Caught Between Two Cowboys [Carnal Cowboys 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  She understood him, all right. She just didn’t want to follow his order.

  At last, however, she nodded, agreeing. He touched her cheek, then drew in a breath. Hoping like hell he wasn’t walking into a bullet, he cocked his rifle, then stepped into the open doorway. “Hey, guys, what’s going on?”

  Shouts and Spanish words he didn’t understand erupted as Bandura and his four men turned his way, guns raised. Jesse was on his knees with the others standing around him.

  “Fuck, if it isn’t the cowboy.” Bandura’s snarky grin widened. “I guess Jesse called you, huh? Stupid Miguel let him borrow his phone.”

  Miguel muttered something about getting jumped.

  “Yep. Lucky me.”

  “Unlucky if you ask me, dude.” Bandura lowered his gun, confident the four other guns pointed his way was enough. “You just walked into an execution.”

  “Really?” He kept his rifle to his shoulder, but still shrugged. “Yours?”

  The gang leader chuckled. “Hey, a funny cowboy. That’s a good one, cowboy.”

  Jarrod didn’t bother pretending any longer. “Okay, fun time’s over. Everyone keep calm while my boy here gets on his feet and walks out. You don’t shoot, then I don’t shoot. Deal?”

  Bandura was finished playing around, too. “Naw, you’re the one who doesn’t understand. Jesse here owes me a lot of money. He’s a thief. He stole my drugs, my merchandise, then sold it. But did he bother bringing me my money? Hell, no. He thought it was his and bet it on a horse. Can you believe it? Talk about being stupid.”

  “For once, you and I agree. It was stupid.” He settled his aim in the middle of Bandura’s chest. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you kill him.”

  Bandura snarled. “Tell you what, cowboy. I like you. Yeah, I really do. So I’m going to put a bullet through Jesse’s head first so you can see him die. Then I’ll take you out real fast. You won’t feel a damn thing.” He chuckled again. “At least not for long.”

  “Sorry, but I like my plan better. How about you let Jesse go and I’ll back out of here all easy-like. No one gets hurt. How’s that sound?”

  “Sounds like you’ve got a death wish for your bro here.” Bandura pulled out his gun and put the barrel to Jesse’s head.

  “Nope, I sure don’t. But let me make it real clear. You shoot him and before you can get your gun aimed at me, I’ll take you down. Along with your friends.”

  “Fuck, man. No one’s that fast.”

  Jarrod grinned, hoping the flicker of doubt he had didn’t show on his face. “Maybe. Maybe not. Even if one of your guys gets me, I’ll still get a shot off. And trust me. I’m a damn good shot. I’ll put a bullet between your eyes before you can blink.”

  Bandura didn’t bother trying to hide his worry. His sneer lessened and, for a moment, he let his gun arm drop an inch.

  Jarrod tilted his head, putting the gang leader in his sights. “You want to try me? Or take my suggestion and let us walk out of here? It’s your call.”

  “Jesse? Jesse, get up.”

  Jarrod closed his eyes at the sound of Amy’s voice. His stomach twisted in a sickening way.

  Aw, shit.

  * * * *

  Amy held her gun out, elbows locked and hands shaking. Seeing Jesse on his knees with a gun pointed at his head unnerved her more than she’d expected.

  “Jesse, get up.”

  But he stayed where he was. Terror froze his expression. Only his gaze moved as it jumped to Bandura then back to her. Bruises and cuts covered his face and arms.

  “There’s the pretty thing you were with in town.” Bandura gave Jesse a quick pat on the back. “She’s too fat for my tastes, but that just makes them grateful when you fuck them. Am I right, man?”

  “I’m his sister.”

  Bandura seemed genuinely disappointed. “Sister, huh? I knew he’d taken off from a girl’s apartment. Damn. And here I was giving him props for getting a bitch to fuck his sorry ass.” He pursed his lips together to give her an air kiss. “Hey, no big thing. I’ll fuck your ass, sis.”

  “You keep your damn hands off her.” Jesse threw his body at Bandura, but the gang leader had no problem knocking him to the ground. Jesse rolled onto his side, groaning.

