Jamie POV Stomping back into the bunkhouse, the others jerked their heads to look at me as I continued to walk over to the table where they were sitting, “What has you so pissed off already this morning,” Bo smirked at me. “Have trouble finding relief in the outhouse?” I glared at him and spat out, “Hell no. That damn Beecham! UGH!” I slammed my hand down on the table in frustration. “Sorry Bo. It’s not your fault. That man just knows how to push me.” I took a deep breath as I pulled my cowboy hat off my head and placed it on my knee. I r

Jamie POV Hannah cried for what seemed like hours but it was probably only a few moments, then she leaned back, sniffled and said, “I’m sorry, Jamie. I shouldn’t have cried on your shoulder.” “Hey, we are friends and friends provide comfort when needed, okay. Think nothing of it,” I told her gently, trying to keep my voice steady. I was seething inside at how he had hurt her. From the very beginning, he had treated her as property. I was trying my best not to react to her words, but it was so difficult. If I didn’t have a reason to kill him before, I did now. That asshole was going to regret every one of his actions. Taking another deep breath, she continued, “after he slapped me several times, he began to drag me by my hair to the bedroom, telling me what he was going to do to me. I screamed once when he threw me on the bed and that is when he choked me. He told me not to bother screaming because you and the boys wouldn’t come to rescue me. Then he…” “Wait a minute, let me clear s

Jamie POV Thank God Walt whistled when he did or I would have kissed her. I wanted to. She wanted me to. We both knew we couldn’t. Both knew we shouldn’t. As I made my way back to the bunkhouse, I decided I needed to go for a swim in the creek. I met Walt’s eyes and said, “thanks. I’m gonna go take a swim in the creek. Can you keep watch on the house?” “That’s what I was doing. I thought some fool was going to make a mess of an already precarious situation, that’s why I interrupted. Go take care of business. I’ll watch the house,” Walt smirked at me, giving me shit for my almost lack of good sense. The creek was about a ten-minute walk from the barn and I knew the walk would do me good. I turned and quickly headed in that direction, knowing I had to put as much distance between myself and that beautiful woman I left standing just inside the door of her house. As soon as I could see the creek in the moonlight, I began unbuttoning my shirt. I made my way to the

Jamie POV I awoke a few hours later, knowing that I had another long day in the saddle. It would be worth it if we could get the information we needed on Beecham. I groaned, thinking about getting up after so little sleep. After I said good night to Hannah, we took the horses to the barn and rubbed them down for the night. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and groaned as I rolled out of bed. I got dressed quickly and made my way out of my room. I saw that Cookie was already up and had returned from collecting a few eggs from the hen house. He pointed at the coffee and said, “It’s just about ready.” “Thanks, Cookie. I’m going to visit the outhouse and then I will go and bring Hannah over. Hopefully she is awake. I don’t want to startle her, but I would feel better leaving knowing she was already here with you,” I replied as I strode for the door. After I took care of my morning business in the outhouse, I knocked on the door of the main house. A few minutes later, I heard footsteps fro

James POV Leaving Hannah in that room, was by far the hardest thing I had done to date. But Bo would protect her, he would get her out of here if something happened to me. I had whispered, “I love you” but I know she hadn’t heard me. I couldn’t tell her out loud, it wouldn’t be fair. I pushed my fear for her safety down and replaced it with anger. Anger that Beecham would stoop so low as to harm his own wife. I moved back to the parlor where Randall and Walt were waiting. “Is she okay?” Walt asked, his voice laced with worry over Hannah’s emotions. I nodded, “I think so. She’s trying to be brave. Bo has her settled in the corner. Earlier today, he told me that he would sit next to her in case she needed him, she could reach out for him.” “Good. Now, let’s get settled in for a long night. Obviously, we need to keep the chatter down so we can hear them approach,” Randall replied as he settled down on the settee. The only lamp still lit was the one on top of the mantle, near Walt. H