Page 74 of A Steadfast Heart
Michael pulled Tillie toward himself with one hand and waved a gun in the other.
Kaitlyn’s eyes locked on the weapon. Her heart pounded and her skin grew clammy. He’d never practiced shooting, didn’t even know to control where it pointed. She launched herself into Michael, jarring Tillie loose from his grip. “Run!” she screamed. “Find Merritt and Jack.”
The children scattered. Michael wrapped her into a bear hug. She struggled, but he shoved his gun into his pocket and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. She screamed as he spun her around and pulled her back against his chest. He slammed his hand over her mouth.
“No more of that, sister dear. Not unless you want me to find those children again. It wasn’t hard to hire men for a brawl. Rounding up a few squirming brats shouldn’t cost much either.”
Kaitlyn froze.
“That’s more like it.” His hot breath on her neck made her shudder. “Maybe I should round up one of the children anyway. Just to keep you in line.”
Kaitlyn’s breath seized. In an instant, she was back in that storage closet in St. Louis. Except this time, Tillie was beside her. The image seemed so real she wanted to scream and pound the walls. Her breath came in quick pants, but she managed to remain silent.
Michael shook her. Once. Twice. Her neck popped from the force. She jammed her teeth together to trap a cry of pain.
“Now, my dearest sister, you are coming back to St. Louis with me to get this ridiculous marriage annulled. We have an appointment with a judge who understands the limitations of the female mind.”
Ice burned a trail to her heart. He’d paid off a judge. There was no way out.
Chapter17
Where’s Kaitlyn? Is she safe?
Drew glanced around the overfull jail. Two hours in the stone room with iron bars had caused a chill to settle into his soul. Judging by the smell, Quade’s men had spent a few hours in the saloon this morning. At least the lockup had two cells, so he and his brothers didn’t have to share with the Diamond Q cowhands. Too bad he could still see them through the bars that separated the cells.
Conchas snickered. “McGraw ain’t much of a man iffen he had to beat a woman to get her to marry him.”
Drew glared at Conchas, but the cowhand just smirked.
Nick rested a red-knuckled hand on Drew’s arm. “Ignore him.”
Drew rose to pace the area at the front of his cell. Had Barclay heard his shouted request? Had he understood the threat Michael posed? Or was Kaitlyn even now in her brother’s hands?
Six steps. Turn. Six steps. Turn.
Nick stood in his path. “She’s okay, Drew. Come, sit down.”
Ed scooted to the end of the cot so there’d be room for all three of them. Nick moved that way, limping from a kick he’d received in the brawl. Blood oozed from a cut on Ed’s forehead.
Some job Drew had done protecting his brothers. His mother would be ashamed of him.
He sat in the space his brothers made for him. His ribs ached, as did his lower back. That punch in his kidney had packed a wallop.
“Course he couldn’t protect his pretty little wife either. Worthless, he is.”
“Shut up, Riley. Riling him up will only keep us here longer, and I want a drink.”
Drew rose from the cot and moved to the front of his cell.
Six steps. Turn.
Barclay had Kaitlyn. Of course he did. And Kaitlyn had the kids. She wouldn’t leave them.
Six steps. Turn.
Nick leaned toward Ed. “Odd that Quade’s men left the saloon just as Michael appeared.”
Ed nodded. “Never known those boys to leave a watering hole early.”
