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

say?” Mack asked.
    “It’s a sea of boats. You only need to take them. But that would be impossible, I guess. You could never find enough men.”
    Mary Beth stirred next to her, pointing. “I see people moving on a few of them…look.”
    “Tom,” Mack called. “Go check out the boats. Who is on them and are they sailing out.”
    “All right, Boss. Will do.” Tom nudged his horse towards the water.
    “What do you do next?” Annie’s voice was barely above a whisper. It seemed eerie to speak any louder.
    “I find people to sell my supplies to; although, the stores are never in the same place twice. Then…” He paused.
    She leaned over. She needed to know how to look for someone. “How will you find him?”
    “I haven’t yet, Annie, and it’s my third trip. Every time I come, thousands more people have poured in. I check military stations. I check death records. But you know California just became a US territory. There isn’t much government, law, or systems.”
    Annie gave a terse nod. “I’ll find Jasper; I have to.”
    “Cookie and Finnigan, get the wagons circled. Whoever is staying the night needs to circle up.” He turned back to her. “Annie, on the back of my horse. Do me a favor, put on a coat and tuck your hair into it.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t want men seeing you. But, you’ll want to see them.”
    It was several seconds before she did as he asked. She shouldn’t go off alone with him…that was the first thing. The second was that his demands for her to cover up made her nervous for her own safety.
    Finally, she climbed off the seat and went to the back of the wagon. Her hair had been pulled into a loose bun but she let it down into just a low ponytail. Then, she grabbed her coat and put it on, covering her hair.
    “Ready.” She looked up at Mack, who reached a hand down to pull her onto his horse.
    He lifted her easily and settled her behind him. “Don’t speak to anyone and don’t protest if they ask and I say you’re my wife. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
    Despite the circumstances, she wanted to wrap herself around him. She couldn’t physically push him away, so she used her words. “This fake relationship is moving rather quickly.” It was a flippant remark, she knew it, but the feel of her body pressed against his was making her ache at the center of her being.
    “Our relationship is real, Annie. I’ve touched you in places few have. Only our marriage is fake.” His normal baritone was gravelly with annoyance and Annie felt her cheeks flood with heat.
    For the life of her, she couldn’t think of a response. Instead, Annie remained silent and enjoyed the feel of her breasts pressed up against his back.
    There was a moment she considered letting her hands, which were around his waist, drift lower. Her fingers itched with the desire to do so, and it took all her concentration to refrain. She was losing her senses.
    After about twenty minutes, Mack stopped his horse. They were atop a hill, with a view that went on for miles. “Look down into the valley,” he said, his voice still rough.
    Annie glanced around him and gasped. If she had wondered where the people of San Francisco were, she knew now. Thousands of people filled the view below. Hastily erected tents were everywhere in no particular pattern, while gold sluices were set up on the banks of the river at regular intervals.
    “There are so many of them.” Her throat was tight as she spoke.
    “This is only one camp, Annie…one of many. Look closer, how many men do you see?” He twisted to look into her face, “How many women?”
    Annie squinted her eyes as she searched for a bonnet or a skirt. There must be at least a thousand men down there but she couldn’t make out one single woman. She cleared her throat. This would be so much harder than she ever imagined.
    “There are very few women, and even less pretty like you. Annie, you have to be careful.”
    Annie swallowed a lump in her throat. She