Unexpected (28 page)

Butch never was one to put much into the supernatural, but he certainly wasn’t going to dispel the things he’d seen.
His men’s words were worth shit.  Yet, the destruction that Cogan caused was real. His intelligent mind knew there was no other explanation.

Josie narrowed her eyes further,
glaring at him with hatred, refusing to show fear.  She was bound to a chair across the table from Butch. 

He came in about an hour ago, walked up to her and pulled the remaining pins out of her hair to let it fall free.  She yelled at him through the gag, but he only smiled
coldly.  Then he took his time and ran his fingers through the silky strands.  All the while his eyes were on hers waiting for a reaction of fright.  It was her fear that made him hard.  She wasn’t showing a damn thing though.  Yet, there was still heat in his groin.  He was going to take a long time pleasing himself with her.  First he needed to make the time.  The gunman had to die first.  She jerked her head away, but he twisted his fingers in her hair causing her to cry out.  He smiled.  It was a lovely cry of pain. He pulled the gag out of her mouth and started down at her with his cold scheming eyes.

Josie
was terrified, but again, refused to let it show.  She wasn’t sure what to expect, but when he finally released her, he sat down across from her and started reading. She tilted her head in confusion. That certainly wasn’t the first thing that came to her mind now that he had her in a vulnerable position.  He seemed to read her thoughts.

“Be patient darling,” Butch said without looking up again. “I’ll have plenty of time to show you what I like in a woman, but for now, I have a little research.”  He flipped through a couple of more pages.

She blinked in confusion.  Then looked at the book, straining to see what he was reading.  Her heart thudded in her chest in fear, but it still didn’t mean she wasn’t curious.  The binder looked old and a little tattered.

“It seems I have a strong adversary.” He finally met her eyes.

She narrowed them at him again.

Then he lifted the book and showed her the title.

Her eyes widened as she read it.

“
Ah
, so you knew. I’ll be damned.  That’s interesting.”

“You coward!”

“Don’t tempt me Josie.  I might have taken that gag out of your mouth but I’ll stick something else in there that you won’t like. Something I will find pleasure in.”  There wasn’t another brave soul man or woman that would call him names to his face.  He didn’t show it, but he was angry at the gumption she seemed to possess.  It was too bad his men did have half of her courage. Yes, it was going to be enjoyable making her submit and beg.

She
fell silent, her expression became steeled.  She wouldn’t cower before him—ever.

“I see you understand.” He shut the book and tossed it aside on the table.  Then he leaned back in his chair and set his grey eyes on her.  “I’m already hard for you. 
Did you know you could do that to me? I’m quite impressed.” He grinned.  He reached down under the table and felt his erection.  It was a good solid one now.  It had been awhile since he had been that hard, or hot, for a woman.  Yes, Josephine was definitely a cure for what ailed him.  He envisioned her naked, bent over the table, while he had a hold of her hair and pounded into her.  His hand rubbed over his cock thinking about it.  Yes, he was going to enjoy every bit of it.

Her heart thudded faster
knowing he was doing something obscene to himself.  Her eyes remained locked with his. She didn’t want to look down and see.

“
I could fuck you right now, but I have a problem. I can’t get interrupted once I start with you, sweet thing, so I have to take care of the gunman, beast, or whatever the hell he is, first.”  Butch could see the fear in her sapphire gaze, and it just fired his desire. “Well, it’s good I’m a patient man, because I can almost taste you.” His eyes lowered to her mouth, then her breasts.

She shook her head.

“That’s right love, keep denying me.  I’ll have two of my men hold you down if that’s what it takes, but I will have you.  What do I care? I like an audience.  Besides, haven’t you figured it out by now?  The more fear you show me, the more excited I get.  The truth is, I’m aching to break your spirit since the day in Bill’s store.  I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Tears leaked from her eyes.  She couldn’t help it.  She was tough, but his threats were terrifying her.
“He’ll come for me.  He will.” She visibly trembled as she spoke. “He’ll come for me and tear you to pieces.”

“
Honey, I’m counting on that. I’ve seen how he looks at you.  I know he’ll come.” He spoke casually and stood up. “And when he does, we’ll be ready. However, I think I’ll have a taste to remind me of what will be here when I return.” He walked up to her and gripped her head twisting it up to face his.  She released a gasp of pain.  He bent his head and kissed her hard. She tried to bite him but he moved away with a chuckle anticipating that.  He stared down at her with a cold grin.  “I’m going to love taming you.” With that he turned and went out the door.

Josie felt panic rise to her throat making it difficult to swa
llow. 
Could
Cogan be killed?  She was sure Butch would find a way. Her eyes went to the book.  Was there something in that to indicate that he could die? Then what would become of them all?

She twisted her wrists in the bonds, but it only rubbed the flesh raw.  A sound of desperation left her lips as she struggled.
“Get a hold of yourself Josie,” she murmured.  Her panic wasn’t helping them at all, least of all herself.  What would Cogan do?  Well, he’d turn into a werewolf and shred them all.

That doesn’t help.

She took a deep breath.  Well, then, what would Ryker do?  He’d more than likely swear at them all with his last breath.  Her head bowed. Gosh she wished she was braver and didn’t show Butch her tears. She bit her bottom lip.  Maybe she should think about what
she
could do.  She wasn’t as strong as a man, but she was cunning.  “Hello!”

No answer.

“Hello.  I can’t feel my hands!”

There was some scuffling outside the door,
then it opened.  It was one of the new men she didn’t recognize.  She could see another one standing outside.  How many men did Butch think needed to guard her when she was tied to a chair?

“Shut up,
”  he said harshly.

“My hands hurt.  Untie me.  Where can I go?”

He shook his head.  “The boss said to leave you as you are.”

