Desperate (Harris Trilogy Book One) (36 page)

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The Shadow couldn’t believe his rotten luck. Sitting at a back table in the tavern trying to look inconspicuous, he heard someone ask for him. He couldn’t make out who was in the huge clothes, and the silly hat, but the voice sounded familiar. Hopefully, he could remain quiet and not get involved. The last thing he wanted was for someone to find out his identity.

Dark
eyes bore into the giant as he taunted Dana. Why wouldn’t someone step in and save her? It seemed it was all up to him. Everyone else in the room seemed to be enjoying the taunting she was receiving from the man. He turned away and donned his mask while all eyes were on Dana. Even though he knew his identity was in danger of being discovered, he couldn’t stand by and watch her get raped on the floor of a filthy tavern.

The giant bent to kiss Dana when he stopped dead in his tracks. 

“Turn her loose.” The Shadow’s raspy voice, strong and forceful held everyone’s attention. 

The giant turned toward the voice and
The Shadow saw the fear in his eyes. However, he did not want to release his prize. When the man pulled Dana tighter, The Shadow knew he had no intention of letting her go. The large man glanced at his friends as if asking them for help.

The Shadow looked in
to Dana’s frightened blue eyes. He almost felt sorry for her. Maybe she would think twice before doing anything so stupid again. “I heard you wanted to talk to me.”

Too shocked to speak, Dana could only stare at him. 

“I saw the lass first. I think I should get to poke her first.”

The Shadow snapped, “There will be no poking.
Don’t you know a lady when you see one?”

“Lady
, my ass. She came to a tavern. A lady wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this. I bet she’s someone’s doxy. The way I see it, it can’t do no harm to sample her charms.” His hand waved toward his friends. “You can have her when we are finished.”

He probably thought if his friends knew he was going to share Dana with them, they would be more apt to help him if it came to blows.

Taking a step closer to Dana, The Shadow stated firmly, “I forbid you to touch her. She’s leaving with me. Why don’t we ask her who she prefers? Remember it was me she asked for.”

Dana blushed. Hands stretched out in front of her, she stammered,
“I h-ave business w-ith The Shadow. I prefer to leave peacefully with him. No cause for anyone to get h-urt.” Her voice trembled when she spoke. For all her bravado, The Shadow could tell she was scared to death.

He reached out his hand.
“Come with me.” As if in a trance, Dana extended her hand toward The Shadow. They never touched.

T
he giant stepped between them. “I think my friends and me are going to spend some time with the lass. You can conduct your business when we are finished with her.”

Dana
tried to move around the giant, but to no avail. He grabbed her from behind, lifting her off her feet, causing a shrill scream to escape. The Shadow pulled Dana from the giant’s arms. He hit the giant a powerful blow in the face knocking him to the filthy floor. He did not get up because he was knocked out cold. Several of the men who had been sitting at the table with the giant, suddenly attacked The Shadow throwing him off balance. He fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Two huge brutes lifted him by his arms, and held him while another pummeled him with several blows to his stomach.

Dana grabbed a whiskey bottle on the counter, and hit one of his attackers over the head. He dropped with the shards of glass onto the tavern floor.
Then she dived on the back of another, scratching and hitting as she held on for dear life. 

This gave The Shadow the opening he ne
eded. Quickly, he took control of the situation. When the dust cleared, there were several limp bodies littering the floor. He decided not to wait around for someone else to decide they wanted the delectable Dana Harris. He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out the door into the dark street.

They
raced down the street as The Shadow pulled Dana along behind him. The big boots hindered her from running any faster. Ahead in the surrounding fog his carriage came into view as they turned the corner. “Get moving my man, Harris Plantation! We’re probably being pursued!”

The Shadow gathered Dana into his arms
and roughly threw her into the carriage, jumping in behind her. Gasping for breath, she tried to fill her lungs with air as she fell back when the carriage lurched forward. The clip clop of the two horses’ hooves on the empty street filled the quiet of the late night. His driver never slowed the carriage until they were safe outside the city.

Now out of danger, the carriage
slowed and The Shadow unleashed his temper on Dana. Voice rising in anger, he shouted, “Why did you put yourself and me into such a dangerous situation? What possessed you to show up at a tavern looking for me? You could have been raped or killed. Your behavior is not very ladylike.”

Her chin jutting out in defiance, she snapped, “Maybe I’m not a lady.
You know nothing about me.”

“I know who you are, Miss Harris.
I know you and your family. They wouldn’t be thrilled with your impetuous behavior.”

Shocked that he knew her, she demanded,
“Well, you know me. Who are you? Remove your mask and reveal your identify.”