  “That’s it, man. Enough of this shit.” Bandura bent over, once again sticking the gun to Jesse’s head. “You can’t pay me back, so get ready to die, motherfucker. Guys, you take the cowboy and the bitch.”

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  She glanced at Jarrod. He was so calm, so cool. Not bothered at all by Bandura’s threats. Instead, he kept his rifle at his shoulder, a small smile on his face.

  “Cowboy, you’re getting on my last nerve.” Ruben straightened up. “I ain’t buying your act. You don’t want this showdown ’cause you know you’re going to lose.”

  “If I lose, you lose.”

  Would Jarrod really do it? Would he die to kill Jesse’s killer? Amy planted her feet apart and gripped her gun harder. If Jarrod was willing to give up his life for her brother, for her, then she’d do the same for him. One way or the other, Ruben Bandura wasn’t walking out of the barn.

  “And what if she goes down first?” Bandura shifted his gun toward Amy. “You won’t risk her life. Her brother’s? Sure. But hers? No way, man. You’ll do anything to keep her alive. Even sacrifice Jesse.”

  Her arms wobbled as fear added to the weight of the heavy gun. If Ruben wanted, he could put her down before she had a chance to pull the trigger.

  For the first time since entering the barn, she saw Jarrod flinched. “Don’t let him get to you, Jarrod. I don’t care what happens to me. As long as you take him out, I’ll be happy.”

  “No one needs to die.”

  Was Jarrod talking to her or to Bandura?

  “Wrong again, cowboy. Jesse’s going to die. The only question is when and how you two are going to catch a bullet. Don’t you get it? I can’t let you go now that you’ve stuck your noses in my business. You and sweet cheeks here are witnesses.”

  She swallowed hard. They were going to die.

  A loud crash came from the back of the barn. She jerked her head toward the noise and Bandura spun around, putting his back to them. His gang members did the same. Everyone did the same.

  Everyone except Jarrod.

  Before she realized what he was doing, he pushed her to the ground, then threw his body the other way. The loud retorts of gunshots splintered the air as she fell, landing face-first on the ground, her gun flying out of her hand. Her breath exploded out of her and the images of the men blurred. She blinked, strangely seeing more men.

  Jesse threw his body on top of Bandura and pounded him with his fists. Jarrod pulled at Jesse to yank him off the leader. Seth had two of the gang members on their knees while another man lay on the ground. He rolled from side to side, groaning and holding his leg.

  Someone grabbed her from behind, lifting her out of the fray. The men who had saved them in Garner rushed in, taking over for Seth and Jarrod.

  “Easy, Amy. It’s all over now.”

  She clung to the large man who’d put her back on her feet. Her head still spun, but her sight was getting clearer. “What happened? Is everyone all right?”

  “The Hill boys and your brother are fine. For the most part.”

  Alarm brought everything into focus. “For the most part?” She pushed away, determined to see what he’d meant.

  Jarrod had his arm around Jesse’s waist. Blood dampened Jesse’s shirt, but he was conscious and walking.

  “Jesse.” She stared as the red splotch grew bigger. “You’re shot.”

  “It’ll be okay, Amy.” Jarrod didn’t let them stop. Instead, he half carried her brother outside. “Mitch, get your truck. We need to get him and the other guy to the health clinic.”

  “I’m going with them.”

  “No, you’re not. There’s not enough room in the truck. Steve will ride along with Mitch so he can stand guard. It’s a long rid
e and they don’t need you getting in their way.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. You didn’t follow my orders and I’ll be damned if I let you mess them up.”

  She kept at Jesse’s side. “I have to go. Jesse needs me.”

  Mitch opened the passenger side and took over for Jarrod, helping Jesse into the cab. He shot Jarrod a stern look, one meant to say make her stay, then hurried to the driver’s side. One of the other men she assumed was Steve loaded the moaning gang member into the truck, then shoved him toward Jesse in a not-so-gentle way. The man groaned and his head lolled to the side.

  “Please, sis. Stay here. I’ll be okay.”

  She shook her head, still wanting to go with him, but realizing Jarrod was right again. Jesse looked pale, but he gave her a comforting smile.

