“Yes,” Wesley said. “I just thought she was tired.”
“That’s what she said, but something seems off. Something’s worrying her and she better tell me soon or I’ll spank her cute little ass.”
“Tonight we’re going to both claim her. Come on, let’s get our work done so we can get back there and take care of our bride. Maybe she needs us to give her more sex. We missed last night and I bet she’s just needing our cocks.”
Anthony looked at the man and laughed. “You think that’s a cure-all for everything.”
“Well, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think so. At least in my previous married life, it wasn’t.”
They turned their horses and rode away from the house. Anthony glanced back and hoped that Pearl would be all right. Maybe it was nothing, but something felt different about today.
CHAPTER16
Pearl paced the cabin, trying to decide what to do. Should she tell her men about the money she owed the brothel or should she just pack her bag and disappear?
But where would she go?
And could she get out of town before anyone learned of her mistake? Finally, not knowing what to do, she washed the breakfast dishes and started their supper in the oven. Then she made sandwiches for lunch.
The front door creaked open and she peeked around the corner. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest at the sight of a huge man sneaking into the house. Quickly, she hurried out the back door and rang the emergency bell.
The man grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.
“Put me down,” she screamed, beating him in the back.
“You owe Miss Champe money. You’re going to pay her back,” he said.
“No,” she screamed. “No.”
“Should have thought of that before she saw you yesterday in Helena,” he said, throwing her onto his horse and then climbing up behind her.
“My men will kill you,” she said.
“Let ’em try. You’re going to Helena with me,” he said.
“Anthony,” she screamed. “Wesley.”
“Shut up or I’m going to knock you out,” he said.
Fear filled Pearl as his horse hurried down the road. Tears welled in her eyes. She loved her men. She loved Anthony for his quiet strength and Wesley for the adventurous way he made her feel.
She loved both of them and even now she could be expecting their baby. And this man was taking her to a whorehouse.
“How did she get to Helena?” she asked, wondering why Champe would have followed her here.
The man grunted as the horse trotted. “She got kicked out of Charleston. Was told to leave and never return. After hearing about how Montana needed women, she made the decision to head West.”
Pearl groaned. How could this happen to her? She’d escaped this woman once, how could she do it again?
“I’m married,” she said, hoping that would change the man’s mind to take her to Miss Champe.
He laughed. “You think she cares? All she wants is her money back. Does your husband have the cash you owe her?”
Pearl didn’t know the answer to that question. And how would her husbands feel knowing that she owed the woman money? That she had gotten herself in such a precarious position by gambling.
“Let me go. Just tell her that you couldn’t find me,” she pleaded.