Sasha paused outside Baldwin’s tent to gather strength to go on. It was going to be okay, she told herself. It wasn’t as if Alisa and Margaret didn’t have a reason and a plan for having her do this. They would never have sent her here if they’d thought Baldwin would be a threat to her.

Except they didn’t realize that Baldwin had never forgiven her for that first encounter when she had nearly smashed his head with a horseshoe. She hadn’t told them that Baldwin had insisted on being in her tent every time Masenak had her beaten during that week of punishment.

Well, screw him, she thought recklessly. And don’t think about herself. Remember how he’d laughed when Jeanne had been suffering.

She pressed her lips to the tent opening. “Baldwin,” she said softly. “I need to speak to you. May I come in? It’s important.”

She heard a curse and then Baldwin was standing in the doorway, hair tousled, wearing a wrinkled undershirt and smelling of whiskey. He looked beyond her toward Masenak’s dark tent. “You want to come in? Where’s Masenak? He wouldn’t like you showing up here.” His voice was bitter. “He won’t let me touch you. He has such big plans and he thinks you can be part of them. The son of a bitch never thinks about me or what I want anymore.”

“That must be difficult for you.” She edged closer to the entrance. She needed to get inside the damn tent before she was seen. “Everyone knows he uses those girls every night now. I really do need to talk to you. Maybe we can help each other.”

He turned and went back into the tent. “Maybe we can. Why shouldn’t I have what I need, too? What do you want, bitch?”

She quickly followed him. “Masenak scared me yesterday. I couldn’t believe he’d hurt Jeanne that badly for no reason.” She bit her lower lip. “I think he’s crazy and might do the same thing to me. And because of the horses, he won’t ever let me get away. You don’t want me here. Can’t you find a way to help me escape?”

“I could do that.” He took a swallow of whiskey. “But Masenak would probably know it was me and he’d cut my balls off.” He turned to face her. “I could see that Masenak’s little ‘event’ bothered you. I was enjoying it. Just as I enjoyed how you flinched when that whip stroked your back while Masenak was having you beaten.” His lips curled. “But it wasn’t enough. He didn’t let me do it myself. Everything has to be special with you.”