Free Two Roped and Ready [Bewitching Desires 6] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) by Mellanie Szereto Page A

Quayde?”
    “Pretty fair payback for assaulting a woman, if you ask me. You suppose she shot him in the balls on purpose?”
    “She’s got a helluvan aim if she did. I reckon the gun went off in a struggle.”
    Quayde nodded and pointed at the tree. “Hey, PC, how about you tie up Jenkins while I find our sharpshooter? She can’t have gone far.”
    Returning to his horse, PC grabbed a coil of rope from the saddlebag. Not that the wanted man could get up and walk away without incredible pain, but PC wasn’t foolish enough to risk an escape. The sheriff would appreciate the capture.
    Jenkins didn’t fight having his wrists and ankles bound, but being dumped facedown across the back of a horse had hurt like hell if his groan was anything to go by. He was lucky the girl with the gun hadn’t shot him somewhere fatal.
    Impatient for a meal and a bath, PC tapped his boot on the matted brown grass. “Hey, Quayde! Did you find her?”
    His friend appeared from behind the tree carrying the girl. “I’m thinkin’ we ought to drag Jenkins back to Encanto, PC. She claims he didn’t hurt her, but he scared this pretty lady half to death. She was hidin’ behind that live oak with a loaded gun in her lap, tryin’ not to cry. This is PC, darlin’.”
    “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Paxton Campbell, but you can call me PC. I’d offer you my horse, but he’s already carryin’ a delivery for the sheriff.” He smiled, hoping to ease her fears.
    She lifted her head from Quayde’s shoulder. “The pleasure is mine, Mr. Campbell. PC. Your timing was impeccable.”
    Ilona? Gulping in a lungful of air, PC reached for her, only to have her evaporate. “Ilona? Ilona, where are you?”
    “Pax. Pax! Wake up!”
    A hand closed around his arm, and he sat straight up. His heart pounded a frantic rhythm. Candle flames flickered, and a soft sigh whispered beside him, reminding him where he was. “I was having a weird dream. We rescued Ilona from an outlaw. In the Old West, I think.”
    Quayde let go and sat on the edge of the bed beside him. “Jenkins. She shot him in the balls.”
    A chill slithered up PC’s spine. “We had the same dream?”
    With a sigh, Quayde shook his head. “I think it really happened. Before you tell me I’m crazy, listen to this. I found her behind the tree, and she couldn’t walk because she had blisters from her new boots. Her foot was next to my elbow when we were sitting naked on the floor. It had some red spots on it, like you’d have from healing blisters.”
    Scraping his fingers through his hair, PC took a calming breath. “I don’t think you’re crazy. Hell, we had the same dream. What if it’s a memory? Not that I know how the hell we got to a place with horse thieves and outlaws.”
    Quayde shrugged. “It sure would explain why I feel like I should know her.” He shifted, covering Ilona’s closest hand with his own. “What’s this?” An adjustment of her fingers revealed a thick bandage on her thumb. “I don’t remember her having a cut or anything, do you?”
    “No.” Blinking his bleary eyes, PC yawned. “We should ask about that in the morning. Right now, I need some sleep.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Quayde rounded the foot of the bed, climbing under the covers on the opposite side of Ilona again. “I have a lot of questions I want to ask tomorrow.”
    “Mm-hm.” Starting with “What’s wrong with Ilona?” and not necessarily ending with “How did we get here?”

Chapter 8
     
    The low hum of voices invaded Quayde’s restless sleep. He’d awakened at least twice after his and PC’s shared weirdness from images that seemed far more like bits and pieces of memories than random stress-induced dreams. His mind and body were too damn tired to get out of bed—even if his brain wouldn’t shut down for a rest.
    “Heléna, take the used bandage to Szabina. She’ll need to dispose of it.”
    “Yes, Aunt Agnes. Shall I bring fresh cloves and candles when I