Captured Read Online Free Page B

planning on staying around long enough to see it. Devon quickly arranged her expression into one of terror-stricken innocence. She even managed a few tears. “Please, sir,” she choked out, “make him put me down. Please.”
    The blacksmith frowned at Cole. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m taking this woman—”
    “Please, make him put me down,” Devon wailed, cutting him off. “I have to get back home. My mother’s ill, and she needs her medicine.” A few more tears trickled down her nose. Her story was a bit trite, perhaps, but not bad for the spur of the moment. Besides, Captain McRae had been stupid enough to remove her shackles. Who would believe now that she was a convicted felon on her way to prison?
    Not the blacksmith. “I think you ought to put the lady down,” he said, his eyes locked on Cole.
    Devon bit back a triumphant smile as her soft green eyes darted quickly around her. This was perfect, even better than she’d dared hoped. The streets were crowded and chaotic. It would take less than seconds for her to disappear into the thriving masses. The port was full of ships ready to sail; buggies and carriages waited at every corner to carry her out of town. Her mind was racing so swiftly ahead that she almost missed her captor’s reply.
    “No.”
    No? Did he say no?
    Apparently no one else could believe it either. An expression of stunned surprise rolled through the crowd as it moved even closer in anticipation of witnessing the blows that were sure to follow. The blacksmith grinned and set down his iron and anvil. His hands formed thick, eager fists. He gave the captain one more warning. “I don’t think the lady wants to go with you.”
    Cole McRae looked supremely unconcerned. “I’m sure she doesn’t,” he agreed easily.
    A frown flashed across the blacksmith’s face. He cocked his head, waiting.
    “But I paid good money for one hour of the lady’s time,” Cole continued, “and I’m not about to let her run out on me after just ten minutes. A deal’s a deal.” As he spoke, he brought his hand up, letting it roam over Devon’s backside in the most intimate of caresses.
    Devon was too shocked by his touch to respond to his words. “Get your filthy hands off me, you obnoxious, bullying, blue-suited scum!” she shrieked, forgetting her helpless, tearful posture altogether. Abruptly recalling herself, she added, “He’s lying!” But the words sounded like an afterthought even to her.
    Her Uncle Monty had always warned her that her temper would get her into trouble, and it looked as if he was right once again. She listened to the awkward shuffling of feet as the crowd weighed her story against Captain McRae’s, knowing she’d ruined whatever chance she might have had. Devon could almost feel their skeptical stares as they took in her bare feet, stockingless legs, dirty gown, and unbound hair.
    The blacksmith was the first to make up his mind. “Bring her back here when you’re done. I’ve got some money of my own saved up.” After extracting Cole’s promise to do exactly that, he stepped aside.
    Devon was not used to defeat. Nor, since her very life was on the line, did she take it well. As the captain strode purposefully toward the docks, she drove her fists once more against his broad back. “How dare you—”
    Cole bounced her up on his shoulder, bringing her down sharply enough to cut off both her words and her breath. “One more word out of you,” he swore, “and I’ll see to it that you’re bound and gagged all the way to Washington.”
    Devon fully intended to ignore this newest threat, but launching another verbal battle while slung upside-down was more than even she could manage. Besides, the position was making her decidedly light-headed. She hadn’t eaten anything since the day before yesterday, as the greasy slop Sergeant Coombs offered her hadn’t even been fit for dogs. She felt her stomach twist and she swallowed hard, fighting back