Desperate (Harris Trilogy Book One) (27 page)

She
opened her eyes and stared around the tiny room getting her bearings. The pungent smell of cigars filled her nostrils. She pressed her fingers to the bump on her head. She had one hell of a headache. Someone had hit her over the head knocking her unconscious. 

When her eyes adjusted to the room
, she met the intense stare of the man who she suspected of abducting her. A big, fat cigar dangled from his thick lips. She remembered being in the stables before everything went black. As she fought to regain consciousness, she had recognized Abigail’s voice. It was all muttered but she knew it was Abigail he was talking with. Out of fear she pretended she heard nothing.

“What do you want?” He sat
on the side of the bed where she was lying. She inched over to the edge as far as she could because his leg was touching hers. She got the feeling she was in grave danger.

The ice-cold gleam in his
eyes made her nervous. It was all she could do to keep from shivering as his eyes roamed over her body. Did he plan to rape her?

He removed the cigar from his mouth.
“Hello, Miss Monroe. I’m Jeb Slade.”

“Why have you abducted me?” This time she
was getting angry and her voice rose with her annoyance. He had no right to kidnap her.

“
Let’s just cut straight to the heart of the matter. Bob Lewis hired me to find you and bring you back to him.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice. “He misses you desperately. You must mean a lot to him because he is paying me an exorbitant amount to bring you back safe and untouched. It has taken five months to find you. I have looked all over creation for you.”

She
began to tremble as fear overwhelmed her. The thought of being forced to return to Bob Lewis caused her stomach to knot. “You can’t do this.” Her voice was raw and terrified. “My grandfather will pay you whatever you ask. Please don’t take me to Bob Lewis, I hate him. He is an evil man.” Unintelligible sounds strangled in her throat as she began to sob. 

“Please, Miss
Monroe. Get yourself together. I’ve already wired Mr. Lewis that you are safely in my care and will be returning you in a few days. We will begin our journey in the morning.”

Rather than to continue with her show of emotion, she stopped crying. T
ears would not work on this man, maybe reasoning would. “I promise you my grandfather will pay dearly to get me back. My grandfather is Roy Talbert. He is very wealthy.”   

“I know who your grandfat
her is, and it does not matter. I don’t want to hear you ask again, Miss Monroe. Bob Lewis hired me. My reputation means much to me. Mr. Lewis has hired me on several occasions to take care of problems he could not handle on his own. I’m sure he will have more work for me in the future. Now, get some rest because we leave at dawn.” 

W
hat other jobs had Bob Lewis hired him to perform? The two six guns strapped to his waist led her to believe he was a hired gun. What despicable deeds would warrant a hired gun? She could only imagine.

He tied her hands to the posts of the bed.
“Sorry honey, but I can’t risk you finding your way back to Richmond.”

U
neasy with the intimate way he touched her hands, she trembled. Gritting her teeth, she remained silent because she did not want to goad him. Not giving up hope, she would attempt to escape while he slept. If he thought she was docile, then he might drop his guard. 

****

There was only one bed so Slade made him a pallet on the floor beside the bed so he could hear if Kate tried to remove her restraints. In his line of work he had learned to sleep with one eye open. Besides, sharing the bed with her might be too much of a temptation. She was much too pretty and voluptuous.

H
e could understand Bob’s attraction to the girl. Thick lashes shaded the most beautiful green eyes he had seen. Her backside was round and shapely, and her breasts full and firm. She had his senses reeling.

He had
firsthand experience how evil and cruel Bob Lewis could be. Three men that crossed him now lay dead in their graves. Men Slade killed for a price.

What would happen to the lovely Miss Monroe when she wouldn’t bend to his will? Would Bob kill her? After following her around for the past few weeks, he felt he knew her.
The thought of someone as spirited and beautiful as Kate at the mercies of Bob pulled at his heart strings. 

Her grandfather would pay whatever he asked to get her back.
The man adored her. Then there was her fiancé, Jacob Greene who was also a rich man in his own right. He could collect from both. But then Bob would only hire someone else to kidnap her since he was obsessed.  Besides he was paid to do a job and he would finish it.         

Chapter Sixteen

Jacob woke to find worried eyes upon him. Both Roy and Scott stood at the end of the bed looking as if they had a hundred questions. He tried to remember what happened, but it hurt too much to think. Then he remembered the strange man in the barn who kidnapped Kate. 

W
hen he tried to sit, Penny pushed back against the pillow. “Don’t move, Jacob. You don’t want to open your wound and start bleeding again. You have lost too much blood as it is.”

His voice nothing but a weak whisper, Jacob
asked, “Is Kate okay? Have you found her?”

Roy moved to the side of the bed and placed his hand on Jacob’s arm. “We haven’t been able to locate her. We were hoping you knew what might have happened.”

“I have to go after her. Some man in the stables was holding her, and she wasn’t moving. He took her. I must find her.”    

Scott moved to the
other side of the bed. “Can you describe him?”

Attention on
Roy, Jacob replied, “I’m sorry I didn’t protect her.”

F
ace full of worry, Roy returned, “I’m sure you did everything in your power, Jacob. I know how much you love her.” 

