The Fortune Read Online Free PDF Page B

times a day for the next four months. Ah, well, he’d survived matchmakers, grumpy old men, screaming children and obnoxious jackasses—he would endure Miss Enid’s life lessons.
    When he turned to get back on his horse, a flutter of blue caught his eye. Frankie Chastain disappeared between two wagons, her movements hurried, as though she’d been watching the entire exchange with Enid.  
    Interesting.  
    John told himself he wouldn’t seek out the Chastains or the stubbornly enticing Frankie, but if she watched him, well, then he couldn’t be responsible for that, could he? He started after her when Tom’s voice stopped him cold.
    “Malloy, are we gettin’ going?”
    “Yep, we’re going.” John remembered he was working, not chasing Frankie Chastain. The fact he’d stopped using his brain entirely bothered the hell out of him. That woman was trouble, he knew this from knowing her only one day. Damn good thing Tom had opened his mouth or John might have done something stupid. Like chase after a female as though he were a rutting buck.
    They continued on, helping when they could, until they had checked nearly all of the forty-four wagons. Not a small group, but not the largest he’d worked either. He took note of all those wagons with elderly folks, babies and rickety rigs that would cause problems heading over the Rockies.
    The last wagon to check, and the first in line, was the Harveys. John had already met Reginald Harvey—a more obnoxious ass would be difficult to find. He was nattily dressed in a suit, tie, shiny shoes and a goddamn bowler hat. For a wagon train to Oregon. John thought perhaps his daughter Veronica kept the man shiny and clean. She was a beauty, but the eighteen-year-old was worse trouble than Frankie by far.
    The willowy blonde stood beside her father, a smile on her lovely face. She had her father’s coloring, but while her father was sporting a paunch, likely from too much rich food, Veronica was the most exquisitely beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was perfect in form and face, with red, luscious lips, blue eyes and tits to tempt any man. Too bad she was also not particularly nice.
    “Mr. Malloy, I expected you here at least thirty minutes ago.” Mr. Harvey snapped closed his watch and tucked it into his vest pocket. “We paid good money to be the first wagon. You seem to have forgotten that fact.”
    “And you are first in line.” John gestured to the winding line of wagons at the ready in the field behind them. “Everyone else will eat your dust.”
    “I realize I am physically first, but that also means we are first in all things, including your services.” Mr. Harvey pointed a pudgy finger at him. “I shall have to speak to Mr. Avery about this.”
    “I’m checking each wagon. The order I look at ’em don’t make a bit of difference as long as everyone gets a turn.” John knew he needed to dismount, but he rather enjoyed looking down at the pompous windbag.
    “Of course the order is important. The world cannot exist without order. There are people who have and those who have not. I have and therefore I will get what I want.” Mr. Harvey’s blue eyes glittered like ice chips in the early morning sun. “Don’t forget that, Malloy.”
    Harvey was cleaner than a man ought to be on the outside, but inside he was dark as night. John didn’t want much to do with him, but he was paid to take care of the folks in the wagon train, and that included the rich man. He dismounted and watched Tom nearly fall on his head when he tried to do the same. The fresh-faced pup was busy staring at Veronica. She laughed at the clumsy young man.
    “I think your assistant needs some riding lessons.” Veronica’s smile dazzled Tom.
    John ignored her barb. She had tried to needle him over the last few days already. He discovered the best way to get under her skin was to pretend she wasn’t there. Nothing annoyed the woman more than not being acknowledged, considering she was so