Читать книгу Bound: A sizzling hot Western romance - Molly Wishlade Ann - Страница 10

Chapter Two

Layla opened her eyes. Her heart thudded like a drum. What had woken her? More importantly, how on earth had she fallen asleep? She was still upright against the tree and her neck ached from sleeping unsupported.

The fire had died down but the night air seemed milder. An owl hooted in the distance and another one answered nearby. She shook her head. Her sleep had been disturbed by wild animals. She moved from one buttock to the other, trying to relieve the numbness of being stuck in one position.

A strange noise came from the other side of the clearing. It was a soft moaning, almost like someone was in pain. Had Charlie or Etu been hurt?

She leant forwards and peered through the gloom.

Nothing.

She wriggled her arms and pushed out all of her breath. There was some slack in the rope. Her plan had worked. Good. She used her wrists to push the length up over her breasts. She slid down the tree trunk. The bark raked her back as it pulled her shirt from her trousers and the rope dug into her flesh but soon it was loose enough for her to slip over her neck and her head.

She was free. Charlie’s compassion in not tying it too tightly had left enough wriggle room for her to release herself. She lay still for a moment.

Now what? She could hear her own heartbeat as it swooshed blood through her ears.

She had to find the money then escape without waking her two captors.

She crept around the edge of the clearing, keeping to the shadows. Her gaze flickered left then right. Would Charlie have kept the money on him or tucked it into the saddle bag? Probably the latter. She’d have to take care near the horses as they might make a noise if she disturbed them.

Reaching the other side of the fire, she stopped.

Her mouth fell open. Was that really what it looked like?