Lone Rider (17 page)

"It's insurance, Tess. Everyone will look for signs of my ownership. They'll challenge any perceived weakness. I don't intend to show any."

Well she didn't either. Self-conscious, Tess fought the urge to put her hand on her neck as they walked through the woods toward the party. Light from a fire flickered through the trees.

Dallas
looked at her. "You okay?"

She nodded. No, she wasn't okay, but she didn't feel like discussing it.

"You're awful quiet," he said.

"So was Daniel when they led him to the lions."

He chuckled. "I'll keep you safe. Trust me."

Trust him
? After the little hickey episode? Right! Actually, she was still trying to decide how to handle his questions about Matt Michael
s.

She'd spent the afternoon de
bating the pros and cons. One minute she would decide to confide in him. The next she worried it wasn't prudent, that it might jeopardize her own situation if word of it got back to Bogen.

Only one thing seemed clear:
Dallas
didn't know all the details about Michaels' disappearance, and he wanted her help in filling in the blanks. But why question her? Why not ask Bogen or Snake?

Unless
Dallas
didn't want them to know he knew
.

Oddly enough she found she wanted to trust him, but for reasons she didn't want to examine too closely. The more she explored her feelings for
Dallas
, well, the less clear every
thing seemed. Too often lately she found herself wondering what it could have been like to meet him under different
cir
cumstances.

She shook her head. That train of thought was insane. And dangerous. Which only proved that now, more than ever, she needed to escape.

They had reached the perimeter of the fire. It was apparent the group used the spot regularly. Downed trees ringed o
ne side of the blazing bonfire.

On the other side, two picnic tables were butted together near a row of rusted barbecue grills. Open bags of potato chips and several coolers filled one table.

It seemed everyone talked at once, yelling to be heard above the music blaring fr
om a portable stereo. She recog
nized Eddie's voice when he yelled, "Look who's here."

All talk ceased. Tess became painfully aware of their stares, their blatant disregard for her person. To them she was an object. A sexual commodity.

She looked away. Several women hovered near the food.

Judging by their scowls, she guessed these women to be the ones
Dallas
had mentioned previously. If they were here by choice, they certainly wouldn't feel any sympathy for Tess' plight.

One woman stepped free, yelling back at Eddie. "What's the matter? You never seen blond hair and big tits before?"

Another woman lifted her shirt, exposing her breasts briefly to a round of applause. Tess hunched her shoulders forward.

"Jealous, Liz?" someone shouted, touching off peals of laughter. The conversations picked back up, more frenzied then before.

Tess glanced away. So that was Liz. Snake's girlfriend.

She had jet-black hair dyed the exact shade of her leather jacket and sported an equally dark bruise on her cheek. If that
was a souvenir of life with Snake, Tess felt sorry for the woman.

Dallas
led her to a secluded spot at the far side of the campfire keeping one arm slung casually around her neck. He ran a hand down her side, squeezed her bottom.

"Easy," he hissed when her eyes widened. "They're watching." He squeezed again, then patted possessively.

"Sit there." He pointed to one of the logs circling the fire, then leaned in close to whisper in her ear. "I'll be right back."

Whether he meant to reassure or warn, she wasn't certain.

But with everyone watching she'd be a fool to attempt to leave.

The blaze generated welcome heat. She nervously scanned the crowd, recognizing several of the men from the night she'd been abducted. There were also a few new faces.

She noticed Snake was conspicuously absent. She looked away when she spotted Bog
en huddled in a dark comer, hop
ing to avoid his attention.

A small group of men gathered on the far side of the fire, one of them pointing at her, another
making an obscene ges
ture. She covered her neck with her hand, which only made them laugh. Growing increasingly uncomfortable with their attention, she tried to watch
Dallas
' broad shoulders as he circled the picnic table filling a plate, willing him to return.

Liz came up behind
Dallas
and wrapped her arms around his waist. The sudden flash of irritation Tess felt puzzled her. And pricked her temper. She didn't care what
Dallas
did or with whom. Or did she?

Unable to look away, Tess watched as Liz suggestively rubbed herself against
Dallas
' butt, crooning loudly. "How about sharing a tent with me tonight? Let Eddie and the boys have a go at her."

Several catcalls of encouragement arose from the crowd.
Dallas
set his plate down long enough to unhook Liz's arms. "I don't think Snake would appreciate your offer."

Liz plainly took
Dallas
'
refusal as an insult and turned to cast a malignant look at Tess. A look that spoke a thousand words-all of them bad.

To Tess the problem was instantly apparent. Did
Dallas
re
alize Liz had a thing for him? Did Snake? Tess stood as
Dallas
approached; taking the beers from his outstretched hand.

"I can't do this," she whispered. "Please get me out of here."

With one hand free,
Dallas
grasped her head and caught her lips in a lusty kiss.
For show. Someone hooted in ap
proval. "You're fine. And the worst is over."

Moving behind her,
Dallas
sat on the log. Grasping her hand, he pulled her down between his legs, giving her no choice but to sit on the ground, subservient
, at his feet. Yet an
other part of the show.

"This way," he said, indicating she should sit facing him. "Then you don't have to watch them." He winked.

