Ruling Rachel Page 2

  As she tried to kick out to the side where the other man stood, he grabbed one of her ankles and then the other leg behind her knee. She was held in a painful grasp as they started back toward the campfire. Since the one named Stimmy still just held her hair and mouth, she sagged at the middle.

  It felt as if her hair was being ripped from the roots in his tight grasp. It left her no choice but to fist her hands into his coat sleeves at his forearms to quell most of the pain in her scalp. She was no fool, two thieving simpletons bent on taking what they wanted from her body didn’t care if they made her bleed from her head in the process.

  When they set her down on the ground by the fire, none to gently, she quickly dug her hands deep into the dirt where the snow had been kept at bay by the warmth of the of flames.

  “Let’s see what we got us here.” Stimmy released her hair and began yanking loose the buttons of her cape.

  As Mint shoved one of his hands under the hem of her skirt and tore at her undergarments, she threw the handfuls of earth into his face. Bullseye.

  He yelled, swiped, and rubbed at his eyes. “Get’er hands! I think she blinded me.”

  “Ya gotta know how to tame a gal like this, good.” Stimmy chuckled at his friend’s injury as he took hold of her hands and wrestled them over her head, palms up, then captured them beneath the weight of his knees.

  The man was a thinner frame then his comrade, but still too heavy for her to bear the brunt of his weight in her hands for long. She prayed he wouldn’t break all the bones in her hands before they were through with her.

  “It ain’t fuckin’ funny, you jackrabbit asshole.” Mint, still between her knees, spit on his hands and tried to wipe away the dirt.

  “Oh, we both goin’ be overjoyed with pleasure soon. Ain’t that right, honey?” Stimmy ripped at her bodice, revealing one of her breasts to the cold.

  Ignoring the men and her shame at being exposed, she used the opportunity of her mouth being uncovered to suck in a big breath and let out the loudest scream she could - until she was silence by a slap. It happened so fast, she wasn’t sure if Stimmy had done it or if Mint had gotten enough of his sight back to do it.

  Her ears were ringing, the side of her face throbbed, and stars blinked before her eyes. For a moment she couldn’t hear a thing the men were murmuring above her. She was aware of nothing but the cold bite of the snow on her lower legs, breasts, and neck. The kiss of a few flakes on her hot cheek cooled it enough to clear her mind.

  “Mint, I want her wild, not unconscious beneath me,” Stimmy complained.

  “Don’t matter none to me. Long as her snatch is hot and tight.”

  “You’re a pathetic sap. We got a long ride in the night. Help me get the rest of her clothes off, so we can get on with what we gotta do,” Stimmy barked.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. In Grover Town this isn’t a way to treat a lady.”

  Both men stopped tugging at her clothes. She turned her head away, ashamed that someone should find her in such a state of undress before the two men.

  “This ain’t none of your business.” Mint was the first to speak at the newcomer.

  “I suggest you git before you regret it,” Stimmy demanded as his knee lifted from one of her hands.

  If not for the embarrassment, she would have sighed in relief.

  “I suggest you both move away from the lady.”

  If someone asked her to describe what she thought Michael the archangel’s voice sounded like, she would have depicted it just as the man who was speaking now. It was deep, imposing, and clear, with just enough rumble behind it to shake a person’s core with trepidation of what was to come.

  “Or what? You cain’t fight both of us, stupid mutterfucker.” Stimmy twisted and caused more pain in her hand still beneath him.

  She glanced over and saw the glint of steel of the knife he pulled from his waistband as he launched up. Before she could yell and warn the man, there was a blast and Stimmy dropped to the ground beside her head. The thin man never saw it coming, he fell back against the log, dead.

  “Stimmy!” Mint gaped at his dead friend.

  “If you don’t want to be next, move your stinkin’ ass back from the woman,” the man ordered.

  “I’m gonna kill—”

  Rachel acted, grabbing the knife from the ground, she arched up and slammed it into Mint’s thigh, then kicked him away. Wasting little time, clutching at the two torn halves of her bodice, she pulled them over her breasts and scrambled away.

