The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance

THE GOLDEN RULES

OF LOVE

TAMMY ANDRESEN

COPYRIGHT

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright © 2016 Tammy Andresen

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Published by Tammy Andresen

TITLES BY

TAMMY ANDRESEN

Lily in Bloom Series

Seeds of Love

Lily in Bloom

Other Books

Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart

Midnight Magic

Stealing a Lady’s Heart

The Golden Rules of Love

Coming in November of 2016

Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Barbara Devlin, Amanda Mariel, and Dawn Brower. You ladies keep me, keepin’ on. Couldn’t do it without you. Hugs.

THE GOLDEN RULES OF LOVE

CHAPTER ONE

The California Trail, June 1849

“Fool,” Annie Sullivan
hissed to herself as she sat on the seat of her wagon. She couldn’t help thinking, for the hundredth time that day that she had made a terrible mistake. She wasn’t a silly girl anymore. She was a woman of one and twenty, married and widowed. She knew what the world did to an unprotected woman. She also knew what it did to poor ones.

That was why she was crossing the country on a wagon train, despite her trepidation. She was poor and alone and no one was coming to save her. In his own way, her late husband had tried to provide for them. But in that attempt, he had left her in an unknown city with no one to help her while he ventured on to California. After a year of misery, he had finally written to her saying their troubles were over. He could provide for her the way she deserved.

She would have cried tears of joy, but in the year she’d been married to Garrett Sullivan she had cried every tear she had in her foolish head. For that brief moment, when she read his letter, she had been filled with hope at the thought of their future. But then, that moment passed. He was never coming for her. Annie shuddered as she shook the memories away.

That was when she realized that a woman couldn’t leave her fate in a man’s hands. It was too risky. Instead, she had to provide for herself. She was the only person in this life she could count on. No one else. She closed her eyes to rid herself of these thoughts. Dwelling in the past would do her no good.

Placing a hand on the pistol at her hip, Annie sat a little straighter. It made her feel better to know it was there. Truth be told, it was a fool’s errand she was on. But somehow, she needed to see this trip through. To find out what happened to her husband and if his words of hope were true or false.

Mack, the wagon train foreman, passed by on his horse. Annie looked straight ahead. She wouldn’t make eye contact. First of all, that man did funny things to her insides. Her marriage had taught her not to trust those feelings.

Second, he always looked like he was trying to figure her out. She didn’t need a man to confide in now. She was doing this on her own. Trusting in men had gotten her into this mess in the first place.

Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw him slow down, matching the pace of his horse to her wagon. Mary Beth was driving so she couldn’t even use handling the team of oxen to pretend that she didn’t see him.

“Fine day we’re having.” As the baritone sound of his voice washed over her, a tingling started in her core.

“Yes it is.” She spoke through gritted teeth, hating herself for reacting this way. She was even angrier at him for making her respond.

“You get any sleep last night?”

She glanced over at him and his hazel eyes stared back. His full lips curved into the sultriest little smile. Not even Garrett had made her feel like this and she had nearly thrown her life away over her husband. Mack was dangerous.

“I did just fine.” She tore her eyes from his and stared straight ahead at the trail.

His eyes bore into her, causing her to blush. She glanced at him and there it was again. That look like he was trying to figure out her secrets. She dropped her head.

“If you ladies need anything or anyone gives you trouble, you let me know.” He gave a single nod before finally turning his eyes away. Annie sighed with relief.

“Thank you kindly,” Mary Beth replied with a friendly smile.

Mack rode on and Annie breathed a sigh of relief as she peeked at his retreating back. His broad shoulders filled her view and she caught a glimpse of his dark brown waves escaping from the bottom of his hat.

He rode easily on the horse as he passed by the wagons, waving to different drivers and exchanging greetings. He turned his profile and she saw his beautiful smile again. It just wasn’t right for one man to be that handsome.

She closed her eyes and forced herself to think of anything besides Mack. She didn’t even know his last name and she wasn’t going to find out.

“That man is a looker,” Mary Beth breathed once Mack was out of sight. Her friend’s sparkling green eyes danced with mischief as she watched Mack ride away.

“I hadn’t noticed,” Annie replied stiffly.

“Well, he noticed you. I don’t know how or why you hold yourself away from him like that. What I wouldn’t give to have a man like that…” Mary Beth’s voice trailed off.

“Handsome men bring nothing but heartbreak…trust me on that.” Anne said but a small niggle of jealously crept down her spine. Mary Beth was only a few years older than herself and quite attractive with her honey hair and light green eyes.

“Oh, I’m sure you’re right. But Will has been gone a long time. And Mack is so handsome, I’m just not sure I care.” Mary Beth craned her neck to get one more look at him. The other woman turned back to her to grin. “I wouldn’t mind a little company on this long trip.”

“You’ve got company.” Annie gave her traveling companion a small smile. She genuinely liked her companion; it was dumb luck that they found each other at the station in St. Louis. Two lone women looking to make their way West.

Mary Beth chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong, Annie girl. You’re a great friend, but sometimes a woman needs a little more.”

Annie made a face. “I’ll never need that kind of trouble again.”

***

Mack waited till he was almost out of sight before the dared a glance back at Annie. She sat straight as a board, red hair glinting in the sun. Lord, that woman was magnificent. He gave a rueful smile. She was also ornery, stubborn, secretive, and strong as hell.

She’d said almost nothing about her past or why she was travelling to California, except for one time around the campfire.  When some of the travelers had asked about California, he mentioned finding a nugget of gold on the ground the last time he had been in the gold fields. Then her eyes had lit up. “My late husband said it was just sitting on the ground for the taking.”

He noted the words “late husband” in that sentence. She was a widow. She was also going to San Francisco for the gold, and that was a foolish thing for any woman to do. Hell, it was dangerous for a man. It was not safe there. California was largely lawless and vigilantes were taking over the gold fields.

But it was especially bad for a woman like Annie. She was beautiful in a way that stuck out…red hair and large breasts over a tiny waist. With her soft pink lips and big blue eyes, she looked like she’d fallen out of heaven. Men would remember her and lonely men would covet her. Damn it all, but he could barely stop thinking about her and she hadn’t given him the tiniest bit of encouragement.

Mack didn’t usually go around saving women. He had his own problems and someone he was already trying to save. But Annie, she was lost. Even though she hid behind her strength, she needed help.

“Hey Mack, you see any signs of Injuns?” Cookie, the camp cook called out to him.

Mack rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t want to alarm anyone but the answer was yes. It was a delicate balance between not frightening the travelers overmuch and keeping them cautious. He’d been at this quite a while and fear could paralyze the group, same as an actual attack. “I’d keep close to the camp if I were you, and spread the word to the others.”

“Understood, Mack. Thanks for the warnin’,” the other man called. His crew knew how to handle these situations. Vigilance was the key.

He rode on inspecting the camp and its travelers. He did his best to keep everyone well fed and healthy. Besides keeping down disease, it just seemed like the right thing to do. These people were under his care. As he reached the front of the group, he noticed one of the travelers, Rutger, had a cracked wheel.