Black Mountain Ranch by A.R.E (top ten books to read .txt) 📖

backing up towards her horse but was pulled back by Rex. He whistled and motioned to the mouse gray stallion that stepped out into sight. He had stolen Smoky!
“Get on him. Now!” Rex urged forcefully. He brought a hand down and showed her his gun to add effect. Kalie’s eyes filled with tears as she reluctantly mounted the horse. Rex sat behind her. She could feel his smile of victory as he moved the stallion into a gallop across the range.
Love Can't Be Forced

Kalie struggled against the thin ropes that held her hands together in front of her. She had run out of tears, but her face was stained with wet streaks. Rex was sleeping in his own bed in the tiny cabin, ignoring her struggles. “Why are you doing this?” Kalie cried. Rex only laughed.
“Once you realize that you do love me, I will let you free from those ropes.”
“And free from you?”
Rex snorted. “If you loved me you would stay here with me.”
“You obviously don’t love me, so why should I love you!”
Rex stared at her. “If only you knew how much I need you.”
“Maybe, but you don’t love me! You don’t care about me. No man who loved someone would do this to her no matter what!”
“Shut up!”
Kalie shuddered and hunched against the wall. There was no chance of escaping. She would have to…love Rex. But not yet. She glared up at him with pure hatred burning in her eyes. Rex only smiled back down on her. Kalie closed her eyes and let fresh tears fall out of the corner of her eyes. They snapped open at his next comment though.
“And if you don’t love me soon, I’ll force you to. And it’ll feel good,” he said, dark laughter thick in his lustful voice. Kalie let sobs rack her body then. Her life was over.
“Oh, you’ll be fine. I promise you will like it.”
“No!”
Rex chuckled and rolled over, closing his eyes. Kalie felt her stomach growl and looked longingly at the cupboard which held, she knew, food. Rex had eaten some when they first reached the cabin beyond the range, but he had neglected feeding her.
“Rex, can I get something to eat?” she asked as kindly as she could.
“Go for it.”
“Er…my hands are tied.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ugh! You horrible monster!” Rex only laughed. And every time he did, Kalie was more sure that he only loved her for one reason.
“How long do I have until…you force me to love you?” she asked. The silence was unbearable.
“I’ll keep you guessing. Now shut up. I’m trying to sleep.”
Kalie groaned. She hated Rex. If only she could reach that gun of his!
The rest of the day and that night passed uneventfully, as did the rest of the week. Rex gave Kalie no food, but he did relent and give her some water. She began to weaken from lack of substance, which Rex was fine with. He still had a faint hope that she would submit willingly, but if she didn’t, he wanted everything to go smoothly so there wasn’t a big struggle.
Kalie lost hope of rescue. Her days faded into black, for she no longer cared what happened. Whenever Rex spoke to her, she was silent or responded only with a grunt or a moan. Life was draining away, from both her body and her mind.
Kalie sat staring at the opposite wall, her mind blank. She couldn’t sleep because it was so hot out, but there was nothing to do, and nothing to think. Suddenly the cabin door burst open and a blurry image walked in. Rex had gone out? She didn’t remember, but oh well.
“What are you doing here?” Rex growled. Kalie tried to clear her head to answer, but someone else did it for her.
“What are you doing here with Kalie?” It was Jake, but Kalie was too weak to notice. Instead she lay back and let them duel it out.
Rex leaped out of the bed, gun in his hand and aimed at Jake. But Jake was too quick and whirled around to miss the shot fired. He pulled his own gun out of his belt and put it to Rex’s throat.
“Drop the gun. Now!” he shouted angrily. Rex did and he kicked it away.
“Come with me.” He forced Rex to stay still with his gun while he clumsily cut away Kalie’s ropes with one hand and then tied them on Rex’s painfully behind his back. Kalie didn’t move, so he supposed she had blacked out.
“What have you done with her!” he demanded Rex. But he only grinned.
“Nothing. Although I gave her some water.”
Jake punched him in his stomach. Rex blacked out. “Get in here!”
Rufus trotted in and picked up Rex by the rope.
“Take him back to the ranch. I’ll take care of Kalie. We’ll stay here for a few days so she can get her strength back.”
Rufus nodded and galloped away on his horse, Rex in front of him like a calf. Jake turned back to Kalie, his eyes watering. He wiped hair out of her bruised face and picked her up and placed her on the bed.
“Kalie.”
“Jake,” Kalie mumbled back, still half unconscious. But that was enough for Jake. He smiled sadly and brushed his scarred thumb against her cheek. Then he found the cupboard and opened a can of broth.
“Here, Kalie. Can you drink this?” he asked softly, lifting her into a sitting position. Kalie’s head drooped forward but he held it up and helped her sip some of the broth.
“Kalie, what has he done to you!” he asked in a whisper. Back at the ranch, they had better not do anything with Rex until he got back to murder him.
Once Kalie refused to drink any more, he helped her back down into a sleeping position and laid down himself on the floor beside. He fell asleep immediately, tired from the week of tracking Smoky’s hoof prints.
“Jake?” a voice roused him from his sleep. He stood up to find Kalie awake and trying to sit up.
“It’s ok, just lay there. Are you hungry?”
“Oh Jake!” came the sobbing response. He took Kalie in his arms and held her, their tears mingling. He crooned her back to silence and rested her again in the bed, bring the warmed up broth back to her.
“Drink this,” he said, putting the cup to her mouth. She took it and drank it, but he kept his hand under the bottom in case she dropped it. He could only stare at her wasted face and dull eyes.
By the next day, Kalie had regained her strength and awareness somewhat, and Jake helped her outside for a walk in the fresh evening air. It was then that he decided to ask.
“What happened?” he said, voice full of anger, mixed with sadness and love and care. Kalie hesitated a moment before answering with a wavering voice.
“I was resting and eating near a cliff. I’m sure you know which one, since you tracked me here. Anyway, Rex stepped out and threatened me with a gun to get onto his horse, so I did. Then he tied me up where you found me. He gave me a bit of water every day, but that broth you gave me was the first thing I’ve eaten all week. He threatened to…he said that if I didn’t decide to love him soon he would force me. I wasn’t able to move, or think or sleep.”
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry Kalie,” he said, sobs threatening to break his voice. He kneeled down in front of Kalie and looked up into her face. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get to you sooner.”
Kalie shook her head. “It’s not your fault; you did the best you could.” But even as she said it, her shoulders began to shake, and Jake held her in an embrace for the second time in two days. She wrapped her arms around his waste and sobbed for awhile, not caring how long it was.
“I love you Kalie,” Jake said. “I love you.” His arms tightened around her, and Kalie buried her face deeper into his neck.

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Publication Date: 05-10-2012

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