startled her. In the distance a tiny yellow light flickered. The cabin?
Juliana’s steps slowed as reality slammed into her. There would be more outlaws in that cabin. She was alone. A single, unprotected female at the mercy of a gang of hardened criminals. A relentless procession of unhappy scenarios flashed through her mind, churning up the acid in her stomach. Every cell in her body screamed at her to flee.
She glanced at the enigmatic man walking beside her, recalling his vow to get her to safety. Had he meant it? Or had he said that to keep her from running again?
Her face flamed as she remembered his comments about liking feisty women and being attracted to Irish beauties. What were his true intentions? She was having trouble deciding what to believe.
Harrison must’ve sensed her unease, because he curled his fingers around her wrist and held fast. She glared at him but didn’t try to free herself. Her muscles were weak from fear.
Fitzgerald and Art reached the cabin first. After securing their horses beneath a nearby tree, they waited for her and Harrison.
“Art.” Harrison stopped before the young man. “I want you to stay out here with the lady.”
Art’s eyes bulged, his mouth flopping open like a dead trout. “Me?” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I don’t know—”
“It’s simple,” Harrison interrupted, his tone meant to instill confidence. “Stand right here beside her and whatever you do, do not let her out of your sight.”
He released her wrist but didn’t move away. Tucking his thumb beneath her chin, he eased her face up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he reassured her in a surprisingly gentle tone. “Don’t try anything foolish.”
Juliana stared mutely at his rugged face, wreathed in shadows. So immobilizing was her fear at this point that stringing two words together seemed like an impossible task.
The cabin door banged open then and half-a-dozen men spilled into the yard, their greetings tapering to a deafening silence when they caught sight of her.
Evan stepped in front of Miss O’Malley to shield her from the men’s predatory gazes. Young, innocent and beautiful, she was a lamb amid ravenous wolves. As they strained to get a glimpse of her, he could almost see them salivating in anticipation.
God, please help me get her out of here.
He stilled, stunned by the spontaneous prayer. He hadn’t prayed in months, not since the day his brother had been gunned down in cold blood.
“It’s about time you boys got back.” Cliff Roberts, the gang’s leader, separated from the rest of the group. The middle-aged man held up his kerosene lamp, casting a muted circle of light about him. “Got the loot?”
“Right here, boss.” Fitzgerald held up two bulging sacks.
“Good.” His steely gaze bore into Evan. “Who’s the girl?”
“There was a situation at the mercantile.” Evan held the man’s gaze.
Fitzgerald snorted. “Harrison wasn’t doin’ his job.”
Roberts arched a brow in silent question.
Evan clenched his teeth. “It was either get her inside or risk a scene on the front steps. I figured the mission was more important.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath and wished he hadn’t phrased it quite that way. She didn’t know it yet, but it was about to get worse.
“I’ll take care of her, boss,” Fitzgerald challenged, his leer making Evan’s skin crawl.
“No,” Evan’s tone brooked no argument. “She’s mine.”
“I’ll wager two dollars Harrison can best Fitz!” one of the men hollered.
Murmurs rumbled through the group. “Yeah, fight!”
“Winner gets the girl!”
Ignoring Miss O’Malley’s outraged sputter, Evan settled a heavy hand on his weapon. “No contest. If any of you wants her, you’ll have to kill me first.”
Thick silence settled over the group. Crickets’ buzzes swelled to fill it, as did the odd horse snuffle. His senses on high alert, Evan waited for someone to challenge his claim. He’d meant every single word. She was there through no fault of her own. He would guard her with his life.
John Hooper held up his hands. “Whoa, Harrison. No use gettin’ touchy.”
“Yeah, we didn’t know ya done fell in love!” Another man snickered.
Roberts studied him. “Enough! Everyone inside. Now.”
Mumbling and laughing, the men filed back through the door. Evan’s breath left his lungs in a whoosh. He held back until he and Miss O’Malley were the only ones in the yard.
“You’re not taking me in there, are you?” she demanded in a strangled whisper, her fingers clutching his forearm.
“Not for long, I promise.”
“I’m supposed to believe you?” Her voice went shrill. “After all the foul—”
“Harrison!” someone inside called. “Let’s go.”
“Come on,” Evan said.
Placing his palm against her lower back, he pressed her forward into the small, musty cabin. The smell of unwashed bodies and cigar smoke assaulted his senses, but he quickly masked his distaste.
Most of the men were seated at the table, and at their entrance, their bold gazes locked onto the lady at his side. She hung back, no doubt frightened out of her mind. And for good reason.
Fitzgerald stood in the corner near the door, his lips curled in a menacing smirk and his dark eyes challenging.
“Harrison.” Roberts motioned him toward the cabin’s only bedroom. “We need to talk.”
Evan started forward with Miss O’Malley.
“No, she stays here.”
No way was he leaving her side. Evan opened his mouth to protest. “But—”
“Ten minutes. Gauging from your proclamation just now, I figure she’ll be safe enough.”
Evan changed direction and, leading her to an overturned carton in front of the fireplace, motioned for her to sit. Her wide green eyes begged him not to abandon her, and he almost caved. But he couldn’t defy the gang leader’s wishes without placing her in even greater danger. With a light squeeze to her ice-cold hands, he crossed the room with leaden steps.
Juliana watched him walk away, her heart frozen in fear. Her only ally, if he was truly that—and she had serious misgivings—was leaving her to face the enemy alone. Suddenly she understood a fraction of what Daniel must’ve felt as the guards sealed him in that lions’ den and he awaited the advance of roaring,
