Defiant Heart by Tracey Bateman Page A

wagon. “Well, lookee what we have here.”
    Fannie shoved the barrel of the pistol inches from his nose. His eyes widened. “Hey, now. What’s this?”
    â€œGet back,” Fannie said, mustering all of her courage.
    â€œNow, you take it easy there, little gal. Do you even know how to use that thing?”
    â€œYou’d best get back, mister,” Fannie warned, relieved that her voice held steady. “Or I might have to demonstrate just how straight I can shoot by putting a bullet in your head.”
    â€œNow, no need to be threatening.” But he backed up, obviously not willing to call her bluff.
    â€œToni, grab his gun from his belt.”
    The saloon girl stood on shaky legs and did as she was instructed, obviously still a bit disoriented. Fresh anger washed over Fannie. Why did men just think they could beat on women all the time? “Take out his gun and keep a close eye on him. If he makes any quick moves, plug him.”
    â€œO-okay,” Toni said.
    With Toni covering Arnold, Fannie climbed from the wagon, catching her breath as a sudden sharp pain in her side nearly sent her into a swoon. She gathered herself togetherand shook off the dizziness. “You two stay put,” she instructed the twins.
    â€œAw, Fannie. I could help,” Kip said.
    Fannie hesitated, then inclined her head. As much as she hated to admit it, she really did need the boy’s help. “Do we have any extra rope?”
    Arnold sent up a roar of outrage. “You think I’m going to let a bunch of kids and a whore tie me up?”
    Fannie swung around to face the man. He wasn’t the pathetic, drunken fool Tom was. His eyes glittered cold as ice. No. This man wouldn’t sit by passively while they made their escape. Besides, now that he’d seen them, he’d go back and find Tom, hours before they’d planned. All the months and months of planning would be for nothing.
    â€œWhat are we going to do, Fannie?” Katie’s whisper-soft voice eked out of the wagon.
    The sound of her sister’s fearful question brought Fannie to a quick decision. She nodded decisively. “We’ll have to kill him.” She hadn’t meant to speak the words aloud. But now that she had, she knew she had no choice. It was him or them. And she’d rather see him die than risk Kip and Katie going back to Tom.
    â€œNow, just hold on a dad gum minute, little girl. You go right ahead and tie me up. I won’t make no fuss.”
    â€œFannie”—Toni’s soft voice penetrated the barn—“killing is too good for him, I understand, but if you do this, you’ll be no better than he is, or George, or Tom.”
    â€œListen to her, Fannie,” Arnold said, his voice beginning totremble with fear. “You don’t want to have my life on your conscience, do you?”
    â€œYou shut up,” she said, waving the gun menacingly. “You hear?” Her mind swirled with possible scenarios. And none were pretty.
    The barn door swung open, revealing a hulking shadow against the sun’s brilliance. “What’s this?” Hank Moore stepped out of the glare, with his gun drawn, and Fannie nearly fainted, so grateful was she to see him.
    â€œOh, Hank.” Toni’s relief was unmistakable. “Arnold is trying to take me back.”
    The smithy sent a cold glare toward the henchman. “Well, I reckon we ain’t gonna let that happen.”
    Arnold’s face turned to stone. “George ain’t gonna like you helping his girl.”
    Hank ignored the other man and turned to Kip. “You shouldn’t have kept the team hitched all night, son. But no matter now. Pull the wagon out and get the women settled in.”
    â€œDo as he says, Kip,” Fannie instructed. “We’ve likely already missed the wagon train by a good three hours. We have some time to make up.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” Toni