Dallas
handed her a fork, indicating they'd share the plate.

"Stew and beans." He took a bite of the stew, then lowered the plate to her. "This stuff will make you appreciate my cooking."

Tess started to decline, when she caught
Dallas
's gaze.
Eat or be fed.

"Trust me, you don't want to piss off the cooks around here," he murmured.

She took a small forkful, quickly followed by a swallow of beer. The spiciness burned her tongue.

Dallas
nodded. "There's plenty more beer."

By the time she'd finished her second beer, she'd eaten enough to satisfy
Dallas
. Sh
e sat forward once again, watch
ing the flames. The fire burned brightly, tucking everyone in the shadows. Tess drew her knees up and hud
dled closer be
tween
Dallas
's legs.

"Cold?" Without waiting for her response he began rubbing her upper arms.

She nodded, suppressing a yawn. Beer made her sleepy.

And worse, made a trip to the bathroom a necessity.

Which perhaps presented an opportunity for escape
. She had watched several of the men disappear into the woods, no doubt relieving themselves. If she could just get enough head start and find a good hiding place until morning ... Tonight's full moon would serve her well, but it would also help her captors.

"
Dallas
, urm
, I need to use the ladies' room."

"Come on, we'll head back." Pulling her to her feet, he led the way toward the picnic tables.

She tugged his arm to get his attention. "I don't think I can wait."

Dallas
frowned. 'That only leaves the woods. And I'll have to go with you."

Liz appeared out of nowhere, resting a hand on
Dallas
'
shoulder. "I can take her. Besides, Bogen wants to see you."

Dallas
shook his head and was about to say something, when Tess interrupted. "Actually, I'd be more comfortable with a woman."

And her chances of esca
ping Liz in the woods were prob
ably better then getting away from
Dallas
. It could gain her several precious minutes.

For a moment she thought
Dallas
would refuse. Then he nodded, turning to Liz. "I'll
meet you back here in five min
utes. Don't let her out of your sight."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Hurrying after Liz, Tess stepped into the dark woods, silently cursing
Dallas
for reminding Liz to watch her. The path narrowed, wending up a steep incline. Liz carried a flashlight but it cast little light in Tess’ direction
,
making it difficult to distinguish the terrain.

“The women use the top of the hill,” Liz said when they finally stopped in a small clearing. Tess squinted, trying to get her bearings. She needed to make her break quickly. Each second counted.

When she looked back at Liz to ask for privacy, she was alarmed to see the dull glint of metal. Liz sliced the air between them with a knife. A vision of Matt Michaels, pooled in blood, flashed through Tess’ mind. She eased backward.

“I could easily slit your throat,” Liz hissed. “And throw you over that cliff into the lake.”

Only then did Tess realize Liz had backed her in a corner. She peered warily over her shoulder. Just a few paces behind her was a drop-off overhanging the lake.

The lake
.

Tess’ fear of water weakened her knees. Dizziness rang in her ears as bursts of bright colors swam before her eyes. She felt herself grow faint and despised he
r own cowardice. “Don’t do this,
”
Tess whispered.

A hand clamped over her mouth as someone grabbed her around the waist, from behind.

“Hello
,
darlin’. Told you we weren’t through.”

Tess recognized Snake’s voice and immediately began to struggle.

Snake shifted his grip, placing a hand over her breast and squeezing. “Hold still, damn it. I don’t want anything you ain’t already given Haynes. And who knows?”  He smacked his lips noisily in her ear. “You might like me better than pretty boy. I guarantee it’ll be different.”

Tess knew she was going to be sick. Snake’s hand continued to grope coarsely across her chest, even as Liz watched.

Bitter, regretful tears stung Tess’ cheeks. She never should have left
Dallas
’ side. Belatedly she realized that only with him was she safe.

“Let’s go.”  Snake tugged her back
ward, toward the trees. Toward
rape. Toward death.

Frantic to break free, Tess renewed her struggle. Forcing her mouth open, she bit Snake’s hand, simultaneously stomping on his foot. He howled, loosening his grip. She dashed forward, but didn’t get away.

“Damn you!” he snarled. Catching a handful of her hair he yanked her to the ground, slapping her viciously. “You’ll pay for that.”

Dallas
stepped out of the shadows. “Let her go, Snake!”

Snake’s grip unexpectedly relaxed as he shoved her aside and charged
Dallas
.

Rolling to her feet, Tess shot away. She cast a glance backwards and saw that
Dallas
had Snake’s head vised in the crook of his arm. Blood poured from Snake’s nose.

At that moment Liz stepped forward, blocking the path, knife flashing. She grabbed Tess’ forearm, catching her off-guard and sp
un her backwards, in a semi
circle. Toward the cliff.

The knife rested dangerously close to Tess’ throat, but it was the sight below that made her heart beat erratically.

The lake
.

Liz had her perched on the very edge of the precipice. Moonlight reflected on the water below. The soft dirt crumbled, giving way beneath her foot.

Tess shrieked.

Dallas
looked up and immediately released Snake. “Drop the knife, Liz. Now!”

At first it seemed Liz wouldn’t comply. She stared at where Snake lay sprawled in the dirt, then shrugged. “Guess you win this round.”