A Moment in Time Read Online Free PDF

least!"
           "What the hell are you–"
           "With all due respect, madam," the weasel continued, "the illustration you sent showed you even more, shall we say, endowed than Dottie here."
           Fury and embarrassment spiked through Jackie.   How dare he?   "I'm endowed enough and I never sent you any illustrations, you creep."   Was he talking about Blade's preliminary sketches?   Jackie clenched her fists.   It didn't matter.   She'd had enough of this–more than enough.   "Just who the hell do you think you are?"
           He took a threatening step, both hands on his hips.   "The man who paid your train and stage fare, Miss Belle.   Rupert P. Goodfellow."
           Miss Belle.   Him, too?   "Never heard of you, and I haven't ridden on a train since I was ten."   Jackie took a sidestep, shooting an anxious glance at the door.   Every instinct she possessed screamed "Run!"   Something was very wrong here–something a lot more serious than the predicament she'd found herself in yesterday.
           And she felt like crap.   Besides her headache, she was half-starved and would gladly welcome a visit to the outhouse she'd bitched about yesterday.  
           "By God, I should demand a full refund.   Every cent."   He threw a caustic look at Dottie.   "Get me one of them handbills."
           "I..."   Dottie ducked her head and glanced aside at Zeb.   "I gave 'em to the miners."
           "All of them?"   Rupert rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and yanked the cigar from his mouth.   "You didn't save even one?"
           Dottie straightened and met his gaze, though her chin quivered slightly.   "I just done what you told me to, Rupert."
           He sighed and nodded.   "Yeah, I reckon you did."   Shoving the cigar back in his mouth, he turned on Jackie again.   "Miss Belle, either you produce your world attributes," he cupped his hands some distance from his chest, "or prepare to return my–"
           "That's it–I'm outta here."   Jackie summoned energy from God only knew where and stomped to the door.
           "Get her, boys."
           Jackie heard the Brothers Grime shuffle away from the bar.   That was her cue.   She bolted through the swinging doors, into the bright sunlight...and froze.   Not a hint of yesterday's snow remained anywhere.   In fact, the ground was bare and dry.
           "C'mon back, Miss Lolita," Zeb called, his boots pounding the boardwalk with his steady approach.
           "The hell I will."   Jackie's voice was barely more than a strangled whisper.   She had to get out of here before she lost what remained of her sanity.   Even Blade had been better than this.   Without taking time to think, she dashed down the steps and into the street.
           The very busy street.  
           Jackie heard the wagon's approach, saw the gigantic horse bearing down on her, but she couldn't move.   Her feet refused to budge.
           "Look out!"  
           Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, hauling her back to the relative safety of the boardwalk.   Renewed terror quickly displaced her moment of relief, and she twisted and kicked at the man who still held her.   She had to escape.
           "Hold on there."   His voice was different–definitely not Zeb.   And he smelled a lot better, too.
           Jackie ceased her struggle and turned very slowly to face her rescuer.   Her heart beat at an alarming rate, a combination of fear and exertion.
           Recognition left her momentarily stunned.   It couldn't be.   A white hat shaded piercing blue eyes; his face was clean-shaven and his jaw square.  
           He was gorgeous.
           And familiar.
           "George Clooney?"
    * * *
           Cole didn't understand what made her stop fighting him, but his bruised ribs were relieved.   For such a little mite, she packed one hell of a