by Rye Hart
"I can rescue myself," Marianna said a bit too hotly. She pulled back from him, the sensation of his hot breath on her ear still lingered. It had sent a shiver down her spine and, for a moment, she had forgotten that they were still very much in danger. She didn't need herself becoming distracted by Larsen, especially since she still was a little bit angry with him as he had been the reason she had been tied up in the first place.
"I can see," he drawled. "How about you follow me around back; I was able to get us a horse." He brought his arm around to capture Marianna by the waist and guide her away from the small cabin that she had been held captive in.
Marianna allowed him to guide her without protest. She was still caught off guard by his sudden appearance, and wondered how he had been able to avert the bandits and find her.
On the other side of the cabin, a horse was tied to a post. Marianna recognized it as the mare that the leader of the bandits had been riding.
"What happened to the horse we had been riding?" she asked cautiously.
Larsen whispered back, "She took off. I suspect she is already back home."
"But how did you get away?" she asked curiously.
Larsen chuckled. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he replied.
Marianna raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh?" she questioned.
Larsen motioned toward the horse. "How about we get ourselves out of here before we go into the logistics of how I escaped," he teased lightly.
Marianna shot him a hard look, but her eyes twinkled with laughter. She was surprised that almost being murdered by bandits, kidnapped, and then barely escaping could have her in such a good mood. She was pretty sure that she had started to lose her sanity the moment that she had arrived in Texas — or was it when she first laid eyes on Larsen?
Larsen helped her onto the horse and then swung up behind her. As he brought his arms around to secure his hold on the reigns, Marianna leaned back against his strong chest. She liked how she felt secure, safe even, despite the fact that a group of hardened criminals could jump out at any moment.
"Are we heading back to your ranch?" she asked as Larsen turned the horse away and urged the animal into a gallop.
"No," he stated firmly. "It isn't safe at the moment. By tomorrow my Bessie should be back at the ranch, which will alert my workers that something is wrong.”
"Wouldn't they have figured that out when we didn't return before dark?" she questioned.
Larsen shrugged. "Not always. It's a long journey, and sometimes I stay in town for the night."
"Oh," Marianna exclaimed. "But how will you know Bessie will make it back to the ranch?"
"Because she is resourceful," he spoke into Marianna's hair. Larsen brought his hand up to touch her chafed wrists. "A lot like you," he added gently.
Marianna felt the hairs on her arms raise, and her body shivered where he touched her. She thought his hand lingered on her wrist a little longer than necessary, and she was surprised that she enjoyed the sensation. She felt a little guilty that she liked how Larsen looked at her and reveled in the way it felt to have his body pressed up against her back. She had only lost Kevin a few months ago, she shouldn't already be thinking about the touch of another man so quickly. But this was the man to whom she was considering marriage. Was it so awful that she didn’t mind the way she felt with him?
Something stirred within her when Larsen Dover was near, something she had never quite felt with Kevin. This feeling was exhilarating, enticing, and just a little bit frightening. Yet, despite her trepidation, she felt the urge to embrace the feelings that she had unknowingly begun to develop for Larsen.
She moved her hand out of his grasp and brought it to settle over his own hand. With a gentle ease, she guided his hand around her waist so that he held her securely against him. "I don't want to fall," she whispered shyly, but she knew that the real reason was because she enjoyed the way it felt to be in his strong arms.
"I would never let that happen," he said gently as his lips brushed the top of her head.
Marianna had had more excitement in her life in the past few weeks since arriving in Texas, than she had in her whole eighteen years living in Valley Springs. She had no idea she could be so resilient, yet so far she had survived a fire, bandits, and a kidnapping all in in the course of two weeks. Had she known that her world would be so different, she wasn't sure the old her would have agreed to come out here. But the new Marianna was glad she did.
Marianna allowed her eyes to close and her mind to drift, assured in the knowledge that she was safe with Larsen. The horse galloped in a steady rhythm, while the nighttime noises echoed around them. She didn't know where he was taking her, but she felt confident that it was somewhere safe.
Chapter Ten
Marianna came awake when she felt Larsen nudge her gently.
"We need to go on foot from here," he said softly. He slid off the horse and helped the still sleepy Marianna to descend. With a swift motion, he slapped the horse's rear and sent the animal into a rapid gallop away from them and back into the night.
"Why would you send it away?" Marianna gasped in horror. She wondered how they would ever get back without their only mode of transportation.
"He would simply lead the kidnappers right to us. It is best to send the horse back to its owner and throw them off our scent," he explained.
"But where will we go?" she protested.
"Into the cliffs," he motioned behind her.
Marianna turned around and gasped as her vision adjusted to take in a large outcrop illuminated by the full moon. "We’re going where?"
"Here," he reached for her, "take my hand."
Marianna felt hesitant about climbing into the cliffs, but as soon as her hand slid into Larsen's large strong palm, she instantly felt safe. "If you say so," she relented.
The hike into the cliffs was brutal, but Marianna refused to allow Larsen to see how taxing it was for her. As they treaded up a narrow path on the side, she did her best not to look down. It was Larsen's confidence that kept her calm and assured her that they weren't going to walk right off the cliff.
