The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal. Linda Ford

now she straightened and stared ahead, though she saw neither the mountains nor the narrow trail. What if there wasn’t a cabin? What if it was all a trick? Had she, in her desperation to escape Thorton’s clutches, fallen into a worse situation? She began to shake and sucked in air. She could not let Belle know of her concern. Whatever came, wherever this man led her, her first and foremost thought was to protect Belle.

      Perhaps she should get Belle to slip from the horse now and hide in the trees. Then when she knew what lay ahead she could come back for her, either to take her to a real cabin or to escape into hiding. But the idea of abandoning Belle for any reason did not rest easy in Red’s mind. Instead, she would be attentive and prepared to take evasive action if things turned sour.

      The sun ducked behind the mountains, sending rays of light upward into the sky.

      “Look,” Belle said. “God is sending out fiery arrows to show us the way.”

      Despite the knot of disbelief in her heart, Red couldn’t help thinking that’s exactly what it looked like. For half a second she let herself think her life could be different, that God was directing her to a place where she could forget the past.

      But reality could not be wished away or fancied out of existence. She was headed into an uncertain future. Moreover she was Red. A woman who would forever be known as a saloon dancer. Many would question if dancing had been the only thing she did. It had been, though few would believe it. Seems Thorton wasn’t interested in anything more than forcing her to dance for others so he could collect the money he demanded before each performance. That and controlling her, humiliating her.

      He’d never allowed any other man to go beyond touching. She shuddered at the memory of those harsh fingers feeling her. Then she forced herself to sit motionless so as not to alarm Belle.

      “There’s the ranch.” Ward pointed.

      Red pulled back on the reins. The horse stopped moving and Red stared. “You said we were going to your place.” It was the Eden Valley Ranch. The place she’d ridden away from before daylight. Had he tricked her?

      He didn’t turn toward her, which was probably for the best. He might not like the suspicion and anger tightening her face. “Have to let the boss know I got his horse and saddle back.”

      “What is he going to do?”

      “Horse thieves aren’t treated kindly around here.”

      “I have firsthand knowledge of not being treated kindly.”

      He turned to consider her. “They’re usually hung.”

      She pressed her hand to her throat. “So you’re really turning me over to a hangman? This was all just a ruse to get me to come along.” Belle’s hands dug into Red’s ribs. She shouldn’t let her anger make her forget to guard her words. “It’s okay, Belle. I’m not going to hang. Now or ever.” She yanked on the reins and jabbed her heels into her mount’s ribs. The animal jerked so hard, Red almost came unseated, and then it took off in a bone-pounding trot. She kicked again. “Faster, you lazy animal.”

      But faster wasn’t something this horse understood. She’d do better to try to escape into the trees, and she pulled the horse off the trail. It went reluctantly, crashing through the brush. Red ducked to avoid branches. Belle clung to her, a high-pitched sound whistling from her.

      The horse jerked to a halt and stood quivering, surrounded by trees. Despite Red’s urging, it refused to take another step.

      “Get down, Belle. Hurry.” She held out an arm to help Belle to the ground, then dropped down beside her, grabbed her hand and raced into the trees. They were making too much noise. Ward would have no trouble tracking them. She stopped. “We have to be quiet.” To their right was a thicket of bushes. “There. Crawl in out of sight.”

      Belle clung to her. “Me?”

      “I’m coming, too. Hurry up.” They fought through the tangles and crouched on the ground. She wrapped her arms about Belle and held her tight. Red panted, the sound ragged and loud. She forced herself to breathe slow, deep.

      The soft thud of horse hooves approached. The leather of a saddle squeaked.

      Red didn’t move, didn’t release the air in her lungs.

      No sound came from the horse or the cowboy. How long could she hold her breath? Her head felt funny.

      “I know you’re in there and I’m not leaving.” Ward sounded so sure of himself that she wanted to jump out screaming and scare his horse so Ward would get dumped off.

      She let the air whoosh out of her lungs. Stupid man probably wouldn’t get thrown no matter what she did.

      “I’m not about to get myself hanged.”

      Belle twitched and turned toward Red, her blue eyes big and full of fear.

      “Nobody is hanging me,” she assured her little sister.

      “I doubt Eddie will want to hang you.” Ward didn’t need to sound so regretful.

      “You might as well come right out and say you consider it foolish for him to show any leniency.”

      “Yeah, well, he hasn’t had to fight you every mile of the ride.”

      “You tricked me.”

      He groaned. “I thought you might like a meal. There’s little in way of supplies at the cabin.”

      “I’m awful hungry,” Belle whispered.

      Red considered her options. They were pretty unappealing. Either hide in the bushes while Ward waited, determined to take her to the ranch, or admit defeat. Either way, she was destined to go to the ranch.

      “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered to Belle, and they scrambled from the bushes. She drew herself up tall and straight. She’d go to the gallows, she’d face her punishment. But no one would see a shadow of fear on her face.

      “We’re ready.” She marched back to the trail where the horse munched on grass. Stupid animal. If it had run like a horse was supposed to, they would be far away now.

      Ward swung to the ground and came to assist her back to the saddle.

      She grabbed the saddle horn and pulled herself up without assistance, but as she reached for Belle, Ward swung her up. Red didn’t wait for Ward, but headed straight for Eden Valley Ranch and whatever justice Mr. Gardiner would mete out.

      She kept her attention on the trail as they edged downward, passed empty corrals, clattered over a wooden bridge and turned toward the big house. But with each step forward her enthusiasm and determination weakened.

      Ward drew abreast of her. “He isn’t going to let you hang.”

      “I guess not. Who would look after Belle if he did?” Did she manage to keep a defensive note in her voice?

      “I expect Linette would give her a home. She’s given Grady one.”

      Red had seen a little boy previously but assumed he was Linette and Eddie’s son. “Good to know someone would show my sister some Christian charity.”

      Ward sighed long and loud. “Linette is a very sweet, patient woman.”

      He didn’t need to say what he really meant. That Red wasn’t. But before she could point out that it was hard to be sweet and patient under her particular circumstances, the cowboys poured from the building she knew to be the cookhouse. They didn’t make a sound.

      “They’re staring.” Belle sounded scared.

      “Guess their mamas didn’t teach them it was rude.” She kept her attention fixed straight ahead.

      The door in the house up the hill opened and Eddie stepped out, Linette on one side and a little boy on the other. They waited as Ward escorted her toward them. They stopped ten feet from the watchful trio.

      Ward swung from