Page 8 of A Rugged Beauty
Coop swung at him.
Braddock must've seen the punch coming, because he moved to the side. The punch connected with his shoulder instead of his face. He threw himself at Coop, taking a blow to his side. Braddock grunted.
"Stop it!" Alice cried. Fighting wasn't allowed in the company, and Coop had been in enough trouble on the early days of their journey.
Braddock threw an awkward elbow and Coop retaliated with a shove that sent Braddock stumbling back two steps. His hat fell off and his hair was tousled.
"That's enough.” Alice’s voice trembled. Did either of them even hear her? They stared at each other like two dogs about to pounce.
"Come on," Coop motioned Braddock toward him. "You're a lousy fighter. I'll teach you how to take a whooping."
She'd seen that look of determination on Braddock's face before.
"Stop it, Coop," she demanded.
But Braddock had already stepped toward her brother.
She jumped forward and grabbed for Coop's left arm. He must've seen her from the corner of his eye because he gave a shove—and it sent her sprawling.
For a fractured second, Coop turned to look at her with shock and remorse.
It was just long enough for Braddock to roar and swing—and connect with Coop's jaw.
Her brother put his hands on his knees for a brief moment and then rounded on Braddock, punching his face.
Alice heard the smack of Coop's fist on flesh as she scrambled to her feet.
Again and again Coop struck.
Braddock had been knocked to the ground, but that didn't stop Coop.
Alice shrieked for her brother to let up, but just before she jumped on his back to force him, another voice called out, "Coop!"
Leo.
For a prolonged moment, she thought Coop would keep beating on Braddock, but he pulled back. Alice hadn't realized she was crying until she pressed her hands to her cheeks and they came away wet.
Braddock lay prone on the ground as Leo dragged Coop away. Blood poured from the lip of the man she’d once loved. He clutched his stomach.
Part of her wanted to help him. But she saw Leo's furious look and the red scrape blooming on Coop's jaw and remembered she’d promised herself never to speak to Braddock again.
She turned and left.
What if we are lost out here?
The woman's words plopped into the center of the man's mind, landing and then rippling like a rock tossed in a calm pond.
"If we are lost, then someone will come looking for us." His words emerged with more calm than he felt.
Ten lost.
The words had been written at the top of one of the last pages of the book he'd flipped through. He didn't know what they meant, only the sinking feeling that had come over him when he'd read the words.
Ten cows?
Ten children?
Ten days?
