Page 35 of A Bride for Brodie

“I’m all in.” Brodie smiled. “So to speak.”

* * *

Brodie tookthe money from Ross. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”

“I hope you’ve learned a lesson, little brother.” Ross furrowed his brows and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Yes, gambling is only for losers and I don’t want to be a loser anymore. I have Lottie to think about and hopefully kids will come along soon. I don’t want to be the husband and father that would rather be in a saloon than with my family.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Ross grabbed his hat from the coat tree by the office door. “Let’s go give Jake Flannery exactly what he deserves.”

* * *

Joey tookLottie straight to Flannery’s office. He knocked.

“Come in.”

Lottie entered.

Joey pushed her into the chair in front of the desk.

Jake looked up from the papers he was studying. “Well, Lottie, you gave Joey quite a chase today. You’ve got a lot of spunk. But, unfortunately, I still require you in order for my plans for your husband and his brother to reach fruition. So, I’m sorry, but I have to tie you up.” His eyebrows slashed downward and his mouth turned down, too. “Joey, take her to room four. She can have a room with a window this time, since she’ll be tied—tightly—to the bed. Get her out of my sight.” He dismissed them by looking back at his papers.

Lottie hated to be constrained. She remembered too many times when she was only a child, when her father had tied her hands to the headboard and then beat her. She stood tall and looked down on Flannery. “Brodie’s going to make you pay for treating me so.”

Lifting his head, Jake raised an eyebrow. “I look forward to him trying.”

Joey pulled her arm, taking her out of the office. He dragged her the entire way up the stairs to room four.

Once inside, he pushed her onto the bed. Then he grabbed the pitcher and put it outside the room. She smiled at his caution.

“Too bad you’re not one of the regular girls. I’d take a turn with you.”

Lottie flashed back to the gamblers Seamus let touch her. She looked Joey up and down. “I wouldn’t let you take aturnwith me.”

Joey leaned back and raised his brows. “I’d pay you good.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “There’s not enough money anywhere to make me choose to have relations with you.”

Joey closed his eyes for a minute and then spat out, “Come here.”

“No. I’m not making this easy on you. You want to tie me up? You come here to do it.” She stayed on the bed, as it was the only place to sit. She clenched her hands into fists.

Joey strode over to her. She shot her foot out and nearly got him from where she sat, but he grabbed one hand and put it through the loop he’d made in the rope. Then he pulled the rope so it was tight around her wrist. Then he looped the rope around the other wrist several times, pulling it tight every time. When he finally was done with her wrists, he took the end of the rope and tied it around the headboard post, pulling it until her arms were over her head.

“That ought to keep you in one place.” He walked to the door. “No more escaping for you.”

Lottie knew from the strain on her arms and wrists that he was right…she wasn’t going anywhere. But that didn’t stop her from tugging and twisting her hands and arms to loosen the ropes.

* * *

Brodie and Rossrode hard to get to town as fast as possible. When they arrived, they walked the horses at a pace slow enough not to attract attention, until they were behind the sheriff’s office, where they dismounted.

Brodie knocked on the back door. The lock clicked as it was released.

Sheriff Mike Knoll opened the door, holding his pistol. When he saw them, he holstered his weapon. “I don’t usually get many people coming to the back door and I don’t want them just walking in. So, why are you coming this way?” He stepped aside and let them into the building.

Brodie walked in behind Ross. “We didn’t want Jake Flannery to know we’re in town.”