Woman of Courage (Four Full length Historical Christian Romances in One Volume): Woman of Courage Series by Hickey Cynthia

Author:Hickey, Cynthia [Hickey, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Winged Publications
Published: 2014-05-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Hodge looped a hangman’s noose around Ruth’s neck and led her behind his horse like a dog with her hands tied behind her back. The fibers chaffed her skin. Perspiration burned the raw welts.

“Where are you taking me?” Ruth forced her voice to remain steady. Most likely the leash he tugged her along with would be the one he used to lynch her. Not the way she imagined she’d die. Instead, she’d always thought she’d die in her own bed, a lonely old spinster. Her chin quivered. Not anymore. She’d ask John to marry her as soon as she was free of these men. She didn’t care if it was against propriety. Her stomach soured at the notion that she might not see the sun rise in the morning.

“Shut up.”

“I have a right to know.” Ruth tripped over a rock and sprawled across the trail. Without the use of her hands, she fell on her face. The breath left her in a whoosh. “Oh.”

Hodge dragged her for several feet before halting so she could get to her feet. She spit out dirt and narrowed her eyes. If only she had a gun. Her cheek felt scraped, along with her knees. Both burned like the dickens, and Ruth gritted her teeth to keep from yelping. Good thing for Mister Hodge that Ruth’s hands were tied.

She glanced behind her at the other five men who laughed at her fall. They wouldn’t be laughing when John found her. If he found her. She hadn’t missed the spreading stain of blood through his shirt. Please, God, don’t let his wound be serious. There wasn’t a lot of point in worrying over whether he’d catch up to him. John Powell wouldn’t let anything stop him, short of death. Ruth knew that by now. And he wouldn’t come alone.

The knowledge gave her strength to continue as Hodge led them down the mountain. Ruth concentrated on putting her feet in as secure a spot on the rocky trail as she could. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.”

“You don’t need to know.” Hodge glared over his shoulder. “If you don’t shut your trap, you won’t make it there with your tongue!”

“Could you spare some water? I’m parched.”

“Ain’t got any. Wait until we reach the river.”

At least now she had a general idea of their destination for the night. They passed a mossy section of ground and Ruth took care to grind the heel of her boot into the soft undergrowth. “You know, prisoners of war are treated better than what I’m getting.”

“You killed my brother in cold blood!”

“You are sadly mistaken.” Ruth’s legs trembled from the hike, and her breath came in gasps. She eyed the setting sun. Surely they’d stop for the night soon. If not, Hodge would have to drag her the rest of the way. “It was a matter of self-defense. Even someone would as thick a skull as you seem to possess should realize that.”

“Woman, I’m warning you.”

“How did you find me?”

“I had help from a pretty little canary.

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