Randee was not to enjoy mindless sleep that night. Wicked images and voices prevented peaceful slumber as she witnessed her evil stepfather plaguing her with his insidious advances behind her trusting mother’s back. She envisioned Dee Hollis Slade in grave peril if Dee learned of Payton’s lecherous behavior. Randee hated the inability to protect and to free her mother. Randall Hollis had taught his daughter to be strong and independent, to be brave and honest, but Payton Slade had stolen those valuable traits.
Caught up in the swirling maelstrom of the past, Randee’s slumbering mind waxed between scenes of Dee believing her and scenes of Dee doubting her claims against the man she had married in the fall of ‘69, and whose child she now carried.
Randee couldn’t blame her mother totally for that terrible mistake in judgment. Dee had been distraught by Randall Hollis’s unexpected death in ‘68, as those two had been madly in love and had wed when Dee was sixteen. Life and ranching had been hard on her after Randall’s murder, and she had been susceptible to Payton’s amorous attentions. Payton had helped Dee Carson Hollis with many problems while he had wooed her wildly. A woman who wanted and needed a strong man at her side, Dee had been swept off her feet by Payton’s romantic and persistent siege.
Problems had multiplied following the tragic event. The rustlers who had slain Randall Hollis continued to plague them. Dee felt that the work was too hard and dangerous for a woman with a young daughter. The hands were tense over having a female boss who was too distressed to think straight and who didn’t “know how to run a large ranch alone.” Suffering from loneliness, anguish, fears, and doubts, Dee had cried herself to sleep nearly every night for weeks.
Many hands and local ranchers started showing hot interest in the attractive Widow Hollis, who had a lot to offer a man in herself and with her ranch. Then, Payton Slade began to call on Dee every few days, offering and supplying help and advice. Things quickly got better, through deceit, Randee came to suspect. Soon, Payton was filling Dee’s emotional void and handling nearly everything for her, as if he owned or controlled her and the ranch. He had absorbed Dee as dry earth greedily consumed water and sucked it out of sight forever. Afraid of being alone and of losing the ranch, and in desperate need of love and assistance, Dee had yielded to the. man’s obsessive desire for her. She had seemed overjoyed to have him take away her decisions and worries. The old Dee Hollis vanished.
Randee had not liked or trusted Payton Slade from their first meeting, but she had been unable to put her finger on why she felt that way. The man was nice-looking and had a good build, but his smile and gaze had always made her nervous. She had tried to convince her mother to wait a while longer before marrying their neighbor, but Dee had been enchanted and duped by the powerful rancher, who had taken over the adjoining ranch only six months before her father’s death. In a deed dispute with heirs, Payton, who had powerful political connections, had won possession of the enviable ranch which his uncle had owned for many years. Although Payton had tried his best to become friends with her father, Randall Hollis had remained skeptical of the man and that legal decision. Payton had called on them frequently and had appeared at every social function in the area, always displaying exceptional charm. Even so, Randee knew her father never came to trust or to like the man.
Yet, Randee’s dark feelings stemmed from other troubles with her stepfather. The immoral beast had begun his wooing within two months of her father’s death in midwinter, a difficult time for anyone to care for a ranch. Dee had been frightened and confused, but instead of turning to Randee, she had leaned on Payton for help and solace. Within weeks, it seemed as if the man was spending as much time on the Hollis Ranch as he did on his own ranch. To protect his future interests, Randee had often thought to herself. By spring, Dee’s mourning period had disappeared, much to Randee’s dismay, and Dee had turned completely to the cunning devil. All summer the lovers played around like carefree, happy children— except for when they sneaked into bed together like passion-dazed adults. Randee knew her. mother would have married Payton during the spring or, summer, but the sly bastard had convinced Dee it wouldn’t appear right to wed so soon after Randall’s demise. He had made Dee wait until late fall, making less than a year of widowhood. Since life was hard on the “frontier,” no one had gossiped. “
At first, Payton Slade” had been too busy with his cunning scheme to turn his wicked attentions on Randee. He had poured his false affection on Dee like a treacherous rain that caused flash floods and great damage. Every time Randee turned around, Payton was all over her mother, like the itch from a fall into a chiggerinfested weed patch! During those months before the wedding, Randy had accidentally witnessed and overheard bouts of lovemaking which had astonished and embarrassed her. With windows open and sex taken anytime and anywhere, Randee had worried over what others might see and think about her mother. But Dee Hollis didn’t seem to care about anything except pleasing herself and Payton. Randee could not imagine what Payton was doing to have such an effect on her mother. Had it been truelove? Feverish sex? A time of insanity? What tormented and disappointed Randee the most was her mother’s almost wanton behavior so soon after losing the man she had loved since the age of sixteen. How, she had wondered, was it possible to give your heart and body to another man so quickly, so passionately, so uninhibitedly?
As the Hollis home was much larger and nicer than Payton’s, the man had moved into her father’s house, his room, and his bed the day of the wedding. Immediately he had gone to work merging the two ranches to create a powerful and prosperous spread.
In the beginning, Randee had wondered if she merely disliked and mistrusted the man because he was taking over her father’s place and possessions, and because her dear mother had changed so drastically since her father’s death and since falling under Payton’s spell. Dee had been Randall’s partner in every area of their lives, but it wasn’t the same with Payton Slade. Dee seemed dazed by the man, dependent on him for everything, almost as if she were bewitched! Anything the man said or did was fine! It seemed as if Dee was no longer strong, confident, intelligent, proud, outgoing, or brave. Dee waited upon Payton hand and foot, eagerly and joyfully responding to his every whim and order. She never discussed matters with the man or asked questions or disagreed with him. It was as if Dee would make any sacrifice to keep her second husband, as if her survival was solely in his hands, as if she needed only him to make her happy, as if she actually enjoyed being ordered about day and night!
