For Honor’s Sake Read Online Free PDF Page B

experience.
    “What are you waiting for, Delgado?” asked a voice at his elbow. “The woman is yours. Don’t you want her?”
    Rod whirled, his hand poised above his gun in a purely reflexive action. “Next time you sneak up on a man, Kelly, make damn sure you are prepared to defend yourself,” he warned ominously.
    “I want that woman, Delgado,” said Kelly, lickinghis thick lips wetly. “If you ain’t got no use for her let me have her. Damn, she’s a tasty piece. Name your price. I’m willing to pay almost anything to have her in my bed.”
    Rod snorted with disgust, turning his back on the huge ruffian as he focused his attention on Mr. Goddard and the girl standing beside him on the platform.
    “If no one claims number thirty I wll be obliged to hold a drawing right here and now in order to fulfill my duty to the young lady placed in my charge,” Mr. Goddard proclaimed loudly. Immediately a tremendous roar of approval rent the air.
    “This is your last chance, Delgado,” Kelly persisted. “Do I get the girl or not? Surely it can’t matter to you who weds and beds the woman.”
    Kelly has a point, Rod thought, gazing longingly at Julie’s lithe form. It should make little difference to him who eventually won the enticing blond. But strangely it did. It mattered a great deal. He just couldn’t allow the girl to go up for grabs. It went against his principle to throw a young innocent girl to the wolves, so to speak. As if in a trance Rod found himself pushing through the crowd, the paper Kelly desperately wanted waving high in the air.
    “Well step forward, young man,” Mr. Goddard beamed when he saw Rod fighting his way through the hosts of men. “You are tardy but welcome.” By the time Rod realized his folly it was too late. He had already been introduced to Juliet Darcy and was instantly lost in the twin pools of azure blue.
    Cheering loudly the crowd pushed and shoved the reluctant couple forward until they stood before the preacher. Within minutes Rod found himself married to Juliet Darcy, thereby becoming the first Delgado in generations to break a tradition by marrying someone not of his race.
    With the last marriage ceremony performed, the room cleared out rapidly. Julie moved as if in a trance. From the moment she learned the man she had been attracted to was to be her husband she had been beyond speech, merely mumbling the words during the blessedly brief ceremony. Somehow, Julie sensed that everything was not as it should be. This dark, brooding man was not the happy bridegroom she had expected. From the moment they were introduced a permanent scowl darkened his handsome features and his lips were drawn tightly together in a taut line. Except for their brief introduction he had not spoken one word to her.
    Julie breathed a sigh of relief when Polly came bounding over with her new husband. “Isn’t it exciting?” she said, her green eyes shimmering with happiness. “We’re going to spend the night at the best hotel in town and leave tomorrow for Conner’s claim. He built a cabin for us while he was waiting for the Westwind to arrive.”
    Introductions were made all around and when Rod and Conner were engaged in conversation Polly sidled close to Julie and whispered, “Your husband is so handsome, Julie, but I think I’d rather have my Conner. He’s much more uncomplicated than your Rodrigo. I’m not sure I could survive the passion of your tall
caballero
.”
    Julie gasped, shocked by Polly’s bold words, although by now she should be accustomed to her friend’s habit of openly speaking her mind. But before she could reply, Conner flashed his bride a look of intense longing and made their excuses.
    Turning to his own bride, Rod said, “Come along, Juliet.”
    “Where are we going, Rodrigo?” Julie asked timidly, wondering if they would be staying at the same hotel with Conner and Polly.
    “Call me. Rod, Juliet, it’s less formal,” Rod said, stillfrowning. “I’m taking