The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance (8 page)

She shook her head. “I know that, Mack. My father never left my mother but he also never left room for her to make decisions. I can’t have that either.”

“Amen to that, sister.” Mary Beth sat straighter. “I put food on the table, and I crossed the country by myself. What did Albert ever do for me? Why does he get to be in charge?”

Tom eyed Mary Beth from across the fire. “So even if you find him, you ain’t gonna take him back?”

“Nope. I want my money and I want him to grant me a divorce.” Mary Beth turned away from Tom’s stare, but Annie quirked an eyebrow. Did Tom have feelings for her friend?

Finnigan entered the camp. He didn’t even bother to sit; he went straight to Mack’s side. “That thing you asked me to look into. I did and the news is good. First thing tomorrow, we gotta check it out.”

Mack nodded. He turned to the women. “Sorry ladies, but we are going to have to take the day off tomorrow from people hunting. I am trying to procure our ride back East.”

Both of Annie’s eyebrows went up. “What ride is that?”

“Come with me tomorrow and see.” He gave her a boyish grin that made her heartbeat quicken. A single curl of chocolate brown hair had fallen across his forehead and Annie itched to push it back. Her hand seemed to move towards him and she grabbed the offending limb with her other hand holding them in her lap.

Memories of his lips on hers, of his hands on her body, rushed to the forefront of her mind. Heat filled her cheeks and she pursed her lips to keep them from parting in invitation.

His grin widened, “What do you say? Are you coming?”

“What?” She blinked, trying to remember what they were talking about. “Oh…” she uttered, suddenly remembering. She huffed at her own silliness, then bit her lip. Should she go with him tomorrow? She was curious. What were they up to? Although, Annie didn’t really want to go into the camps without Mack, she didn’t want to take a day away from the search.

When had she become so dependent on Mack? She straightened away from him and swallowed her curiosity. “I’ll search for Jasper.”

His smile vanished in an instant. “Hell fire, Annie. Can’t you be reasonable for one minute? It isn’t safe for you…”

“It’s my choice. Mary Beth will come with me.” Annie crossed her arms over her chest.

“Oh honey, I love ya and all but I don’t think it’s a smart idea. A smart woman can be independent but she’s got to keep her wits and know when she’s at her limits.” Mary Beth’s eyes pleaded with Annie to understand.

Annie huffed a loud breath and stood. “I’ll go by myself then.” She stormed off before anyone could say another word.

She heard Tom exclaim before she was out of earshot. “That one’s got a temper as fiery red as her hair.”

“I heard that, Tom Caufflin,” Annie retorted. “I’ll tell you what, you are not getting any biscuits the next time I make them.”

“Damn!” he replied, but there was a laugh in his voice.

“I don’t think it’s funny. She can’t go by herself.” Mack sounded mad as hell but she didn’t stay to listen to the rest of the conversation.

Annie climbed up on a hill that overlooked the bay. She sat and watched the ocean from afar until it was too dark to see anymore and then she sat for a while longer.

She hadn’t had any dinner and her stomach grumbled terribly but she refused to return. She would wait until everyone had gone to bed.

Memories of her childhood floated back to her. “Annie you’d cut off your nose to spite your face,” her mother would always say. She had a stubborn streak that was for sure... Was she being too stubborn now?

When she made her way back to the wagons, she still hadn’t decided. Part of her thought she had travelled all this way for a reason. She couldn’t give up on that now.

Another side of her agreed with Mack that it was too dangerous. But her stubborn streak took over again. She couldn’t just do what Mack said. She refused to bend herself to a man’s will.

Her fists were clenched when she entered the camp. It was so quiet and still that Annie almost didn’t notice Mack sitting by the fire.

“What are you doing up?” she hissed.

He kept his voice low. “Couldn’t sleep. What about you?”

“I don’t need you to keep tabs on me. I don’t want you to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

He stood and walked over to her until his nose was just inches from her own. “Fine with me. You don’t want to be reasonable? You’re a grown woman. You can throw your life away if you want to. I won’t stop you. But before you go Annie Sullivan, I want you to know that I think you’re a fool.”

“How dare you!” her temper flared.

“You’re smart enough, and you’ve got real kindness in you. I’ve seen it. But you don’t know when to use the sense God gave you. You will do some stupid things in the name of your pride. I don’t want to watch you get hurt…or worse. So if you insist on being a fool, go do it where I don’t have to see it. I’ve got my own problems, Annie! I can help you but not if you’re not going to help yourself.”

Before Annie could even answer, he turned and stormed off. “Well, fine!” she yelled at his back. But he didn’t turn around and she knew she hadn’t made any point at all.

She pulled out her sleeping mat and laid it down next to Mary Beth. It was quiet and she breathed a sigh of relief that Mary Beth appeared to be asleep.

“Annie, don’t go in those camps alone. I’m scared for you.” Mary Beth’s voice startled Annie.

“Are you going to abandon me too?”

“You’re talking like it’s my fault or Mack’s fault. Would you want to watch someone you love go into a dangerous situation? You are making the first choice here. The people who care about you are just trying to protect themselves a little.”

Annie didn’t say anything. She was too angry to admit they had a point. She needed to find Jasper. She had to know why Garrett had left her like that. If he wrote to her saying he found gold he didn’t just want to abandon her. He clearly still cared. So why leave her and come to California? Since Garrett was dead, only Jasper could give her answers.

Her father had always seemed to find his only daughter a burden. In her heart of hearts, she worried that Garrett had felt the same. And if she didn’t push Mack away, he would also decide she was more trouble than she was worth. Seemed like he had already.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. Tomorrow, she would pack her things, and she would strike out on her own. She would find Jasper and then maybe she could put these demons to rest.