  She didn’t care what the man was saying, the only thing she wanted was to locate her cape and get home. She was furious at the two men who had assaulted her, but she was just as angry at herself. She should never have left the Reynolds’ property alone so close to dusk. Looking left, then right, she couldn’t find her cape in the area around the firelight.

  The snow was so thick now, outside of the blazing fire, the warmth of the flames was barely beating back the freezing temperature. The chill started to set into her bones, but she knew she couldn’t remain much longer, and she’d just have to rush home as quickly as possible.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man dragging Mint by his collar toward a tree. Obviously, once he had the rustler there, he planned to tie him to the base of it.

  “I need somethin’ for my leg, I’ll bleed to death.”

  “Good, that’ll mean they won’t have to waste the space in jail.”

  Rising, she folded her hands across her chest, burying her hands under her arms as best she could to keep them warm. Tucking her chin to her chest, she started back into the trees.

  “I believe it might be best for you to have somethin’ to keep you warm, if you plan to go trapsin’ through the snow, ma’am.”

  The voice sounded too close behind her, causing her to jump. When she turned to face the man who had saved her, she felt like her heart pulse stopped and her heart leaped. Before her, holding her cape out and open to her, invitingly, was the one man she never expected to see this night, Lyle Joseph.

  Chapter 2

  “Oh, quit your bellyachin’. The noose that’s going to end up around your neck for rustling is going to hurt a lot more than that there cut.” Lyle didn’t spare a glance in the woman’s direction, not wanting to take his gaze from the man rolling on the ground clutching at the knife buried deep in his thigh.

  “That wench stabbed me!” Mint was hollerin’ something awful and cursing two blue streaks through the night.

  Once he’d discovered more rope in one of the men’s packs, he dragged the man to a tree and secured him in place, good and tight. “That’ll hold you until the sheriff gets here.” Ignoring the gripes of the man lashed to the Red Oak, he turned his attention toward the woman. He noticed her looking around for something, and figured from the way she had her arms wrapped around herself, it was most likely the dark cape he’d spotted in a ball right at the edge of the trees. Going to it, he swiped it from the ground. When he turned around, he saw her huddled form hustling into the trees.

  The woman will catch her death. Rushing after her, he spoke to her. “I believe it might be best for you to have somethin’ to keep you warm if you plan to go trapsin’ through the snow, ma’am.”

  She jumped, evidence that he had startled her. When she faced him, his breath was knocked from his lungs. Rachel Morrison stood before him, her hair a mess and covered in snow, and her pale blue dress stained and torn. Even all disheveled, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever set his gaze on.

  When her pretty hazel gaze met his with shadows of fear clouding them, his blood boiled. He wanted to beat the shit out of the man bound to the base of the tree and pray that the good Lord would bring the dead man back to life so he could kill him again. Knowing that the woman they had been assaulting was Rachel made Lyle furious. When he’d decided to take the long route back to the Rand farm from town to enjoy the first snowfall, he’d never expected to become a Good Samaritan. However, the scream of the w
oman had pierced the calm of the evening and stabbed him in the gut. He’d turned his horse towards the woods, not sure what he would find, expecting a grey wolf or black bear, even though the bears were becoming rare in the area with more people migrating to the state and towns popping up.

  What he hadn’t expected was the sight he’d come upon; two men assaulting a woman. He’d seen that she was bare to the night at her breast area and her legs, but out of respect, he’d focused his gaze on the two men to help conserve the woman’s modesty.

  Now, as he stood before her, holding her cape, and hearing her whisper his name, he felt not only angry, but also helpless. This night would stay with her for a long time and he could only wish to take it away from her.

  “Rachel, I think you may need this.”

  She glanced away from him, casting her gaze to the ground. “Than-k-k-k yo-ou.” Her teeth were chattering, and her full lips were turning blue, but she didn’t reach for the garment.

