Trusting Them by Marla Monroe

and inched his way downstairs. The lights were still on down there so the electricity was still on. Where in the hell was Brady?
    He searched the living room, the kitchen, and pantry and found no sign that his brother had even been back inside. The fire was nearly out in the fireplace. He stopped long enough to get it blazing again and then put on his coat and hat and went out to find his brother.
    None of the hands had seen him since he had stopped chopping the wood. They remember him carrying a load to the porch but never saw him again after that. Brock searched all the stalls in the stable and each of the barns and then began tracking the prints in the snow. He found where two sets led away from the house at one point but decided not to follow them into the woods. He needed help if there were more than one person out there, and he wasn’t going to leave Jeni unprotected and alone in the house.
    “Brock. Good to see you again, buddy.”
    Brock slowly turned around to see Hugh Smith, a general no-account thief and bully, standing against an oak tree twenty yards away cradling a gun in his arms.
    “Hugh. What the hell are you doing on my property?”
    “Oh, sorry. Guess I’m trespassing.” The other man stood away from the oak now.
    “Yeah, you are. Again, what are you doing here?” Brock had a sick feeling inside of him.
    “Well, see, there is a story in this,” he began.
    “Cut to the chase, Hugh. What do you want?”
    “It’s more like what do you want? Or maybe that’s who do you want?”
    “Where is he, you asshole?” Brock took a step towards the other man.
    “Whoa, there.” Hugh brought up the rifle and pointed it at the sky for the moment.
    He stopped and waited for whatever game Hugh thought he was playing. The idea occurred to him that this was all about Jeni, but what would Hugh want with Jeni, unless he had been hired out by her ex to get her. He nearly groaned at the thought.
    “Tell me where he is, Hugh.”
    “I have him tied up for the moment. Nothing bad—yet. But that could change if you don’t give me what I want.” The other man propped the butt of the gun on his knee.
    “What do you want, Hugh?”
    “Why, that little filly you have up there in your house. I hear tell she’s a hot one.”
    Even though Brock knew Hugh was pulling his chain to get him riled, he fell for it.
    “You’re not getting your nasty paws on her. I’ll take you apart if you so much as lay a finger on her,” Brock growled.
    “Now, let’s not get all excited just yet.” He smiled and walked closer to him. “See, her husband wants her back.”
    “Ex-husband, you idiot.”
    “Yeah, well, he might have forgotten to mention that point, but that’s not really any of my business. All I’m supposed to do is deliver her to him. End of story. You get Brady back, I get my money and we all get back to living the life.” Hugh smiled like the crazy loon he was.
    “I’m not turning her over to the likes of you,” Brock growled.
    “Best rethink that one, Brock. I plan on lopping off a piece at a time of your brother until you bring me the little bitch.”
    Brock swallowed hard around the lump in his throat. He knew Brady would tell him to take care of Jeni and call the sheriff on Hugh, but it was his brother. He couldn’t just stand by and let the bastard cut him into pieces. He had to think of something and quick.
    “Let Brady go, and I’ll go with you.”
    Brock nearly had a coronary when he turned and found Jeni in his Dad’s old coat and boots once again.
    “What in the hell are you doing out here?” he yelled at her.
    “Looking for you two. It’s the second time you’ve left me alone in that cold house.” Jeni gave him a watery smile.
    “Get back to the house and grab one of my men to keep with you,” Brock told her.
    She ignored him and turned back towards the man holding his brother hostage.
    “Where is Brady? I’ll go with you if you bring Brady out first.”
    “Now, how am I supposed to