Read Caine's Reckoning for Free Online

arm was order enough. He didn’t need to add the “Stay put.”
    He made himself decent with that efficiency of motion she was beginning to associate with him. His hand came back under her chin. She followed the silent direction. She had the sense he saw in her eyes everything she tried to hide—the pain, the despair, the stupid endless hope.
    “Tell me why.”
    She couldn’t. He wouldn’t believe her and even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to help. He would be honor bound to uphold the law once he knew the truth. “You don’t need to know why.”
    If his frown was any indication, he wasn’t used to being denied.
    “I’m a Texas Ranger. If you need help, I’m here to provide it.”
    She looked past him to the horizon. “We’ve already settled what I need.”
    “Indian country is no place for a woman.”
    But it was the only chance she had. She licked her lips. “You promised you’d let me go.”
    “No. I promised I’d get you out of Los Santos.”
    “But it was a trick.” Acceptance flowed from her in a shuddering sigh. Just another trick.
    Caine didn’t hide from the truth. “Yes.”
    He’d needed to know what he was walking into. Desi’s desperation combined with the padre’s told him all he needed to know. The woman needed help. Badly. “But it’s leading to a promise.”
    “What kind of promise?”
    There was no challenge in the question, no hellfire and brimstone defiance, just more of that damn hopeless acceptance. The merciless sunlight reflected off the moisture gathering in her eyes, tears he knew she’d rather die than have him see…. Ah, hell. There was no going back for either of them.
    He rubbed his thumb across her lips. “A Hell’s Eight promise. One you can believe in. From here on out, Desi, you’ve no need to run. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
    She shook her head, her big blue eyes begging his. “Just let me go.”
    “No.” Sending her off into Indian country with no protection would be tantamount to murder. Caine helped Desi to her feet, steadying her as she swayed. He jerked his chin to the west. “Whatever you’re running from, it’s not worse than what you’ll find out there.”
    “You don’t know anything.”
    “I know you belong with people who care for you.”
    “My people are dead.”
    “Your guardian, then.”
    Her upper lip curled in a sneer. “No, thank you.”
    He made a note of her disgust as he dragged her along behind him toward the paint. The uneven tugging of his hand had him looking back. She was limping. He stopped. “Let me see your feet.”
    She didn’t hesitate, merely lifted her left foot with an obedience that was oddly disturbing. He took it in his hand, the high arch and fine bones making him want to hold her safe. The state of the sole made him wince.
    “Show me the other.”
    With that same obedience she lifted the other. Shit. They were both bruised and scraped but the right one was torn to shreds. Guilt roughed his temper. She’d been hurting and he’d let her play sex games. Not that he’d meant for things to go that far. He’d just been measuring the extent of her desperation when something else had risen between them. Something he’d never felt before. Something hot, dark and possessive. As a result, he’d acted as he never had. That fact wasn’t sitting any better with him than the fact that she’d been hurt in the first place. He pressed lightly to the side of the deeper cut. Fresh blood welled. He met her gaze. “You should have said something.”
    She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
    He didn’t like the resigned tone of her voice any more than he liked that disturbing obedience. Desi was a woman of fire, not calm. “It matters to me.”
    He dropped the reins and put his hands on her waist. His thumb and fingers met above her hips. The edges of her ribs cut into the sides of his palms as he lifted her onto the horse. Whoever had care of her wasn’t doing their job. She was too thin.
    As soon as her