Kate's Outlaw (Steam! Romance and Rails) Read Online Free PDF Page A

think about?" Charley's gaze grew flat. "If you're too soft, I'll take her with me. I can bury her out in the woods where nobody will find her."
     
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    Kate winced as she used her teeth to tear at the bandana binding her wrists. Her skin stung from being rubbed raw by those leather bindings. Although her captor had used cloth when he retied her hands, he’d secured the knots tight. But he didn't know how stubborn she could be. Her father knew. As far as he was concerned, she was little more than a hardheaded nuisance. Her captor would probably agree with the nuisance part.
    Shortly after they’d arrived, he’d dumped her in the cave, threatening to punish her if she moved an inch. She didn't need a translator to tell her he was annoyed. However, the two men hadn't abused her, despite having ample opportunity, and if they'd wanted to kill her, they could have done so before now. He and his partner must be holding her in hopes of getting money.
    She dampened the cloth with spit and made her hands as small as possible. At last, she was able to slip free. Without pause, she went to work on the rope around her ankles. Throwing it off, she scrambled to her feet.
    Dizziness struck.
    She waited until the lightheadedness passed, then crept to the mouth of the cave, staying close to the wall so she wouldn't be seen. With luck, her captors wouldn't be watching and she could sneak out.
    The two men stood a stone's throw away, their conversation barely audible. Kate flattened her back against the cave’s wall. Their voices grew louder. She didn't understand the words, but the tone and volume made it clear they were arguing. About her?
    She peeked outside. The man with the scarred mouth stormed off in the direction of the trees. The taller one headed for the cave, wearing a scowl. She turned to flee and tripped over a rock. Pain shot through her big toe. Picking herself up, she stumbled deeper into the cave, heading for dark interior with no other thought except escape.
    "You don't want to go back there."
    She threw a fearful glance over her shoulder. Her captor stood outlined in daylight at the mouth of the cave. He didn’t appear to be in a hurry to pursue her. Was there no way out? Another few steps revealed nothing but darkness.
    Behind her, sand crunched. She whirled around, blurting out the first thing that came to her mind. "I must see to my needs."
    "Your needs?" His raven brows arched.
    "I do have them, you know."
    "I'm sure you do.” His eyes raked her. The cad. He purposely mistook her meaning. “But you won't find what you need back there. Only bat droppings and animal skeletons. You'd do better to use the bushes outside. I'll take you."
    She backed away. “I'd rather go by myself."
    "I'm not letting you out of my sight.” He took hold of her arm.
    She gasped at a sharp pain in the same spot where he’d grabbed her yesterday. His grip loosened, but he didn’t release her. Instead, he ran his fingers down to her elbow, lightly brushing her sleeve. Her skin quivered as if he'd stroked her bare flesh.
    "Did I hurt you?"
    "It…it’s just a bruise.”
    His eyes filled with what looked like regret. Could it be he felt bad about hurting her? She had the strangest urge to brush back his dark hair and murmur assurances. He hadn't hurt her that badly, not in the way she thought he might. She shook her head. Truly, she’d lost her mind if she imagined this heathen outlaw needed consoling. He wasn't the one who'd been abducted.
    "Are you hungry?” He held up a partially eaten fish skewered on a stick. “I saved you some breakfast."
    She blinked, confused. “Is that…yours?"
    "Half of it. I didn't touch this side."
    He’d saved part of his food for her?
    While he rolled up the blankets, she finished off the remainder of the fish. His unexpected generosity surprised her. But there had been other things he’d done, small but significant kindnesses, like covering her with the blanket and using a scarf instead of