Page 102 of Conveniently Wed
It was no use. The men were upon her, fighting against her.
A loud whip cracked.
Everyone stilled. Including her.
Terrified, breathing hard and in pain, she looked up.
Underhill stood close, a long leather whip in hand. His eyes were a little wild.
“You’re the reason for all this,” he hissed. “You’ve brought me on this chase and kept Emma from me?—”
“C’mon, Mr. Underhill, sir,” one of the men said, attempting to calm him.
The whip snapped again and the man recoiled, putting a hand to his cheek. His hand came away bloody.
There were murmurs from the other men.
It was clear Underhill had lost his mind, if he was attacking his own men.
He was dangerous and insane.
If the men were afraid, maybe she could convince them to help her escape.
“He’s crazy,” she said. Her voice wobbled, showing her fear, but she pressed on. “He’s violent?—”
“Quiet!” Underhill screamed, this time at her. The whip cracked again, a warning.
“Will you let him hit me?—”
The whip cracked again and she rolled away, instinct bringing her arms to cover her head.
She cried out as the strike connected across her back.
17
Racing across the plain, his brothers, Daniel and the other cowboys following, Edgar knew real fear.
Fran was in danger. He could sense it.
This was his fault. He should’ve kept her closer in the night, should’ve set more of a watch on the wagon.
But he’d been so worried about the cattle, and angry that she hadn’t told him everything.
He’d been so awful to her.
If they found her, he would do everything he could to make it right for her. He’d beg for forgiveness, if he had to.
His heart thundered in time with the horse’s hooves.
Where were they?
He scanned the horizon. His eyes flew to each shadow and swell in the prairie. John had been in the lead at first, tracking the men’s horses, until Edgar could make out the tracks, the indents, the broken grasses.
They weren’t trying to hide.
Which scared him even more.
He prayed Seb and Emma were well on their way back to Tuck’s Station. He should’ve sent both the girls back the daybefore after Underhill had shown up. Instead, he’d wagered their safety against an insane man.