It was a long time before Annie fell asleep. She woke with the first rays of the sun. It was quiet and peaceful. She headed to the nearby river to rinse her face. She was tired and the water would help her clear her head and help with her eyes made puffy from crying a lot and sleeping little.

There was a cluster of rocks just up river that provided some privacy. Annie needed a few minutes to collect her thoughts. A few hours of sleep had changed her attitude. Now that her anger had cooled, she wondered if she should really leave. While she didn’t like to compromise and she desperately wanted to complete her mission, she did not want to be alone in this lawless land. If she were honest, Annie knew she would miss Mack and Mary Beth. Collin Mackinnon…she tried the name on her tongue again. She liked it. Even his name made her insides warm.

Her mother had always loved her and tried to help her rebellious daughter curb her temper. What would her mother want her to do? Annie smiled. Her mother would want her to stay with Mack. Frankly, her mother would want her to marry him.

That made her brow crease. What if Mack rejected her the way Garrett had?

Annie’s head snapped up at a movement off to her left. She saw several shadowy figures moving silently through the early dawn light. As they moved closer she could see the outline of several male natives. They each carried a weapon and they were heading directly for the wagons.

Annie caught her breath. She knew more and more attacks had been happening. These miners were on Indian land, using up the resources. The Indians attacked out of anger and out of need.

Whatever their reasons, she had to stop them. They might hurt the people she cared about. She let them pass and then stepped out from behind the rocks. She drew her pistol and gripped it tightly in her hand. There had to be ten men and she only had six bullets.

Her goal was to follow them without being noticed. Then, when they were close to camp, she would fire a shot in the air to alert everyone of trouble. But she had to be prepared to be discovered.

She moved quickly and quietly, watching them. They were nearing the camp and Annie sped up to make sure her shot was heard. The man at the back of the group suddenly turned and looked back. His eyes met hers and Annie stopped short in fear. He uttered a single word and four other men turned to look at her.

Trembling, Annie stopped her progress. Her hand seemed to rise in slow motion as he aimed a bow and arrow directly at her. She actually saw him release the quiver as she fired the weapon into the group of men while diving to the ground. She heard the arrow as it whistled just over her head.

Her chin hit the ground and scraped the rocks but she hardly noticed. Her head snapped up, and she saw two men running towards her. She raised the gun again and fired at one of them. She aimed for his chest and he stumbled as the bullet made contact with his shoulder.

Annie cocked the gun again but the other man was bearing down on her. She tried to aim the weapon but her hand was shaking.

She squeezed her eyes shut preparing for the worst. Suddenly the sound of another shot filled the air and then another. She clearly saw Tom and Mack on the edge of the camp, firing at the Indians.

Annie scrambled to her hands and knees and then to her feet as the natives who hadn’t fallen sprinted towards the circled wagons. They seemed hell bent on attack. She ran towards the fray; she had to help her friends. She circled around to come into the back side of the camp. As she passed by the small grouping of wagons, she saw two Indians coming out of her wagon with their arms full. She raised her gun to fire when she saw another Indian dragging Mary Beth. Her arm swung around as she pulled the trigger. The bullet missed its mark but he let go of Mary Beth and started for her.

Mary Beth reached out her arm and tripped the man, sending him crashing to the ground. Suddenly Tom was there. With one swift blow, he knocked the Indian out.

A few lay dead on the ground while the rest had disappeared back into the forest. She forgot all about their argument from the previous night. She raced toward them as Mack appeared next to Tom. Not stopping to think, she launched herself into his arms.

“What happened?” he mumbled as his arms wrapped around her, catching her up in a hug. Her hair was in a loose braid and his fingers found their way into her hair to massage her scalp.

“I was up by the river when I saw them coming. I followed to warn you but then they saw me. I fired and―“

“You followed a pack of natives to the camp?”

“I had to warn you. I couldn’t―“

His lips came crashing down on hers. It was a brief intense kiss that curled Annie’s toes. “You are the bravest woman I know.”

“And the most stubborn?” she asked ruefully.

“That too. I know you can take care of yourself, Annie, but please come with us today. I’m asking.”

She nodded her head. “You were right and I was wrong. This is a dangerous place and we are only going to make it together.”

He gave her the most stunning smile causing Annie to blink twice. It nearly blinded her. “I’ve got to get this mess cleaned up. You check the damage to your supplies.” He slowly set her back on the ground and unwound his arms from around her.

Annie scowled. His arms had felt so good. She was starting to realize that walking the world alone was a lonely proposition. She had also forgotten that some of the Indians had made off with her goods. She didn’t have very much money left. Certainly not enough to pay Mack for the return trip home. If she had to buy more food now, she didn’t know how she would return.

She knew Mack would take her back anyway but he was working hard for his money. She didn’t want to be a burden on him.

Grabbing Mary Beth’s hand, the two walked over to their wagon and climbed in. As they searched around, Annie’s heart sank. All their food was gone. So was her small money purse.

She climbed back out of the wagon and leaned against the back. Mary Beth followed her. Her voice trembled, “What are we gonna do, Annie?”

Annie shook her head. “We’ll figure something out.”

Mary Beth wrapped her arms around Annie, “I don’t know what that could possibly be.”

“Do you think Mack will hire us?”

Mary Beth laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t know if he’d hire you but he’d marry you, I bet. That seems easier.”

Anne made a face, “Maybe to you.” She dropped her head closing her eyes.

Mary Beth squeezed her a little harder. “Mack would never do what Garrett did.”

“I know Mack is a good man. Everything he does shows me that. But I don’t know if I am lovable. Maybe it was me, not Garrett.”

“Oh honey. How can you think that?”

“Mack told me to leave yesterday. I drive everybody away.”