Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

She opened her eyes and looked at Nugget. “You’ll have Joseph.”

“He’s not you.”

How did a person respond to such a thing?

“We’ll write letters. And perhaps we can find a way to visit.”

From the child’s expression, she could tell that Nugget wasn’t too keen on either of those ideas.

“I want you with me always.”

Nugget flung her arms around Annabelle and clung as though she expected someone to separate them right away. But Annabelle wouldn’t be so fortunate. She already knew that. She’d have more time to fall deeper in love with the girl so that when she was finally wrenched away, her heart would be broken into tinier pieces than it already was.

The pain of losing shouldn’t be as bad, having already lost so much. But it seemed like this time, it was even crueler, given her vows not to be attached and the way Nugget had crawled in anyway.

As Annabelle and Nugget headed for the cabin, the first drops of rain began to fall.

“Come on, sweet pea, we’ve got to hurry if we’re going to stay dry.”

“Look what we have here.” One of the men from the previous day stepped in their path.

Annabelle grimaced as he gave her a toothless sneer. From her discussion with Slade yesterday, she surmised him to be Pokey Simpkins, which meant the other guy must be Bart Wallace. Not that knowing their names changed anything.

“Looks like our sparrow that got away,” Bart said.

Annabelle turned to run in the other direction, but Tom, the very man she had been fighting with Polly over, had come behind her. “I don’t think so. You and the brat are coming with us.”

“Run, Nugget,” Annabelle shouted, but it was too late.

Bart had her securely in his arms, and even though the little girl was kicking and screaming, it did no good.

At that moment, the sky decided to open up into an all-out downpour. Everyone within shouting distance was scurrying for cover and shouting their own instructions to their people to keep safe.

No one heard their cries for help.

Tom bound her wrists with a rope. She tried kicking at him, but he laughed when she missed, and her injured ankle gave way, landing her squarely in the mud.

“Aw, the lady got herself all dirty.”

The men cackled with glee, as if it was the funniest thing they’d ever seen. Too bad Polly wasn’t around to see Tom with her now. Of course, she’d probably help with whatever nasty scheme these men had in mind.

“Mebbe,” Tom said. “But just like a juicy piece of fruit, a bit of dirt ain’t gonna stop me from plucking it.”

She might be a lady, but there was no mistaking his reference. Too much time working in her father’s ministry had taught her more than she’d ever wanted to know. There had always been a meanness to his eyes that she’d never trusted. And now she knew why. She’d been right all along in her instincts about this man, but being right didn’t help her now.

Pokey brought around a horse. The men hoisted her up then tied her to the saddle. Tom got up behind her and spurred the horse on.

“Nugget!” She twisted to try to see the child.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head none. She’s coming. Just by different route so’s we can fool any rescue party.”

Lightning lit up the sky around them. “’Course with this storm, no one’s going to be able to track us anyways.”

He stuffed a cloth in her mouth. Old and tasting of stale...well, something old. Worse, it made her feel a little woozy....

When she woke, she was inside a cave, tied up. Nugget slept next to her, also tied. Her heart wrenched at the thought of everything this child had been through in her short life.

“About time you woke up, princess.” Tom kicked her in the side. “You got me into a heap of trouble, let me tell you.”

She stared at him, the gag too tight around her mouth to say anything.

“Yes, sirree...” He pulled a knife out of his boot and began playing with it. “Polly overheard me talking with the boys about our plans, and I had to do some fast thinking.”

Tom leaned in close, his foul breath stinging her nose. He flicked the knife along her cheek. “You’re scared, ain’t ya? I loves me some scared girls. Something I have in common with the boss man.”

She struggled and tried using her body to strike at him, but he moved away, laughing.

Pokey and Bart entered the cave.

“Anyone follow you?”

“Nope.” Bart grinned. “They haven’t sent out a search party yet. No one realizes they’re missing.”

“Good.” A familiar voice sounded in the background. “All the more time to find out where the silver is before I have to get back.”

She looked up to see Slade standing before her.

“Surprised?” His eyes gleamed in the firelight. “You were right about that night Peter died. I had to see a man about some silver. Only there was no wife I sent it to.”

Slade stared at her with more hatred than she’d ever felt in her own heart. “You have no idea what that night cost me. I’d worked so hard to gain Frank’s trust, to be able to hear about all the claims and mines. Playing his errand boy so that I could get the inside track. And you know what?”

He stepped in closer, shoving Tom aside. “You had to go ruin it all with your silly tantrum about how it was all my fault your stupid brother died. Your pa asked me to stay away until you cooled down, making it harder for me to find the big one. I knew then, I’d make you pay.”

His laugh shook her insides. “But look how convenient. Not only are you going to pay, but you’re going to get me my silver.”

Pure evil. That’s what Slade’s face looked like. Being right was no consolation for what stood before her. He pulled the gag down off her mouth.

“What do you want from me?”

“The kid