As the months passed, Randee realized she was not being selfish and unfair and resentful, but it was a long and bitter lesson for her. From the start and to her mother’s delight, Payton called Randee his daughter; he kissed her cheek, embraced her, talked to her, and bought her gifts: actions which she overheard him telling Dee were to win the girl’s affection and acceptance. Payton was very clever with his pretense, faking wild and passionate love for his new bride while filthy plans roamed his dark mind. The infatuated Dee had been fooled completely, as had Randee for a while. Randee had never imagined her stepfather— or any male family member—capable of being that evil and bold, so for a time she truly had not realized what he was doing and thinking. In hindsight, the green-eyed blonde admitted that she should have comprehended the man’s wickedness and her imminent predicament. Not that Randee was too trusting and overly naive; she simply hadn’t realized such horrible things could happen to her.
As winter progressed, Payton became more affectionate and genial to her in front of her mother. On a few occasions, he tickled and tussled with Dee before drawing Randee into his crafty game, where hands and kisses swiftly and unnoticeably and accidentally touched areas they shouldn’t have. Sometimes he playfully chased or spanked the two females, even though Dee and Payton knew Randee didn’t like their childish sport. Twice, her mother had scolded her for being a stick-in-the-mud and for not trying to accept her “new father.” When Randee had said she was too old for such behavior and didn’t enjoy it, Payton had feigned hurt and offense, and Dee had gotten angry with her.
Payton had tried to appease and trick Randee by apologizing and backing off for a time. He had even forbidden Dee to scold her for her feelings and “impulsive conduct.” He had claimed that in time they would become a close and happy family. Later, he had taken up his merry sport once more. This was the pattern for many episodes that caused Randee to doubt her impressions and suspicions. Since Payton was supposedly madly in love with Dee and was trying to make friends with Randee, why should she imagine he had dirty games in mind?
Some wintry nights, Payton would come into her room to make certain “his little girl” was “covered with warm blankets,” at first with Dee and then alone. His short good-night kisses on her cheek moved to quick ones on her mouth, then to longer ones on her lips as he vowed how glad he was to have “the most beautiful wife an’ daughter in Kansas.” He would lift a giggling Dee and swing her around and around before cuddling and kissing her as if she were the only female who warmed his heart and loins. But when he embraced Randee, he cunningly mashed her growing breasts against his hard chest and often shifted in such a manner as to caress them with his torso: a lewd trick, which Randee didn’t grasp for a time because it was done so cleverly and because she was trying to get along with the man to please her mother.
As spring drifted into summer, gradually her mother’s husband began to behave more suspiciously to her in private. Sometimes when he came up beside or behind her, his hands wandered to forbidden areas like her breasts or buttocks or thighs; at first, as with his silly games, it was done rapidly and in a way that looked unintentional. Soon, Randee became mistrustful, angry, and resentful. She tried to avoid the man, and prayed the problem would cease. When it didn’t, she began to pull away and to glare at him to let him know she had caught on to his ploy. A few times, she bravely hinted at his crude actions— protesting that the way he kissed her and hugged her wasn’t proper—and suggested he halt his behavior before her mother misunderstood and got angry with them. Nothing worked, because Payton feigned innocence and ignorance. The vile beast even teased her about her wild and naughty imagination! He claimed there was nothing wrong with him showing her love and attention, since he was her new father, even if he hadn’t “birthed her.” He told her that Dee would be very angry and upset by such false charges and it would cause bad trouble in their home.
Even as he denied her barely veiled charges, she could still hear him practically admitting them, “Aw, come on, girl. Be nice to yore new pa. We could git along real good if you tried. I know I ain’t got much book learnin’, but I ain’t stupid. You’re just stubborn an’ vain, girl, like yore ma used to be when Randall was alive. I straightened her out an’ I can do the same with you. I’m yore pa now; the law says it’s true an’ yore ma says it’s true, so you best mind me, or else I’ll be forced to thrash you. I ain’t tried to git in yore bloomers, so you best not tell yore ma such lies. You clean up yore mouth an’ head, or I’ll have to switch you good behind the barn.”
Randee knew that before she took any action she had to discover how tight Payton’s grasp was on Dee, as her father had taught her to reason out a problem before acting on it rashly. She had concluded that Payton’s actions were not accidental, and certainly not normal. Yet, she realized she had to handle this offensive matter carefully, as it would be her word against her stepfather’s. If her mother hadn’t been so enthralled with the man, Randee wouldn’t have had a dilemma. The situation worsened for Randee when the man made certain he did and said nothing suspicious before his wife and others, denying her any evidence against him. Even so, Randee found a private moment to ask her mother if Payton Slade had the authority to punish her, even if her misdeed was only in the man’s mind. Randee had been shocked and dismayed to learn that her mother would indeed allow the man to punish her for any reason which he felt was necessary!
When she protested, Dee had said, “He’s your father now, Randee. You must do everything he says. If you anger or disobey him in any way, I’ll have to allow him to punish you. He doesn’t have any children of his own and he wants to make you his daughter, but you’re so mean and rude to him.”
