvin stated calmly. “You and I both know that this is his plan. He’s trying to get to you. He’s trying to unravel you, maybe get you into more trouble.”
Oliver’s teeth ground together. “You think I don’t know that? This is my fault.”
“Ollie…”
“No!” he snapped. “Rayner took her because of me, because he knows I care about her. He knows she means something to me and I mean something to her. That’s why he did this.”
Melvin nodded. “The note he left you seemed to say as much, but that doesn’t make this your fault. Rayner is the one who is lookin’ for trouble. Don’t you let him find it.”
“Melvin, I didn’t start this, but I ain’t gonna let Rayner finish it,” Oliver growled. “I’m gonna finish this.”
“Don’t let your anger get you or Miss Amelia in trouble,” the other man cautioned. “You can’t be sure what Rayner has up his sleeve. You have to keep a level head about you. Be ready for anythin’.”
Oliver nodded. “Fine.”
Melvin looked at him skeptically.
“I mean it. I’ll keep calm,” Oliver assured Melvin. “I won’t risk Amelia’s life over this.”
“I know you won’t, but she’s not the only one I’m worried about,” Melvin admitted. “I’m worried about how far you’d go to protect her.”
“I’d risk my life,” Oliver replied adamantly.
“That’s what I thought,” Melvin replied. “I’m sure Rayner thinks so, too.”
“What’re you saying?”
“I’m sayin’ he might make it that you don’t have a choice, Ollie. He might make it so that there is only one way out. You or her.”
“It will never be her.”
“I’m sure he’s countin’ on that. Which means he might make things so that in the end, you’re the only one not left standin’.”
The words burned into Oliver’s heart. “If that’s what it takes to ensure Amelia’s safety, then so be it. I won’t let harm come to her because of me, because of the history between all of us.”
Melvin slowly released the reins. “Then you leave him with no choices,” he said coolly. His gaze met Oliver’s.
He nodded.
Oliver turned his horse toward the barn. He lowered himself from the animal’s back and looked around the barn. The place looked immaculate, just as he’d left it that morning. It seemed hardly possible that there could be any clues to Amelia’s whereabouts.
He groaned loudly. Why was this happening? Everything was going so well. Why did Rayner have to rear his ugly head? He smacked his fist against the post in frustration. “I’m gonna bring you home, Amelia. I swear to you. I’ll bring you home.”
Oliver began to search the barn. He checked the haystacks and then the stalls. There, pinned to the post with a knife, in the stall where Amelia’s horse was stabled, was a note. Oliver snatched it down and began to read.
I stopped by but you weren’t home. I decided to spend some time with your lady friend. She didn’t seem to want to stay indoors, so I took her for a ride. She’s such a frisky one. I can see why you like her so much. I like her too. If you want to see her again, come to the location on the map. Come alone, or things might get complicated.
Oliver’s heart thundered in his ears. He was right. Rayner had Amelia and now he was setting him up. “To what end?” he questioned. What did Rayner want? It had to be more than just a fight. Was it the ranch? His life? What?
“If only I knew,” Oliver murmured to himself as he contemplated his next act. He was going after Amelia, there was no doubting that, but would he go alone? Should he risk it? Logic told him to bring help, it was obviously a trap for him. However, fear told him to do as Rayner wanted. He didn’t want to risk Amelia’s life and he knew the man would stay true to his word and harm her if he thought it would benefit him.
“What map?” Oliver questioned. There was nothing else on the post. He turned the note over in his hand, and there, scribbled on the back, was a terrible makeshift drawing of an area on the outskirts of town.
Just out of Sheriff Manchester’s jurisdiction.
“Smart,” Oliver commented. “But not smart enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
There was a sound somewhere in the distance. It was a dull clanging or so it seemed. The noise broke the stillness in Amelia’s dreamless sleep. Her eyes fluttered but didn’t want to open. The moment they did the peaceful dark shattered under nausea-inducing light and the incessant pounding ache inside her head. Amelia groaned immediately and put both hands to her temples to still the ensuing spinning. She rolled onto her back and squeezed her eyes shut as another groan left her.
“You’re awake. About time,” a male voice stated flatly.
Amelia squinted against the light to try to find the source. She looked to her right and then her left, but it came from neither direction. She had to force herself up onto her elbows, and there, sitting across the room, was Rayner.
She shot upright. Instantly her head began to spin, the nausea increased, and the pounding in her head turned into a Roman charge. Her stomach lurched and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“I’d move more slowly if I were you,” Rayner stated. “I don’t expect your head’s feelin’ too nice right about now.”
“What…what happened? Where am I?” she murmured. Each word she uttered sounded like thunder clapping inside her head.