"We are here," he finally said, breaking the long silence that had descended over them as they had climbed.
"Where?" Marianna looked around her. They were standing on an outcrop shielded by a few overhanging rocks.
"There is an entrance to a tunnel." He guided her around the little bend.
"A tunnel to where?" she questioned.
"To the edge of my property," he explained. "My lands are quite expansive and this outcrop marks one of the farther edges of it. I discovered this tunnel in the cliffs several years ago. We should be safe here."
Marianna trusted that Larsen knew what he was doing. There were still questions in her mind about Larsen’s background that remained in her mind, but she knew she would raise them at the right time. For now, she chose to take his lead because it felt right.
"Once it starts to get light out, we can make our way through. It's not too long of a walk."
"And until then?" she asked.
"We will have to stay the night," he stated calmly.
Marianna nodded that she understood. But as she agreed, she felt a gust of wind whistle past her and send a chill down her spine. She brought her arms around her chest, and she could feel her teeth rattle slightly.
Larsen responded the moment he saw she was cold. "Here," he took off his thick cowhide jacket and brought it around Marianna's petite frame. "I would build a fire, but I don't want to alert anyone that we are here."
"I understand," Marianna replied. She clutched at the corners of Larsen's jacket, it was large and warm and it smelled like him; like musk and sandalwood. It was oddly comforting, yet it all felt like too much. Marianna felt her resolve crack and the intense pressure of the situation they had just survived weighed her down; she felt tears sting her eyes.
Larsen must have seen the wet gleam in her eyes reflected in the moonlight, as he instantly moved forward to bring Marianna
into a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I should never have brought you here," he said.
Marianna sniffled. "I wouldn't change that you brought me here," she said softly in between a few hiccups.
Larsen went still. "But I have already brought so many problems into your life," he said in his enticingly deep voice.
"My life was already far more complicated before you," she confessed. She turned her face up to meets his, their gazes connected through the dim light that seeped into their stone shelter.
As their eyes met, Marianna wondered if Larsen would kiss her. Kevin had been the only man who had ever kissed her before, and even then, it had been short and chaste. But here, all alone with a man she barely knew, Marianna longed for him to bring his lips down to meet hers. She wanted to know what it would feel like to push up on her tippy toes, slide her arms around his neck, and feel the roughness of his thick beard as it brushed against the soft skin of her cheeks. She could feel those cheeks heating and she hoped that Larsen couldn't see her blushing through the moonlight.
Larsen cleared his throat gruffly. "It will be dawn soon, so we won't have to wait here for long," he muttered. His voice sounded thick and hoarse as if he was struggling with himself.
"I see," Marianna mumbled. She retracted her arms from where she had brought them around his waist when she was seeking comfort. She started to move away when he stopped her.
"Wait," he said as he caught her hand up in his.
Marianna looked at him expectantly.
"We will need to sit together, for warmth," he explained.
Marianna simply nodded her agreement and allowed Larsen to lead her to a spot on the rock floor. He showed her where to sit, and when she was comfortable, he moved in next to her. She tried not to think of the close proximity of their bodies.
She was starting to get an idea of who Larsen Dover was. He was a lot more complicated than she had originally anticipated. When she had agreed to come out west to see if she could even marry him, she thought she would first have to understand his motivations for marriage. But after her short time on the ranch, she had already seen how it wasn't just her who was interviewing him for a potential spouse, but Larsen was testing her too. After she had met his two boys, she understood why he had written to his family requesting to send him someone who could care for them like a mother. The thought behind his action demonstrated how kind, thoughtful, and caring he was underneath the thick beard and manly demeanor. She felt like she had finally started to crack his hard character, and she liked what she saw.
As she drifted off to sleep once again in his arms, she hoped they would be able to find out why they were targeted by the bandits. She hoped that everything on the ranch was okay and that Marshal and Elijah were safe while they were gone. She knew they could trust most of Larsen's ranch hands, especially James, to watch over the boys while they were away. But a nagging voice in the back of her mind warned her to be wary and that the attack was no coincidence.
Chapter Eleven
This time when Marianna awoke, the sun was streaming through the small entrance to the tunnel. The sunshine was a welcoming sight after what had been a long and difficult night. She was still wearing Larsen's jacket, but its enigmatic owner was nowhere in site. Marianna wasn't worried as she had a feeling that she knew exactly where Larsen was.
She picked herself up and turned toward the inner part of the tunnel. At the very end, she could see a small sliver of light and she suspected Larsen would be on the other side.
She made her way down the tunnel, allowing the slowly growing light to be her guiding point. When she made it to the end, she had to shield her eyes from the blaring brightness of the sun. She took a look outside the exit and was surprised to see that it opened on to an easy path that led down into a landscape that resembled an oasis. A small stream was barely concealed by a few trees. And as she glanced down, she saw a figure jump into the crystal clear waters.
She decided to be bold and make her way down the path to join him.
At least that was her plan, until a rough arm snagged her from behind.
