Wild Roses Read Online Free PDF Page A

she does not slip away again.”
    â€œSurely she cannot do so on a moving train with two grown men watching her.” The portly man glanced nervously toward two equally plump women at the front of the car. “The sight of a woman being treated in such a rough manner upsets the ladies, I fear.”
    Harrigan wanted to tell him that none of this was his concern and that he could keep his bulbous nose out of other people’s business, but he forced himself to smile. “Perhaps, while the train is actually in motion, I can relieve their distress.” He fought to ignore Ella’s small, triumphant smile as he undid the manacle around her slender wrist. “However, sir, safely returning this young lady to her family is far more important than the delicate sensibilities of strangers. I may need to act forcefully again, so I would strongly suggest that you speak to your female companions and impress that need upon them.”
    The way the man grunted, warily eyed the women he was traveling with, and shuffled back to his seat told Harrigan the man would do little to change their minds. They had pushed the man to interfere in another’s business once, they would probably do so again. He exchanged a look of irritation with George then turned his attention to Ella. Her expression was too smug to suit him.
    â€œThis is no victory,” Harrigan said, “merely a reprieve.”
    â€œAnd now he accuses me of unbecoming gloating,” she murmured. “Is there no end to the insults I must endure?”
    â€œHow dramatic. You were gloating.”
    â€œYou misread me. My expression was not one of triumph, but one of amusement. I was but entertained by your display of mastery over your true inclinations. You were so polite when what you truly wished to do was tell the fellow to mind his own damned business and waddle back to his masters.”
    Harrigan dimmed George’s grin with one dark frown, then returned his gaze to Ella. She had judged his feelings perfectly, and that was a little disturbing. If he was going to successfully return her to her family, he had to be one step ahead of her at all times. He was now convinced that that was not going to be easy. Since there was no sense in denying what she had just said, he decided to just ignore it.
    â€œI believe we were discussing the perfidy of your relatives before the gentleman interrupted us,” he said, pretending he did not see her wry expression or delicately raised brows.
    â€œIt is odd that you so readily believe that they would trick and deceive your family into ruin yet scoff at my claim that they wish me dead,” Ella said.
    â€œThere is a vast difference between believing people are thieves and believing they are murderers. Many people do not blink an eye at stealing, but would never think of taking a person’s life. And your family probably believes they acted in the name of good business, not thievery. A lot of people in their position do not realize that it can all be one and the same.”
    â€œIf it involves trickery and deceit of the sort we think they employed, then they knew it was pure thievery. They have found a way to get what belongs to others without the poor fools knowing it is gone or even how it was taken away. That is thievery. Giving it a pretty, respectable name does not change that.”
    â€œYou speak very harshly of your own family.”
    â€œThey are only family because of a complicated series of marriages. And, it is easy to speak harshly of people who want you dead.”
    Harrigan slouched in his seat and gave her an exasperated look. “Are you planning to whistle that tune all the way to Philadelphia?”
    â€œUntil you start whistling along.”
    â€œI might do so if what you claim made any sense. It does not.”
    â€œConsidering the way you feel about the rich, I am quite surprised that you would doubt any accusation against them.” She studied him for a