When Randee frowned, Dee admonished, “Don’t roll those Hollis eyes at me, young lady. I don’t like the way you’ve treated Payton since our marriage, but he’s too kind to let me punish you. You’ve been set against him since we met, and you’ve made no attempt to get along with him. Don’t shake your head no, because you most certainly have been ugly to him. He knows you hate him for taking your father’s place and it hurts him badly. You should be ashamed of yourself, Randee Hollis. I know your father would be greatly disappointed in you if he witnessed such bad behavior.”
Randee became annoyed as Dee almost whined her next words, “Please, Randee, don’t cause me any more pain and trouble and grief. Payton won’t allow it. He loves me and takes good care of me. I can’t lose him too, girl, so I’ll do anything to keep him.” The woman’s eyes narrowed as she warned, “If you say or do anything to destroy my marriage or to make Payton leave, you’ll be sorry, Randee.”
Randee had stared at her mother in disbelief and anguish. She saw that the blinded woman was serious; her mother would do anything to keep that foul creature! God, how she hated Payton Slade for so drastically changing her mother! How, Randee had wondered, had he done so in just a year and so completely? Suddenly, Randee realized she was entrapped in a terrible situation. The challenge to outwit Payton was a difficult one. She had to discover her limits and work within them. Considering her mother’s blind trust and distorted feelings, if she confessed the man’s evil to Dee, the woman might not believe her. Or worse, Dee might not care about anything anymore except herself… .
Summer and fall passed and their second winter together began. Randee was miserable, too miserable to think clearly. She was worried about her mother’s enchantment and sanity. The only reason she hadn’t taken action against Payton— despite what he and Dee had said to her—was because he had left her alone for months. She was hoping the problem had disappeared and she wouldn’t have to reveal her stepfather’s brazen conduct to her mother, who appeared so blissfully happy. Randee knew, if she was compelled to expose the man, Dee’s new life would be ripped asunder. Besides being hurt and humiliated, there was no guessing how the woman would react to such a vile discovery. Dee seemed to be living in a lovely dream world, and she seemed to have become so fragile and vulnerable, so immersed in that man. Randee couldn’t help but worry that her disclosure might destroy her mother instead of the deceitful marriage. She could never yield to Payton’s evil, but she must pretend she had given up her suspicions. She would lie in wait, like a predator, for the right moment to attack. Then, she would strike at him when the odds were in her favor. Yes, she must recall everything her father had taught her, and use it against this crude excuse for a man.
But the day came when Payton started his little games again, under the absurd guise of making peace. Once more, Randee tried to avoid him and discourage him; and, for a time, Payton was willing to remain only playful and mischievous. To prevent more trouble before she could leave home in the spring—which Randee knew was her only course of action—she attempted to ignore and to repel her stepfather’s overtures. By some miracle, she kept him at arm’s length until January.
Then, the lascivious incidents gradually increased in frequency and boldness, as if he were calling her bluff. On days that his behavior was particularly bad, she tried to embarrass him by pointing out his misconduct. Once, she even told him she was praying over his sins, but he only chuckled satanically. That night, Dee announced she was pregnant with Payton’s first child, and the man seemed ecstatic! He even claimed that God was rewarding him because he had proven he was a good father to his stepdaughter!
After that stunning revelation, Payton played his secret game with skill and persistence. He constantly mentioned Dee’s delicate physical condition and highly sensitive emotional state. He hovered over his wife daily, cooing and behaving as if Dee were the new baby or the most special woman in the world. He genially ordered Randee to do most of the chores so Dee could get plenty of rest or get over bouts of morning sickness. He would point out to Randee that her mother wasn’t a young or strong woman and that giving birth could be hard, even dangerous for her. He warned Randee not to say or do anything to upset Dee, which could cause her to lose the baby and perhaps take her life. Randee felt the imaginary noose around her neck tighten as her peril increased. Now, she had another life to consider and protect, a responsibility she didn’t want.
Payton realized he had Randee in a bind, and he took advantage of her predicament. His favorite ploy was to catch her alone in the stable while she was feeding and rubbing down her horse. Twice she had escaped him before he could touch her, and other times she had persuaded her mother to accompany her so they could chat like they used to long ago, or make plans for the new baby. But when she became too good at eluding him, Payton found ways to thwart her with help from his trusted hirelings. Once more, she was the prey and he was the predator. Her mind swirled madly with questions. How could she challenge him? How could she outwit him? How could she endure this wickedness any longer? She couldn’t, as it was getting worse.
Her boiling fury and resentment increased daily until her temper exploded one freezing morning. She hated to hurt her mother by revealing the truth, but she had no choice. The man would not leave her alone! Randee told him exactly what she thought of him. Instead of threatening to expose him to her ailing mother, which she felt would be useless, she rashly claimed she was going to see the law. Surely he could be arrested and punished, or at least put off their ranch! Once his sordid behavior was revealed to the authorities, surely the spell he had over Dee would be broken! Suddenly, she recalled that he had powerful connections to the law and was widely—but undeservingly— respected in this area.
Still, Randee made her bold threats. That was when Payton Slade almost became violent. He had glared at her for daring to scold, refuse, insult, and threaten him. He had terrified her by warning her of her mother’s lethal peril if she dared to mention any of this to Dee or to anyone. He had made grim threats of brutality and death, and Randee never doubted he would carry out his claims. As he had ranted and raved at her, she had grasped how mean and evil he was. It was obvious he didn’t love his wife or the baby, only the ranch. It was also obvious that he thought he needed Dee and the child for the image he wanted to present, one he didn’t want Randee soiling. That relieved Randee because it meant those two would be safe when she left.
Despite the breach between her and her mother, she couldn’t bear for Dee and the child to be harmed or slain. With winter’s snow and icy cold surrounding them, presently there was no way she could flee her home successfully. She had used up too much time and been too cautious!
