Free When Kat's Away [Sequel to Anna Doubles Down] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Missy Martine

guarantee it won’t be you.”
    Using everything she’d learned in defense class, Kat spun around like she was leaving and came back strong, delivering a hard kick to his knee. When he cried out and bent forward, she raised her knee sharply into his nose, gratified to hear the crunch of bone and see the spurt of blood. His bellow could probably be heard all the way back in Hamilton.
    She started toward the trough, and someone grabbed her arm roughly. She turned, prepared to deliver another kick, and caught sight of the star pinned to the man’s vest. She let her anger soar.
    “Sheriff, are you gonna just stand there and let them injure this man even worse than he already is? Does he not count because he’s a Native American?”
    The sheriff frowned and didn’t release her arm. “He’s a what?”
    Kat narrowed her eyes and stamped her foot. “He’s an Indian. Are you gonna let them kill him just because his skin is a different color from yours?”
    He shook her roughly. “Ain’t nobody being killed in my town.” He looked over to the trough. “Ray, you and Henry let that boy go, now.”
    The two men laughed. The larger one stepped up and put his hand on Win’s back. “Come on, Sheriff Wallace, we’re just having a little fun with him.”
    The sheriff pulled out his gun, still holding onto Kat’s arm, and cocked the pistol. “I said, let him go now.”
    Kat kicked his boot. He looked down at her and scowled. “Tell them to let him go as well.”
    He looked over at David and nodded. “Let him go.”
    David rushed over to Win when they released him, still slouched down in the water. He pulled him out and laid him on the ground.
    Kat pulled at her arm and looked up at the tall sheriff. “Let me to see to my friends.”
    He stared at her for a moment. “No more of them fancy kicks while you’re here in my town.” He shook her arm. “Do you understand?”
    Kat nodded. He waited a moment longer and then released her. She rushed to kneel at Win’s other side. “David, is he okay?” She ran her hand over Win’s head.
    He opened the eye that wasn’t swollen shut and gave her a small smile. “I’m fine, Kat, really. No real damage done.”
    Kat gazed up into David’s eyes and felt her breath catch. The anguish and love she saw there was intense. She moved forward to block him from everyone else. “Do you think you can stand?” When he nodded, she looked at David. “Why don’t you go get the wagon and bring it? I’ll stay here with Win.”
    David nodded and started to rise. “What about your clothes?”
    “I’ll make do with some of Anna’s and Eva’s. Let’s just get him home so we can take care of him.”
    “Okay, I’ll be right back.” He stood and made his way through the crowd.
    Kat helped Win to his feet and stood there, letting him lean on her.
    The sheriff walked over and handed Win his hat. “Want to tell me what happened, boy?”
    Kat felt Win stiffen and glared up at the sheriff. “Why are you asking him? Why not ask the men who were beating on him for no reason?”
    The sheriff put his hand on the butt of his gun. “What is your name?”
    “Kat Evans.”
    “Well, Miss Evans, did you see what happened here or did you come in at the end just in time to assault our blacksmith?”
    Kat bit her tongue when Win’s fingers tightened at her waist. “I did not assault anybody. I protected myself when your blacksmith threatened to tan my britches.”
    The sheriff chuckled, picked up his hat, and raked his fingers through his hair. “Well, I can certainly understand how the idea came to him. I’d probably enjoy heating up the seat of them man’s pants myself.”
    Kat opened her mouth to let him have it when his hands raised in surrender. “I’m not saying he had the right to do such a thing, but I can see how he was tempted. Looks to me like he’s been punished enough for his mistake.”
    She looked over and saw the man in question, sitting on the ground holding a handkerchief