Marianna screamed, but her cries for help barely echoed off the walls around her, let alone reach Larsen's ears.
"Shut up," a frighteningly familiar voice barked at her.
Marianna struggled to turn around and face her assailant. She let out a gasp when she saw that Marcus Maine, Larsen's ranch manager, was the one that held her in a vice-like grip.
"It's you!" she accused, as she tried to break free from him. Marianna had suspected that there was something suspicious about Marcus. He disliked her from the moment she arrived. His arrival in to this very spot, so soon after their attack, couldn't be coincidence.
"Stupid girl," he muttered. He quickly overpowered Marianna and used his force to tie her hands in front of her.
Marianna's wrists were still raw from the bindings that had held her captive the previous night. These fresh bindings chafed the sensitive skin and pained her greatly.
"If you hadn't broken away the first time, we wouldn't be in this situation," Marcus grumbled angrily as he finished the last knot of Marianna's bindings.
Marianna couldn't believe it. "You were responsible for all of this?" she questioned him with newfound fervor.
"You weren't supposed to be a part of that," he sneered menacingly.
Marianna gasped. "You were after Larsen? But why?"
"That's none of your business," he spat. "All you need to know is that you got in the way! Again!"
Marianna shot him a confused look. Her heart was pounding with fear, but she didn't want to show any more weakness in front of him.
Marcus grunted and rolled his eyes at her. "It would seem that Larsen has a bit of a soft spot for you, as after my men negotiated his release, he came back for you. I always knew he was a fool."
Marianna was shocked by Marcus's words. "What are you saying?"
"Larsen offered his ranch in exchange for your life, but my men refused to hand you over until he returned with the deed to the property. Once Larsen left, he snuck back and took down the imbeciles I hired just so he could rescue you." Marcus chuckled as he leaned back on his heels and surveyed Marianna where she was tied up on the floor, "But his affection for you will be what destroys him in the end."
Marianna couldn't believe it. Had Larsen really offered his ranch in exchange for her life?
"So you are trying to take Larsen's ranch?"
"My ranch," Marcus corrected. "I was all set to buy the place, when I was cheated by a con and lost my bid on the place. I was choked when a city slicker like Larsen Dover waltzes in and buys up the place for himself and his pretty little family."
"But you work for him! He trusted you!" she gasped.
"His biggest mistake was underestimating me," Marcus advanced forward. "Now get up, we are leaving." He grabbed Marianna's arm roughly and tugged her to her feet.
Marianna complied, but all the while her mind raced with the shocking revelation. She knew that there had always been something off about Marcus, but she hadn't realized it was so extreme. He had hated Larsen and was seeking to destroy him in order to take his ranch.
"Did you burn the barn down too?" she accused vehemently as he dragged her along the short tunnel to the other side.
"I would have been rid of Larsen had you not arrived and drawn his attention away on that night. Had he died, the ranch would have most likely been sold and I would have been able to buy it," he said angrily.
Marianna scoffed. "I thought you lost your income to a con?"
"I earned it all back over the years by skimming it off of the ranch's earnings. It wasn't thieving as I was the intended rightful owner." He shot Marianna a sinister look. "Let's just say it pays to be the manager," he laughed.
He continued to drag Marianna toward the narrow path that led back down to the ground. Marianna saw that there was a horse tied at the bottom waiting. The descent was a lot quicker than her original climb, even
with her tied hands, as Marcus forced her to walk briskly. More than once, she feared that she would trip and fall off the side of the cliff, but luck was on her side.
That is, if she could call any of this luck. Life hadn't favored her much as of late. She hoped that Larsen would return and see that she was no longer there, but she couldn't guarantee it. He would have no idea that Marcus was the one behind the attempts on his life. And if Marcus had been against him this whole time, it was possible that some of Larsen's other employees were scheming against him as well. That thought lingered in her mind and sent a sickening feeling to the pit of her stomach. Larsen's sons were still on the ranch and could potentially be in danger. At least Marcus was away from them, but who knows what else he had planned? She hoped that Larsen wouldn't come looking for her, as it appeared that Marcus wanted to use her to trap him.
At the bottom of the cliff, Marcus attached a longer rope to Marianna's bound wrists and tied it to the horse. With a sickening feeling, she realized he was going to make her walk behind him to wherever they were going.
He climbed up on the horse and spurred the animal forward. "March," he commanded to Marianna as the pull of the rope lurched her forward.
Marianna took one last look up at the face of the cliff. She wasn't sure if she hoped to see Larsen, as she was afraid that if he knew where she was, he would risk his life again.
"Stay safe," she murmured into the wind.
Chapter Twelve
It was a painful walk. The sun beat down on Marianna and she was overwhelmed by the intensity of the Texas heat. She hadn't worn proper shoes for the amount of walking she had done in last twenty-four hours and her feet ached in their leather confines.
However, their journey wasn't long, as Marcus led her to a campsite populated by a small group of men that looked a lot like the group that had originally detained Larsen and her.
Marcus stopped the horse and dismounted, but left Marianna still tied. She swayed with exhaustion and her throat felt parched with dehydration.