Relentless by Bobbi Smith

along?”
    “Like I told Ugly Joe, I got a plan. So don’t you go worrying about it. Let’s ride.”
    Les loaded up the saddlebags and started to drag the girl over to his horse.
    Dusty was in agony. The pain in her head was nearly unbearable. She was having trouble trying to concentrate on what was happening around her as the outlaw forced her along with him to his horse.
    It was then that she saw her father’s body and heart-wrenching agony tore through her. “My father— You killed my father— ”
    “Shut up,” Les snarled, “unless you want me to shoot the other three.”
    Dusty fell silent in her terror. The man’s grip on her was harsh, and she realized there was no escape. The outlaw leader shoved her up on his horse and then mounted behind her.
    “Let’s ride, boys! We got some miles to cover!” Les was feeling real good as he rode off, leaving Ugly Joe and Cale to follow.

Chapter Ten
    With what little strength she had, Dusty held on tight as they raced away from the site of the robbery. Dark despair filled her. Unless the passengers managed to somehow get loose, she knew it would be long hours before anyone even discovered the stage had been robbed and her father and Matt killed. She thought about trying to throw herself from the horse’s back, but the outlaw had both arms around her, so there would be no getting away. In silent agony, she grieved over her father’s death.
    Les led the way as they covered the long miles. He figured they would have close to a full day’s head start on any posse that came after them, so he was feeling confident they would get clean away. When they stopped for the first time to water the horses, he dismounted and then reached up to drag the girl down out of the saddle.
    “Don’t even think about trying anything,” he warned.
    Dusty looked around and knew there was no possibility of escape right now, so she quietly wentdown to the water to get a drink and to wash some of the dried blood from her face. It wasn’t easy with her hands tied, but she did her best.
    Ugly Joe was eyeing their prisoner as he walked over to Les. She didn’t look like much of a female. “So, why did you bring her along, Les?”
    “I already told you—don’t you go worrying about my plans for her.”
    “She will slow us down,” Cale put in, repeating Ugly Joe’s concern.
    “She ain’t slowed us down yet, has she?” Les countered angrily.
    “You ain’t got no place to keep her,” Ugly Joe said.
    “You’re right. I don’t. I didn’t bring her along for me. She’s part of the loot we just robbed from the stage.”
    “What are you talking about?” Cale asked.
    “Eduardo at the cantina is looking for some new girls. He told me he’d pay real good if I brought him some down—especially if they were virgins.”
    “So you ain’t planning on sharing her with us?” Cale asked. He’d thought at least they were going to have their fun with the little gal.
    “Oh, no. She’s worth a lot of money, and I plan to collect it.” Les was smiling at the thought. “Now, let’s ride. We got more important things to worry about. Like making sure there are no Rangers on our tail.”
    They mounted up and rode out again, not stopping for the night until it was almost dark. Theybuilt a small campfire, and Les forced Dusty to sit beside him there. Cale dug out the dried meat they’d brought along, and Les took some from him and held it out to her.
    “Eat.”
    Dusty looked up at him, all the hatred she was feeling for her captor burning in her eyes. “No,” she said defiantly.
    Les had expected as much, and he smiled coldly at her. “You’ll eat this or I’ll shove it down your throat—and I don’t think you want me to do that.” His expression turned menacing.
    Dusty had no doubt the outlaw would do exactly what he threatened. She also knew that if she wanted to have any hope of escaping, she needed to eat to keep her strength up. It was hard enough dealing with the pain and