Chapter 7Mercy stared at Mal with wide, dry eyes. She looked just like her older sister, too brave and strong to cry, even though she was shaking and pale. They’d hobbled her with a piece of leather, tying her thin ankles together so she couldn’t attempt an escape. They’d used another strong strip of rawhide to bind his wrists, but his feet were free. He might have tried to make a run for it, but not without Mercy.
And he suspected Cy would shoot as soon as he saw Mal move. They planned to kill him either way, but Mal wasn’t going to give them a reason to do that any sooner than necessary.
“No saddle, huh? You didn’t even think, did you?” Cy leaned against a tree, his mouth full of tobacco. “Didn’t even check to make sure J.R. was alone.”
Mal didn’t respond.
“You think I’d work anywher
