Page 51 of At Love’s Command

Her lashes dipped as she nodded her consent.

His hold on her tightened, and in a flash, his lips were on hers. The kiss was hard, fast, and left her shaking. When he released her, she swayed on her feet, unsteadied by his sudden absence.

“Get down behind the rock, Josie. Now.”

The captain was back, but she didn’t mind. The captain was the man they needed. The man, she prayed, who would keep them all alive.

Matthew never glanced back as he rejoined his men. He slid into position on his stomach at the edge of the creek bed, propped himself on his elbows, and extended his rifle barrel onto the bank. They’d have the advantage of a protected position, but Taggart’s men would be advancing on speeding horses. Even the best marksmen would struggle to hit such fast-moving targets.

“Come on, sis.” Charlie’s hand cupped her elbow, tugging her out of her thoughts. “You heard the man. We need to get behind the rock.”

Wishing she’d worn her trousers instead of the skirt and petticoats that made riding, running, and any other physical exertion inordinately more difficult, Josephine leaned on her brother as he helped her to the ground. She flattened herself on her belly, just as Matthew had, folding her arms beneath her chest, but Charlie kept pushing her head down when she tried to peer over the top of the rock.

“Stop it,” he growled as he pushed her down a third time. “If you catch a bullet, all of this will have been for nothing.”

Josephine bit her lip and dropped her chin. She was desperate to know what was going on, to offer any assistance that might be required, but Charlie was right. The whole point of taking cover was to conceal oneself. If she kept popping her head up like an overcurious prairie dog, she’d not only be risking her and Charlie’s safety, but she’d be breaking her promise to Matthew. That she could not do. Surrendering her need to watch, she rolled over onto her back and gazed up at the sky, tuning her ears to Matthew and the Horsemen. She might not be able to see what was happening, but she could listen.

Charlie hunkered down beside her, lying on his left side so he could keep his gun hand free and ready. “Thanks for orchestrating my rescue.”

“Of course. You’re my brother.” And as much as she loved him, she really wanted him to save his thanks for another time. The low murmur of Matthew’s voice was hard enough to decipher from this distance without Charlie talking over him.

“I’m our father’s son too, but the relationship didn’t seem to sway him.”

Josephine sighed and gave up trying to eavesdrop on the Horsemen in favor of tending to her brother. “I don’t know what all has happened between you two, Charlie.” She touched his arm. “But I know he loves you.”

“He’s got an odd way of showing it.” The petulance in his tone grated.

She twisted onto her side to face him. “And how do you show your love to him?”

His brows formed a deep V, as if he couldn’t make sense of the question. Then he clenched his jaw. “You’re taking his side? He left me to rot.”

“I’m not taking anybody’s side. Now, hush, I think I hear horses coming.” A dull cadence sounded from a distance. Josephine tensed.

“I was never good enough for him. He always wanted me to be something I’m not.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Taggart’s men were closing the gap. This was not the time to dredge up old hurts.

“You are his pride and joy,” Charlie droned on. “The child he brags about to his friends, the one he holds up as an example to his disappointment of a son.”

“Shh!” The outlaws were almost upon them. The pounding of hooves vibrated the very ground.

“He owes me, Jo. Owes me respect. Owes me my inheritance. I’m tired of being discounted and ignored. You gotta understand.” Charlie grabbed her arm and dragged her backward, away from the rock. “This is the only way.”

“Charlie? What are you doing?” She struggled against his grip, but her skirts twisted, trapping her legs as he pulled her sideways.

Josephine glanced toward Matthew, intending to call out to him for help, but she held her tongue. The outlaws were the bigger threat. Charlie wouldn’t hurt her. Yet even as she reassured herself with that piece of faith, his arm snaked around her waist, digging painfully into her abdomen and pinching her ribs as he roughly hauled her to her feet.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe,” he hissed in her ear even as he carted her away from their cover. “I have everything arranged.”

He had everything arranged? What did that mean? Was he actually in league with the outlaws?

Josephine pulled against his hold, but when his strength proved vastly superior, she stomped on the top of his foot instead. “Let me go,” she demanded, careful to keep her voice low so as not to distract Matthew and the others. She kicked his shin next and swung an ineffectual punch toward his head with the arm not pinned between them.

He easily dodged her blow with a stretch of his neck and ignored her attack on his limbs as if he felt nothing. Thanks to his heavy boots, that probably wasn’t far from the truth.

“On my life, Jo, no harm will come to you.”

His promise only infuriated her more for its complete lack of intelligence. Did he really think he’d have any control once he handed her over to Taggart?