“I won’t go anywhere
.  I don’t even know where I am,” she said innocently.

He grinned, showing chewing tobacco caked in his teeth as he ran his eyes over the front of her. Gosh, what is it with Butch’
s men and that habit.  It was disgusting.

The man
did think about it, thinking he could get a grope or two in, but he wasn’t stupid.  He knew how much his boss coveted this woman.  “I don’t think so.” He shut the door before he changed his mind.  He knew men died for less when they disobeyed Butch and as tempting as she was, she wasn’t worth his miserable hide.

Well, that didn’t wor
k.  He was too afraid of Butch.  She twisted her wrists under the ropes, but they were tied too darn good.  Whoever bound her knew what they were doing.

***

“There’s one.”

“Which one is it?” Ryker said from behind Cogan. 

They managed to ge
t into town without being seen. Then, after a thorough search of Butch’s hangouts, there was no sign of him, his men, or Josephine.  Cogan mentioned that he wouldn’t be stupid enough to keep her in town, and the lack of men loyal to him made Ryker know he was right. Yet, he also knew that Butch had investments in town so it was only a matter of time before someone associated with him would show up. He was right. Although, it was several hours before he spotted him.

“That mean b
astard, Clancy,” Cogan answered as he watched him exit the saloon and stagger down the street. He may have been stumbling, but there was also a slight limp in his step.  Well, now his suspicions were confirmed that he was at the Doc’s.  Apparently Thomas did a little damage to the man’s leg with the wooden sword.

“Well, I guess we lucked out then.” Ryker felt himself smile.

Cogan looked over his shoulder and saw it, then smiled himself.  It was rare he took pleasure in hurting someone, but this was going to be enjoyable.

Clancy slipped into an alley on the opposite side of the street, most likely to relieve himself. It was the chance they’d been waiting for.

Cogan glanced down the street. It was late; no one was out except a few drunkards outside the saloon.

He rushed across the road with Ryker right behind him.

Clancy was grinning to himself as he was pissing on the side of the hardware store.  His boss was pleased and praised him with his success.   Suddenly, his smile fell as he felt the barrel of a shotgun against his temple.

“Put
your cock away Clancy, and turn around with your hands up,” Ryker threatened. 

Clancy
felt his gun belt grow light as his revolvers were quickly removed.  He did as he was told—turning around slowly while raising his hands.  His eyes shifted from Ryker to Cogan.

“Where is she?” Ryker bumped his temple with the rifle.

Clancy grimaced, then grinned shifting his eyes back and forth between the two. “Or what’s left of her.”

Ryker became enraged. “If you harmed so much as a hair on her head—”

“Not me.  She’s Butch’s prize now.”  His looked to the big man standing behind Ryker. “Do you think I’d be in town with no cause?  He told me to tell you that she’s the best thing he’s ever had—”

Ryker
spun the rifle and struck him hard with the butt, knocking him to the ground.  Clancy lay there laughing and bleeding. Obviously he was too drunk to feel the pain yet.

“Where is she?” Cogan said with his legendary calm
while stepping forward, looming over him. “Tell us now, and I promise I won’t rip your arms and legs off and feed them to you.”

Clancy’s eyes went back to him. From what his boss told him, he was sure he could do just that.
“Butch knows what you are.  He’ll be waiting.”

“What Butch
thinks
he knows is my advantage. You have ten seconds to answer my question Clancy,” he continued, unaffected by Clancy’s threats.

“
Butch has a silver mine.  It’s about four hours ride north east of here.  She’s there.”  The information wasn’t dragged from him. Butch told him to let Cogan know so he would come for her.  So they could set a trap and kill him. He really wanted to do that himself, but when he came to town he thought a couple of drinks couldn’t hurt.  Turned out it was almost an entire bottle of gut-rot whiskey.  He could barely see straight let alone fire his gun.  His slurred words gave him away. It also gave him false courage.

Clancy grinned again, and Cogan had had just about enough.
  He pulled out his own gun, spun the chamber and cocked it.

Finally Clancy’s grin fell.  He honestly didn’t think the man would try and kill him, just work him over a bit.
He was prepared for that. He was also in the middle of town, unarmed and gave them the information they wanted.  Clancy wasn’t the smartest man around, but he was certain Cogan would only kill someone when provoked, or threatened. His history since he arrived had proven that.  Clancy had done neither so he wasn’t originally worried.  Yet, now he was.  That large man staring down at him with those cold black eyes, made him wonder if he misjudged him. He held up his hands and for the first time in his life fear registered in his expression. “Wait a minute—”

“—
No Clancy.  You threatened and terrorized respectable people, burned down the Hamilton’s house, and struck a child.” He aimed the gun at him, his face impassive while his dark eyes bored through him. “But your biggest mistake—was taking my girl.” His voice lowered deep with the last three words.

“It wasn’t me!” he lied.

“I can
smell
her on you.” He pulled the trigger.  The gunshot echoed in the narrow alley.  People would have heard it.  Cogan didn’t care.  Taking Josephine was the last straw.

Ryker never said a word
as he stared down at the lifeless man.  Blood seeped from the hole between his eyes. No, he’d not seen a dead man before, but he had no remorse over it.  He might have protested a week or so ago, but not now. He was beginning to understand that not all people were conscionable. There was no love lost for him.  He’d hurt his family more than once and took Josephine.  He was a callous, cruel man who worked for the devil.  The world was better without men like him.

Cogan turned to Ryker
while he holstered his gun. His eyes met Ryker’s. “Are you all right?”

Ryker nodded.

Seeing that he gave no protest or even surprise over his actions, he walked by him toward the horses.  Ryker followed without a word.  They were going to the mine.

It was a little over three hours later when Ryker spoke again. “Are you sure we’re going the right way?”