Maverick Wild by Stacey Kayne

Author:Stacey Kayne [Stacey Kayne]
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, General, Western, Historical, Man-woman relationships
ISBN: 9780373294800
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

P inned down, the rope around his shoulders tightened over his neck as another burned the skin of his wrists.

“Light the torch!”

Even with his face pressed to the grass and a ringing in his ears, Chance recognized Wyatt’s voice. A torch hissed, the flash of light blinding him.

Released, Chance sat back on his heels. Squinting against the orange glow, mindful of the rope chafing his neck and trailing down his back, he tested the binding around his wrists. Four wide-eyed cattlemen stood around him, their bandannas still pulled over their mouths and noses like a bunch of bank robbers.

“Ah, hell,” one muttered. “He’s a Morgan.”

No wonder Salina’s place had been so quiet. Her crew had been out playing cowboys and bandits. And he’d been the fool strolling through the moonlight with his head lost in the stars.

Wyatt stepped into the circle of light, his expression nothing short of gleeful. “Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” He glanced around at his crew, who didn’t seem to share his excitement. “Told you boys we’d catch us a rustler.”

“Rustler?” Chance shifted up, onto his feet.

The group before him took a step back. Cowards, the lot of them. He continued to tug discreetly at the rope binding his hands, checking for weakness. Unfortunately, Wyatt’s cowhands seemed to have a talent for tying secure knots. No doubt the noose around his neck had been tied to perfection.

“How do you like being attacked without any warning?” asked Wyatt.

“What are you talking about? When I found you in town, I called you by name before I knocked you on your ass.”

“You’re not so tough now,” Wyatt scoffed, taking a step toward him.

“Yeah?” Chance growled through clenched teeth. “Keep walking and we’ll find out.”

Wyatt didn’t take another step. “Maybe we should drop you from a tree branch and test that noose.”

Chance glanced at Wyatt’s confused crew.

“He’s not the rustler, Wyatt,” one of them said, still hiding behind his bandanna.

“He’s on Lazy J land,” said Wyatt.

“No kidding. How else am I supposed to get to Salina’s ranch? Even if I was out here looking for cattle, they’re likely to be mine! You’ve been skimming off our herd for months.”

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you be at the ranch?”

“That’s between me and your boss.”

“You went to see Salina?”

“I did.”

A stillness came over Wyatt, one that Chance recognized immediately. The cold rage in Wyatt’s eyes told him what Salina hadn’t.

She had lied to him.

“Put him on a horse,” Wyatt ordered.

With a noose still tight around his neck and trees rooted all around? Like hell! “Save them the trouble and cut me loose.”

“I don’t think so.” Wyatt shook his head, a slow smile tilting his lips. He strolled forward, keeping his voice low. “So goddamn smug. Riding around these hills like you’re God’s gift to the world.”

Chance didn’t know what he was talking about. He rode around these hills trying to make a living, just like every other man.

“I’ve enjoyed it, you know. Getting paid to knock you down a few notches.

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