Mail Order Bride: Journey's End: A Mail Order Brides Western Romance (Love On The Line Book 2) Read Free Page A

it's all money. Going from past experience—a couple of girls like yourselves will earn a tidy sum…"
    Elizabet watched him stare at her chest and was brought back to her moment on the train with Frank. "You're sick, you know that?"
    Ignoring her statement he pulled the bandanna back over her mouth and rubbed her cheek. "Might even take first go on you myself?"
    Pulling away from his touch, Elizabet heard Alice moan softly.
    "Looks like your friends coming to."
    Still tied to the chair, Elizabet hoped that Alice knew what she was doing. Unable to help her, everything depended on what Alice did next. If she got taken or overpowered, any chance of escape would be over for them. She needn't have worried. Turning to see what happened next, Elizabet watched Alice spring from her seat just as her captor realized she was untied. Bringing the wooden spindle out from under her dress, she lashed out and stabbed wildly at his face. Taken by surprise and caught off balance, Elizabet watched as he tried to defend his face with one hand and reach for his gun with the other. He never got a chance. Attacking him like a wild animal, Alice never gave him a chance to recover. Lashing out with the spindle she slapped the gun from his hand and then picked it off the floor. Pointing it at him, Elizabet jumped as the gun went off. Her ears ringing with the first gun shot, she watched dumbfounded as Alice repeatedly pulled the trigger and the man fell dead to the floor. Emptying the gun of all its bullets, Elizabet watched her continue to pull the trigger. Now without the noise of the gun shots, the only noise in the room was Alice's ramblings and the hammer of the gun clicking repeatedly.
    "Think it's funny raping a woman?"-Click-"Who's laughing now?"-Click-"No man will ever rape me again."-Click-"You piece of scum-"
    "Alice!"
    Elizabet watched as Alice turned to her. Still lost in a moment of madness, her friend looked at her as if she was a complete stranger.
    "Alice. He's dead, Alice. You can put the gun down. It's me, Elizabet."
    Alice looked at the gun as if seeing it for the first time and then dropped it. Coming over to untie her, Elizabet watched as Alice's hands shook. "I couldn't go through that ever again. The way he joked about it—it-"
    "I know," Elizabet said and nodded her head. Helping her untie the last restraint and once free, she threw her arms around her. “Thank you, Alice-"
    "I just couldn't see that happening to-"
    Elizabet looked to the door and took her hand. "I know, I know. But we better get out of here. Those gunshots might be normal around this part of town, but someone's bound to come snooping around. I don't know about you, but I want to be far from here by then. I bet Tom and John are pulling this city apart looking for us." Hearing the names, Elizabet saw a weak smile come on Alice's face. "And don't forget, Missy, you still have to give me away at my wedding."
    "Yeah, your wedding. That's right…"
    Checking the hallway outside, Elizabet was relieved to find it empty. Not knowing how long it would stay that way, she ran back inside and headed to where the gun was. Picking it up and avoiding the corpse beside it, she met Alice at the door and took her hand. "I know it's unloaded, but it might come in handy in case we meet someone." Giving her hand a squeeze, Alice took the lead, and the pair took off running.
     
    *****
     
    Running through what she presumed was China town, Elizabet felt Alice tug on her arm.
    "Stop."
    Slowing her run, she turned and watched her friend double over at the waist. Holding her hand out as if waiting to make a statement, Alice fought to get her breath back.
    "Are you alright?"
    "Listen—running—through the city—might be a walk—in the park for you—but-"
    "We're not far, if you like we can stop a passing carriage and-"
    "No—I've already had my fill of crazy people for one day. The last thing I'm doing is getting into a carriage with a complete stranger. Just give me a