Page 39 of Seized by the Lawman

Chapter 14

MELLY STOOD UP from where she’d been knelt next to the garden and swiped her hands down the backside of her jeans. She looked down the row of flowers, admiring her green thumb when a shadow fell over the pansies. Melly jumped and looked up to find a stranger standing several feet away, his thumbs hooked in his front pockets.

His frayed, red ballcap was low on his forehead and whatl she could see of his face outside of the large mirrored sunglasses was a slimy grin and a wannabe-beard—wannabe because there were more bare spots than patches of hair. He took a step in his dusty boots and gave the bill of the hat a flick. She didn’t need to see his eyes to know he ran his gaze down her body. She cringed. “Can I help you?” she asked.

The rough-looking man shifted his weight from one foot to the other as a dubious grin took the place of his prior smile. “Yes, ma’am. I can think of a number of ways you can help me.” He chuckled, no evidence that he realized he was being disrespectful.

Taking a guess at his age, she’d bet he was close to thirty, but maturely he was clocking in about eighteen, pushing it further home when he spit next to her flowerbed. Melly had seen plenty of hard-working men in her lifetime and a lot of dirty clothes and hands, but this fellow was wearing at least a few weeks’ worth of dirt and stains on his ripped clothing and under his nails. Red paint spots splattered his work boots. Growing up with a military/cop father, he’d taught her a few things about what to watch for in suspicious people and her warning bells were ringing like it was Christmas. Goosebumps scattered her skin and the hair on her nape prickled.

“What can I do for you?” she asked for the second time. There wouldn’t be a third. Holding her chin up high, she hoped she portrayed the vision of a woman who had taken self-defense classes.

“You’re quite young to be running this place, ain’t you little lady?” He snorted.

“How do we know one another? We’ve never met. I’m sure I’d remember.” And how did you get on the land? The new security system had been installed. She looked further, trying to find a car. “Where’s your car?”

“Parked at the entrance. The big, burly looking cowboy down at the barn told me I could find you up here. He said you’re the boss, ma’am.”

“What cowboy?” She didn’t believe him. No one would send him up to the house.

“Ah, the one that has a limp when he walks.”

She hesitated a moment. Randy did have a slight limp, but she refused to believe the foreman would let a stranger come onto the land. She looked past his shoulder to see if there were any hands within shouting distance if things took a turn for the worse. The spade on the ground could buy her some time if she went for it. On the other hand, maybe she was a bit paranoid after the tire incident and being locked in the shed. She could hear her father now, “A young woman can never be too careful’.”

“Yes, I’m the boss,” she said. “But I don’t believe you spoke to any of my men.”

He laughed and took a step closer and she took one back. She didn’t want to share her personal space with the stranger who smelled a little like he’d been wrestling in the pigpen.

“I’m Andy. What’s your name , little lady?” He darted his tongue out to wet his bottom lip.

“I’m someone who doesn’t like to waste time. We’ve established this is my ranch so how about we get to the point?” She wouldn’t normally be so rude, but there was something about this man that didn’t feel right.

His smirk definitely rubbed her the wrong way. “I like you. A woman with snark. Mm-hmm.” He rubbed his jaw. “And smart. You’re right. I didn’t speak to any of your men. We can be frank, I assume. Sorry about the little road incident the other night, but I see you’re just fine…hell, better than fine.”

Her adrenaline spiked. So, this was the bastard that tampered with her tire? Nix had been right, she didn’t need to even ask. She wanted to know why, but she didn’t really care. “I think we’re done here. You should turn tail and get the hell off my property before I scream. If would have had the pleasure of meeting any of my hands you’d realize they don’t take kindly to men like you.”

Andy snarled. She didn’t believe for a minute that was his real name. “Honey, we both know there’s no one here but the two of us. It’s Friday and that means the boys are unwinding over at the local honky tonk. I’ve been watching and their activities are like clockwork, especially that lawman. The big’n with the limp even left. Bet you didn’t know your top dog is seeing some young, hot chick?”

“That’s it.” She took a step toward the porch, but before she could manage two steps, he was behind her. Swirling, she took a jab with her fist, but he was quicker. He jerked her arm, grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard enough that her fist uncurled. The next thing she knew he had her pushed up against the house, pinned between his weight and the railing of the porch. Melly attempted to push him away, but that only made him angrier.

“Stop, bitch!” he seethed.

“Fuck you!” She wouldn’t go down without a fight. Opening her mouth to scream, he covered her lips with his, pushing his tongue past her lips. Biting down onto his bottom lip, she didn’t stop the assault on his mouth until he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed. She gasped for breath, feeling oxygen leave her body until he finally loosened his fingers. His bottom lip was bleeding and he swiped the back of his hand across the wound. Too bad she didn’t do more damage.

“Let’s get one thing straight.” He stared into her eyes with a cold, uncompassionate glare that froze her insides. “No one is here to save you and I’m not above taking care of you.”

Melly brought her knee up between his legs, catching him hard between the legs, enough that he bent down, grabbing his crotch as he let out a howl that reminded her of a dying dog. Seeing her chance, she dashed forward, but he recovered and grabbed her hair, knotting his fist tight in the strands. He shoved her to the ground hard and climbed on top of her, pinning her against the dirt, positioning her arms under his knees. She bucked, but the movement was useless.

“Calm the fuck down and I won’t hurt you.”

Her thoughts went to her baby. She couldn’t risk anything happening to her baby so her only choice was to find out what he wanted and then get him the hell off the ranch. Logically, if he wanted her dead, he would have already killed her.

Melly stared into the man’s glassy, distant gaze, biting her tongue against the slew of curse words that itched to be freed.

“One wrong move and I’ll take care of that little problem you have.” He took his free hand and flattened his palm against her abdomen. “Yeah, I know about the bun in the oven, sweetie. Let me guess who the father is. Special Agent Cade.”

Her heart hitched. Questions raced through her mind. How did he know?

His raspy laugh made her sick to her stomach. “Remember I said I’ve been watching? A man can learn a lot just sitting back and doing nothing. Ol’ Cade gonna be a daddy. Being a family man makes a man weak.”

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