Lone Rider Read Online Free PDF Page A

she wanted to be, silently daring her to test him.
                  She met his stare. “Let me go!”
                  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
                  Shifting his position only slightly, Dallas neatly spun her around so her back was to his chest. Too late she realized his intention as he grasped her wrists and pulled them behind her.
                  “No! You don’t need to do this.”  She fought in earnest, struggling to prevent him from cuffing her hands again, twisting her head, trying to watch him. “I promise I won’t cause any more trouble.”
                  “It’s for your own protection. So’s this.”  Dallas stuffed a piece of cloth into her mouth and secured it with a bandanna.
                  Protection? She didn’t need his brand of protection, she needed to get away from him. She bucked her shoulders, trying to break free , but Dallas held her fast, knotting the cloth tightly.
    The gag stifled , and for a moment she thought she wouldn’t be able to breathe. She felt his warm breath at her ear as he rubbed his hands briskly over her upper arms. “I know you’re cold. I promise I’ll get you warm as soon as this is over.”
                  Over , she wanted to scream. When would it be over? She tried to talk through the gag, but only indecipherable sounds came through. She tugged uselessly at the tight cuffs, scarcely able to move her arms. Angry, she kicked backwards, landing two solid blows to his shin.
                  Swearing, Dallas gripped her shoulders and snapped her body hard against his chest. It was like slamming against a brick wall. There wasn’t an ounce of softness on his frame. She gritted her teeth in frustration.
                  “Give it up, Tess,” he whispered harshly. “If I have to, I’ll hog-tie you and carry you in.” 
                  Even though his leg smarted where she’d caught him off guard, he wasn’t angry. Her show of spunk, however small, encouraged him. It would help her survive. He looked at her, taking in her bowed head, her muffled sobs. The lady didn’t like people to see her cry. He respected that.
    He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, giving her a moment to pull herself together. The part of him that wasn’t royally pissed at her longed to comfort her, tell her everything would be okay.
    Except it wasn’t going to be. The best he could hope for was that Bogen would indeed let him keep her.
                  He had one ace up his sleeve: Bogen owed him a favor. If Bogen agreed, Dallas could offer her some protection. She’d be a prisoner for now, but it beat the hell out of the alternatives.
                  He stared at her, guilt knifing a dull blade through his stomach. He didn’t like seeing her like this, scared, fragile. He recalled his first glimpse of her. A foolish blo nd angel stranded by the side of the road. Damn if she hadn’t shaken his equilibrium. Kissing her hadn’t helped. Even her resistance tasted sweet, soft. He’d wanted more but hadn’t dared take it. He’d already violated several rules he’d normally never break.
                  And she was far from normal. Though she had tried to hold herself back from him, he’d felt her firm curves as they rode. She had a fabulous body -- which wouldn’t go unnoticed by Bogen. He needed to be prepared to do some fast talking if Bogen decided he wanted to send her to Sanchez.
                  She stood warily in his arms, still shivering. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her unresisting form tight, dropping his voice. “I meant what I said earlier. It’s very important you do everything I say. Your life depends on it.”
                  She tried to argue, but her words were unintelligible with the gag.
                  “I know it’s crazy to