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Wherever that was. Jarrod or Seth would take her. If not, she’d ride a damn horse there if she had to.

  She stood back as the rest of Jarrod’s friends hustled Bandura and his friends into another pickup. Bandura threatened to get his revenge, but his curses didn’t seem to bother anyone other than her. Would he come back to hurt them? Or would he be sent to prison for a long time? She vowed to do everything in her power to get him locked away for good.

  Jarrod and Seth came to her, standing on either side of her as they often did. They remained silent as she watched the pickup carrying her brother drive down the dirt road. When the truck was out of sight, she let out a breath, not realizing she’d been holding it.

  “He’ll be okay. They’re taking him to a health clinic in Witward, the next town over. If he needs more care than they can give him, they’ll get him transferred to Dallas to one of the major hospitals.”

  “Are you sure?” She gazed into Seth’s eyes, wanting to see nothing but the truth there.

  “I’m sure.”

  “He got lucky. Bandura got off a shot when Jesse grabbed for him, but he missed.” Jarrod cradled his rifle on his elbow. “We all got lucky.”

  “Lucky, yes.” She’d gotten lucky the day she’d met the Hill brothers.

  “Amy, what were you thinking?” Seth scowled at her. “I can’t believe Jarrod let you come inside the barn.”

  “I didn’t.”

  They turned toward her now, both of them with fierce expressions and hard eyes.

  “I couldn’t stand by and let you shoot it out alone. Besides, from the way you were talking, I wasn’t sure you didn’t want Jesse to get hurt.” Of course she didn’t believe so now, but at the time, she hadn’t been sure of anything.

  “I was handling it. You should’ve done what you were told to do. Hell, more to the point, you should’ve trusted me.”

  He was right, of course. Neither one of the Hill men had let her down. “I’m sorry. I was so scared. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. I didn’t think.”

  “No. You didn’t.” He turned on his heel and strode toward the horses.

  “He’s right, darlin’. You could’ve gotten Jarrod and your brother killed. Not to mention risking your own life.” Seth wrapped his arm around her shoulder, showing her a little comfort.

  “You could’ve gotten shot, too.”

  “Naw. I was in the back causing the ruckus.”

  She leaned her head against his strong body, all at once needing him more than she could say. “He’ll get over it, won’t he?”

  “Yeah. Give him time. It just scared him, is all.”

  “He never looked scared. And I bet you weren’t, either.”

  “Now there’s where you’re wrong. I was scared shitless and so was he.”

  She checked his face to see if he was kidding. “Seriously?”

  “Damn straight. Not so much for ourselves, but for you and Jesse.”

  “Really? For Jesse, too, huh?”

  “Sure. We were scared shitless you’d shoot us if we let him get hurt.”

  She shoved at him playfully, then hugged him hard when he pulled her back into his embrace. “So what happens now?”

  “For Jesse? Mitch has a friend on the highway patrol who’s going to check on him.”

  Her heart sank. “So he’s going to jail?”

  They’d made it to the horses in time for Jarrod to overhear their conversation. “He was part of a drug gang. He stole money and sold drugs. It’s time he took responsibility for his actions.”

  “I know. I just can’t help—”

  “Being his big sister.” Jarrod helped her mount her horse then gazed up at her. “We get that, but he’s not a kid anymore. Let him be a man.”

  “He’ll be all right.” Seth swung easily into his saddle. “He’ll do some time, but if he cooperates with the district attorney in Selena, they’ll most likely cut him a break. He’ll have to testify to attempted murder charges against Bandura, and it’s all going to take a while, but it’ll be the best thing for him.”

  “What about us?” She waited until Jarrod was on his horse, his rifle securely in its holster. “Won’t we have to testify?”

  “We might have to.” Jarrod’s hard expression hadn’t let up yet. “Depends on if they need us. They’ll have Jesse’s confession and statement, but if they need more, then we’ll give it to them.”

  Suddenly she was exhausted, the emotions of earlier seeping out of her and taking her energy along with them. “Can we get back to the ranch now? We have to find out where they took Jesse. I can’t rest until I know he’ll be all right.”

