Daring Masquerade Read Online Free PDF

Ridge, just so long as she could keep up her masquerade
    Ross' shirt clung damply across his back, and the muscles rippled in his arms where he had rolled up the sleeves. A sheen of dust covered his moleskins and the black leggings he wore over scuffed boots. She almost winced when he gave her a hard, speculative stare, grunting a greeting through tight lips. He acted like he hated her. Why?
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    Over the next few days, the men went out at daybreak, never returning until dusk. Harry provided as varied a menu as possible with the supplies available. Gil seemed much better. The men treated her in a friendly, offhand fashion. So why wasn't she happy? Why this edge of discontent nibbling at her nerves?
    Ross ignored her, speaking only when absolutely necessary in harsh tones, barking out orders, bossing her around. Never satisfied, he always wanted more out of her. Talk about a slave driver. Several times when Jack jumped to her defense, it brought Ross' wrath down on his head. The man deliberately goaded her and one day he would push her too far and she would explode. She wasn't born with red hair for nothing.
    "Mr. Calvert," she said when he came up to collect his breakfast one morning. "I'm running short of supplies for the kitchen."
    "Oh?" He cocked one eyebrow.
    "Nothing lasts forever," she snapped.
    "Don't use such an insolent tone to me or I'll give you a backhander."
    "The big boss man is so tough," she jeered, forgetting herself in the heat of the moment.
    "I'm warning you."
    "Harry!" Gil dashed up to them. "Shut up."
    "Yes, for God's sake," Jack joined in. "You're like a pair of snarling dogs."
    Ross turned on his heel and stalked off.
    "Now, young Harry, you keep a civil tongue in your head if you want to keep working here. I know my nephew. Push him too far and he'll fire you."
    "I only asked about supplies. We're getting low on some things."
    "I'll speak to him, but curb that temper of yours, lad."
    "You bloody idiot," Gil hissed as Jack left. "I'm beginning to like it here. I don't want to get fired."
    "All right." She twisted and tortured one of her short curls between two fingers. "I'll apologize, but he's been riding me. He's pushing more and more work on me. Not one word of gratitude, and he wonders why I answer him back."
    "Yeah, I can't understand it. Been very decent to me. Even let me have a spell in the shade a couple of times when I got tired."
    "Did you have another turn?" She grabbed his arm. "You should have told me."
    "It's nothing to worry about. I went dizzy for a couple of minutes. I get these noises in my head, go white and sweaty, but after a rest I'm all right."
    Without a word, Ross stalked into the storeroom that was next to the kitchen, and she heard him opening and shutting the storage boxes and bins. He returned within a couple of minutes.
    "Tidy yourself up," he instructed. "We'll go into town for supplies after breakfast. You might as well come along too, Gilbert."
    "Thanks. Are you sure?"
    "Yes." Ross turned his back on them. "I'll leave you in charge until I get back, Jack."
    "Sure."
     
    * * *
     
    Harry didn't have much to wear. She changed into a clean pair of white moleskins and a gray work shirt about three sizes too big to hide her feminine shape. Over this she wore a loose waistcoat for further protection. If it hadn't been so hot she would have worn a coat. She dunked her head in a dish of cold water and plastered her curls flat to her scalp, hating the way it made her look. Like a youth, well, wasn't that what she wanted? She'd love to use a dab of lavender water behind her ears, but that would certainly give her away.
    Gil only changed his shirt. She followed him outside to a waiting wagonette with a brown and white Clydesdale horse standing between the wooden shafts. Ross had already climbed into the driving seat.
    "Hop up here with me, Gilbert. You can sit in the back, Harry."
    She poked her tongue out at him, but he swung around and caught her in the