Saturday Snippet: What means abduct?

 

 

The following snippet is taken from my upcoming book, 

Gift of Restitution: A Story for Christmas 

Gold Mountain, Book 4

 

            Luke watched Joy as she studied his face.

            “What means ‘abduct?’”

            “It means to steal a person, Joy. I never wished to help Charley and Tex steal you off of the stagecoach. However, I yielded to their threats and did their bidding. I watched to make sure you boarded it and then rode to the meeting place to tell them you were coming. I worried they might try to rob you, but…” Luke shook his head. “I had no idea they meant to abduct you.”

            “Charley and Tex are bad men.” Joy looked down toward her lap and shook her head. “You foolish you believe Charley and Tex, but you not bad.”

            Luke squirmed at the truth of the statement, one Joy had voiced before.

            At the time he met the pair of hooligans, Luke had been desperate to find paying work. He ignored his inner voice that warned him to stay away from Charley and Tex. Once they involved them in their cattle rustling, he either had to do what they said or risk being shot or reported to the sheriff as the one responsible for the crime. Since he was unknown in the county, the sheriff probably would have believed the charges. Charley finally promised to pay Luke what was due him and let him go—but only after Luke did one last task for Charley. All he had to do was make sure the Chinawoman boarded the stagecoach in Lundy and report to them. He would meet them back at the hideout and collect his money. Only it had not worked out that way. They brought more than money to the hideout. They brought their hostage.

            A wide smile spread on Joy’s face and her eyes appeared to dance with inner sparkles. “You steal me again, Luke. You steal me from brothel and Ah Chin. You marry me and bring me to home of honored mother-in-law.” She leaned forward and pressed her forehead toward the ground. “I am honored, husband, you return me to way of decency.” 

 

You may find the book description and preorder link for Gift of Restitution: a Story for Christmas by CLICKING HERE. 

 

 

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