A Ransomed Heart Read Free Page A

across his face showing a line of perfect white teeth. “You.”
    Like a lightning bolt her hand shot from her side and slapped him hard across the face.  The sound reverberated around them.  Logan winced a bit then his face took on an amused tone.  This was going to be fun.  From behind him Kit handed over a burlap bag and Logan swiftly slipped it over her head, the same moment Kit caught her from behind with both hands.  She tried to escape but both men were more than she could contend with.  Logan winked at Kit and he returned with a hesitant look, she was possibly a bit more than they could handle.
    Annabelle never took her eyes off his face and reveled in his look when her hand made contact.  This man would know she was a force to be reckoned with.  His steely blue eyes were the last thing she saw before the bag thrust her vision into hazy blackness.  Even then she refused to give up and gave the man behind her a swift kick in the shins. She heard several men chuckle and then the creaking of leather saddles.  Someone was unhitching the team and she knew they would be leaving.  Then seconds later she was being lifted up in front of a man. He positioned her very securely between his chest and the neck of his mount. She grimaced and pulled as far away as possible.  Her heart began to sink as the animal moved underneath her.  Where were they taking her?  What would they do with her? And would her Mr. Sevier get to her before any damage could be done?

Chapter 3
     
    Jean Mousse arrived at RS Ranch in the early evening, weary and sunburned.  It was a miracle he had made it at all.  The man was not accustomed to riding a horse, and he rarely paid attention to where he was going in the stage.  He worked for Robert Sevier, the owner of the ranch, and he did and went where the man told him to. The black bowler hat he usually wore had fallen off along the way so he closed his eyes and let the animal take him home.  Nothing looked more beautiful than the front porch of Mr. Sevier’s ranch house. 
    The tired animal came to a halt near the front door and Mr. Mousse slid down hitting the ground on his wobbly legs.  Pain shot up his inner thighs and he grimaced with his first few steps.  A stable hand came for the horse and looked at him strangely, Mousse shot him a killer look and the boy lowered his eyes and took the horse for a drink and a rub down. Mousse steadied himself on the railing and eased up the stairs.  He had almost reached the door when an expectant Robert Sevier opened it.  The look on Mousse’s face spoke more than words and Sevier glared out behind him looking for the carriage and his expectant bride. Neither was to be seen. Mousse pushed his way into the house which was teeming with guests.
    The room was large and full of all manner of people.  Women in formal dresses, their hair piled on top of their heads.  The men wore straight black jackets and ribbon bow ties, their hair neatly combed and their mustaches trimmed to perfection.  Mousse felt out of place with his dusty clothes and ragged features.  These were Mr. Sevier’s business associates and friends. Mr. Mousse knew they were coming, but in his most recent ordeal he had forgotten.  Embarrassed he dipped his head at those closest to him and hurried through the crowd and down the hall towards Mr. Sevier’s study.  He could feel his boss’s heavy footsteps behind him and knew he was in trouble. 
    Robert M. Sevier slammed the door behind him as he bore holes in his assistant’s head.  What was going on and where was his bride?  He hoped there was a very good excuse because he would have hated to kill someone on such a fine evening. Mousse faced him, his mustache quivering on his face, his eyes black and beady.  If the man wasn’t so good with finances he would have let him go a long time ago; he had never given any reason to be sent away, but this may just be a good enough reason.  You don’t just lose a young