Cade

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because I give you my word."

"And I should believe the word of an outlaw?"

He stared at her for a long moment. "This outlaw, yes."

A strange sensation fluttered through her, as if a hummingbird had taken wing deep inside her. "I can't go with you," she said, "I'm getting married in two days." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how ridiculous she sounded. Why would an outlaw care about her wedding plans?

""I know. That's what I'm saving you from."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm saving you from a life of misery as Mrs. Edward Dobson."

Her heart thundered in her ribs. Her cheeks flamed. How did he know about her wedding? "What do you know about Edward?"

"More than I have time to tell you right now," he said. "I imagine your wedding night will be something to remember. Or maybe one you'd rather forget." His eyes darkened, as if the thought of what was waiting for her when she reached town pained him.

What decent man mentioned the private acts between a man and a woman? She almost chuckled. Of course this man wasn't decent. Decent men didn't rob people at gunpoint and abduct women.

But he had made a point. Her wedding night. She'd heard the gossip about a woman's duties to her husband once she was married. She'd also heard Edward was a demanding – and aggressive – man. She wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but by the hushed tones and the gasps from the other ladies as they whispered details among themselves that she couldn't hear, she couldn't help but feel a little frightened.

And even though she didn't really believe the story she'd heard about Edward injuring one of the ladies at Miss Minnie's so badly she'd never recover completely, she couldn't help the trepidation that washed over her when she thought about Edward's expectations in their marriage bed.

She was probably worrying about nothing. Surely her father would never encourage her to marry a man who wouldn't treat her well. And even though they were to be married within the week, Edward had never made any improper gestures toward her. Heavens, they'd barely even kissed.

Which was fine with her, she admitted sadly to herself. Instead of the tingling in her lips or the flush through her veins that the ladies had told her she should experience with a kiss, she'd felt nothing more than she'd feel if she'd kissed the barn door.

If she was being completely honest with herself, the thought of Edward's lips on hers, his hands roaming her body, his flesh against hers … She swallowed quickly, her hand covering her mouth as she sucked in a deep breath of warm, dry air to ward off the nausea that roiled in her stomach.

"Now, let's go." The outlaw's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Was this the answer to her prayers? Had the good Lord sent this outlaw to save her? She almost chuckled at the irony of it all. Still, she had to ask. "But why?"

"Why not?"

"That's not an answer."

"You'll get your answer soon enough."

Mr. Wick's quivery voice interrupted. "Isabella, don't be a fool. These men are killers."

Junior turned away from Isabella and crossed to within a few inches of Mr. Wick. He unholstered his gun, cocked it and pressed the barrel against the man's forehead. "I might be an outlaw, but I've never killed a man, and unless you want to be the first, I suggest you keep quiet."

Mr. Wick's head bobbed like a rag doll's head.

"Good." Junior lowered his gun and slid it back into his holster while Trey kept his rifle aimed at Mr. Wick and the driver.

Junior gestured to Brown Hat. His brows lifted, but Junior nodded, and the man unhooked a length of rope from his saddle and held it out.

Junior turned back to face Isabella. "Well? What's it to be? With or without the rope?"

There really was no choice at all. One way or the other, he was going to carry her away. Snippets of possibilities flitted through her brain as she tried to come up with some way to prevent the inevitable. There wasn't one.

Finally, she reached up and adjusted the hat perched on her head and tucked a few strands of hair behind

her ear. "You don't have to tie me up," she said. "I'll go with you."