Dee couldn’t help her; the pregnant woman could only be emotionally and physically hurt if told of this vile situation. The law wouldn’t help her because Payton had the authorities fooled. He had vowed to humiliate her if she went to the law, threatening to claim they had been lovers for months behind Dee’s back and that Randee was being spiteful because he refused to divorce Dee and marry her! He seemed to know exactly how to make her appear the villainess. Randee had seen him at work on others plenty of times. He had this strange, intimidating ability to disarm and deceive most people, to make them think and act as he desired and without being aware of Payton’s control. He swore he would kill Dee and claim it. was suicide because of Randee’s betrayal, and she knew he was deadly serious. That devil made her realize that even if the law believed her, she couldn’t prove her claims, that even her own mother would testify against her and then disown her.
There seemed to be no way out of the sadistic trap. Randee decided she must kill this man to save herself and her mother, but Payton guessed her thoughts. He warned her of the grim consequences, and proved his threat by ‘calling his trusted men to his side and ordering them to rape, torture, and slay Randee and her mother if anything happened to him! The lecherous men had smiled satanically and agreed, revealing the extent of her peril and helplessness. On that bleak and freezing day, fear, dread, and repulsion had consumed her.
Yet, for a time, Payton Slade seemed satisfied with his secret victory. He did nothing more, than sneak a kiss and touch here and there, and to tease Randee about her enslaved position. It was as if the power and control which he held over her was all he wanted from her, as if the excitement would be lost if the dirty secret were revealed. Randee saw Payton and his cohorts watching her every day, so she knew there was no escape possible at this point. She had to endure this bitter situation until Payton’s guard slackened and she could slip away. Once she left and the vile game was ended, so would the danger to Dee and the unborn child end. If she kept her mouth shut!
To save her mother’s life while she stalled for time to act, Randee tolerated her stepfather’s covert attentions. When they were alone, he stroked her hair and flesh and told her how much he enjoyed “their feel in his hands.” When she was doing chores, he sneaked up on her to whisper naughty compliments about how beautiful she was becoming and how nicely she was “filling out.” If she tried to protest, he would warn her not to talk back to him or disobey. He would come to her room at night to tuck her in and to give her a good night kiss. It was as if the original game of lewd pursuit was still in progress, not as if he had won it weeks ago and had her at his mercy.
Randee came to believe that Payton Slade was mentally ill, that the game was the important thing, not a final victory. So, while she awaited the moment to escape, she played along with him by pretending she was helpless and terrified and would never challenge his power and grasp, which thrilled and sated him. For a time …
February of ’71 came, and Randee’s situation worsened. For greater excitement, the man began to play other games with her: he seemed to be aroused by cleverly handling Randee when his gullible wife was nearby. One day in the kitchen when she was standing beside the table and cutting up vegetables from the root cellar, Payton entered the cozy room whistling. He sat down very close to her and sprea’d out a cloth and began to clean his pistol. As he chatted cheerfully with his wife, who” was making bread on the counter not far away, his hand slipped under Randee’s skirt and teased up and down her inner thigh, but never touched her private region. Chills and disgust raced over her body, and hatred burned fiercely within her. When she glared at him and tried to move away, he lifted the loaded gun, pointed it at Dee’s back, and grinned evilly. Randee eyed him intensely, and knew he would pull the trigger if she spoke or moved. Her teeth clenched and her eyes narrowed, and Payton smiled victoriously.
After Randee forced herself to stand there, he was content to halt his sport in a minute. Her hand had gripped the knife tightly, shaking as her mind finally persuaded her not to slash the man’s throat. If defeating Payton was her only task, he would have been dead that moment.
Another time, Payton spanked her one night before the fire, claiming she had “smart-mouthed” him about a chore. When Dee did not interfere and turned to fetch him a drink, the man caressed the firm buttocks which he had been slapping forcefully only moments before. Randee sneaked a look at her stepfather’s face and realized he was stimulated by the pain and humiliation he was inflicting upon her, especially beneath her mother’s nose. Instinctively she knew his dark desires and plans were changing rapidly, and her reprieve was running out. Terror gripped her heart. She had to find a way to win!
After that night, Payton began to touch her when Dee was only inches away from them. Randee detested this new sport, but had not decided how to defeat Payton without losing three lives. Some nights she lay awake trying to come up with a plan. She could sneak into her mother’s bedroom and slay the man as he slept, but how could she get them away from Payton’s cruel men? She couldn’t drag a pregnant woman through the snow, nor could Dee endure a long, rough ride on horseback—if her mother didn’t go mad at seeing her love shot, and if her mother believed her explanation… . She had asked one man— one who had worked for her father and whom she had thought trustworthy—for help, only to have him betray her to Payton. Her stepfather had been furious, then amused by her bold desperation, and had stressed her helplessness. Now, she didn’t know whom to trust. For all she knew, Payton could have all of the men on his side! Yes, she could kill him easily, but how to deal with his men and winter?
One morning, Payton shockingly revealed that Dee was going to be away from home for two weeks to help a neighbor, which was a common practice. Randee knew something terrible was at hand. She tried to reason with them about how dangerous it was for a woman in Dee’s condition to take a rough trip and to be around sick people. Payton told her that it would be good for his wife to help another woman deliver her baby and then to take care of mother and child, to refresh Dee’s memory and skills! Dee, wanting to please her husband, agreed with his plans. Randee knew it was a trick, and dread filled her.
