Love by Dawn Read Online Free Page A

Stay clear of
him, he doesn’t seem dangerous, but I don’t want you talking to
him. By the way, I’m Blake January, what’s your name? That’s if you
think it’s my business to know.”
    She didn’t miss the teasing smile on his
face and she wished she had because it was too damn sensual.
Swallowing, she nodded, “Casey.” She tried to maintain an even,
conciliatory tone. The cowboy offered her a small amount of beans,
then he fed the prisoner. She had a hard time swallowing the food
seeing the sad state of affairs her brother was in. Being hand fed
she knew was humiliating to him. After the light meal, they readied
themselves to depart. She watched Hunter’s hands being tied to the
saddle horn before Blake mounted his own horse. His palomino
pranced, ready to exercise its legs.
    They rode off in silence, but Casey didn’t
miss her brother’s angry scowl. She ignored his thunderous
expression and smiled to cover her annoyance that he should be so
irked. Did he expect her to just leave him to his fate? He knew her
better that! Never mind how provoked he was towards her, she would
help him escape. Her mind was set and no amount of angry looks from
him would discourage her! Following behind the two men, her mind
continued to work up a plan but the handsome stranger’s face kept
breaking into her thoughts.
    Very discouraging and damn right
provoking.
    Stay focused, you cannot permit yourself to
fall under his spell!
    But then, that’s easier said than done, she
scoffed inwardly.
    At first Hunter hadn’t paid much attention to
the newcomer until he noticed that there was something familiar
about the voice. He turned his head to get a better look and
noticed the clothes and worn out hat. There was no doubt in is mind
who it was. His heart jumped into his rib cage wondering what the
hell his sister was doing out here alone and how she managed to
find him? He shouldn’t have been too surprised, knowing Casey was
capable of doing anything she set her mind to.
    Hunter’s mind was jammed full of questions
about his sister and father. Why was she out here alone? There was
only one answer: his pa was dead. But it made no sense, he saw his
father ride away. And how did she know where to find him if his old
man died? Maybe their father wasn’t dead but he feared something
must have happened to him. He had to have told his sister what
happened for her to come looking for him. If that was the case,
then why wasn’t he here? His stomach knotted, his head smarted, but
most of all he was enraged at her foolishness.
    The more he tried to figure it all out the
more confused he became. He had a desperate need to speak with
Casey; so many questions plagued him? Apparently, she didn’t want
his captor to know she was a girl, which was understandable. He
twisted at the ropes that bound his wrists, but they only dug
deeper, inflicting more pain. He had to bide his time and trust
Casey. She was smart. He snorted to himself. She was wiser than he
was most of the times, but this was not one of them.
    Still he trusted her, but he surely didn’t
want her risking her life for his mistake and was sorry he got
mixed up in his father’s business. He had never agreed with his pa
about selling slaves, but the old man had bragged about the money
he made. Hunter snorted to himself, a lot of good that money did
his family. Whenever his father came home with a fist full of
greenbacks, he would go into town and drink and gamble it away.
They had lived in poverty all their lives. But he thought this one
time he could make some money and take his sister away from that
life; start some place new and give Casey a chance for a decent
life. Now, he had made more of a mess for her and himself. Hunter
swallowed, forcing back tears. He was a man and he had to take
responsibility for his own stupid actions; he was just sorry he
dragged his sister into it, putting her life in danger by coming
after him by herself.
    Alone in the wilderness anything