Narrow Escape

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-six

"Damn!" Lane roared as he looked over Charlotte's torn dress and shoes they found on the ground by the side of the trail. "Her derringer is still in the pocket."

"By the tracks she had to undress right here," Hadley said as he looked around.

"I will strip the hide off of Stewart if he's harmed her in anyway," Lane growled as he held her dress close to him inhaling the familiar scent of Charlotte. God he prayed she wasn't riding in her drawers and chemise. Lane took her derringer and extra shells from the pockets of her dress before pitching it to the side of the trail. He put her derringer and bullets in his pocket and her shoes he put in his saddle bags.

Hart followed Lane to his horse. "I'd bet he took some clothes from the general store for her to wear to ride in instead of that dress." Hart saw how tight Lane's jaws were clenched.

"The dress is torn down the front," Lane grounded out.

"But there's no sign of any struggle," Hadley said as he came to stand along side of the two men. "I think he all he did was make her change in front of all of them, Lane."

"Charlotte is resourceful," Belle said as she joined the men along with Eleanor. "She probably put her trousers or riding skirt on before she took the dress of and once that was done she put her shirt on in a hurry. I know that is how I would do it."

"That's what I'd do too if Stewart made me change in front of those men," Eleanor added hoping what she said would help calm Lane down. "You don't know if Stewart torn her dress after she took it off either Lane wanting you to think what you're thinking right now. He's playing with our minds."

"God, I hope you're right," Lane breathed out as he closed his eyes.

"Come on," Hart said, "let's ride. We'll stop again in a while and rest the horses more. I think we've gain some on them."

"I know we have," Hadley agreed.

* * *

When Charlotte woke up the sun was up and she needed some time alone to relieve herself. She had needed to last night but with the gag in her mouth she couldn't communicate with anyone.

Charlotte leaned around to look at the man who had held her through out the night. "Please," she tried to tell him through her gag.

Linc reached up and untied her gag and as he did he told her to whisper to him.

"I need some privacy for a few minutes, please," she pleaded with him.

"Sure," Linc whispered and slowly let the others pass him by. When they were the last in line he steered his horse close to some dense bushes and stopped got down and helped her down. Putting a rope around her waist he untied her wrists and told her to hurry.

Charlotte did as the man told her and hurried hoping to be done before Stewart realized they had stopped. She was pulling up her riding skirt when she heard Stewart's booming voice.

"What in the hell are we stopping for, Linc?" Stewart asked him.

"The lady needed to relieve herself," Linc answered him. "I've got a rope around her waist she can't go anywhere, Boss."

"She'd better not," Stewart gruffly told him. "I'll have your hide if she does, Linc. Hurry up we're wasting time."

The kind man's name is Linc, Charlotte thought as she finished buttoning her riding skirt. As soon as she was done she came back toward the men and Stewart rode off without another word to either of them.