Randee said it would be better if she went to care for the neighbor, but Payton refused, claiming she wasn’t experienced and she was needed to do the chores around the house. He revealed that one of his men was driving Dee over in a buggy slowly and carefully, and would remain there with her to make certain she was safe and healthy. Randee caught his meaningful look and realized the man was being sent to serve as a threat. If Randee didn’t cooperate with Payton, Dee would be in peril.
Later that day, Payton entrapped her in the stable to disclose the evil which she had feared. When he told Randee it was time to take full possession of her, she knew what he meant and nearly became physically ill at the thought of his ravishing her. To date, he hadn’t made any flesh-to-flesh contact with her private parts; her garments had always been between his hands and those intimate regions. He told her that he would kill Dee and all witnesses at the other ranch if Randee made any suspicious moves against him. She was petrified, but determined to defeat him. She had to take her chances that others would be safe after she was out of Payton’s reach. She could not allow that beastly demon to destroy her. Dee was leaving in four days, so Randee knew this was the moment to escape the horror which controlled her life. Surely Payton would not slay his wife when she was carrying his first child, especially if Randee kept his vile secret.
Yet, other horrible speculations had entered her mind since Payton’s insidious scheme had been revealed. She had to run away within four days, even though his guard would be heightened at this time. If Payton was allowed the time and opportunity to ravish her, then use her at will, she could become pregnant with that devil’s evil seed and never be able to break free of him. Was saving anyone’s life worth making that unholy sacrifice? Her stepfather seemed to crave her spirited resistance. Did he enjoy that even more than her mother’s submission? If Payton decided he preferred a feisty virgin over meek Dee as his wife, her mother would be in more peril later than she was now. Worse, the insane bastard could try to make both of them his slaves, as Dee would be too afraid and devastated to battle Payton.
Randee made plan after plan, but they all seemed fallible. She pretended to be totally under Payton’s control, which was possible because he didn’t come near her as he eagerly anticipated their two weeks alone. At the last moment, he told Randee that he was going along to get Dee settled at the neighbor’s house, but he would return by nightfall. He told her there would be several guards left behind to make sure she didn’t try to escape, and one would be left with Dee to kill her and their neighbors if Randee disobeyed any of his orders.
Randee could not permit him to continue blackmailing and terrifying her. She made her plan and carried it out. She did not try to dupe Payton’s guard or escape while he was gone, as they would be on her trail instantly and all could be lost forever. She packed as many belongings as she knew she could carry on horseback and hid them beneath her bed. She prepared food and supplies and concealed them with her possessions. She took her final look around the ranch her father had created and nurtured, a place which would one day belong to Payton Slade’s child because Randee could never return as long as Payton was alive and Dee was under his spell.
Randee was going to miss this place, but it wasn’t home anymore. Payton Slade had violated it. She didn’t care if the guard was dogging her, because a daily ride shouldn’t cause suspicion, and she had to say farewell to this part of her life. Lastly, she wrote her mother a note in which she claimed she was running away to New York to seek adventure and to give Dee, Payton, and the baby privacy. She claimed she couldn’t accept Payton in her father’s place and she was miserable on the ranch, but she wished them great happiness. She promised to write home after she was settled somewhere, but she knew she wouldn’t, because she couldn’t risk Payton locating her. She hid the note in her mother’s linen closet, where the woman would find it shortly after her return. Everything was done, and she must take her chances.
When Payton returned at twilight, Randee met him at the door in a lovely floral nightgown, with her honey blond hair tumbling over her shoulders. She had scrubbed her body with fragrant soap and dabbed on French perfume. Her green gaze was soft and seductive as she falsely admitted, “I know when I’m defeated, Payton, so I won’t fight you anymore. I’m tired of being unhappy and nervous all the time, and scared Mother’s going to find out about us. You win; do as you wish.”
Payton’s eyes traveled over her very slowly, and he grinned. “I knowed you’d see it my way an’ obey me. You look real pretty, girl, an’ I’m itching to get at you. But we don’t need to rush our fun; Dee’ll be gone for weeks. It’s been a long ride an’ I need to get settled.”
Randee was delighted to hear that non-unexpected news, and continued her daring ploy. She knew that the man wanted to savor each moment of his game and victory, which gave her time to carry out her devious strategy. “You’re such a smart and strong man, so I guess you know what’s best for all of us. Since you practically own me, I guess you have the right to do with me as you please. I just had a hard time accepting you and the truth, but I’ve done lots of thinking today and decided I should be grateful and obedient. You did save our ranch and make Mother come alive again.” She enticingly fluttered her eyes as she lied convincingly, “I suppose I was just jealous that Mother was so happy, when I was so miserable. Heavens, she’s corralled her second husband before I can rope just one!” She pouted prettily as she fretted aloud, “I don’t even have a single beau calling on me. If you didn’t tell me how pretty I was getting, I wouldn’t even hear it or know it. It’s partly your fault I was so jealous and mean, Payton. You are a very handsome man, and I was forced to watch you two having all the fun while I was miserable and alone. And you treated me like a baby most of the time. I’m eighteen, almost nineteen. When am I going to get a chance at love and happiness? That sounds awful and selfish, doesn’t it?” she hinted coquettishly.
Observing her submission, Payton beamed with pleasure and. satisfaction. “Course it don’t, my little Dee. You was scared an’ lonely too, just like yore Ma was afore I worked on her good. See how happy she is now? I know how to take care of women, an’ I’ll take real good care of you. Afore these two weeks are over, I’ll have you grinning and humming every day. But we can’t tell yore Ma we’re good friends, else she’ll get mad an’ jealous like you was before. She don’t want to share me with no other woman, an’. I wouldn’t want to whip her to make her mind, not with her carryin’ a baby.”
