Free Demanding Satisfaction [Bride Train 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Reece Butler Page A

an oath to follow orders.” Max pressed his lips together. “I will not violate the laws I am sworn to uphold.”
    Sam made a rude noise.
    Every day Max saw evidence that life was not perfect, or even fair. But a man had to live his life the best he could in spite of it. Max changed what he could and tried to ignore the rest. Seeing the dull acceptance in the eyes of a woman beaten by her husband, allowed and even encouraged under laws of church and state, made him furious. Sam and Josh felt the same.
    Stopping Isaac wouldn’t help those wives, or the women Isaac had tortured and murdered. But it might remove some of Max’s guilt for not killing a few brutal husbands.
    “If I had my druthers, I’d haul William Clark in front of a hanging judge for being one of the original Vigilante leaders,” said Sam, pulling Max out of his musings. “And then I’d go after Sam Hauser, Sidney Edgerton, Wilbur Sanders, and Granville Stuart. Too bad outspoken witnesses tend to have accidents.”
    Sam spoke with such sarcasm that Max didn’t bother replying. Like the others, Governor Edgerton had suddenly become extremely wealthy, though he had a relatively small salary. All three Gibsons had read Thomas Dimsdale’s book The Vigilantes of Montana as they travelled west. While supposedly factual, anyone with a sense of right and wrong and a basic knowledge of law would realize the Vigilantes had hanged innocent men to get control of their wealth.
    Max would finish this assignment even though it went against everything he believed in. But once it was over, he was done. It was time to settle down and raise a family. He’d treat them the way a child should be treated, with discipline and respect.
    But before they could think of settling down, they had to stop Mr. Isaac. Along with the help of numerous other agents, they’d put together a bloody trail that led to Montana Territory. If Max couldn’t change the rot at the top of the pyramid, he’d damn well do it at the bottom. There was a special place in Hades for brutes like Isaac who tortured and murdered women.
    That thought led him to another. He growled in frustration at not being able to tick it off his list.
    “What now?” grumbled Sam.
    “We should’ve left Luke Frost a note telling him the Gatlin brothers are dead.”
    Sam lifted one eyebrow. “The ones who raped and murdered his mother and sisters while he was coming home from the war?”
    “The wire said they were gutshot and dumped in a back alley for cheating at cards. Took all night for them to bleed out and die. Painful way to go, but they deserved it.”
    Sam grunted in agreement. “Men who attack women like that should be hanged above a fire with chains on their wrists. By the time the metal turns red hot and burns through the bone, they’re well roasted to the waist.”
    “That’s not how justice works. The law must be followed, no matter what.”
    Max insisted all three of them keep control of themselves and of the situation. Josh could see why control was necessary, but Sam continually fought the restrictions. Max figured it was more from habit than anything. One day Sam would realize that everything worked better when there was a plan of action which was carried out to the letter.
    They rode on for a while, each caught in his thoughts. Max worked on what steps were needed to complete the next part of his plan. He thought Sam was doing the same until he opened his mouth.
    “I still say we could’ve waited until after breakfast to leave. I heard there’d be cinnamon rolls today. I could sure use one about now.” He flipped up his collar and huddled in his coat.
    “Is food all you can think about?”
    Sam turned to him with a wide grin. “Nope. I’d rather think about what I found under Sophie’s nightgown. That warms me up, all right.”
    Max glared to shut him up before he could say more. He flipped up his collar as well, but it didn’t help much. The wind had a bite, but it was getting into late