Tuesday Teaser 3/19/19 Gina’s Wolf Part 39

The weather has turned nice. It’s been in the 30s most of the week. We will get into the 40s over the weekend!

Of course, that means flooding. I’ve seen the pics of flooding all over the Midwest and my heart goes out to them. It is so dreadful to see homes and towns covered with water. The mayor of Fargo has declared a state of emergency already, and we still have 10-12 days before the river crests. Let’s hope our volunteer sandbaggers will keep up.

Enough of bad news. The good news is I am making good progress on the book. I have hope that Gina’s Wolf will be out in late June or early July. More details to come in the future. Meanwhile, here is another little snip for you.

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Cole counted every second that rushed by. How much longer until a guard made his rounds? Finally, Wolf’s Howl shook out his arms and took up his stance. He pulled. The bars were bending more readily now.  Another inch. Two. Three.

A lazy voice edged with a sneer drawled, “Well, isn’t that impressive?”

Wolf’s Howl spun, shoving Gina behind him with an elbow.

A gravelly voice replied. “Very. That steel alloy is supposed to be the strongest in the world.”

From his position with his head chained only a foot from the floor Cole couldn’t see around his brother, but he knew who was speaking. Jon and Tanner Allersen.  He had met them a couple of months ago at The Limit when they’d all been staying there. He hadn’t remembered them until this afternoon when they’d watched his torture with sniggering commentary. They and their crazy father, Brother Saul, had been on the train from Omaha to Kearney, but instead being shot like the other men on the train, the Allersens were greeted as friends by the Kansas-Missourians. They had informed Todd about the train that carried his stepdaughter. Cole growled deep and low in his throat. They were the reason Gina had been recaptured by Todd.

Cole could see Wolf’s Howl’s leg muscles bunch as he prepared to spring on the two brothers. Before he could though, two powerful spotlights snapped on and flooded them with light.

*

Gina threw an arm over her eyes to protect them from the blinding light. Damn it. Damn it, they had been so close to getting Cole free.

“And look who we have here.” Tanner Allersen’s voice made her want to scream. “I believe that is our bride.”

“Dim the lights.”

That was her stepfather’s voice. Gina swallowed, dropped her arm, and made herself stand up. She had a plan for this eventuality, but she hadn’t shared it with Wolf’s Howl. She hoped he’d understand. She hoped Cole would understand. Growing up with Todd had taught her to hide her feelings and put on an act. This would have to be her best act yet.

She pushed away from the cage, looking at her stepfather. “At last, I’m safe,” she cried. The tremble in her voice was very real. “Finally, I’ve gotten free from them.”

Wolf’s Howl tried to keep her behind him. “Sister,” he began.

She shoved him away. “Don’t touch me,” she screamed.

Rifles were raised. Todd gestured to her. “Come here, Georgina.”

She walked to him, skirting around the Allersens. He halted her when she was still two yards away. A few of the rifles followed her while the others stayed directed at Cole and Wolf’s Howl.

“You wanted to return here.” It was a statement, but Todd’s cool voice implied a question. “That is not the information I was given.”

“I was stolen from this camp when I went to use the necessary. I didn’t leave by choice.”

In the dimmed light her stepfather looked coolly skeptical. “Did Major Ellis misunderstand your refusal to return when he went to Omaha to present my terms?”

“The meeting at Omaha’s City Hall?” She matched the coolness in his voice. “What else could I say with all of them so close to me?” She gestured vaguely at Cole and wolf’s Howl. “I had no choice.”

“I see.” Todd tilted his head and folded his arms.

“Yesterday morning at the gate, I tried.” She did her best to sound convincing. “I shouted that I would make the prisoner exchange, but they made me shut up.”

One of the men to her stepfather’s right stirred. “That’s true, sir. I heard her.”

Todd pinched his chin and regarded her with the same cool stare. “And now you escaped?” he suggested. “And took this young man captive, I suppose? Forced him to accompany you here to this camp?” His voice sharpened. “And forced him to break into the cage that held his fellow creature.”

“No, of course not. Taye Wolfe ordered him to go with me. We were supposed to free him.” She jerked her chin at Cole, not looking at him. “Then the men would leave and I could stay here.”

Todd chuckled. “That’s a silly story, my dear. Would you like to try again?”

“It’s the truth.” She put her heart into her statement, trying to look open and honest. “Why would I make up something so preposterous?”

“If Mr. Wolfe was willing to exchange you for his man why didn’t he do it outside the walls of Omaha yesterday morning?”

“He didn’t want to look weak in front of Mayor McGrath.”

Her stepfather pinched his chin again. “That’s almost plausible. Very well. Jon and Tanner, escort your fiancée to her mother.”

Gina swallowed. “My mother?”

“She refused to leave without you, and what loving husband would force his wife to abandon her daughter?” Todd’s smile was sweet enough to make Gina want to gag. “Go along, now. I have business with these creatures.”

Gina cast one swift glance at Cole and Wolf’s Howl. A hint of shock hid behind Wolf’s Howl stony face. She wanted to pass Cole some message of love so he’d know she would find a way for all of them to escape, but with his brother blocking the way, all she could see of him was his bare, battered body crouched in the cage. She turned away and let Tanner take her arm in a bruising grip.

Tanner gave her a big shit eating grin. “Did you miss me?”

Gina looked away. “I want to see my mother.”

Jon moved up to her other side and the three of them walked toward the center of camp. Behind her Gina could hear men shouting and a wolf snarling. She didn’t look back, even when the snarl turned to an agonized yip. It was up to her to find a way out for all of them. She didn’t know how she would do it, but she would, and she had to do it soon. If only she could count on her mom for help, but that was a useless thought.

Her mom stood just inside of the harem tent in a heavy wool robe and thick socks, holding a lantern that cast a faint golden glow over her stern face. She barely glanced at Gina. “Thank you, gentlemen,” she said dismissively to the Allersens and gestured Gina to enter the tent.

Jon and Tanner looked like they might protest, but the two guards drew the door flap closed. Gina’s mom led the way through the dark tent to the curtained section that had been her bedroom. She used a long splinter of wood to light the lantern on a small table. In the light Gina recognized the trunk that held the clothes someone had packed for her in Kansas City sitting at the end of the cot. She knew it held all the clothes meant for the daughter of a powerful man. Party dresses and other gear totally inappropriate for an army camp.

“Good night,” her mother said.

Gian looked up. “That’s all you’re going to say? No questions? Not even an I-missed-you?”

Her mom didn’t turn back. “Don’t try to leave. If you need the necessary, use the chamber pot beneath the bed.”

Gina stared at the canvas door as it swung closed. Her shoulders sank. For a little while she had been free of this prison, but here she was again. She dropped to the cot and buried her face in her hands. She thought she could save her husband. Instead, she had given her stepfather another subject to torture. She had to get out of this mess, and she had to take Cole and Wolf’s Howl with her. But how?