“Even if Mother learns our little secret, you can keep her from punishing me or getting angry. She’ll do anything you say, just like I have to do from now on.” As she helped him remove his coat, and hung it on a peg, she said, “I know you’re probably cold and hungry and tired, so I prepared a special supper for us. I’m keeping it warm in the stove. I’ll serve it when you give the order.” She motioned to her attire and said, “I thought you might be eager to get at me tonight, so I thought it best to wear this and be ready to obey.”
Some of Payton’s interest sagged at her groveling behavior—as Randee had assumed and was delighted to observe. Payton speculated on how he should behave to get the most pleasure from this first night with the fetching blonde. It would be too noisy to beat her, terrify her, and rape her. But he didn’t want a soft and pliable pillow beneath him tonight. He had one fawning slave. What he needed now was a hot-blooded vixen. He craved a fiesty challenge, but he didn’t want trouble, as he hadn’t yet replaced all the Hollis hands with his own hirelings. “We’ll eat first, then I’ll teach you how to give me pleasure.”
She licked her lips and pouted sensually as she murmured, “I hope you don’t mind that I took a bottle of your best wine from the cabinet for us to share. I don’t know about you, Payton, but I need to relax before we … turn in for the night. Would it be all right if after supper we lie before a cozy fire, and you can get me a little dizzy before you claim your golden treasure, as you call me. You will be gentle and patient with me, won’t you, Payton? I mean, I know I’ve been mean and rude to you, but you’ll forgive me and go easy tonight, won’t you? I promise I won’t give you any more trouble,” she ‘ vowed dishonestly, looking and sounding so like her mother.
Payton actually frowned. Randee quickly said, “If you mind, I’ll put it back, Payton. Please don’t be angry with me. I’ll obey. Please, just tell me what you want me to do,” she entreated pitifully.
“First thing, don’t whine and cower like yore ma. I thought you was a strong an’ smart girl, so quit actin’ like an old cow who’s’ ready to drop in ’er tracks. You got me all worked up ’cause you was so spirited, like a golden bronc worth a fortune; now, you’re actin’ like you’ve lost yore spunk. Git it back, girl, ’cause I loved it. If you don’t, I’ll have to provoke you into findin’ it agin,” he teased as he pinched her right nipple. He chuckled when she squealed and unthinkingly smacked away his hand. “That’s more like it, so keep it up. Pour yourself some wine, girl, but give me whiskey. After supper, I want you to put on some old clothes, so I can rip ‘em off of you. That’s real excitin’ for a man, If you want me to, I’ll give you the first lesson by the fire, but I want you to tussle with me. You know, girl, give me a little fight, like you don’t really want me to hump you. A woman who just lays there or yields happily ain’t no fun, no challenge.”
Randee understood perfectly. She put on an innocent expression as she replied, “If that’s how you like it, Payton, of course I’ll pretend to battle you. I think there are some old clothes in that chest in the spare room. If not, I’ll find something for us to use. We’ll hurry with supper so we can get started with … my lessons.”
As she poured him a drink and herself some wine, Payton chuckled and teased, “I think you’re excited about tonight, ain’t you?”
Randee’s back was to the man, so he couldn’t see the hatred and cunning deceit in her eyes. Her voice was velvety soft as she whispered sultrily, “Does that mean I’m wicked, Payton? I’ve watched the way you carry on with Mother, and I’ve heard you two … playing in the house and barn and bed at night; it seems so … so exciting.” She used his favorite word and saw anticipation flush his face as she turned toward him. “I’ll be nineteen in April, so I’m a grown woman, a woman who doesn’t know anything about men. Don’t you think it’s time I learn about such things? And who better to teach me than you, my handsome and virile stepfather?”
Payton’s mood began to change as he conceitedly assumed she was not cowed but actually tempted by ravenous desire for him. The surge of a new kind of power and ecstasy charged through him as he convinced himself he had bewitched and conquered an old enemy. This girl who had once hated, resisted, and avoided him was now eager to bed him! Her gullible mother had become such a slave to him that Randee craved to learn how and why the woman was so enchanted by him! No, the girl wasn’t a coward; she was a brazen vixen! He laughed heartily. “Why, you sly little trickster,” he jested. He gulped down his drink before accusing devilishly, “You’ve been wantin’ me an’ this all along. I got you real hot by spyin’ on me an’ Dee, just like I planned. You didn’t know I was gettin’ you ready to be cooked one night, did you?”
“Payton Slade, that was mean and cruel,” she scolded playfully. She swiftly adapted her strategy to his changing moods. “I couldn’t help but get all stirred up, and it made me real irritable. There you were, heating me up and coming after me, when I was too scared to let you have your way. My father would have killed us if he’d been around to catch us carrying on behind Mother’s back. And I was afraid one of your men might tell somebody by accident; you know men get loose tongues when they get drunk.”
She forcefully quelled her repulsion and bravely snuggled against his chest. As her fingers toyed with his shirt, she murmured sweetly, “I don’t want to hurt Mother, but I can’t help craving you, Payton. I know this is wrong, and we can get into terrible trouble if I got pregnant, but I don’t care anymore. It’s been too hard rejecting you and trying to be good. I thought if I made you mad at me you would quit tempting and tormenting me with these crazy feelings. But every time you touched me, I got all weak and hot inside. I’ve really tried to keep away from you, because you’re Mother’s husband, but I can’t keep lying about my feelings for you. Besides, I have to obey you, don’t I? So I’m not to blame for being bad. We’ve got two weeks alone. Isn’t that … exciting?” she finished and laughed provocatively.
