Kate's Outlaw (Steam! Romance and Rails) Read Free Page A

to her temple, but didn’t cock the hammer for fear he’d inadvertently pull the trigger. Charley spun around, glaring at her. He took a threatening step toward them. The moonlight glinted off his knife.
    Jake holstered his gun, slung the woman her over his shoulder and took off across the field, his captive wriggling like a fish. He stumbled, but kept running. By the time he reached the trees where they'd hobbled their horses, sweat slicked his skin. He set her on her feet. She made a retching sound. Unless she choked, he wasn't removing that gag.
    Charley swung into his saddle. "Hurry." His horse danced, impatient as its master.
    "You go ahead. I have to get her situated.”
    "Strap her on like a side of venison.”
    Jake shot his cousin a black look. He wasn't carrying a woman face down across his horse's withers. With a rope, he tied her bound hands to the saddle horn, then mounted and hoisted her up. He shoved her skirts aside to get them out of the way. He’d expected to wrestle petticoats, but she wasn’t wearing any. Instead, she had on leggings similar to those worn by his aunts when they worked in the fields. Only these were made from wool not buckskin. Odd, but convenient.
    He shifted, trying to get comfortable, but all that accomplished was to bring the rounded softness of her rear against his crotch. He stiffened as a river of heat coursed through him. Now he wished she had more layers.
    Curse her too-thin leggings and curse whatever ill luck had brought her into the railcar at the same moment he and Charley had been searching for the payroll. Had she stayed at the party like everyone else, they wouldn’t be in this fix.
    Not entirely true. He’d opened his mouth and claimed her, so now he was responsible.
    He wrapped his free arm around her and guided his horse into the trees. The deeper they rode into the forest, the blacker the night became, along with his mood. He could navigate these woods blindfolded, but he’d never find his way out of the dark place where his soul resided. Now, he’d virtually guaranteed his damnation.
    An owl hooted. Redbird trembled in his arms. Was she afraid of u-gu-ku ? Owls were reputed to be ghosts or witches. Those were just old stories, but the thought made Jake uneasy nonetheless. It seemed a bad omen. He’d only taken her to save her life, and he’d return her, just as soon as he could figure out how to manage it without giving away his secret.
    She clutched the saddle horn, holding herself as far away from him as possible. They had a long ride ahead and she’d be in agony by the time they reached the hideout if she remained rigid. 
    He drew her back, using gentle pressure to urge her to relax against him. She finally did, which brought his nose into contact with a mass of soft, curly hair. He inhaled a lemony fragrance that reminded him of a plant growing in his aunt’s garden. Did Redbird smell like this all over?
    She jerked forward, at the same time ramming her heels into the horse’s sides.
    The stallion bucked.
    Jake struggled to stay in the saddle and keep Redbird from toppling off. He forced her hips down and barked a warning in Tsa-la-gi . She might not understand the words, but she’d get his meaning. What had he been thinking to allow himself to become distracted? He better start paying attention or he’d be on his ass in the dirt.
    The moon reappeared after they left the woods and started into rockier terrain. His cousin set a grueling pace. Charley wouldn't slow down for his own comfort, much less Redbird’s. The sky turned leaden as they neared the river. By dawn, they would reach the bluffs, which concealed countless caves, including their hideout.
    Redbird started to squirm.
    Jake clenched his jaw. Sitting this close, there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about his body’s inconvenient reaction to her bottom rubbing against him. He eyed her suspiciously. Was she purposely tormenting him, or trying to distract him? She wasn’t kicking or