Scott asked again, “Can you describe Kate’s abductor?”

Afraid they were losing valuable time in finding her, he tried to see her abductor in his mind. He tried to concentrate. His face twisted in pain, and the people around him were becoming blurry. “He was a big, tall man. I have never seen him before. He used his weapon with the expertise of a hired gun.” Jacob remembered how quick he had drawn the six shooter. He was extremely fast. Why would a hired gun kidnap Kate? None of it made any sense.

“Can you think of anything else, Jacob?  Please, anything that can help us find Kate.”

When Jacob never answered, Roy shook him. He was out cold and there was no waking him.

“Penny, please notify me if he awakes
and remembers anything at all. I’m going home in case there is a ransom request.”

Scott knew he would
be of little help at the hospital. He left to do a little investigating of his own. Maybe he could find out who kidnapped Kate.

****

When Roy arrived home, Myra greeted him at the door. She looped her arm around his waist and led him to the sofa in the parlor. “I’m sorry, Roy. I came as soon as I heard. I can’t believe Kate has been kidnapped. Do you know who has taken her?”

Roy looked as if he would fall over from exh
austion. “No Myra, we know nothing. I hired someone from the Pinkerton Agency. He comes highly recommended, and I hope he can find out where she has been taken and why.”

“Is Jacob going to be okay?”

He scrubbed his palms over his tired eyes. “Yes, he is going to make a full recovery. The man who shot him knew what he was doing. It was as if he only wanted to injure him instead of murder him.” Which gave Roy hope. If the man was a murderer, he would have killed Jacob.

Myra crossed the room to the liquor cabinet and poured a snifter of brandy. She handed the glass to Roy.
“I’m going to send a telegraph to David to notify him Kate has been kidnapped. He will want to know since he is in love with her. I feel David is making a huge mistake marrying Abigail when his feelings are so strong for Kate. They truly love each other.”  

“Kate confided to me her feelings for David. Maybe he can help.
Please communicate to him her situation. Nothing would make me happier than to have Kate back home where she belongs.” He ran his fingers through his snow, white hair in frustration. Whatever it took he would find a way.

****

Kate woke from a fitful night. She had hoped it had all been a bad dream. Pain shot up her arms from sleeping with her arms tied to the bed posts, letting her know it was reality. Her wrists were raw from trying to wiggle from her bonds. Every time she thought she might get free Mr. Slade woke, and tightened her restraints again. 

Hopefully, he felt as wretched as she did. A
t least she slept in a comfortable bed, while he slept on the cold floor. She peered over the edge of the bed but didn’t see him.

The door swung open, and his boots made a scraping sound on the worn boards of the floor as he stepped to the side of the bed.
“Let’s get going, Miss Monroe.” With his knife, he cut the ropes tied to her wrists. “Put these clothes on.”  

Kate rolled her shoulders, and rubbed the irritated skin around her wrists.
She looked at the faded and worn pants Slade threw on the bed with distaste. Where he had gotten them? Maybe they belonged to Abigail because they looked much too long for her. There was also a thick, gray coat to protect her from the cold autumn mornings and nights. 

“Move it, Miss
Monroe. I want to put as many miles behind us as possible before night fall.” Perhaps she was mistaken, and he did not feel as wretched as she. He seemed well rested and ready to take control. 

Strong hands
gripped her arms and pulled her close. “Here are the rules. You will ride beside me at all times. If you try to escape, I will tie you over the saddle like a sack of potatoes. If you ask anyone we meet on our way for help, I will have to kill them. I don’t think you want to be responsible for someone losing their life. Do I make myself clear, Miss Monroe?” His cold look let her know he meant business.

S
he was probably spinning her wheels, but she at least had to try. She had the feeling if she didn’t convince him to let her go now it wouldn’t happen once they were on the road to Durham. “You know people will be searching for me. I’m engaged to be married. My fiancé will kill you for abducting me. He will find me and you will be sorry you ever laid your filthy hands on me. If you want to live, let me go.” 

“Shut up, Miss Monroe.
I don’t want to hear another word.” His expression was thunderous causing her to silence. 

He turned his back while she
dressed in the riding clothes he had provided, since she refused to put them on if he watched.

She stepped onto the tiny covered porch and shivered from the cool morning air. Two horses were already saddled for the long ride to Bob Lewis’ plantation
. He must have prepared for the journey while she slept.

When he tried to help her mount her hor
se, she slapped his hands away. “I don’t need your help!” She cringed every time he touched her. Gilded light sprinkled through the trees as the sun was just beginning to rise into the sky. She hoped the sun would warm the chill away.

Her shoulders
slumped as she tried to look defeated as she rode in silence beside Slade.  She wanted him to believe she had accepted her fate and had no fight in her. She didn’t realize she was crying until a tear fell on her hands. 

“Remember, Miss Monroe.
We are lovers traveling together. Behave yourself and you will be delivered to Bob Lewis without being harmed. If you cause any trouble or try to escape, I will punish you.” 