Someone knocked on the kitchen door, and Randee unthinkingly headed to answer it. Payton halted her by pointing to her scanty attire. She blushed at her oversight and stepped behind the door, amusing her stepfather. She winked and grinned as she hid there, convinced that she had her insidious stepfather right where she wanted him.
The foreman asked if there were any further orders for the night. Payton smiled and said, “Take care of everythin’ for the next few days. I’ll be real busy here at home.” Randee kissed and erotically licked her stepfather’s fingers, which were curled around the open door. Payton added, “Make sure I ain’t disturbed for any reason. I’ll talk to you when I take a rest in about three days. For no reason, understand?”
The foreman grasped the evidence of a successful seduction in progress: the hard bulge in Payton’s pants, the telltale flush on the man’s face, the smell of Randee’s perfume on his shirt and in the air; the rancher’s heavy breathing, the muffled sound of movement behind the door, the victorious grin on his boss’s lips, and the fiery glaze in Payton’s eyes. He acknowledged his orders and grinned knowingly. “Nobody will come near this house until you give the word, boss.”
After closing and locking the door, Payton looked at Randee and chuckled. His hands covered her breasts and fondled them, and Randee smiled disarmingly. “We’ll eat later, girl. You got my stick hotter than a brandin’ iron that’s been in a campfire all day. You go find them old clothes while I have me another drink or two.”
Randee was thrilled to get her victory under way. It would have been difficult to swallow a single bite. She briefly tolerated Payton’s touch, as she didn’t want him catching on to her lies. She kept herself from tensing and paling when he asked a hazardous question.
“You sure you want me this bad, girl? This ain’t no game just to get me on your side ‘cause you’re scared, is it?”
Randee boldly trailed her fingers over his protruding groin as she whispered seductively, “I’m probably hungrier than you are, Payton. You’ve had plenty of loving from Mother, but I’ve never had any. I want you to teach me all you know, and we’ll practice those lessons day and night until Mother’s return. then you can figure out a place we can meet safely. Where do you want me after I’m dressed?”
“I’m burnin’ up. Let’s get on with it right now,” he said, lust shining brightly and feverishly in his eyes. He reached for her garment.
She captured his hands and warned, “Wait, Payton; this is Mother’s favorite gown. She’ll miss it if I burn it afterwards, and I’ll have to if it gets torn. Let me change first. I want you to… . to rip my clothes off like you promised. Please. You’re always so gentle and playful with Mother. I want it to be different for us, lots of fun and real exciting. You be the lusty rogue and I’ll be the reluctant virgin. We can play all kinds of games before Mother’s return. We’ll take turns making them up. Of course, I’ll learn more as we go along, so don’t get disappointed with me too soon.”
Lecherous laughter filled the room and the man eyed her greedily. “I knowed you’d like the same stuff I love. Go on, but hurry, girl.”
Randee kissed him lightly on the mouth and hurried away, thanking him and humming happily. She peered around the dark corner of the hallway and watched the man hastily down two more drinks of strong whiskey. Things were going better than she had planned or dreamed. She had assumed she would only have hours tonight to get away, but her lustful stepfather had given her “about three days” before either of them would be missed. In that length of time, she could travel far away from this awful existence. She slipped to her room and quickly donned an old dress, then returned to find Payton sprawled on the floor on a blanket in front of a colorful fire.
“I’ll get the wine and join you in a moment,” she told him, needing a weapon that wouldn’t arouse his suspicion. Thankfully, he didn’t argue with her or halt her, but downed another whiskey.
She sat down beside his prone body, sipping the rosy liquid as she did so. “Is wine supposed to relax you or stimulate you?” she asked.
Payton took another drink, too enticingly provoked to be aware of his recklessness and peril. “It does both, girl. Finish it quick ‘cause I’m more than ready for you,” he told her as he stripped off his shirt and started to work on removing the pants.
Randee was glad he hadn’t undressed while she was gone, as this was placing him in a nearly helpless position. As he bent forward to yank his pants off his legs, Randee smashed the wine bottle over his head. When he collapsed unconscious to the blanketed floor, she smiled vengefully and pummeled his chest to relieve her tension and fury. Lying there almost naked and powerless, his pale body didn’t look intimidating anymore. Randee’s hatred and desire for revenge seemed to ooze from her every pore, and she struggled to control herself.
She stood and looked down at him, delighted to have that beast helpless at her feet. She could not stop herself from kicking him in the ribs several times; she wanted him to suffer as she had suffered. Heavens, how she wanted to slay him with her bare hands! But she couldn’t. If anything happened to Payton Slade, her mother would face his men’s wrath after Randee’s escape. She couldn’t even leave this evidence behind for her mother to suspect attempted rape; that, too, would endanger Dee’s life and the baby’s. She had no choice but to protect Payton’s guilt, and that infuriated her. At least she could punish him slightly! And one day she might find a way to return and destroy him!
Randee quickly re-dressed the despicable man and roughly rolled him to the cellar door. She gave his limp body a kick and sent it tumbling down the stairs, uncontrollably enjoying every thud it made against the wooden steps and hard dirt floor. She silently prayed that his body would have countless bruises and scratches when he awakened. She went down into the dim area, which she had prepared earlier. The lantern was aglow and everything was as she had left it. She bound the man securely to one of the support beams, then gagged him.