In a furious voice, he hissed,
“Then I’d have to kill you. Now explain to me why you felt the need to show up in a tavern searching for me.”

Dana calmed
and explained, “I’m worried about Elizabeth Williams. She’s scared Milford will abduct her again. I wanted to be able to tell her you killed him.” 

The Shadow couldn’t believe her audacity.
“Why do you think I was in the tavern tonight? I was waiting for my contact. He had information on the whereabouts of Milford. Now I’ll have to set up another meeting and hope he hasn’t moved to a new location. I know what I’m doing and don’t need a slip of a girl getting in the middle of my affairs.” Pointing his finger in her face for emphasis, he hissed, “Keep your nose out of my business.”

Her voice full of guilt, Dana pleaded, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.
Elizabeth won’t leave her room. I’m worried about her sanity. I was hoping you could tell me Milford was dead. Please forgive me for ruining your plans. I shouldn’t have been so brazen, but my patience is wearing thin, watching the best friend I’ve ever had wasting away in her room. Before she was abducted she was vivacious and full of life. Now she is only a shell of herself. I hope once Milford is dead she can begin to live again.”

Chuckling softly, The Shadow replied,
“You’re a little blood thirsty aren’t you?” 

Frustration clear in her voice she snapped,
“I could kill him myself if I could get my hands on him.”

T
he Shadow admired her courage. “Killing is not that easy, Miss Harris.”

“You don’
t seem to have a problem with taking a life. Newspapers report you are responsible for eliminating Richmond of evil doers. I think you do us all a great service. I admire you.”

“Some people think I’m a vigilante
and should be put behind bars. That’s why my identity must not be compromised. So please, never try to find me again.” 

Dana huffed out,
“I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.” 

Still a little peeved with her, he gritted his teeth to keep from lashing out.
If she had not butted in, he would now know where to find Milford. She ruined everything. The rest of the carriage ride was spent in silence.

The carriage stopped down the road from her plantation home.
“Can you get inside without alerting your family?” He worried what would happen if her parents and brother, David discovered she went to a tavern tonight.

“I’ll be fin
e. Everyone is sleeping soundly at this time of the morning.” Dana extended her hand to The Shadow. “It’s been an honor.”

He took her small hand into his.
As soon as they touched, they both felt a charge of heat. He pulled Dana to him and kissed her gently at first, then he thrust his tongue into her mouth intensifying and deepening the sensations they were both feeling. She matched his movements causing him to become hot with desire. Pressing her body intimately against him, a tiny moan escaped from deep in her throat. 

He couldn’
t believe her reaction to his caresses. How could she behave this way when she didn’t even know the identity of the man who was on the verge of taking her virginity? It must be the adrenaline from their near brush with death. 

Coming
to his senses, he pushed her away. Hands on her shoulders he forced her into the seat across from him, while he tried to gain control of his desires. Heavy breaths filled the quiet of the carriage. Even in the dark, he could see her flushed cheeks. He couldn’t pull his eyes away as she pressed her fingers to her lips. Lips he had the urge to kiss again.

Seconds passed before her breathing calmed enough to speak.
“I’m sorry. I swear I’ve never reacted this way before. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to reveal your identity to me?”

“Sorry
, Miss Harris. I travel in different circles than you. We can never be together. You come from a respectable family, while I don’t. I’m sorry I let it go as far as I did. The next time I may not stop myself.” He jumped from the carriage, and offered to assist her to the ground. His hands spanned her narrow waist. He held her longer than he should have, not wanting to turn her loose. She felt perfect in his arms. Tall for a woman, she stood only a few inches shorter than The Shadow.   

“Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
A mischievous glint in her eyes, she smiled.

“We can’t be together.”
One lithe movement and he bounded into the carriage. For several minutes she never moved as if willing him to change his mind. Realizing he had no intention of relenting, she disappeared into the darkness. With hopes she slipped inside without being seen, he tapped the ceiling to let his driver know to head home. 

Other books by this author:

Sutton & McDonald Families:

Love Me Again

Wildflowers

The Painted Rock

Savage Secret

Harris Trilogy:

Desperate

Coming Soon:

The Shadow

Sultry Texas Nights

About the Author

Teresa lives near Candor, NC with her husband, David, horse, two dogs and cat. When she is not spending time with her family, she is working on her next novel. Teresa is a computer lab assistant for an elementary school near her home. For fun she loves to spend time with her three beautiful granddaughters, Lilly, Kara, and Sadie. She also loves to ride her rhino (ATV) on the trails through the woods with her husband.