The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance by Tammy Andresen Read Free Book Online Page A

answers but San Francisco is the worst place in the world for a single woman to go. Why travel there for answers unless―“ He stopped short, sucking in his breath.
    “I have no intention of mining, if that is what you are thinking.” Her head snapped up and she straightened her shoulders. Their eyes locked.
    “Had Garrett found gold?”
    Annie’s mouth fell open. How was he piecing it together? She stared at him. What should she do? Should she trust him? Part of her knew that she could trust him with anything.
    “He said that he did.” Annie’s voice was quiet.
    “Sweetheart, I know you travelled all this way but there are thousands of people in San Francisco right now. The chances of finding Jasper are so slim. If you do, you’ll likely never get the gold from him and even if you can, you’ll never get it out of California.” His hand came up to stroke her cheek.
    Annie leaned her head forward until it rested on his chest. His arms wrapped around her. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. But I have to try. I left my entire life behind and I couldn’t just stay in St. Louis. It held no meaning other than the place Garrett left me on his way to California. That couldn’t be the rest of my life. I refuse to crawl back to New York and so my only choice was to finish what I started with Garrett. I had no other path.”
    “Why did he leave you in St. Louis?” His hand was stroking her hair in a rhythmic way that was so very comforting.
    “I’m not ready.” She softly shook her head. “It’s humiliating enough that he dumped me like a piece of baggage.”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “Jasper said they had to get to California quick before the gold was all gone and Garrett claimed he wanted to provide for me.”
    Mack nodded his head. “That makes sense. Did he leave you with the money that got you here?”
    Annie tensed. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “He didn’t leave me with any money. I got a job and I paid my own way. I never want to be in that situation again. He left me with nothing. I nearly starved.”
    “Oh Annie,” Mack cursed under his breath. “That fool.”
    . “I didn’t want my father’s path and I didn’t want Garrett’s. But he taught me how to find my own way in this world.” Her whisper rose in anger. “Don’t feel sorry for me.”
    Mack dropped his face onto the top of Annie’s head, and she could feel his smile. “I won’t. You’re stronger than any woman I know. And I know you can take care of yourself. I can take care of myself too, Annie Sullivan, but I’m not sure I want to walk this world alone. They are two different things. And nobody should be alone in the gold fields. Nobody.” He gave her a squeeze. “It’s late. You should get to bed.”

THE GOLDEN RULES OF LOVE

    CHAPTER FOUR
    Annie stared at the city of San Francisco with her mouth hanging open. St. Louis had been overwhelming in its own way. It had been a virtual mud pit with buildings that had been hastily thrown up. People flooded the streets and disease was rampant.
    But San Francisco was a ghost town. Half constructed buildings filled the landscape while empty ships littered the bay. “Where is everyone?” Annie asked.
    “They’re at the rivers and in the fields searching for gold.” Mack’s lips pinched at the corners while his brow furrowed. He sat on his horse, next to her and Mary Beth’s wagon. “They are spreading out―the gold miners―but they are pouring into the state.”
    “Why are all those ships just sitting in the harbor?”
    “The crews abandon them to look for gold. Farmers have left their crops, men have left their families.” His voice had grown rough and Annie looked over at him. Her shoulders slumped. In her heart, Annie thought the hard part was getting here but now she knew the work had just begun.
    “You don’t need to build ships. You’ve got a shipyard here. You only need sailors,” Annie said, looking out over the water.
    “What did you