Beyond the Green

30

I opened my eyes slowly, the lids puffy and swollen. The floor I lay on was hard and uneven, the cracked wood warped. Sitting up I heard the distinct clinking of metal chains, feeling a heavy weight around my neck. Startled, I looked down. My hands were shackled with thick metal cuffs, the links extending to another thick cuff that circled my neck.

Ill-fitting, it hung around my collar bone rubbing against the skin. Testing the reach of the shackles, I stretched out my arms but couldn't straighten my elbows. Throat tight, trying to swallow, panic washed through me. Where was I, what was happening?

It took a moment to recall the events that brought me to this place. Chess Gaines had stolen me away after murdering Nolan. Several weeks had passed since then, and I'd run at every opportunity, causing my captor no end of frustration. Even though he'd taken to tying me, I had managed to get out of every knot. Our skirmishes had grown physical, as I'd determined to not submit to living with a filthy murderer.

This last time I had made it to the lean-to where he kept the chestnut. Climbing astride, kicking the gelding into a gallop, I hadn't cared what direction we went. Before I could celebrate escape, a noose settled around my shoulders, jerking me from the horse's back. Hitting the dirt knocked the air from my lungs, and I lay there helpless, gasping for air. Gaines' shadow fell over then, his deep-set eyes blazing.

I don't really remember what happened after that, but he'd beaten me hard for the first time. Nearly senseless. Good thing too, for if he had left enough life in me, I would have tried to kill him. A steady hatred had taken root in my heart, and every day that hatred grew. If I had the chance-

Moving made me cry out, a piercing heat stabbing through my mid-section. Shifting my legs, a little, I was only mildly surprised to feel metal cuffs around each ankle. Looking down, I tried to focus on the short chain that hobbled my legs together. I couldn't see well enough yet to tell how much length I had, but I figured I would find out soon enough.

"Finally awake huh? Thought I mighta laid it a little too hard on you." Gaines' sudden voice set my nerves on edge but I did not move.

"You ain't man enough to beat me too hard." It was mumbled through cracked and swollen lips, but it got his attention. My voice was hard with disgust.

Stooping down to snatch a pail, he threw the water in my face. It was ice cold and instantly soaked my camisole and skirt. Sputtering, droplets running into my eyes, I refused to move.

"Keep a civil tongue in that mouth or I'll cut it out!" he snapped at me, frustrated with my persistent rebellion.

"You'd miss it," I muttered arbitrarily. "You'd never get to hear me beg you for anything."

He swore under his breath, but I didn't risk a smile. Any show of victory would cost me.

"You're the most obstinate filly I ever laid eyes on!"

"Thank you."

"It weren't a compliment!" I watched Gaines pace back and forth, muttering about the fool-headed stubbornness of a woman. Then he slanted me a hard look, rubbing a hand through his hair. "I need some air."

Once the door slammed shut, I heard him fiddling with something followed by the distinctive sound of a metal lock clicking over. He'd decided to lock me in, not even trusting me chained up. I barely rolled my eyes.

"Dandy," I murmured tiredly. "Just dandy."

Slowly moving to my knees, I tried to stand, but my stomach muscles shuddering as white-hot pain lanced through them. Folding over, I tried not to gag, breathing heavily through my mouth. Gaines had beat me severely, more than I realized. Grinding my jaw, I shoved unsteadily to my feet, legs shaking. It was a relief to find nothing broken.