The Rancher's Rules Read Online Free PDF Page A

mind made up, Annie figured to wait until she had an opportunity to slip away without being noticed. She would just bide her time until that opportunity presented itself. She knew she would have to take one of the horses. She decided she could leave a note for Tom and Jenny promising to repay the cost of the animal once she got settled somewhere. In the meantime, she would make sure that she was ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
    * * * * *
    The following morning, Rafe returned to the house after some morning chores. He hoped to have a quick bite to eat, some coffee and then head out to repair the sections of fence that had come down in the last storm. There was plenty of work to do, and with Tom away, there was even more.
    Rafe stepped through the back door into the kitchen and stopped cold. “What did I tell you yesterday?” Rafe’s voice was harsh and cold. He was madder than a stepped-on hornet that he should find her walking around the kitchen, fixing breakfast, in her britches!
    Annie stopped for a second and thought. “You said I couldn’t go riding,” she answered.
    “What else?” Rafe was not happy. This girl couldn’t mind him – or any man, most likely – if her life depended on it.
    “Don’t go near the bunkhouse.” Annie was looking at the ground. He knew she knew exactly what he was referring to and the fact that she was making him work for it made him even madder than he was starting out. She wasn’t helping herself at all. Annie peeked up at him to try and gauge how mad he was exactly.
    When Rafe saw her eyes peeking up at him, he lost all control. He crossed to her in a flash and grabbed both arms near her shoulders. “Look at me.” Rafe’s voice was low and even, but his tone brooked no refusal. Annie slowly lifted her head to look directly into his eyes. “What else?” Rafe questioned, giving her one more chance.
    Annie paused. “No cussing. You said no cussing, ‘cause proper young ladies don’t speak like tha— Hey!” Annie was interrupted by Rafe’s hand planting a hard wallop on her backside.
    “You will go right now and change your clothes. If you don’t come back in here in about five minutes in a dress, I’ll take my belt to your bare behind for as long as it takes for you to understand that you don’t want to be fooling with me, little girl.”
    Annie didn’t move.
    “All right then,” Rafe started removing his belt and she blanched.
    Staring at the floor, she mumbled something that Rafe couldn’t understand.
    “You have something to say for yourself, then you’d best speak up now as I’ve about reached the end of my patience with you. My belt is gonna take up where I leave off.” Rafe had the belt off and was wrapping the buckle end around his hand to get the right length.
    Annie cleared her throat and tried again. It was hard to say. She was embarrassed for some reason she couldn’t name. Rafe pulled one of the chairs out from the table and sat, belt in hand. “I don’t have a dress.”
    “How is that pos—” Rafe started, confused, but Annie interrupted him, talking real fast.
    “I had a dress, one dress, when we started our trip out here, but it got ruined on the way and it was so bad, even Jenny couldn’t fix it, and she’s real good with a needle and thread. I just figured that once I got to where I was going I would ask my new husband to buy me a dress or material for one. And then that didn’t work out too well. Jenny don’t really have much either, but I could borrow one from her except that she took what she has with her on her trip. I can’t ask Tom to buy me clothes, that don’t seem right, but when Jenny gets back I can wear one of hers and then I can follow your rule. I promise I will; I just can’t do it right now.” Annie stopped for air. She stared at the floor.
    Rafe rose, put his belt back on and returned the chair to the table. He picked up his hat and turned to Annie. “Be ready to leave in ten minutes.”
    With that, he