Randee glared at him and refused to bind his wound, which was still bleeding. She checked it and knew it wasn’t a fatal injury, only a painful one. She smiled as she envisioned the headache and predicament to which Payton Slade would awaken in a few hours. She wished she could linger to witness it, but she dared not waste precious time -just as she dared not leave him naked to freeze or to catch a deadly cold. The lantern would burn until sometime tomorrow, then he would be in the dark, a nighttime inkiness that matched the blackness of his mind! He would be cold, but it wouldn’t kill him or harm him in three days. Nor would going without food and water for that long. If it was that long. She had missed one point. When smoke failed to come from the chimney for a while, his men would come to check on him. She would leave the cellar door open to make sure they located the vile bastard, but only to protect her mother!
Randee cleaned up the broken glass and straightened the house, in case any dangerous clue had been overlooked. She placed the food on the table to keep it from burning and sending out an alarm. After making certain that all doors and windows were locked and curtained, she piled her possessions on the kitchen floor. She changed into warm and sturdy trail clothes, and strapped on her Colt. Quickly she looked around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten or missed something.
Randee entered the cellar to check on Payton Slade, to get her last view of him and his predicament. He was still unconscious. She stared at him, her anger and hatred surfacing again. She had the urge to tear out his hair, to scream at him, to cut him into tiny pieces, to pulverize his wicked head with her gun butt, to slap his face over and over. She despised these feelings of violence which this man had created within her, made worse by the fact she could not seek justice for his vile deeds and thwarted intentions. She had to let him go free, unpunished, unmasked. She had to let him go on duping her mother and others. If only she dared to challenge his men and risk their obedience to a dead man. But she must not, as they would probably obey Payton, because they were just like him and would enjoy such dark deeds. A bitter mixture of anguish and helplessness consumed her. She realized that if she didn’t get away from him quickly, she might kill him anyway! “I’m not your little golden honey bee; I have a terrible sting which you’ll feel one day. Just wait and see! This isn’t over between us!”
At midnight, she stoked fires in every hearth, hoping that one of them would burn just a little longer than the others and allow her more time to escape. Considering Payton’s orders to his foreman, she had no idea how much time she would have before the search was on for her. With snow and ice on the ground, it would be slow traveling until she got further south. Too, she had to take the time to conceal her trail and time to be wary of perils along her journey to freedom.
Suddenly, the true episode began to fuse with a nightmare about the way it might have taken place months ago: Somehow Payton got free before she could leave the house, and captured her. She saw herself bound to her mother’s bed, and the man was laughing wildly as he ripped off her clothes. She saw his grinning cohorts standing nearby, eagerly awaiting their turn with her as punishment for her treachery. She watched Payton strip off his garments and fall atop her… .
Randee thrashed and whimpered until Marsh went to her side and tried to awaken her. When he succeeded, she flung herself into his arms and trembled violently. Marsh comforted her with his strong embrace and gentle words, his lips finding hers along the path to solace. Randee responded feverishly as she clung to him. Their mouths feasted greedily and they savored their snug contact. Caresses and soft words were exchanged, and more urgent kisses. Moans of desire were heard in the peaceful area, and passion’s flames burned brighter.
Suddenly, Randee began to struggle with Marsh, as she was not completely awakened from her slumber and, in her confusion, the handsome Texan had become her evil stepfather who was lying atop her and preparing to ravish her brutally. She clawed at him and screamed, “Get off me, you filthy bastard! I hate you! Touch me again and I’ll kill you. I swear it, threat or none! I won’t let you do this to me!”
Marsh realized what was taking place and he withdrew from her, despite the height of his rampant desire, which cooled quickly as the beautiful blonde became a fierce wildcat. They struggled for a time before he pinned her to the ground. “Randee! Wake up! It’s only a bad dream!” he shouted at her as he shook her arms.
At last, the nightmare loosened its vicious grip and released her. She sat up quickly and breathlessly. She looked around, rapidly regaining her senses. She met Marsh’s probing gaze, but did not smile or blush. Finally she said, “I’m sorry if I disturbed your sleep and alarmed you. I haven’t had a night … bad dream in a long. time. Next time, leave me alone and I won’t get violent with you.” With Payton Slade so fresh on her mind, Randee could not allow herself to turn to Marsh or to any man just to escape the nightmarish evil of her stepfather. If, or when, she yielded to Marsh Logan, it had to be for the right reason, the only reason: loving desire.
When Randee lay down and curled onto her side away from him, Marsh eyed her with intrigue. She had called his name and briefly surrendered herself to him, until some dark shadow had terrified her. He considered her words —earlier and tonight—and wondered at their meanings, as she had not been speaking to him or battling him. This ravishing vixen had a frightening secret, one that had chased her from Kansas and had driven her from his arms tonight.
From her wild rantings, someone had tried to take advantage of her, someone she hated and wanted to slay. Twice she had mentioned “a nasty situation.” Had she been forced to defend her honor by killing a man? Had she perhaps been married to some cruel man whom she had fled? Had her home been stolen from her through deceit or force? After her father’s death, had she been left homeless and helpless? Had her mother been compelled to marry some awful man to escape the few options open to widows and orphans: a schoolmarm, a seamstress, a second marriage, a cook, a prostitute? Had this female faced such choices? Or perhaps her mother and stepfather hadn’t wanted her around after their marriage. If, as she had once claimed, revenge was the only thing in her life at this point, where did that leave Brody Wade? Was the sheriff nothing more than the lesser of many evils? How could Marsh help her, or have her, without dealing with her troubled past? Unintentionally, he spoke aloud, “Randee, don’t you think you should tell me about this problem which haunts you?”