A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer

Author:Karen Witemeyer [Witemeyer, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042040, FIC042030, FIC029000
ISBN: 9781441263377
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Clara held on for dear life as Josiah whipped the wagon around a corner and down a private drive. Bracing her feet against the front board and gripping the side of the seat with her right hand, she clutched Harrison to her chest with her left and prayed they’d somehow get to the ranch without the wagon flipping.

They raced through thick stands of trees that nearly blocked the sun. Only when the pines began to thin did Josiah rein in the frenzied horses. He lifted off the bench slightly, using his weight to bring the team under control. At the same time, he let out a piecing whistle that left her ears ringing. The wagon hit a clearing and Clara gasped. Two armed men stood in their path, legs braced apart, rifles raised. She immediately twisted sideways and curled her body around Harrison, shielding her son as best she could.

Her eyes squeezed tightly closed, Clara jerked when Josiah cupped her shoulders with his hands.

“Come on, Miz Danvers. We got to get you into the house. I promised Neill I’d keep you and the little one safe. I can’t do that so good out in the wagon.”

She grabbed hold of Josiah’s arm with her free hand. “But those men . . .”

A smile broke across his features, his teeth shining brightly in his dark face. “Travis and Crock ain’t gonna shoot you, ma’am. They’s just making sure we don’t got any unwanted comp’ny on our tail.”

“Travis?” Clara twisted abruptly toward the man approaching her from the opposite side of the wagon. With his gun now pointed harmlessly at the ground, she saw past the threat of the weapon to the face behind it. He was an older version of Neill. Tall, lean, and a bit more weathered, but definitely capable of lending aid.

“You’ve got to go after Neill,” she blurted.

In a blink, his expression changed from one of curiosity to a hard stare that nearly froze her to her seat. It didn’t stop her, though. Nothing would stop her. Not when Neill’s life hung in the balance.

Dodging Josiah’s grip, she leaned toward Travis and seized his shoulder. “Please. Mack is obsessed with taking my son from me. Neill stayed behind to head him off. But Mack will stop at nothing. Not even killing. Not if it means getting control of his grandson. You have to help Neill. Please!”

“Josiah?” Travis looked past her, a brow raised.

Clara glanced between the two men. Why wasn’t Travis rushing to fetch his horse? Did he not realize how little time they had?

“Jim is with him,” the driver said, his voice frustratingly void of urgency. “I promised Neill to look after his woman, so I’ll be here to watch the house.”

Travis nodded once, then finally started issuing orders. “Crock, take the lady in to Meri. Josiah, see to the team. I’ll saddle the horses.” Then he turned back to her. “You’ll be safe here, ma’am. If you belong to Neill, you belong to all of us. No matter what happens, you and your child will be protected.

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