Page 52 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“There’s no use in fighting,” Theo snapped.
Melah had refused to allowhim to kidnap her easily. She was going to keep fighting him until she couldn’t any longer. She glared at him. He led her farther into the woods. She didn’t have a clue where they were. All she could tell was they were heading toward the mountains. There was no way she could allow him to take her there.
“Fuck you.” Her words were muffled around the cloth in her mouth.
He brayed a laugh and gripped her by the back of the neck. She had never hated anyone in her life until him. This was one person who she had hoped to never see again, but here he was.
Why couldn’t he leave her be? If he was out of jail, why didn’t he move on with his life?
“I just know you didn’t say ‘fuck you,’” he snarled.
He tightened his hold on her neck, causing pain. She bit back a wince. She didn’t want him to get any satisfaction from hurting her. He’d always got a kick out of hurting the female soldiers in any way he could. With unfair drills to giving them more work to do than the men, he was known as an ass to women.
“This is all your fault, bitch.”
Melah glared at him. Her fault? He was the one who couldn’t accept that a woman didn’t want him.She had declined his advances, had been as courteous as she could be. Told him she was engaged to be married. He’d kept hounding her. Made crude, inappropriate jokes in front of other personnel, but everyone ignored him. No one wanted his wrath when he got pissed.
They kept walking. The woods were growing thicker, and the dirt path was now no more. She had to watch where she stepped for fear of tripping over fallen branches, tree roots, and such. She hoped someone had heard the gunshot. She just wished she had got it off before he dove toward her. She’d have been in her right to shoot him. He also wouldn’t be dragging her to some godforsaken area in the wilderness.
What did he want from her?
What unfinished business did they have?
Theo was sick in the head. She didn’t know how he had gotten out of prison, but the fact he was here meant he’d been planning this. A shiver went down her spine with the thought of what he had in store for her.
How the hell had he found her?
So many thoughts and questions raced through her head. She stumbled again, and he gripped her by her arm.
“Watch where you are going, bitch.” He grinned at her and narrowed his eyes on her.
She shrugged off his hold.
He laughed. “Believe me when I say you’re going to be on your back soon enough.”
The contents of her stomach threatened to erupt. He was never going to touch her again. If he thought he was going to do what he’d done to her before, he’d better rethink. She’d made herself a promise that no man would take advantage of her. She’d trained hard to ensure she’d never be vulnerable now.
She just needed her hands free.
Melah held her head high as they marched along. She needed to remain focused. She was going to make it out of here. She was not going to be his victim. She had too much to live for. She had in the past, but those plans had changed.
Now she had a new future.
Ridge’s smile came to mind. Her heart stuttered with the thought of the man who’d done everything he could to show her how much he was into her and how much he wanted her. Baggage and all, the man was determined to have her.
Shit.
She should have snagged her cell phone from the saddlebags. She’d been so focused onfinishing the fence that she hadn’t thought to take her phone and put it in her pocket. Of all the days for her to not have her phone on her, it would be today.
Someone would search for her. Thankfully, a few of the guys knew her last whereabouts and hopefully they’d heard the gunshot. Once they realized she was missing, they’d look for her. A sense of hope bloomed in her chest. Someone would tell Ridge she was missing. After his public display in front of the entire ranch, she doubted they wouldnottell him.
She focused on his image. She’d see him again. Hear his laughter, feel his strong arms around her. There would be plenty of days where she’d rest her head on his chest while he slept and listen to the steady drum of his heartbeat.
She had fallen for her cowboy. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Ridge. She just wished she’d realized it before now. Melah would tell him. Whatever Theo had planned for her—she would survive.
Again.
She didn’t know how long they’d been walking. Her arms ached from being tied behind her. She wouldn’t complain or show any weakness. She tried to think of good thoughts. The sight of her father’s face when he’d picked her up at the airport from themilitary for the final time came to mind. His face had lit up the second he’d seen her. There was nothing like a father’s love.
