Erin's Rebel by Susan Macatee Read Free Book Online Page A

him go, then met the gaze of her rescuer. Only then did she realize she still wore her chemise and nothing else. She crossed her arms over her chest.
    “Ma’am, I suggest you go inside. And I would advise you not to be inviting drunken men into your tent.”
    “I didn’t invite him.” Her face flushed at his accusation. “He forced his way in.”
    The captain looked her over, but said nothing.
    Erin flung back her tent flap and slipped inside. She watched Will Montgomery’s broad back as he strode away in the early twilight, wondering what kind of woman he thought she was.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    The next morning after Erin dressed and prepared for another grueling day of washing laundry, Captain Montgomery surprised her with a visit.
    Great . She noted the bundle in his arms. He’s bringing more dirty clothes for me to wash . The sight of him dressed in a gray jacket that fell just below his lean hips, over tan trousers and a gray cap perched on his chocolate brown hair, made her breath catch. Her pulse raced as the reality before her converged with the dreams she’d had.
    Had her subconscious mind known him? She’d never seen his photo until Grandma Rose had shown it to her. But she’d known him in her dreams. In the months before her impending wedding, the dreams had become more vivid and intimate. Even though this man was a stranger, she felt she’d known him all her life.
    He removed his cap and stopped just outside the edge of the tarp she sat under. “Ma’am.”
    She nodded, for her vocal chords were too taut to speak.
    “I wanted to apologize for invading your privacy last night.” A blush crept up his lightly tanned cheeks. “I can’t abide any man harming a woman, even if the two are related or even wed.”
    She gazed up into his dark eyes. Up close they were a deep, chocolate brown. He was so damned attractive in that uniform. Clearing her throat, she found her voice. “I appreciate what you did, Captain. That man’s been harassing me.”
    “I suspected as much. Wagner doesn’t seem to know how to be respectful to a woman.”
    She had trouble finding the words to reply. The aroma of sandalwood and his unique masculine scent that had floored her when he’d carried her into Doc’s tent left her flabbergasted.
    “I’d warned Wagner to stay away from you,” he said.
    “He was so drunk, I don’t think any warning would have stopped him.”
    “He didn’t hurt you—”
    She shook her head, noting the concern in his eyes. “All I could think to do was get out of the tent.”
    “That was wise, ma’am.”
    She glanced at the bundle he still held. “Are those for me?”
    He grinned. “If you don’t mind, ma’am. I have two shirts that need washing.”
    “My pleasure.” When he handed her the clothes, their hands briefly touched. Electricity shot through her. She caught his gaze.
    His eyes widened. He swallowed and backed away a few steps, then tipped his cap.
    “Ma’am.” He turned away.
    She watched him cross the camp and disappear from sight. If a reason existed for her coming to this time period, it had to be Will Montgomery. But why had this happened? Would she ever go back to her old life, or was she stuck here forever?
    Although she’d tried to hold her emotions in check, the tension that had been building for the last few days caused her eyes to burn at the prospect. A sob built at the back of her throat. She dropped the clothing she’d been sorting in the basket and scurried into the privacy of her tent.
    ****
    When Will returned to his tent, he found one of his soiled shirts hanging on a stool outside.
    May as well get this one washed, too . The thought of seeing Mrs. O’Connell again so soon brought a smile to his face. He hadn’t had any reason to smile for the past two years.
    Amanda was the only bright spot in his life, now. But sometimes, she reminded him too much of her mother, Anne. One look at that cherubic face and the hurt would come back as