Page 11 of A Whiskey River Princess

Gabriella screwed up her courage. Never would she show fear in front of men such as these. “Your father died because of this idiotic plan.”

Blake glared at her, his eyes black as he clenched his fists by his side. “Harley, pull over. We have to ditch this wagon. Someone’s going to recognize us.”

“We’re almost to the cabin,” Harley announced as he made another turn. “Look out the back and see if we were followed. I don’t want anyone knowing where our hideout is.”

“We can’t stay there now,” Clayton reasoned. “They’ll find us for sure. That man back there with long hair looked like a lawman. He’ll have us tracked down in no time.”

Blake nodded. “We’ll have to take her to California. We can contact her people from there.”

“In this weather?” Harley scoffed. “There’s a blizzard headed this way.”

“We have no choice,” Blake replied, suddenly the voice of reason. “We’ll close down the cabin, and then we’ll head out.”

“But the blizzard!” Harley wailed.

“Harley’s right,” Clayton agreed. “We’ll freeze to death before we reach California.”

“Well, then, let’s stay here in Laramie, and we’ll send a letter to Monaco in the morning,” Blake reasoned, obviously the brains of the bunch.

“Where the hell is Monaco, anyway?” Harley raised his eyebrows, his eyes wide.

Blake rolled his eyes. “One thing’s for sure, we have to get what we need and go.”

“We’ll have to find another place,” Clayton announced.

Gabriella was surprised that he had actually thought of it on his own.

“We’re here,” Harley announced, pulling the wagon to a stop, bringing their planning to a halt. “Clayton’s right. We’llhave to find another place.” He wrapped the reins around the front bar, and then stepped down out of Gabriella’s view.

“Come here, woman!” Blake pulled her roughly from the covered wagon and into his arms.

Gabriella pounded her fists with all her might against his chest. “Like hell I will!”

Blake grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard, forcing her to look at him. “Look. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s your choice.” He threw her over his shoulder and started toward the cabin. Clayton and Harley were already out of the wagon and led the team into a rickety old barn.

Gabriella looked up through the blinding snow. Before them was a one-room cabin. It was too small for more. She was surprised the men could have been living there. Who knew? Maybe it was just their hideout.

“Hold still, woman!” Blake ordered, carrying her through the door.

“Let me go.” Gabriella kicked and screamed, not making it easy for them.

He shoved her roughly into a chair, turned away, and started rummaging through the kitchen drawers. Gabriella got up and ran for the door. But Blake was quicker. He grabbed her arm and thrust a knife to her neck. “You utter one more word and I’ll slit your throat.”

Gabriella took a deep breath. “Go ahead! At least then I won’t have to deal with the likes of you!”

Blake slapped her hard across the face, sending her crashing to the floor. Then he grabbed her arms and tied her hands together in front of her with a thick rope digging into her wrists. Gabriella was dazed when he pulled her off the floor and then shoved her back onto the chair.

“Stay there, and don’t you move!” He pointed a finger at her.

She looked around, trying to get her bearings as the room came into focus.

Blake went into the other room and brought out a heavy coat, an old cowboy hat, men’s jeans, and a flannel shirt and threw them at her. “Here, put this on. You’ll need it to keep warm.”

Gabriella laughed. “So, you’re taking care of me now?”

Blake laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. “Not hardly. But you’re no good to us if you die in this weather. Now, put it on.”

“Not in front of you, you imbecile.” Then she held out her hands. “And I can’t dress with my hands tied.”

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