  At first, he frowned at her hesitance, but then it became clear why she wasn’t grabbing the wool covering quickly. If she moved her arms, it would reveal the part of her bodice that was gaping. Stepping up behind her, he took the choice from her, as he draped the cape over her shoulders. He allowed his hands to rest on her for a moment. “Everything will be all right, Rachel.”

  When he moved around her, he pulled the sides together and quickly fastened the few buttons still on her cape. Two were missing and he figured the jackasses had ruined it as they had done her dress and stockings.

  “I-I just want go ho-o-me.” Her body shock violently.

  He reached up and brushed away the snow from her hair. He removed his hat and set it on her head, hoping it helped keep her warm. “I’ll make sure you get there safe. My horse is waitin’ by the cattle.”

  She nodded, her teeth chattering too much for her to speak now.

  With all possible care, he slipped his arm around her shoulders, ensuring he didn’t spook her, as he guided her toward his horse.

  “You cain’t leave me here! I’m bleedin’. I could be attacked by some hungry beast,” the rustler called out from behind him.

  “Trust me, even animals have more taste than to want your vile hide.” Lyle never paused in stride as he walked beside the silent woman. Once they arrived at his white horse with black spots, he swung up into the saddle, then leaned down to take her by the waist. When she was settled before him, he reached into his saddle bag and removed a small woven blanket. Arranging it over her legs for extra warmth, he whispered, “Is that better?”

  She mouthed a thank you, as she gripped the saddle horn.

  After he slipped an arm around her and held her fast to his chest to keep her in place, he nudged his horse with his knee. He allowed Domino to pick his way through the trees and get them out on the other side. When they were back in the open, Lyle called out to his horse and urged him at a faster pace. Even with the blanket and his arms, Rachel still shivered. He needed to get her home fast, before she ended up sick for the holidays.

  The fast pace made the icy air slice across them both.

  “Here, please.” She directed once, they arrived on the Reynolds’ property, when they got to the small single home first.

  “You sure you don’t want me to take you to the main house? I don’t think you should be alone.” He continued to steer Domino toward the place she indicated.

  “I’m sure.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I don’t want them to know. Please, Mr. Joseph.”

  He held her gaze, those breathtaking eyes of hers, as he halted Domino at the far side of the house to keep him out of sight. There was a decent lean-to there as well, solid, and only big enough to stable one horse, but Lyle didn’t use it, he figured he would only be here long enough to get Rachel safely in the house. “You know those bad men are to blame, not you?”

  Her hazel eyes were filled with worry. “I just want to forget what happened. If others know, they’ll make too much of it and I won’t be able to put this night behind me.”

  “All right.” He slid off his horse, then lifted his hands to her. She let him take her by the waist and bring her to her feet. “When I see the sheriff, I’ll only tell him about the cattle and men, I’ll keep your secret.”

  “Thank you.” She went to the door and he walked with her.

  After she opened the door, she stood in the opening. He could see the fire low in the hearth and a single lamp burning on the table, but he could still feel the warm air coming out from inside.

  She stared off in the distance toward the way they had come for a long moment, then shifted her gaze to him. She was shorter than him by more than a few inches causing her to tip her head back far and look up. “I think you saved my life tonight. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  “No need. I’m only glad I was nearby.” Raising a gloved hand, he ran his covered knuckles along the side of her face, red both from the strike and the frosty wind. Dueling emotions raged through him. He wanted to tie the men behind Domino and drag them to Kansas City and back. But he also felt a strong urge to pull her into his arms and soothe her. Let her know that he was right here, and nothing would ever hurt or scare her again. “It would have been a shame to have somethin’ so violent happen to someone so sweet.”

  She tilted a little towards him, leaned into his touch, then stepped away. “I’ll be fine. I should have known to keep closer to the property.” She moved further away, now backing herself into the house. “Thank you, again, Mr. Joseph.”

