The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance (7 page)

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 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 was in trouble. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Mack’s back. “Why can’t I make a good decision? I thought I was being smart this time. Going out on my own instead of relying on a man.”

“Decisions made based on your pride are rarely good ones.” His matter-of-fact tone caused Annie’s head to snap up.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You didn’t head back to New York because you didn’t want to admit you were wrong and you came here to make Jasper admit he was wrong. Isn’t that what he will have to do to give you the gold?”

“Jasper owes me a lot more than an apology and who the hell do you think you are? You don’t know a thing about it.” She started to climb off the horse.

His hands held her tight. “Dammit Annie. There you go again. You’re going to climb off this horse and be alone with a thousand lonely men instead of listening to me speak the truth? Use your head. It’s a foolish thing to do.”

“Are you always such an infernal know-it-all? Telling people what is best for them?” Annie saw his face crumble as the words left her mouth. She had hurt him, though she didn’t know why. She snapped her mouth closed. “I didn’t mean…”

“No, it’s all right.” He ran his hand through his hair. He did that when he was thinking. Annie grinned behind his back. Funny she knew that.

“What is it you think I should do?” she asked quietly.

“I think you should stay close to me. We can look together.”

“Fine, let’s get to it, then.”

He sighed, “And I thought I was determined. We start with the base of military operations. I have an acquaintance who is an officer. He will help us. Though, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.” He kicked his horse forward and they started down into the valley.

***

Annie held tighter to Mack as they entered the outskirts of camp. Every man they passed stopped to look at the two of them on horseback. He had been right, again. This was no place for her to be by herself. Fortunately, the large military tents could be seen up ahead.

Even with her bonnet and her jacket, men stared at her as they passed. Their expressions were unreadable, which was frightening all on its own.

Once they reached the tents, Mack held her arm as she swung down and then he climbed down after her. Immediately, a man greeted Mack.

“Collin, good to see you again. Bringing more supplies?”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel, I am.”

“Excellent. The ships abandoned in the harbor are making it difficult to get supplies in. We’re having a real shortage. Name your price and we’ll pay it.”

Annie tilted her head to one side. While Mack’s face remained unreadable this had to be good news for him. It was hard work bringing these goods but it seemed to be paying off. All at once, it hit Annie how different Mack and Garrett were. Garrett had wanted to find gold and be set for life. Mack was working hard to earn the money to start a business. Then, he would begin the process of building the business. All at once, she knew Mack would never leave her alone the way Garrett had. Mack would protect her.

Lost in thought, she barely listened as the two men continued to negotiate but suddenly their voices were silent. Annie looked up to see the Lieutenant Colonel’s eyes focused on her.

“Mack, you will have to introduce me to your friend.” His eyes never left her face.

“This is my wife, Annie.” Mack’s hand wrapped possessively around her waist. “Annie, this is Lieutenant Colonel Riley.”

“How do you do?” she spoke quietly. His intensity made her mildly uncomfortable.

The corners of his mouth dropped into a frown, disappointment marking his brow. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Mackinnon.”

“My wife is actually looking for a friend, Jasper Conway. You haven’t heard the name, have you?”

The man’s eyes keenly assessed her. “Can’t say that I have. You can check with Lieutenant Surrey for a death record. Men are only starting to claim plots so there is no real method for tracking anyone down, as you well know, Collin. The camps are transient at best. But the US military is surely at your assistance. If you need anything, Mrs. Mackinnon, you come find me.” His eyes bore into hers and his meaning was absolutely clear. Even with Mack right there, he was offering her more than help.

Her hands clenched but she murmured, “Thank you.” Mack began pushing her towards his horse. This time he put her on the front of the horse and then climbed up behind her. She sat sideways, nestled between his legs. One of her arms wrapped around his waist.

As they cleared the camp, Annie let out a breath. “What was that all about?”

“There are very few women around and vigilante law. Even married women can suddenly find themselves widowed. He was making sure you came to him if I weren’t in the picture.”

Annie’s head snapped up to look Mack in the eyes. “I don’t know if I’ve thanked you enough for what you’re doing for me.”

He looked down at her and placed a soft kiss on her lips but his face was set in rigid lines. “If I get us both out of here alive, you can thank me properly. Until then, try to listen to what I say.”

“You’re a good man, Collin Mackinnon.” She reached up and gave him a brief but fierce kiss on the lips.

“That may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” He grinned at her.

She didn’t respond. Instead she snuggled closer, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. She hadn’t changed her mind about getting married again. She wasn’t ready to trust anyone like that but somehow she was relaxing her guard with Mack.

The next week passed in a blur. They travelled from camp to camp, asking if anyone knew or had heard of a Jasper Conway or a Fergal Mackinnon. No one had.  She must have talked to a hundred men. It was hopeless.

Mack did sell his goods quickly, at double and sometimes triple the expected price. He put the money in his saddlebag and then had her sit side saddle with her legs and skirt covering it. Then he would disappear for fifteen minutes before coming back to the fire for dinner.

Most of the settlers had moved on to their final destination but a few were still there and Mack’s crew was all there. Mary Beth stayed with Annie and with Tom’s help, hunted for her husband as well.

“I thought crossing the country was going to be the tough part,” Mary Beth said on the third day.

Annie sighed. “Tell me about it. There are thousands of people and more coming every day.”

“What are you going to do if you don’t find Jasper?” Mary Beth gave her a sideways glance.

“Go back East, I guess, and start over. You could come with me.” Annie smiled at her friend.

“I just might, Annie, I just might.” Her voice was quiet and her shoulders slumped.

“We might find him yet.” Annie reached out for her friend’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

“He was a lousy husband anyway. He was always out of work, drinking our money away. I took in laundry and I had to hide what I made. He found my stash and used it to pay his way across the country. I borrowed the money to chase after him. But all this time on the trail has made me wonder why. Why am I chasing him? Why was I foolish enough to marry him?”

Annie gave her a friend a squeeze. “Garrett left me in St. Louis because I was pregnant. He didn’t want to have to care for a pregnant woman on the trail. But he left me with no food and no money. He said he was leaving me to provide for us but…” Annie felt tears prick at her eyes.

Mary Beth wrapped her arms around her friend. Another hand came down on her shoulder. She looked up to see Mack staring down at her.

“What happened to the baby?” His voice was deadly quiet.

“I lost it a week later. I didn’t have money for a doctor or a burial. I…” Annie couldn’t continue. She was too choked with tears and she didn’t want either of them to see her cry.

“Oh Annie. No wonder you’re so angry. You’ve every right. That selfish bastard.” He sat on the other side of her and his hand coming to the small of her back as he rubbed small circles.

She wanted to tell them that she didn’t need their pity. It was a reflex to push people away. She was strong enough to handle it on her own but the truth was, it felt nice to be comforted by people who cared about her. She unwrapped one arm from Mary Beth and put it around Mack. Finally, she got her emotions under control enough to speak. “Thank you.”

“I want you to know, there are plenty of men who wouldn’t leave you like that.”