Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Cole scowled. “All right, Preach,” he said. “You take the woman and baby. You leave her with her kin, and you hightail it back to where we’re supposed to meet.” He paused before continuing. “You know what’s at stake if you don’t meet us at Lawson’s.”
Junior swore. Doc scowled, and Justice looked ready to spit nails. Preach knew exactly where they were supposed to meet. The plans had been in place for months. Preach nodded his assent, though, and the men disassembled as Cole and Preach finalized plans.
As night began to fall, Cole instructed Doc to get dinner going. “You be sure you cook those beans as well, yeah?” he asked. He wanted Doc to cook foods Aida didn’t like. He would train her. She would hate him in the end, but he was going to give it his best shot. The woman would learn to obey.
* * *
As night fell, Cole instructed his men to quit their jobs and get some rest. They spread out their bedrolls, the woman and baby at the furthest end of their company, Junior on one side and Doc the other. Preach stood sentry for the first night watch. Justice would be up next, and Cole would take the shift at daybreak. It was time for Cole to put the next part of his plan into action.
Aida was sitting apart from the rest, righting her hair and frowning, clearly uncomfortable with the thought of another night sleeping on the hard ground, removed from her vanity mirror and precious pampering tools. Cole’s lips twitched. She certainly had been jolted out of what was comfortable and familiar. He hoped her being uncomfortable would make his next plans work well. He ambled over to her and crouched down.
“How you doin’, darlin’?” he asked, trying his best to appear truly concerned for her. She shifted and looked up at him, shrugging, but didn’t answer.
Lowering his voice and raising his eyebrows slightly, he leaned in. “Aida, when I ask you a question, I expect an answer.”
Her eyes glanced side to side before she whispered, “Fine.” She turned away from him. This wouldn’t do at all.
“Night’s growin’ cold, darlin’,” he murmured. “You’ll share a bedroll with me tonight.”
Her eyes widened, then narrowed in anger. “I wouldn’t share a bedroll with you if I were freezing to death!”
Leaning closer to her, he took her chin in his hand. “I didn’t ask you, sweetheart. Now you go right yourself for bed and strip to your chemise. I’ll prepare our bed, and you’ll join me.”
“I will not,” she hissed.
Cole was unmoved. Leaning in close, he whispered in her ear, “I don’t care who’s in our company or if it’s night or day. You defy me and I’ll whip you. Is that what you want Daddy to do? Strip you and paddle your bare bottom? What will the others say?”
“They’ll say you’re a brute,” she whispered back.
His plan was not working. Though he was certainly prepared to whip her—and suspected she’d land herself over his knee before the week was out—this strategy wouldn’t be as effective given the next leg of their journey. He tried a different tactic.
Reaching a hand out, he gently encircled her neck and drew her close to him. He might’ve been rough with her, but women were not immune to his seduction. He flexed his fingers on the back of her neck, massaging, as he whispered in his deepest voice, “Aida, we got off on the wrong foot. I spanked you for defyin’ me, and I’ll do it again if I have to. But I don’t want to punish you.” It was a lie. His cock twitched with the mere thought of taking his hand to her bare bottom. “But you must obey me for your own good.” His voice dropped lower. “You’ve had a long day, darlin’. You be a good girl now, and do as you’re told. You may even find if you obey me, I treat good girls very nicely.”
He could see her begin to soften when her breath became more shallow and her eyelids fluttered. Still, she pursed her lips as she glared at him. “Fine,” she hissed.
He tsk-tsked. “Try again, darlin’.”
She closed her eyes, inhaled, then blurted out, “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl,” he crooned. “Now strip.” The last command was said low, not forcefully, but in a way that commanded her attention.
She glanced nervously around her, stood and walked to a nearby tree. Hurriedly, she stripped her clothing until she stood near him wearing nothing but her chemise. He’d already assembled their bedroll, and while she’d prepared herself, he’d removed his boots, belt, and Stetson. A few minutes later, he lifted the blanket and gestured for her to join him.
“Come, now,” he ordered.
She closed her eyes briefly before she obeyed. As she lay beside him, she was rigid, holding her body apart from him as best as she could in their confined quarters.