Page 50 of Falling For Her Cowboy
The back of his hand connected with her face. Pain seared across her cheek. She cried out but was not going to stop fighting him. Not until there was no breath left in her lungs.
“You are going to pay for that!”
“Help!” she screamed. She didn’t know if anyone was close by to hear her or the gunshot.
Theo flipped her over, and within seconds he had her hands zip tied behind her. She continued to struggle and fight against him. She opened her mouth to scream again, but a dirty rag was stuffed into her mouth. She tried to shake it out, but he used something else to wrap around her head to keep it in place. He tore her hat off and tossed it aside.
Tears blurred her vision. She cursed internally at them. This was not the time to cry. Everything he’d put her through before, she had never let him see her cry. Not in court. Not when he was sentenced and he was cursing her out. She’d been strong.
“You are coming with me,” he growled in her ear.
He licked it and barked a laugh when she jerked away. He stood and lifted her by her restrained arms. She haphazardly got to her feet. If he thought she was going to just comply because her hands were restrained and she was gagged, he had better think again.
She ran forward but was jerked back to him. She screamed into the cloth.
“Oh, you are not going anywhere.” He barked another laugh. He pulled her back to him andwrapped an arm around her chest. His mouth came to hover next to her ear.
She screamed every curse word she could think of at him.
“Still feisty, I see. Well, I’m going to have to break that out of you this time. Let’s go, and don’t try no funny shit.”
He produced a large hunting knife for her to see. He brought the tip of the blade to her cheek, and she froze in place. Another laugh escaped him.
“That’s what I’m talking about. Be on your best behavior, and I may give you a little treat.” He released her and gripped her by her upper arm and dragged her farther into the woods. “You and I have some unfinished business.”
Chapter Sixteen
He’s out of prison.
Ridge eyed the text message from his brother. This wasn’t the news he’d wanted to hear. He was going to have to let Melah know this. It would appear she hadn’t known this information.
Any idea where he is?Ridge shot back. This wasn’t good news. Melah was going to freak out when she heard.
No one has seen him in weeks. He’s a ghost.
Fuck.
He ran a hand along his face. He didn’t want to give her bad news like this, but she had a right to know. Until they found where this Theo was, she was going to stay with him. He didn’t care how muchof a fight she put up, he was not going to compromise her safety. Even though he’d been sleeping outside the bunkhouse, much could happen with him outside. She may be stubborn, but so was he. If he had to hog-tie her and carry her home, then he would.
A loud crack pierced the air, startling the stillness of the ranch.
Ridge froze in place. It wasn’t backfire from a vehicle. Not a slamming gate to one of the corrals. That was a gun. He tilted his head slightly, listening. The echo hung in the air for a heartbeat too long. He waited to see if there would be another, but the next shot didn’t come.
He stood by his utility vehicle. He’d gone out on all of his farm runs for the day and had just made his way back to Silver Creek. According to Faith, the office was slow and he wasn’t needed back unless there was an emergency.
“Did you hear that?” Ridge called out to Trent who was coming out of the toolshed. He brushed his hands on his jeans and looked off in the distance.
“That was definitely a gunshot,” Trent confirmed.
There were miles stretched out before them. Where exactly had it come from?
Ridge’s stomach gave way. Where was Melah? She’d started carrying her weapon while working. It had never sat right with him, but he understood the nature of her carrying. She knew how to use it, and if that was her firing, there was a reason for it.
“Where’s Melah working?” He hopped in the vehicle and started the engine.
“She’s out in the eastern pasture fixing a fence. Damn heifers got loose?—”
Ridge didn’t stay long enough to hear the rest of what Trent said. If she was out there alone, this would be prime time for someone to try something. He pressed down harder on the gas pedal. He knew exactly which pasture Trent was speaking of. It was the one near the woods and the mountain range.
