Always You Read Online Free PDF Page A

now, so you can forget about your fancy fiancé and your fancy wedding. Zeke, cut the lady’s ropes,” he said, and the taller of the other two stepped forward. “Keep an eye on her while I give Ray a hand with the horses!”
    He released her then and turned away. Just like that he turned away. Melora watched his broad back in furious amazement as he strolled across the clearing and busied himself with the horses, moving about with brisk, smooth purpose, as unconcerned as if she were a passerby he had casually encountered in a general store, someone with whom he had discussed the price of potatoes.
    “Who is he?” she demanded in slow, frigid accents as Zeke sawed at her bonds.
    “Guess you could call him the boss.”
    The last of the rope fell away. Zeke watched her wince as she rubbed the raw skin of her wrists, his long, bony face impassive. Then he led her to a tree stump. “Here, have a seat, Miss Deane. Take it easy. Reckon you’re all tuckered out. And while you’re at it,” he added in an almost friendly tone, shuffling his big booted feet in the grass, “let me give you a word of advice.”
    His eyes glistened down at her like wet black grapes. “Don’t cause no trouble, and you won’t get hurt.”
    “That’s your advice?”
    “Yep.” He nodded and swatted at a mosquito. “You’ve got nothin’ to worry about; the boss ain’t got a mean bone in his body.”
    “Not much he doesn’t,” Melora muttered. This man was obviously an idiot, in the pay of the other, with no personal interest in her or the kidnapping. She wondered if he could be persuaded to give her some answers and maybe, possibly, if he might be bribed to help her. “Zeke, please,” she said in a low, heartfelt tone. “I don’t understand. Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?”
    “That’s for the boss to say. This here is his deal.”
    “Please tell me. I don’t understand. Are you rustlers? What can you possibly hope to—”
    “We’re no rustlers!” He interrupted her indignantly, snatching off his hat and scratching his ear. “Never heard anything so insulting.”
    “I’m sorry, forget I said that. I didn’t mean to insult you.” She hurried on, keeping her voice low enough so that the others couldn’t hear. “Zeke, it’s clear that this wasn’t your idea, and that he’s in charge. So I’ll tell you what. If you let me go tonight, I’ll see to it that no one arrests you. You won’t get in any trouble—none at all. Just let me slip away. Distract him for a few minutes so that I can get to one of the horses and—”
    “Aw, keep quiet.” He sighed, waving his hat at her in disgust. Then he plopped it back on his head. Beneath it his thatch of rough brown hair hung to his shoulders like a clump of dirty straw. “No one’s going to let you go, so quit wasting your breath. If you just wait a bit and don’t try anything stupid, he’ll probably let you have some water soon, and maybe some coffee. Then, missy,” he added, slanting her a warning glance, “you’d best get yourself some shuteye. Tomorrow’s going to be a real long day.”
    Frustration washed over her as she stared at this gangly, homely man in the brown shirt and overalls. There was no mistaking his sincerity. He wouldn’t help her. She felt the last shreds of her self-control slipping away.
    “Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice carrying in a low, frenzied wail that reached the other two men. Through the gloom she saw them glance over their shoulders at her.
    “Ask him ,” Zeke replied, jerking his thumb backward with a shrug. “Cal’s in charge of this outfit.”
    Cal. So that was his name. “What does he want with me?” Melora persisted, desperately clutching Zeke’s sleeve as he started to turn away.
    “That’s for him to say.”
    “Who is he? An outlaw?”
    “Reckon so. Me and Ray met up with him in jail. But that’s all I’m going to say,” he added, glaring. Then his expression softened to one of wry