Rayner got up from his seat. The sound of his boots echoed in the half-empty room and made her headache even worse. She wanted to throw something at him to make him stop moving, but there was nothing. It was then she realized that her bed was a pile of rags on a dusty floor.
“Things would have been a lot easier for you if you’d just behave,” Rayner commented as he stooped beside her. “I wouldn’t have had to do that if you’d just done as you were told.”
“Where am I?” she repeated, ignoring his statement.
He grinned at her coldly. The sight made Amelia’s stomach knot. He was looking at her in that way again, as if she were a six-course meal.
“It doesn’t matter where you are. What matters is you’re never leavin’,” Rayner stated. He took hold of her chin. “This is where everythin’ ends for you.”
Amelia didn’t see it coming. One moment she was struggling to focus on the man before her and the next a solid fist was connecting with her cheek, casting her once more into darkness.
When she woke, she had no idea how long she was out, but the house was silent and dark. Her head was on the floor, her hands uncomfortably bound behind her back and the smell of mold was in her nostrils. The light of the fire, which had illuminated the room earlier, was now gone. There was not a single sliver of light in the room, the dark was stifling and Amelia widened her eyes in an attempt to see her surroundings.
Her heart galloped in her chest. “Hello?” she whispered.
Silence closed around her. She searched the dark for signs of movement but found nothing.
“Hello?” she called again.
Her ears strained to listen. Was he there? Where had he gone? Amelia only considered the questions for a moment before she began to struggle against her ropes. Her legs were also tied together. She tried to kick them free as her hands twisted vigorously. Her breaths came in sharp gasps as she tried to set herself free. She didn’t know how much time she had. She had to escape.
Amelia’s frustrations slowly began to build as her efforts proved fruitless. Sweat dripped from her nose as she continued to struggle. Eventually, her limbs began to ache with fatigue. She stopped to catch her breath. She lay on her side, tears in her eyes as she the horror of her situation set it.
What is he going to do with me?
She didn’t want to think of the answer. Her lips tremb
led as she tried to stop herself from crying.
What about Oliver? Rayner is using me to draw him here. Please God, don’t let Oliver come. Let him leave me.
She knew that would never happen. Oliver would come to save her and she was sure Rayner knew it too, which was why he’d taken her. What did he want with Oliver? What was this all about?
She heard the strike of the match as the orange flame awakened in the corner. Amelia gasped. He’d been there all the time, listening to her struggle to get free. How could he be so cruel? How could he know what she was doing, how afraid she must be, and say nothing?
He looked at her coolly. “I thought you were tryin’ to get away.” He smirked. “Looks like you might have got there with a little more time,” he continued. The light at the end of is cigar brightened as he took a long drag.
“You were there all the time? Why didn’t you answer me?”
“Why should I? I would have missed your escape attempt,” he mused. Amelia could see the smirk on his face as his cigar raised to his face.
She shook her head in disbelief. He was so cruel. She never could have imagined anyone could be so heartless.
They told you. You just didn’t want to believe it.
Amelia swallowed hard. What more was true? How awful was this man?
Her heart stampeded in her chest as she heard him stand. She followed the glowing light as it approached her. She tried not to panic, but it was difficult. What did he want? What was he going to do?
Rayne stooped beside her. His face hovered above hers, the light of the cigar casting his face in an orange glow while the heat radiated against her cheeks. She clenched her teeth to suppress the urge to cry.
“I thought Oliver would be here by now,” he said smugly. “Maybe I underestimated his regard for you.” Rayner reached down and ran his finger against her cheek. Amelia tugged away. She was scared but also glad that Oliver hadn’t rushed to save her and fallen into Rayner’s trap.
She started to twist her hands behind her back trying to get free.
“He isn’t stupid. He knows that you’re up to something,” she replied.
Rayner chuckled. “I’m countin’ on it,” he stated. “Though I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you. If I had a woman like you in my life, I wouldn’t have wasted time tryin’ to figure out how to protect myself.”
Amelia’s voice trembled as she responded. “You won’t do anything to me.” Her words were more to assure herself than a defense.
He grabbed her cheeks roughly. “Who told you that?”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
Rayner looked down at her, the smirk still lingering on his face. He squeezed her face harder. Amelia squeaked in pain.
“Why do you think I’d tell you that?”
“Because you want people to know what you’re doing,” she answered. “You want to show how you’ve won.” She held his hard gaze while her hands continued to work in the dark.
“This isn’t for you,” he replied. “This is for Oliver. He’s the one who needs to know.” Rayner’s expression hardened further. “It’s time he realized that I always get what I want, and nothing and no one can keep it from me. It doesn’t matter how long goes by. I always win.”
