Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 165476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 827(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 827(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
“He would have told us to pack if we were leaving this place. This is something else,” Ned muttered, filled with resentment over having to listen to Zeb’s orders in the first place. Always one step behind the man he wanted to see hanging.
Then again, if it wasn’t for Cole, he would have sent the Pinkertons a telegram from Three Stones during that first visit with Scotch. He’d chosen not to because it would have put Cole in danger.
Ned too was quick to pull on his clothes, but just as he was about to rise along with everyone else he could hear beyond their canvas walls, Cole’s hand squeezed his wrist, grounding him in place. The dark eyes were intense when he met their gaze.
“Don’t do anything rash. Whatever happens, just go with it.”
Ned groaned but nodded and took the opportunity of still being hidden to steal a kiss. “For you.”
The warm breath on his lips was sweeter than honey, but Cole wouldn’t let go right away and rubbed his face against Ned as if he were a cat. “We just have to pull through whatever this is and remain alive. That’s the only thing you should focus on.”
Ned grabbed his shotgun in addition to the revolver at his hip. At times like these, he was glad to hide his face in a bandana with the pretense of keeping warm. He stepped out into the morning chill, wondering how he’d even gotten to this point in his life.
Maybe if it wasn’t for Cole, he would have had the guts to shoot Zeb and Tom, then try to make a run for it. But Cole’s presence made everything more complicated, because he respected the bastards in his convoluted way. Tom was like a father to him, and if Ned killed the man outright, Cole would have turned on him. Hell, discovering Ned was a mole would have been enough to tear apart their fragile relationship. Ned would have to take his secret to the grave if he wanted a future together.
Cole would grieve for his companions one day, but once enough time passed, they could start a new life without all this baggage. Far away. By the ocean. Back to being the honest men they’d always been meant to be before Butcher Tom corrupted them with his acidic presence.
“How long am I to wait for your lot? We’ll celebrate later. We’ll eat later! Now’s the time to take up arms and ride,” Tom shouted, his voice echoing off the rock wall above.
Ned tried not to think as he emerged out of the tent behind Cole and faced the pink sky overlaid with purple clouds high above. The women were still huddled in blankets, and only Bertha seemed wide awake, tending to the cooking fire behind the chuck wagon. Whatever this was, they’d be back in time for late breakfast.
And that meant they were riding to Three Stones.
Tom pointed out Sarah who rushed out of Doc’s tent already dressed and holding a rifle. “You stay. Pearl, it’s not business for you either,” he added when his sleepy wife rubbed her eyes and pouted at him.
Ned could only wonder how bad it was supposed to get, if Tom didn’t want to take the two women who usually rode out with them.
But he had no say in this, so he walked past all the groggy men and saddled Nugget, who greeted him with a gentle nuzzle of his soft lips. Such a pure soul, he had no idea what was to happen, and while neither Ned nor Cole knew details of what was about to transpire either, they both could smell gunpowder already.
The ground rumbled under the hooves of twenty mounts as the men rode out of the camp, just as the sun peeked from beyond the horizon. Armed to the teeth, they were an army led by the horsemen of the Apocalypse, and once their eyes settled on Three Stones, the town’s fate was sealed.
With Tom leading the charge and Zeb at the very back, as if there was need to wrangle stragglers, Ned felt trapped within the hornet swarm, and so did Cole, who rode up close and glanced at him wild-eyed. This was about revenge. For something Ned could have prevented if hatred for Scotch hadn’t taken such firm roots in his heart. He’d share responsibility for whatever happened today. And yet, who was he to criticize anyone for taking revenge? At this point, it was a question of who drew their gun first.
“Woman, are you mad?” Zeb roared somewhere behind them, but before Ned could have glanced over the shoulder, Pearl galloped past the column of riders, joining Tom at the front.
He snarled, but she didn’t look away, challenging his orders in front of everyone. Most wouldn’t have dared, but here she was, confident her husband would allow this. She was as eager for mayhem as Ned was to run off and leave this mess behind. In the end, Tom shook his head at her, his anger lifting into a predatory sort of smile, which she shared. Those two were like peas in a pod.