A Promise of Roses Read Online Free PDF

the bushes so he could be sure she didn't use the call of nature as an excuse to escape. Then he pushed them another twenty miles if he pushed them an inch.
    The sun had gone down an hour earlier, but not until now did Luke decide to make camp for the night. He tethered the horses, then came back to help Megan down.
    "You gather kindling for a fire. I'll see what I can do about finding us something to eat. Don't wander off. If you run, I won't think twice about putting a bullet in your back."
    Megan waved a hand, clicking her tongue. “What a charmer you can be, Mr. Luke.” She hoped to see a small smile, but his face remained impassive.
    "My name is Lucas, not Luke."
    "What's the difference?"
    "I don't like being called Luke. I don't mind Lucas or McCain."
    "I see. So why have I only heard you called Luke up till now?"
    "I sometimes use Luke with ... certain people. You can call me Lucas."
    "Why just certain people?"
    "It's a long story."
    Megan cocked one hip. “I'm not going anywhere,” she tossed out, reminding him of his earlier order.
    "I am,” he said. “I'm going to see what I can find for supper. Don't be scared if you hear a shot."
    "I would not be even remotely frightened by a gunshot, Lucas McCain."
    "Good. I'll be back."
    Megan watched him walk out of sight before starting her own search for brush and twigs to build a fire. She cleared an area, made a ring of stones, and piled her kindling inside the circle. Then she went to her mare and dug around in the bags attached to the saddle. Since the other pouches contained the railroad payroll, she assumed Lucas's belongings were in these.
    An extra shirt, a gold pocket watch on a worn leather fob, a packet of tobacco and papers. Megan rebuckled the flap. She went around to the other side of the horse to root in that bag. Her fingers bumped something solid, wrapped in a soft piece of wool. She knew she shouldn't pry, but even as that thought raced through her brain, Megan took the object out of the leather satchel. She let it rest in the palm of her hand for a moment before pulling back the folds of cloth.
    She stared at the picture inside a beautiful silver frame etched with delicate vines and blossoms. A gentle-looking blonde sat in a medallion-backed armchair, a young child on her lap. The woman's smile lit every fine feature of her face, including her pale eyes.
    Filled with curiosity, Megan turned the tintype over and slipped it out of the frame. Scrawled on the back in flowing letters were two names and a date: Annie and Chad, 1879.
    Annie. Lucas's wife. Chad must be their son. But where was the little boy now?
    Megan sensed Lucas's presence and turned to see him standing a scant yard away. His usually light eyes looked dark and stormy, more gray than blue. A muscle in his jaw twitched. He held a rabbit by its hind legs in his left hand. Funny, she didn't remember hearing a shot.
    "What are you doing with that?"
    His question came out in a low, calm tone, but Megan wasn't fooled. The words sounded raw, enraged. She quickly replaced the picture in the frame and rewrapped it in the blue cloth.
    "I'm sorry,” she said, returning it to the saddlebag. “I didn't mean to pry. I was looking for matches."
    Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal box. He tossed it to her.
    Megan didn't move. The case landed in the dirt at her feet with a tiny clink. She held Lucas's cold gaze.
    "There are your matches. Go start a fire"
    She bent down and retrieved the box, then moved to me pile of kindling. Bits of reddish rust corroded the hinges of the metal case, and it took a minute to get the lid open. A leather pouch rested inside. Megan worked the tight drawstring loose and pulled out a match.
    She lowered herself to the ground, crossed her legs, and struck the sulfur tip on the sole of her boot, lighting the dry brush she'd collected. Smoke whirled up for a moment before the flame caught and spread.
    By the time Lucas showed himself again, Megan had a