Read Kate Wingo - Western Fire 01 for Free Online

a lady.” Sykes resheathed his knife, Pru’s punishment having been put to the wayside. “Particularly since it’s my right as commander to have the first go at all the spoils of war.” He motioned to the baby-faced bushwhacker who Mercy had caught pilfering her mother’s possessions. “Mooney, take the younger gal back behind the house and keep a close watch on her.”
    As Prudence was led away, Sykes removed a pistol from his gun belt.
    “ Please! Don’t hurt me,” Mercy begged. There was little doubt in her mind that she was about to be shot in cold blood.
    Ignoring her plea, Sykes grabbed the back of her neck. Slowly, he raised his pistol, butting the gun barrel against her mouth.
    “Wrap you lips around the end of that,” he ordered, tightening the hold on her neck. “I want to see if you’re up to the job.”
    Mercy shook her head, refusing to let the fiend toy with her like a cornered mouse. Closing her eyes, she began to recite aloud the Twenty-Third Psalm, certain her death was imminent. She’d gotten no further than ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’ when her recitation was cut short by a deep, manly voice.
    “All right, you’ve had your fun, Sykes. Let her go.”
    Dear God in heaven! I recognize that voice!
    Mercy’s eyes flew open, hit with an unexpected burst of joyful relief. Like a fearless archangel, his broad shoulders mantled with the morning sun, Spencer McCabe purposely st rode through the crowd of men.
    “Mister McCabe! Thank God, you’ve come to rescue me!”
    At hearing that, one of the bushwhackers theatrically placed the back of his hand over his forehead. “Oh, save me! Save me from the bad men!” he warbled in a high-pitched falsetto.
    Still holding the pistol to her mouth, Sykes glared at Spencer, an angry scowl on his face. “Them’s mighty insubordinate words to be using with your superior officer.”
    “In case, you’ve forgotten, I don’t take orders from you,” Spence r answered, his eyes pointedly staring at the pistol that was still butted against Mercy’s trembling lips. “Besides, I already beat you to the draw.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    In no apparent hurry to reply, Spencer reached into his vest pocket, removing a thin cigar. With practiced ease, he bit off the end, spitting it onto the ground before finally deigning to answer. “It just so happens that when I was riding through here last week scouting for Yankees, I found me one.” Nonchalantly, Spencer struck a match against the porch railing. “Isn’t that right, Mercy?”
    Stunned, all she could manage was a jerky nod of the head. Could it actually be true? Surely, Spencer McCabe wasn’t really a bushwhacker. And if he was, then why was he trying to protect her? Dazed, Mercy watched as Spencer’s brother Dewey pushed his way to the fore.
    “It’s true, Ned. Me and Spence was here a week ago . And Spence, he must have loved her up something good ‘cause when we left, she sent him on his way with a big piece of chocolate cake.”
    “Sounds like that ain’t the only piece he come away with,” someone jested crudely.
    Calmly smoking his cigar, Spence r ignored the bevy of lewd remarks that followed in the wake of his brother’s announcement. Although he appeared not to have a care in the world, Mercy noticed that his right hand hovered dangerously close to his holstered revolver.
    Evidently, she wasn’t the only one to notice. With the flat of his hand, Sykes unexpectedly shoved her toward Spencer.
    “I didn’t realize this here lil’ Yankee gal had already been taken into southern custody. You inclined to sharin’ her?” Sykes asked, licking his lips as he openly eyed Mercy’s bosom.
    “Nope, can’t say that I am.”
    “Guess the two of you will be wantin’ some time alone, huh?”
    To Mercy’s red-faced embarrassment, Spencer gave Sykes a knowing wink. “Yeah, I’ve been hankering for another piece of that chocolate cake.” That said, he tossed