Always You by Jill Gregory Read Free Book Online Page A

here velvet thing is it.”
    The “velvet thing” had served her well. It was tightly cut, with black lace at the throat and wrists, and its fitted bodice and long split skirt accentuated the soft curves of her figure. The brilliant dark green was stunning with her deep golden hair, her tawny eyes, and her pale apricot coloring. No one in Boston had laughed at her. She’d been courted and petted and invited to ride in the park so often one of her suitors had jokingly christened it Melora Park.
    But little had she ever guessed she’d be wearing the very same riding habit during her kidnapping. At least it’s more appropriate than this damned nightdress, Melora thought despondently as she folded the filmy white garment back inside her carpetbag atop two other traveling dresses. Suddenly she saw the barrel of her gun sticking out from beneath a rolled-up pair of clean drawers.
    Her gun! She’d forgotten all about the little Colt pistol she’d packed in her carpetbag. And she had another gun in her trunk, Melora suddenly remembered, muffling a whoop of excitement. She’d tucked her tiny hideaway derringer beneath the jewelry pouch days ago.
    How thoughtful of Cal and his pards to present her with her very own weapons!
    Melora clasped the little Colt in her hand, the cool steel sending a flow of confidence back into her. Pop had always stressed to her two things: Be self-reliant and be prepared. To that end she’d decided that one small gun in each bag while traveling through rough-and-tumble country to San Francisco for her honeymoon would be a prudent precaution. Now it seemed like brilliant foresight.
    But as she knelt beside the trunk to fish out the derringer, voices from the clearing made her pause and listen.
    Those were Zeke’s and Ray’s voices, raised enough so that she could hear them arguing about when the rain would most likely start and whether they would be setting out for the day’s ride before noon. They sounded edgy and impatient as they waited for her, and she suddenly realized that at any moment one of them—or Cal—would come to get her.
    Forget the derringer. You have to get out of here now. Springing to her feet, she surveyed the vicinity with a darting glance. All her senses felt as if they were on fire.
    She’d already determined that there was little cover in the sagebrush-studded plains north of the clearing. But ahead, where the stream trickled past some rocks and curved down an incline, she saw thickening clumps of alders and what looked like the beginning of a wood. The ground was nearly level here, and the denser overhang of trees was only a hundred yards ahead.
    She had to try. She had her Colt, her wits, and her knowledge of the land. And with any luck she might also have a precious few moments’ head start.
    Like a squirrel, she dashed along the stream toward the thicker line of trees, her boots flying across the short grama grass. When she reached the beginning of the wood, she threw a glance over her shoulder.
    Not a soul in sight. They hadn’t started looking for her yet.
    Run.
    Heart pounding with hope, she plunged ahead.

Chapter 4
    “I know when rain’s comin’, Ray; my bunions tell me every damned time, and I guarantee you, there’ll be a downpour before noon, or my name ain’t Zeke McCloud.”
    “You’re wrong, Zeke. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I’ll bet you any damned thing you want, I’ll bet you ten dollars that it don’t rain till after sunset.”
    “You know I don’t bet money, Ray,” Zeke shouted, stomping directly up to the other man, glaring into his face. “My ma taught me never to bet money. Now if you want to bet, I’ll bet you somethin’ else, something like your saddle. I fancy that new saddle of yours—”
    “Quiet!” Cal thundered.
    They stopped arguing and stared at him.
    “How long has she been getting dressed?”
    “Oh, I’d say a quarter of an hour, mebbe,” Zeke answered, tapping the face of his pocket watch.
    “Half an hour or I’m a