How would he punish her?
She did not like his tone and was sure he wasn’t the kind of man that made idle threats. She wiped at the tears and reined her horse to fall into step beside Slade’s. It was a long way to Durham. A lot could happen before they got there. Jacob was resourceful. He would find out where she was headed and save her.

****

Jacob felt as if he were in a fog. How long had he been asleep? He was trying his best to remember any detail about the man who shot him and kidnapped Kate. From the effort, he received a throbbing headache. 

Scott padded into the room on silent feet. It amazed him how a man of Scott’s size could enter a room without making a sound. “Do you have any information?”

“Someone matching Kate’s description was seen on a secluded
back road with a strange man two days ago. The descriptions vary of the man, but most of the witnesses have said he was a tall man. I’m sorry I couldn’t find out more.”

“Two days? Have I been sleeping for two days?”

“Yes, you lost a lot of blood. Doctor Taylor said you were lucky to be alive.”

Jacob looked
haggard and feeble. He struggled to sit but fell back against the pillow as weak as a kitten. “That’s something. At least we know she is alive.” A glimmer of hope surfaced. 

Scott was an expert tracker and at least they
had a clue. He would know the right questions to ask. “I’m going to be of no help. Go to Roy Talbert’s townhouse and tell him what you found out. He has hired a Pinkerton. Maybe he has some information. Kate’s probably been abducted for some reason other than ransom since they were seen on a secluded road the day after she was kidnapped. Work with Roy and find her for me, Scott.”

Scott
laid his hand on his shoulder. “I’ll do everything in my power to bring her back to you.”

****

David pounded on Roy Talbert’s door impatient for someone to answer. Irritated, he considered kicking it down. 

T
he door flung open and Roy sighed tiredly, “David, you came. Myra felt you would.” He stepped to the side and let him pass. “You look like hell. When is the last time you slept?”

Wrinkled clothes,
mused hair, and bloodshot eyes were evidence that David had not stopped to rest since receiving the telegraph informing him of Kate’s abduction. He threw some things together and left immediately. 

“Two days.
You don’t look as fresh as a daisy either, Roy.” The worry lines and dark circles under Roy’s eyes led him to believe he had not slept since Kate’s abduction.  

Pushing him
to the sofa, Roy plopped down beside him and explained, “Jacob was shot trying to rescue Kate from her abductor.”

Concern showing
on his face, David asked, “Is Jacob okay?”

“Yes, he is in the hospital, but is ex
pected to make a full recovery. He did get a good look at the man who abducted Kate and believes he is a hired gun. He handled his weapon like a professional. I have waited for a ransom note, but there hasn’t been one. I have come to the conclusion Kate was abducted for another reason. I just don’t know why.” While Roy talked, he poured David a large glass of whiskey.

“David! How did you get here so fast?
” Not giving him time to answer, she continued, “You must be exhausted.” Myra sat on the sofa beside him, and threw her arms around his neck. Seeing his worry, she could no longer hold in the tears. Tears flowed down her beautiful cheeks.

“Please Mom, I need you now. You are going to have to pull
yourself together. We need to think.” He tipped back the glass and drank the whiskey feeling the burn as it hit his empty stomach.

“
I’d better eat something before I collapse from hunger. Mom, will you please see if the cook can prepare me something to eat?”

Myra hurried from the r
oom and veered off toward the kitchen.

Roy waited until Myra left th
e parlor before turning on him. His tone very serious, he replied, “David, there is something I have to tell you. Kate may never forgive me, but I feel it is best you know. She is carrying your baby.”

It felt as if a fist plunged into his chest.
How could he have been so careless? He should have been more careful and thought of the consequences of their lovemaking. She must hate him, and probably feels he had abandoned her. “How long has she known?”

“She’s kn
own for two weeks. She is a little more than two months along.”

“
I tried to talk her into writing you and explaining her predicament. She loves you, but she is stubborn and proud. You were so adamant about marrying Abigail even though you were in love with Kate.”

“What was she thinking?”
The thought of Kate facing her pregnancy without him tore at his heart. He was in agony knowing she had kept it from him.

Ro
y answered, “Kate and Jacob are to be married in a couple of days. Kate told him the child is yours and he was going to marry her anyway even though it is not his child. He has stood by her and supported her through her time of need.”

So that was why she was marrying Jacob in such haste. They were going to pass the baby off as his. The wave of shame was almost more than he could bear. He
stared at his empty glass unable to look Roy in the eye. He felt like a cad for abandoning Kate. Hopefully he could get her to forgive him.  Now she would have to marry him. He would give her no other alternative, but first he would have to find her. 

He struggled to stand and circled the room.
“I never wanted to marry Abigail. I felt obligated because her father made me promise on his deathbed, I would marry her. I gave my word to a dying man. I have loved Kate from the first time I discovered she was a woman. She is sweet, beautiful, and caring. Everything about her is perfect. I will find her and she will marry me.” 

R
elief showed on Roy’s face. “I’m glad to hear you say that. You are the one she really loves.” 

Myra flew into the
room with a tray full of food. Her mood seemed much lighter now that David had arrived. She sat the tray on the table in front of the sofa. “You have to eat. You are going to need your strength. You can’t think on an empty stomach.”