"You weren't gonna call me, were ya?" Abe whined as he pushed past her into the cabin.

The little interior consisted of a fireplace, a big table, five chairs, and some blankets in the corners.

Scattered everywhere were bags of heaven-knew-what, Leah thought.

When Leah stepped back into the cabin she saw that Bud and Cal were already seated at the table,

already beginning to eat. Leah sat across from them, Abe at the head. When she tried to get Verity to join them the woman cringed deeper into her corner.

"Don't bother her," Abe snapped. "She's scared of Revis. Don't know why, though," he added quickly.

"Revis is a real nice man, ain't he, boys?"

Neither Bud nor Cal bothered to acknowledge Abe's question, but ate the food Leah had prepared.

Their manners were good, much better than Abe's as he shoveled food into his mouth.

As Leah ate, she worried about Wesley. Would he rest? Would he try to get up and find her? Was he

hungry? How was she going to find her way back to him?"Eat up!" Abe commanded. "Revis don't like skinny women."A little alarm went off in Leah's head. "Of what concern is my weight to your partner in crime?""Oh nothin'," Abe said hurriedly. "Just that Revis is a real gentleman and he likes pretty women."She leaned forward. "No gentleman robs people for a living."

"Well said," came a voice from behind Leah.

Leah whirled about as Abe jumped up, knocking his chair over. "Mr. Revis," Abe said with a gasp, awe, respect, and some fear in his voice.

Leah wasn't sure what she'd expected, but the man standing in the doorway wasn't it. He was tall, broad-shouldered, slim-hipped, with black, curling hair. His dark, dark brown eyes were riveting. Set in a handsome, square-jawed face, his eyes bored into hers as his lips curved into a sardonic smile.

Chills started to form on Leah's spine.

"This is her, Mr. Revis," Abe said. "This is my sister. Ain't she pretty? And she's real strong too. You ain't gonna wear her out in no month or two."

Leah couldn't look away from the man. There was something frightening about him, yet fascinating. She wet her lips.

Slowly, like a cat, the man approached her. He wore a black silk shirt, black wool trousers, and black leather boots. Gracefully he extended his hand to her.

Leah accepted and for a moment she thought she was back in the Stanford drawing room. She rose to stand before him as if he were bidding her to dance with him.

"She is indeed lovely," Revis said in his deep voice.

"I knew you'd like her, Mr. Revis. I just knew it. She's real willin' too. And she's got fire in her. She'll make you real happy."

Leah stood there holding Revis's hand while standing in the midst of the squalid cabin. Behind her were the quiet sounds of Bud and Cal continuing to eat. Slowly she began to hear her brother's words.

For a moment she looked from Abe to Revis and quickly it all became clear to her. Revis was no one's partner, least of all Abe Simmons's partner. And Leah wasn't there to cook, but she was there as some sort of human gift to this good-looking, charming villain.

She snatched her hand away. "I think there's been a misunderstanding," she began. "I came here to cook."

"Ain't she a caution!" Abe gave a nervous laugh. "My little sister knows lots about men, just loves men, and I can see she likes you a lot, Mr. Revis. Go on, Leah, give him a kiss."

Leah whirled on her brother, a snarl on her lips. "You said you wanted a cook but you expected me to whore for you, didn't you? Well listen, you piece of slime, I don't whore for anybody, especially not for criminals like this one."

Abe turned white. "Mr. Revis," he began, "she don't mean that. You know how all the ladies like you.

She just thinks you'll like her better if she's a little hard to get."

"You!" Leah gasped and lunged at her brother.

Revis's strong arm lashed out and caught Leah by the waist, pulling her to him. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here," he said softly. "I like my women to have a little spirit." His free hand began to run up and down her arm. "I'll enjoy taming the tigress."

"Enjoy this then!" she exclaimed as she kicked him in the shins.

Whatever happened as a result of her action, she knew it'd be worth it for the look on Revis's face. Why did handsome men always assume women were going to fall for them? "No dirty thief is going to touch me," she said with bravado, but the next moment she was backing away from Revis.

"Get her, Mr. Revis. She's an ungrateful sister and she deserves whatever you give her," Abe shouted.

Revis's eyes were cold, hard, frightening as he advanced on Leah.

She backed around the side of the table, putting a chair between them. "Leave me alone," she warned. "I

don't want you touching me."

"You're much too pretty for me to care what you want." Revis tossed the chair across the room.

Leah kept backing, her hands going across the shoulders of Bud and Cal who kept on eating. "Help me,"

she pleaded, but the young men ignored her.

"The boys obey only me," Revis said, advancing. "Now why don't we stop these games and you come to me? I rule this little empire and everyone here gives me what I want. Or they wish they had," he added.

Verity began whimpering in the corner.

"Is that what you did to Verity? Force her?"

Revis gave a secret little smile. "When my women disobey me, I punish them."

In spite of herself, Leah shivered. If she ever got out of this she'd take a whip to her brother. Her eyes

flickered toward Abe and in those few seconds, Revis was upon her.

He caught her arm and wrenched it behind her back, forcing her close to him. "You have fire in you, my pretty," he whispered, "a fire that I plan to share."

"Stop it!" she cried, and there was more pleading in her voice than she intended.

Revis's lips went to her neck. "You'll learn to enjoy what I offer," he said silkily.

Leah could hardly think. It wasn't that she was responding to his hot mouth on her neck, but somehow

she knew that if he got what he wanted from her, her life, and probably Wesley's, would be over. The only way she could save herself was to stop him.

She wasn't any match for his strength, but Bud and Cal were. If only she could get them involved.

"I don't like this public lovemaking," Revis whispered. "Come outside where we can be totally alone. I'll show you the man inside this thief you're so frightened of."

"I'm not," she began.

Revis's hand tightened on her throat, the thumb pressing into a pulse spot. "Perhaps you should be frightened. I like a woman's resistance."

"Because you can't find a woman willing to have you?" she spat up at him.

Revis raised one dark eyebrow. "Perhaps you should be taught a few manners. A little pain might make

you less unwilling."

"She deserves it," Abe injected.

"Shut up," Revis said with a growl, his eyes never leaving Leah's face. "Did your stupid brother tell you about me? I take what I want and I use it until it's all gone. You can't resist me, can't fight me, because I always win."

With that his mouth took hers in a rough, fierce kiss.

When he was done, the light in his eyes told Leah he was sure she'd want him now. He was certain his kiss would make her fall down at his feet.

With a snarl, Leah spat in his face then turned her head away as he raised his hand to strike her.

"Bud and Cal," she said, "if you don't protect me, I'll never cook for you again."

The statement made Revis halt his hand in midair. Abruptly he released her, pushing her back against the

cabin wall. His handsome face twisted into an ugly smile. "You think you can turn my brothers against

me? Do you think that perhaps you can control what is mine?"

"No, I* I don't want you touching me, that's all. I don't want control." Something about him frightened her more than ever. Her hands clutched at the wall behind her as if she might be able to claw her way to freedom.

"You need to learn that I am the master here and no damn woman." Again, he raised his hand to strike her.

But the blow never landed.

Bud's big hand lightly gripped Revis's wrist. "The woman will cook," Bud said in a soft, gentle voice, but there was no mistaking the command it held.