Free Devils on Horseback: Gideon, Book 5 by Beth Williamson Page B

Blackwood made her awkward inside and out.
    “You best drop that knife, girlie, and come on over to your Gideon.”
    The older woman’s voice was hard as granite. Chloe wasn’t taking any chances, so she scurried over to his side, hiding the knife in the folds of her skirt.
    “Don’t think I don’t see that knife. Unless you want to be picking up your man’s brain offa the ground, you’d better throw it to me, so’s you can’t reach it.” The woman knew how to handle a weapon. She threw rope at them while keeping her bead on Chloe and Gideon.
    “Tie one of his hands to one of yours, and make sure it’s tight.”
    “What? Why?”
    “’Cause I said so, that’s why. I ain’t letting two strangers get hold of all my treasures. I don’t trust nobody. Until that big man is tied up, this gun is pointed at his head.”
    Chloe bent down to pick up the rope, frantically trying to devise a way out of actually tying them up, but he stopped her thoughts with a harsh whisper.
    “Just do it. We have nothing to steal but the packs we left in the bushes.” He held out his hands. “If she wants a battered tin pot, she can have it.”
    Chloe wanted to protest but knew he was right. If the woman had a hankering for what they had, she could take it. After all, everyone seemed to be helping themselves to the Ruskin family’s belongings. Why not let her join in? Bitter thoughts raced around as she tied the rope around his wrist with a yank.
    “Easy, little one. She said tight, not cut off his hand.” Gideon sounded as frustrated as she was.
    “Sorry.” She loosened the knots a bit so his hand wasn’t turning purple anymore.
    “Hurry up there, girlie. I ain’t got all day. Tie your hand to his.” The stranger watched closely as Chloe finished off the knot, leaving another six feet of rope dangling.
    What if the woman made them walk behind the wagon tied like a dog?
    Chloe wanted to pick up her knife and cut the rope, but again Gideon stopped her.
    “We’ll get free. Don’t worry. I’ve escaped from knots tied by tougher folks than you.” He squeezed her hand.
    Chloe turned to their captor. “Now what?”
    “Now put your other hand behind your back and wait.” The woman climbed down from the wagon. As she moved closer, the smell hit first. It was worse than anything she’d ever encountered before, ten times worse. Obviously this strange peddler woman hadn’t bathed in a very long time, perhaps even a year. The rancidness of her body odor made Chloe’s eyes water. Gideon coughed, then cursed under his breath. The woman tied their other hands with the rope. She pushed it against Chloe’s mouth. “Now tighten it with your teeth.”
    Chloe bit down on the filthy rope. It tasted of dirt and rotten potatoes. Frustration roared through her, and she wanted to spit at the stranger.
    What else could go wrong?
    Gideon gritted his teeth and barely avoided biting at the woman who had taken them captive. She was tall, much bigger than Chloe, and that shotgun had looked far too comfortable in her hands. If only the stranger had let them go about their business. But no, God had other plans, more frustration and obstacles, to throw in Gideon’s path.
    As the woman came closer, the stench from her unwashed body made his gorge rise. She obviously didn’t take to soap and water, but she must not be able to actually smell, either. Chloe grunted and hissed as the stranger tightened the knots around her hands. Now he and Chloe were tied together, with enough rope to turn around and be chest to chest.
    Clever. This way neither of them could get very far without the other, and there was such a huge difference between Gideon’s height and Chloe’s, he’d have to somehow carry her to run. The damn hag knew what she was doing.
    “Now you can tell me what you’re doing threatening good folks like me and waving a knife around.” She picked up Chloe’s knife, which promptly disappeared into the voluminous folds of the woman’s