The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

hated to admit it, but she didn’t know what she might be getting into.

THE GOLDEN RULES OF LOVE

    CHAPTER THREE
     
    Across the camp, Mack also lay awake. He was still rock hard from his time in the woods with Annie. He closed his eyes and pictured the way her soft body felt pressed up against his. Everything about her had softened in his arms…her lips, her hips, and her sharp tongue.
    He didn’t mind a woman who could handle herself. Life had taught Mack to be a survivor. But he sensed that Annie had a much softer side, despite her tough-as-nails exterior. He had seen her with the children on the wagon train. When she didn’t know anyone was looking she turned soft as butter with those children. No, he would wager that Annie wasn’t normally so gruff. She had just been going through some hard times.
    He sighed heavily; he needed some sleep. They were only a week out from San Francisco and then the real work would begin.
    It was vitally important that he remain focused in California, and not just on what he was doing for the wagon train. He needed to concentrate on his mission, no matter how much he wanted to help Annie. Annie was searching for something in California but so was he. He rolled over and looked to where Annie was sleeping.
    He couldn’t allow his attraction to Annie to get in his way. He would help her if he could but he had his own questions to answer. Nerves he rarely experienced rose in his chest. If he failed again, he was unlikely to ever succeed.
    The next morning Mack woke up with the sun. He tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes but they were puffy and sore.
    He groaned as he stood and headed off to the river to try splashing his face awake. As he approached the river, he could see Annie already there. She had taken off her bonnet and her red hair gleamed in the early morning sun. What was curious was that the other women had moved away from her and were standing in a cluster twenty feet away, whispering furiously.
    Mack swore to himself. He already knew what had happened. He had carried her off into the woods. Now she was being labeled as a loose woman and ostracized from the group. “Dammit,” he swore to himself.
    Annie needed these allies when they reached California. She would need all the help she could get. And these ladies didn’t know it, but many of them would end up in Annie’s position. Their husbands would abandon them for gold fields and some of those men would end up dead.
    They would need a friend like Annie then. She was a strong woman who knew how to fend for herself in this world.
    He stopped and thought about what he could do. This mess was his fault and he had to help Annie clean it up. Taking off his hat, he ran his fingers through his hair. He rubbed his eyes and then started towards her.
    “Mornin’ Annie.” He walked over and knelt down beside her.
    “Mack,” she replied softly but he could hear the strain in her voice.
    Mack sighed. He reminded himself that she didn’t want his help. Then again, he couldn’t leave her to face this alone when he was responsible. It went against his grain. Even deeper, even though Annie was tough, he sensed a real vulnerability in her. Whispering quietly so the others wouldn’t hear, “Tell those ladies we’re getting married if you want. It doesn’t matter to me. I won’t tell a soul the truth until I leave California.”
    Her head snapped up and her eyes narrowed. As he watched her take a deep breath, he knew she was going to tell him off again. Couldn’t she stop being so prickly for one second? He was only trying to help. He cut her off before she could speak, “Or don’t. It doesn’t matter to me. But if you won’t take help from me in California, you’re going to need some of these women. Your choice.”
    He got up before she could say a single word and started walking toward the group of ladies. Damned if Annie couldn’t be the most infuriating woman in the entire country sometimes…maybe the world. He