Win what?
“What is it you want? What do you win from this?”
Rayner shoved her face back and hit her head against the floor. She groaned as it connected and rolled over to watch him. Rayner moved away and moments later a fire ignited in the hearth. He poked at it, his cigar hanging from his lips and his back half-turned to her. He lowered himself into the chair he had occupied before.
“Let me go,” she pleaded. “Why are you bringing me into this? What did I do to you?”
Rayner turned coolly in her direction. “You were just convenient,” he replied.
Her brow furrowed. “Convenient?”
“I’ve looked for somethin’ to use against Oliver for years. He never had anythin’. All he had was that stupid ranch and Melvin.” He chuckled. “Then you came along. I watched as he began to transform, opening up, letting you in and suddenly that big heart of his was laid bare. It was time for me to rip it out.”
It felt as if a cold hand clenched around her heart. “You were watching all this time?”
Rayner took a long drag. “I’m always watching. I’ve been waitin’ for the right time…”
“Right time for what?” Amelia interrupted. Panic was crawling up her spine and taking over her mouth. “What is that you’re going to do?”
The laughter seemed to come from deep within him and then filled the room. Amelia thought she’d never heard anything so malevolent. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end and her stomach roil. She was almost too afraid to speak again.
“Stop laughing!” she shrieked. She didn’t know why but the sound was getting to her more than anything else, not the empty house, the absence of any idea of where she was or what was going to happen. His laughter was terror itself.
Rayner laughed harder. His eyes seemed to light up with pleasure at the sight of her distress.
“Stop it!” she repeated shrilly.
He’s enjoying this. He likes that you’re afraid.
She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction, but she couldn’t stop herself. Every foul thought she could conceive was rolling around in her mind.
“Why? You don’t like my humor?” he commented. He sucked on his cigar and blew a large cloud above his head. “I think I’m funny.”
“You’re evil,” she said unintentionally. Her heart clenched at his possible response. However, what he said next was even worse than she could have imagined.
Rayner leveled his gaze at her. “Now, that’s true.”
Amelia’s breath caught in her chest at his acceptance of the statement. She’d never met anyone who could say such a thing about themself.
“You looked surprised,” he commented. He took a short drag. “Did you think I’d deny it?” He smirked. “Others may lie but I don’t. I know exactly who I am and I don’t pretend to be anything else. I’m a villain, my dear. Always have been and always will be, and I’m pretty good at it, too. I’ve been getting away with my dirt for years. I’m what you might call an expert.”
Amelia’s mind couldn’t fathom what she was hearing. She could think of nothing worse than being called evil, yet Rayner accepted it with glee.
“How did you get this way?” she asked in disbelief.
Rayner chuckled. “What? Are we courtin’ now?”
Amelia refused to respond.
“Miss Amelia, you’re not here to understand me. You’re not here for me to pour out my heart and soul, or my tragic past. You’re here as bait. Plain and simple.”
“How can you see a person as bait? I’m a person.”
“No, you’re a means to an end.” He chuckled. “That’s the difference between people like you and people like me. You think you’re more important than you are.”
“And you? Do you think you’re important? That using people to get what you want makes you somebody?” Amelia countered.
“No. I understand that I am nothin’. I won’t be somethin’ unless I take what others have. So I do.” Rayner flicked the remnant of his cigar into the fire and blew the cloud of smoke up above his head.
“You really are evil,” Amelia muttered.
Rayner smiled. “Survival of the fittest,” he replied. “I just do what you won't. That’s why I’ll always have what you never will.”
“I don’t want what you have if these are the ways to get it,” Amelia replied.
“You say that now. That’s only because no one has ever pushed you far enough. Believe me, if you want it bad enough, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”
Amelia’s mind flashed to the night she left home. The promise of a better life had propelled her to run away from everything she knew, abandon her father and travel many miles to get what she wanted—happiness. She looked at Rayner q
uietly. Could she do what he was to get what she wanted?
“No!” she snapped. “Never. I could never be like you.”
“Suit yourself,” he replied. Rayner plucked another cigar from his breast pocket. He lit it with a match and tossed the still burning stick into the hearth. He smirked. “I’m sure Oliver sees it my way.”
Amelia’s heart grew cold. “He would never be like you.”
“You think that? Do you think that he wouldn’t do just about anythin’ to save you now? You saw what he was capable of when I had him arrested. I didn’t have to lie about that. He hit me first. Attacked me in the middle of the street. What do you think he’ll do now?”
For the Love of a Wounded Cowboy: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 23