like a guillotine.
Teyla’s brows furrowed with concern. “You have talked to him about this. I mean, you can’t just allow them to have sex with you and then just leave. That’s just not right, Liz. You deserve better. You have to demand better for yourself. When he leaves, it will hurt you just like the last time. Maybe you don’t remember, but I do. You were a basket case for weeks.”
“I can handle this. I will handle this. I want this. I need this.”
“Be practical, Liz. You don’t need to be a pleasure girl for them.”
“But you were one.” Those words escaped her mouth, and from the pained expression on Teyla’s face, Liz knew she shouldn’t have said anything. Besides being a friend, Teyla was also her client. She needed to remember to remain sensitive.
“It was different for me. I needed the money.”
I need the sex. Masturbation was good and all, but she needed the sex with Durango and the others. Had been craving it like a drug ever since Durango had brought up the subject months ago before he’d left. Before even meeting him, she’d dreamt of having menages with strangers, but she’d been too damned shy to follow through on anything.
Oh man, she must be twisted or something. No, actually, that wasn’t true. Durango wasn’t twisted, and he wanted the same as her.
“I can handle this,” Liz replied with renewed firmness.
“You love him, so I bet you can.” Teyla smiled, and Liz felt confidence burn through her.
Yes, I can. She just hoped she wasn’t deluding herself.
Ethan Durango found Logan Leigh working an iron pole as he tried prying a giant boulder from the clutches of the hard field. In the distance, Spencer and Cassidy led a couple of black horses that dragged a funny-looking contraption that seemed to mow down the tall, yellowing grass, spreading it over the land.
Ethan couldn’t help but grin. It looked like a sight right out of a pioneer movie. Old-fashioned harvesting with horses. Despite the icy bite of the wind blowing against them, he noticed perspiration drenching Logan’s shirt and his forehead. His hands looked red and cold as he gripped the metal pole and pushed this way and that way trying to dislodge the boulder.
Logan and the other guys worked so unwaveringly that, to Ethan’s disappointment and concern, none of the men took the time to look around to see if a lynching party was coming for them. Had the trio of ex-gang members relaxed so much they’d let down their guard?
Man, this farmer stuff just wasn’t like the men he’d come to know in the gang. As far as he knew the closest any of them had come to farm work was tilling the soil with a rototiller in their backyards. Teyla sure had changed them from alert men to relaxed farmers. Amazing.
Ethan wasn’t sure if he could feel so relaxed if he was put into this same position. Running with the Durango Gang had made him alert, lean, and hungry for violence against the men and women who were taking advantage of the regular people in need. Yeah, sure, he could go into politics and run for office and change things that way.
Unfortunately there was no government to run for. People were fending for themselves since the Catastrophe. There were no social safety nets in place, no health care, and food was certainly lacking. The only thing that spoke these days was money, and that was where he came in by taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Not that he literally gave to the poor. He gave the money to soup kitchens that were opening up in the cities. He’d even helped dish out the food he’d bought and brought to these places.
His stealing was what made him a criminal, and he now appeared on most wanted posters pretty much everywhere. Truth was, he felt like he was making a difference, and to him that’s what counted. It beat feeling useless and fending for himself. The only problem was every time he sent money back with one of the guys who dropped in to check on Liz, she’d refused it.
Her refusal pissed him off, but he understood her principles and why she preferred to live the way she did, accepting whatever a client could give her for her services. She was a giver. Not a taker.
It had always impressed him that she was so giving. That was one of the reasons he’d fallen in love with her. Another reason, of course, was her pretty face and her concern for him when he’d sliced his palm open on that hot, humid day in the garage.
“Backbreaking work, is it?” Durango asked from where he stood watching.
Before Durango could blink Logan had palmed a gun from out of nowhere and pointed it right at Ethan’s chest.
Ethan swallowed as fear cleaved into him. Instantly he realized his mistake. The scenery had looked serene, but Logan appeared to have known he was here the whole time. Shit. The guy certainly hadn’t lost his touch, had he?
“Shouldn’t sneak up on a man like that, Ethan. You know better than that. Had you been anyone else we would have taken you down the minute you entered the field.” Logan chuckled and nodded to his right.
Realizing he’d forgotten to breathe, Ethan inhaled deeply and followed Logan’s gaze to where Cassidy and Spencer now stood not more than thirty feet away, their guns drawn, aiming at Ethan. Their faces were stern and tight. Obviously he should have announced his arrival. He wouldn’t be coming in quietly where these guys were concerned. At least, not anymore.
“Easy, boys. I come in peace,” Ethan said as he slowly lifted his hands in a submissive motion. “What’s gotten up your asses?”
Suddenly all three men started laughing and Ethan relaxed. The bastards were toying with him. He hoped.
In seconds, the men had surrounded Ethan and were back-slapping him and returning to their own jovial, if not uptight selves.
“Daylight is burning, my man. Have you come to lend us a hand?” Logan asked as Cassidy and Spencer quickly said their good-byes and headed back to their horses.
Logan’s grin sobered, yet his eyes glittered with mischievous amusement. “Shit, forgot you had an arm injury. Better not help, or Dr. Liz will be giving us shit for taking you out of action. You need both arms to hug that babe.”
“The wound isn’t that bad,” Ethan said as he pulled his collar up around his neck trying to ward off the cold wind. “I have one free hand. Let me put it to good use.”
“Grab a hold and start pushing down. We’ll get this fucking boulder rolled out of the way yet.”
Ethan clutched near the top of the icy bar, and Logan clasped beneath his hand. The men started pushing down, and to Ethan’s surprise he saw the boulder begin to budge.
“Keep pushing,” Ethan instructed and bore down. In a couple of minutes they had the boulder out of the dirt and rolled off to the side of the field.
“Thanks, you came in really handy.” Logan chuckled, and they began to walk along the field looking for more boulders to dig up and get out of the way.
“I guess you’re putting down roots here since you’re clearing the fields.”
Logan nodded, a huge smile plastered on his face. “Yeah, we’re staking our claim around these parts. We figure clearing the rocks now will help us move the sickle-bar mower faster. We don’t want downtime due to repairs. Those rocks are hidden behind the tall grass, and if the guys know the land is clear then we can get more work done in a day.”
“That’s a good idea,” Durango acknowledged as he kept up the fast walking pace with Logan, who kept to a straight line and his gaze glued to the tall grass in front of him.
“Heard that the vigilantes weren’t too happy with your latest heist,” Logan said after a few moments of silence. “I’d watch your back while you’re here. I think you might even make sure that you get Liz armed to the tooth if you plan on leaving her alone again. They may come seeking revenge on you through her, even though they believe you two have split.”
A bad feeling slithered through Ethan at Logan’s warning. Fear for her safety was something Ethan had to deal with on a regular basis. When he sent guys from the gang to bring her money, he also sent letters telling her it wasn’t safe where she was. She always sent back word that she was quite capable of taking care of herself.
