Free Compromised Cowgirl by Reece Butler Page B

heaved. She covered her mouth and swallowed.
    “No wonder you didn’t want to come here, Trouble.”
    Just speaking aloud made her feel better. Not much, but enough. She screwed her eyes shut for a moment and, as Ross and Nevin had taught her, looked to see .
    The limbs weren’t pulled apart too much to identify the bodies. Carrion birds and smaller four-legged animals had done as nature intended. The one facing her was an adult male. His arms looked like they’d been behind him. She tilted her head, finding a rusty manacle still around one wrist. His boots were gone, but the rest of him was dressed. His brown-haired skull slumped sideways, jaw open as if he tilted his head and laughed.
    A child curled into a C faced the left rock wall. Pants and a shirt meant it was a boy. His boots were gone as well. The brown hair left on his scalp was short, like his father.
    The one in front of her was spread-eagled, bones tugged apart by hungry teeth. Long blonde hair proved the body was female. It was naked except for one black shoe. A welcome breeze cut the smell. Something fluttered on the brush to her right. She looked closer. A faded pink flowered dress, ripped up the middle. A pair of dirty white drawers hung from another branch. Someone had attached them so the branch protruded through a leg, like a trophy flag.
    “Oh, God, no!”
    Jessie scrambled out of there so fast Trouble startled when she appeared.
    She fell to her knees, retching. When she could haul herself to her feet she stumbled toward Trouble. The horse danced sideways, but Jessie had no time for nonsense. She hauled herself into the saddle and raced for the cabin as fast as she could. She trusted Trouble to get her there because she could see nothing through her tears.

    * * * *

    Ace saw the small boy on the ugly white horse galloping downhill toward them.
    “Blast it, boy! Slow down!” he yelled.
    Sin ran from the barn as the brat neared. “What the hell’s got into Jessie?”
    “I don’t know, but if he injures that horse I’ll whip him so hard he’ll not sit—”
    “They’re dead!” screamed Jessie.
    The boy slid off the ugly horse, grabbing the saddle to stay upright. Snot and tears covered his face.
    Sin pulled him into his arms and pressed the snotty face against his shirt. “Shh, I’ve got you. Breathe, so you can talk.” Jessie shuddered. His thin arms wrapped around Sin’s waist.
    Though Ace was fastidious by nature, he felt a stab of—jealousy?—at Sin holding the boy so familiarly. No, not jealousy. Someday when he was a father, he wanted his child to turn to him like that. When clean, of course.
    “I was looking for p-places where cattle could get caught. I squeezed through between a split rock and, and—I found a family,” said Jessie between hiccups. “Three of them. They tied the man’s hands behind the tree, and then they…oh, God!”
    “You’re doing great,” murmured Sin. He kissed the kid’s hair. Ace frowned. He hadn’t seen the boy without a hat before. Brown curls covered his head. The sun bounced light off them. Ace shook himself out and stepped back. Suddenly, he was furious. Sin paid no attention to him, too busy soothing the brat.
    “What family?” yelled Ace.
    Jessie pushed himself out of Sin’s arms when Ace yelled. The boy wiped his face with his sleeves.
    “I think they used to own this land. Ranger told me Smythe said they went to California . But they didn’t go anywhere. Someone murdered them!”
    Ace saw more tears welling. The small chin quivered. If he didn’t do something the child would fall apart. He did the same thing the man who raised him for the first five years, would do.
    “Stop acting like a girl and pull yourself together. They’re dead. They’ve been dead for at least a year. They’re not going anywhere tonight.” Jessie’s wide eyes stared at him. At least he had the boy’s attention. “Your horse is all lathered. Go take care of it. And wash your face. It’s covered in