  She hesitated, seeing their lifted eyebrows and their pointed looks. “I trust you. I swear I do. I don’t doubt you know what you’re talking about, but still, I won’t be able to relax until I’ve seen that he’s okay.”

  “We figured as much.” Jarrod started to say something more, then apparently thought better of it.

  “It’s okay, Amy. We’ll head on over to him once Mitch calls and tells me where he ended up. We’ll get everything squared away as much as possible today. Just don’t expect him to come home tonight. I think the police are going to hold onto him. Not sure how long, but we’ll call a lawyer who owes us a favor and get him over to represent Jesse.”

  “Like these other guys? Who are they, anyway?”

  “Friends.” Jarrod lifted his hand as Mitch and the others drove away.

  “Really good friends, I’d say. Willing to put their lives on the line for you. Hell, for a couple of people they don’t even know. And I didn’t get a chance to thank them.”

  “You’ll see them again.”

  “So they live around here?”

  “Most of them do. Yeah, they’re really good men to have around. When you ride the rodeo circuit, you get to know the other contestants better than you know your own family. We’d do anything for them. Short of letting them win.” Seth had a faraway look in his eyes. “They’d do anything for us, too.”

  “Kind of like a brotherhood?”

  “Yeah. An unofficial brotherhood,” answered Jarrod.

  “Thank God Bandura’s finally going to get punished.”

  “Everyone involved will have to take their punishment for disobeying.” Seth’s voice was low and filled with dire consequences.

  Disobeying? They weren’t talking about Jesse and the case against Ruben Bandura any longer. If he was suggesting what she thought he was, then she was all for it. “I guess I need to face the consequences of my actions, too, right?” She tried to appear contrite, but it was hard not to smile.

  Jarrod leaned back in the saddle. “What do you think? You didn’t do what I told you to do.”

  “And who’s going to punish me, Master Jarrod?”

  “You’ll find out once we get home.” He spurred his horse into action with Seth right behind him.

  “Hey, wait for me!” She urged her horse forward, the word still ringing in her ears.

  Home.

  What a nice word.

  * * * *

  “Amy, stand right here.”

  She tried not to smile. After all, they we
re punishing her for disobeying them and not staying outside the barn. “Yes, sir.”

  Taking the spot, she waited, so excited she had to force herself not to giggle. After all the trouble yesterday, she was more than ready for some fun. She’d spent a very long night in the clinic with Jesse before the authorities came and took him into custody.

  Just as suspected, Jesse’s wound was minor and his attorney was already hard at work on getting him a plea deal. They’d go to his arraignment in the morning and, with any luck, bring him back to the ranch.

  “Keep quiet, sub, and do as we say.”

  Ooh, that’s a new touch. Sub, huh?

  She liked it. The word didn’t make her feel less important or demeaned. In fact, the way Seth said the word made her feel protected and cherished.

  “You need to stay quiet unless we give you permission to talk.” Jarrod snagged a blindfold off the rack from the wall and a ball gag.

  She’d kind of hoped they’d use the leash and collar again as well as the butt plug, but those things looked like fun, too. Better yet, she’d have a lifetime to experience all the room and her men had to offer.

  “Close your eyes, little sub.”

  Little? Was Seth trying to be funny? One look told her he was dead serious.

  Little sub. Yet another nickname I like.

  Seth settled the blindfold into place. For a moment, alarm pricked at her nerves. But it was a silly thing to think. These were her men. The men who loved her, wanted her, and would keep her safe no matter what.

  Her heart pounded in her ears. She jolted as hands started working on her clothes. Cool air slid over her as first her shirt was opened, then pulled down her arms. She wanted to reach out to them, to touch them as their hands roamed over her body, but she resisted, sensing that a good sub should hold still unless her masters ordered her to move.

  Fingers brushed her skin as they tugged on her bra straps and popped the clasps. Her bra was gone, exposing her nipples to the chilly air. Kisses feathered her body as they removed her jeans and shoes. She trembled when the front of her panties was slipped lower and another set of fingers lifted the lacy material covering her butt. Working together, they took her panties, inch by inch, over her hips then let them fall to her ankles. A hand supported her as she lifted one foot after the other, her panties grazing her ankles as they were pulled away.