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Chapter One

Life had never been easy for Maddie Stockwell Being the daughter of the outlaw Bass Mason, a ed his socks, had forced her to look out for herself at an early age She was quick on her feet, too Quicker than the man with the hands that had just seized her could possibly know

The fingers digging into her waist sent curse words—things she’d never say aloud but had heard nuh her mind Theythe saloons on both sides of the alleyway Furthermore, the hand over her rit into her lips and cheeks, igniting her fury

Whoever he was—thisStrong, too, given the way he hoisted her off the ground, dragging her backward

Claws of fear dug into her throat, but it was the anger surging inside she focused on Not again Did every ht darkness and snatch her up as if they were picking peaches or so?

They ht be able to do that to other women, but not her

Withoff those who had ridden with her father, Maddie kicked one heel backward into thehis ribs She also flung her head back, connecting hat she assumed was his nose by the way he screeched

She didn’t stop there, though The frustration inside her hadn’t played out As the arht the now half-full water bucket around at full speed It met the side of his head with a solid thud, and her well-aiht below the belt buckle sent hiround

He was no longer a threat, rolling on the ground as he was, but the na her—as if any of this was her fault—had her te

Maddie swung the bucket again, cracking him upside the head The last bits of water flew in all directions while the bucket splintered into pieces She froze for a rabbed her ripped her from the inside

Her entire being shook as if she stood in the center of a Rocky Mountain snowstor had found her again This wasn’t him, but it was one of his men

Shouts,about Two round, barreled down the alley

Instinct said run, but where?

She couldn’t go back to Hester’s That would jeopardize the other girls, so Maddie leaped over the prone body and headed for the street at the end of the alley several buildings ahead Her heart raced as fast as her feet The ground ru seeet farther away instead of closer