The Bounty by Beth Williamson

Author:Beth Williamson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

They rode in stony silence, their usual jabs and mocking tucked away. The morning was very foggy but Nicky assumed Tyler must know where he was going. She couldn’t see a darned thing, but he couldn’t see what she was doing either. She had retrieved her hairpin and was busy picking the lock on her shackles. As soon as they stopped for the noon meal, she was going to bolt. It was too dangerous for her heart and her neck to be with Tyler Calhoun. She could still smell his scent on her skin and the ghosts of his callused hands on her body. She tried to ignore her longings, but they were too strong to resist.

Oh, Tyler, why did I have to fall in love with you of all people?

Three hours into their ride, Nicky decided she couldn’t be silent anymore.

She felt the need to tell Tyler the story of Logan’s death, to let him know what it was that had set her off on this run from the law. Deep down, she needed him to believe her story, believe her to be innocent. Believe in her.

“Did you know I grew up with six brothers? Ray, Ethan, Trevor, Brett, Jack, and Logan.” She ticked off the names on her fingers. “We were all very close, and fiercely loyal. When we were growing up, sometimes they’d leave me out of whatever they were doing because I was a girl, but most times I could convince them otherwise. They would do anything for each other, or for me.”

Tyler didn’t turn to look at her, but she saw him straighten in the saddle as though he was listening.

“Jack was the closest in age to Logan and me. Growing up, we were like three peas in a pod, always out getting dirty and having fun with our big

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The Bounty

brothers, or the ranch hands. I wasn’t one for frilly dresses or little girl toys. I was always right in there with my brothers doing whatever they were doing. My mama tried to force me to wear dresses, but she couldn’t do it. If she put one on me, as soon as she turned around, I’d take it off, and prance around naked if she took my britches.

“When we got older, my parents didn’t want me working around the ranch like a hired hand. They thought I was turning into an old maid because of my behavior. So, on my parents’ orders, my brothers started to leave me out completely. They didn’t like it much, but as I said, they are fiercely loyal, so they did what my parents wanted. I was bored to near insanity sitting around the house with nothing to do.” She paused and took a deep breath. “When Owen Hoffman made an offer for my hand, my parents approved. He was rich and willing, even if he was fifteen years older than me. Who else would want to marry a girl over the age of eighteen who insisted on acting like a boy? Owen did.

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