Cowboy from the Future by Cassandra Gannon Read Free Book Online Page B

was very grateful.”  Addy’s tenth grade acting lessons helped her infuse her voice with
sincerity.  “Me staying here would be a total business arrangement.  No one
could object to a business arrangement, right?  You run a hotel, Cade.  I just
want a room.  One little room.”
    Cade
considered that, weighing each word.  “If you stay, I would need a gold piece
for every day you are here.”  He finally decided.  “That will be at least sixty.”
    “Very
fair.”  He could’ve asked for a million gold pieces and she would’ve cheerfully
nodded, since she had exactly none.
    “You’re
sure Brian will pay that much?”
    “Absolutely.” 
She unrepentantly lied.  “He’s crazy about me.”
    “Fine.” 
Cade jabbed a finger at her.  “But, the consequences of this are on your head.  I warned you it was a bad idea.”
    “You
were very clear.  I’ll even sign a waiver to that effect, if you want.”
    “Just…
do not talk to me more than necessary.  And try not to be alone with me.  Never touch me.  Have nothing at all to do with me, if you can possibly manage
it.  Stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours.”
    “I’ll
be quiet as a mouse.  I swear.”  She made a production of locking her lips shut
with an invisible key.
    Cade’s
gaze narrowed.  “Just until the snow melts.”  He warned, still visibly unhappy. 
“Come spring, I will be paid and you will go away.”
    Addy
gave an innocent smile, already planning to stiff the poor guy for a fortune in
gold and sneak off at the second the pass was clear.  “I promise, once this is
over, you won’t even remember I was here.”

Chapter Three
     
    When
“glamping” in the wilderness, it’s important to respect the native habitat.
    Observe
the wonders of nature, but be careful not to disturb them.
    Try to
leave everything just as you found it.
     
     
    Brown’s
Glampling Tours Official Pocket Guide
     
    “I’ve
killed fifty-six men.”  Deke Westin reported by way of formal introduction.
    That
was exactly the kind of stuff that Addy didn’t want to hear at nine AM. 
Giving up on the idea of hiding in her room until spring, she’d gotten up the
sixth morning of her stay and forced herself to go downstairs.  The disposable
cleansing wipes from the Glamp-pack™ only went so far.  She needed a bath and
actual soap.  She needed to talk to people and stop looking at the same four
walls.  She needed to face this damn thing head on and start dealing with the
fact she was stranded in the future.
    Unfortunately,
the only other person in the empty bar was Deke.  Ten bucks said he’d been
waiting there to ambush her.  The middle Westin was nearly as big as Cade, with
a watchful blue gaze and matted black hair.  This guy had been through a war. 
Not just metaphorically, but with actual bombs and stuff.  She knew that just
by looking at him.  Deke had the air of someone who’d seen hell itself and now
couldn’t wipe the images from his mind.
    The
missing hand only made him seem more dangerous.  His left arm ended at the
elbow, as if it had been lost in some battle.  …Or possibly he’d hacked it off
himself just to prove how tough he was.  If that was his plan, it was totally
working.  He was amazingly scary.
    Addy
had been nearly a week without caffeine, so he was in for a surprise if he
thought he could send her back into hiding, though.  It was impossible to be frightened
of a mere mortal when you were in the midst of espresso withdrawal.  Surly as
he was, she was in a way worse mood.
    “Really? 
I’ve killed at least fifty- seven men.”  She retorted in a tone even crankier
than his.  “What did yours do to deserve it?  Most of mine bugged me before I
had my coffee.”
    Feral
eyes narrowed.  “I didn’t say any of them deserved it.  Some of them did it and
some of didn’t.”
    “Hopefully,
there were significantly less of the ‘didn’ts . ’”
    “Does
it matter, if they’re all dead?”