  “Lyle.” He gave her a smile, as he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets against the cold. “Lock up. I’ve got to go, so I can get into town before the sheriff ends his shift. Get a message to the Spencer Ranch about the cattle.”

  He spoke the words, the truth for why he should go, but his boots were still rooted on the porch.

  “Then you best be on your way. I’ve delayed you long enough tonight.” The corners of her lips lifted in a small smile; he was sure it was for his benefit. “Night.”

  “Night.” As she started closing the door, he turned and took the snow-covered steps then headed toward his horse.

  “Mr. Joseph… um, Lyle.”

  He turned at her frantic whisper and the crunch of the snow.

  His heart jolted in his chest, and at that moment if she called him back to her, he would have let the corpse and the man freeze through the night. The intensity of his thoughts shocked him. He reprimanded himself, Rachel had just been through a hellish evening and he was having thoughts of holding her in his arms and comforting her. The thought of a man’s touch probably put a mighty fright in her. Turning, he saw her on the porch. She was waving him over, but it was with his hat in her hand.

  Damn. If his blood didn’t always run hot around the pretty lady, he would have noticed he didn’t have a smidge of covering on his hair, which was becoming more snowcapped by the minute.

  “Your hat. You don’t want to forget it and catch your death.”

  When he crossed the space to where she leaned over the small porch rail, clutching the flap of her cape close to her body with one hand and holding his brown hat out with the other, he saw a wider smile on her lips. She had a great smile, this one wasn’t as bright and Earth-tilting like her real ones, but it was a start.

  His heart settled a little, she’d be all right, soon. Claiming his hat, he thanked her. Once he’d brushed off the snow and settled it on his head, he gave her a wink. “I’d been darn near frozen by the time I made it to town without it.” He flipped the collar of his coat up behind his neck feeling the biting wind along the back of it. The wind was whipping up now.

  “Be safe.” Both of her hands were buried into her cape now and she shivered.

  “I will.” With a jut of his chin, he urged her back into the house.

  Giving him a small wave, she went. When the door was closed and he heard the wood plank slide into place, he walked away. At Domino, he launched himself into his saddle, then shoved the blanket b
ack into his bag before setting off. He travelled wide around the Reynolds’ property, ensuring he didn’t alert anyone in the main house to his presence. Rachel had asked him to keep her secret and he’d honor his word. Once he got to the road that led into town, he kicked his horse into a gallop.

  This night hadn’t turned out at all how he’d figured. He didn’t mind being around Rachel Morrison; even seeing her from afar always sent fire into his blood. Over the years, he’d kept his distance from her, first because she was way too young, fresh-faced and fifteen the first time he’d noticed her at the Founder’s Day celebration. She’d been standing off by herself watching the kids in the hoop race with a ghost of a smile on her lips, as if someone had come along and painted it there for show. But her eyes, hazel with golden specks he’d eventually discovered, were so sad his heart ached for her. It had been not too long after her pa had died.

  Even as the children’s event was going on, he’d left the crowd and gone into Russell’s Mercantile and bought her a bag full of red and black licorice twists. He wasn’t sure which she preferred. When he’d taken them to her, he shoved them in front of her, in an uncouth manner, not having had much decent experience with girls. “Here, I bought these for you.”

  When she’d glanced up at him, with her big, round, beautiful eyes and long, dark lashes, she’d barely registered he was talking to her. She’d hesitantly asked, “For me?”

  “Yup.”

  “Why?” She still hadn’t claimed the small paper sack from him.

  He’d swallowed, nervous at all the questions, he just wanted her to take them. “So, you can smile and all. Here.” He recalled shaking the offered candies before her face.

  Slowly, she’d glanced away from him to the treat. She’d claimed it. Her soft hands brushing over his caused sparklers to race up his arms, like those they lit on the Fourth of July. It had shocked him, and he’d stumbled back.

  She’d let out a small sigh, but when her gaze met his the second time, she’d given him a small smile that winked with a little brightness in her eyes.