Page 54 of At Love’s Command

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

No!”

Josephine threw her weight against Taggart’s gun arm, praying she could divert the trajectory of the bullet, even as her scientific mind recognized the futility. If she was hearing the sound of the gunshot, her movements were too late to do anything more productive than irritate her captor. A fact brought home to her when he cuffed her on the side of the head. The metal of his revolver impacted her skull. Not enough to do any permanent damage. Just enough to hurt like blue blazes.

Tears welled in her eyes, making it frustratingly difficult to focus. She blinked and craned her neck as Taggart nudged his horse into action, but all she could see was Matthew’s crumpled form lying in the dust, his men scooting like oversized inchworms to get to their captain.

The first tear fell.

Matthew.

The healer in her started running through all the possible injuries that a bullet could cause, each more dire than the last.

“Matthew!” Desperate to tend him, she struggled against Taggart’s hold, willing to throw herself off the horse if it meant getting back to the man she loved in time to save his life.

“Sit still,” Taggart growled, locking an arm around her midsection and trapping her arms at her sides.

No. She wouldn’t yield to this man. She’d fight until she had no fight left inside her. She threw her head backward and slammed her skull into Taggart’s chin.

He cursed, then head-butted her in return. The blow dazed her momentarily.

“Hey!” Charlie shouted. “You agreed she wouldn’t be harmed.”

“That was before I knew she was a hissing she-cat. She bloodied my lip.”

Josephine blinked as she regained her bearings. Matthew. Matthew needed her. She kicked Taggart’s shin with her heel and was preparing for a second, more powerful shot when her captor transferred the reins to the hand holding her in place and drew his weapon.

“Kick me again, and I’ll shoot your brother.” His voice slashed with lethal accuracy across her soul. “I don’t need him for ransom anymore, little girl. All I need is you. So behave yourself, or he’ll be the one to pay the price.”

Josephine’s body stilled, but her heart beat hard and fast in her chest as her gaze flew to her brother.

Charlie looked at Taggart as if not quite sure whether his threat was a ruse.

Josephine knew it was no idle threat. Taggart had no conscience. No honor. Whatever arrangement he’d made with Charlie, he’d cut her brother’s throat in a heartbeat if it meant getting what he wanted. Charlie might be too cocky and full of his own agenda to recognize the danger, but Josephine saw it all too clearly. Taggart didn’t need him.

She lowered her leg. Relaxed her seat. Submitted to the man at her back.

Charlie was still hers to protect. Even if he was a self-absorbed idiot who thought aligning himself with outlaws was the best way to get what he believed he was owed. Foolish, shortsighted, impetuous boy.

When Charlie’s gaze moved to her face, Josephine arched a brow as she returned her brother’s stare, doing nothing to hide the disgust and disappointment she felt for him in that moment. Yes, she’d stopped fighting Taggart out of concern for his welfare, but she held Charlie responsible in this fiasco. He’d chosen to get involved with Taggart and his gang. To gamble money he didn’t have. To extort their father. To betray his sister. To ally himself with a killer who thought nothing of shooting a man for sport—a man bound hand and foot, incapable of defending himself.

Charlie’s gaze turned rueful and finally fell, unable to bear the weight of her silent condemnation.

As Taggart relaxed and holstered his weapon, Josephine closed her eyes. A second tear squeezed past her damp lashes.

The Horsemen had nothing. No horses. No supplies. They didn’t even have their boots. How would they manage to get Matthew to help in time?

Only you can save him, Lord. Please. Save him.

“Captain!”

Matt barely had time to brace himself before a rolling Preach slammed into his face.

“Where’re ya hit?” His corporal nudged him with his shoulder, knocking his hat off and bruising his ear.

“Well, my face has felt better.”