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.

  “Hi there, Mack,” Reverend Michaels called from the front of the oxen.

  “Hi yourself. Noticed your wheel is breaking. If you need some help, I can surely come to your aid when the train stops.” Mack tipped his hat to the other man.

  “Well, thank you kindly, Mack. That would be most appreciated.”

  ***

  Later that evening, they circled the wagons. Campfires were built and each group was responsible for preparing their own food. They were lucky that Mack had a whole crew of men along with them. He was transporting goods over land for the miners. It gave them several more men for protection and wagons with supplies.

  Annie went to get water for cooking. As she passed through the camp, she saw Mack and two other men working on a wagon. One of the wagon wheels was broken. All three men had taken their shirts off, and Annie tried not to stare at Mack’s rippling muscles as she watched him fitting a new wheel on. His shoulders were even broader then she could have imagined as his chest tapered down to a lean waist. Her mouth dried as she stared. He worked quickly and easily with the wood. It was obvious he had done this before.

  Mack straightened and caught sight of her. He gave her an easy smile and she looked away, heading off again.

  “Annie, wait.” He walked over to her, still shirtless. She swallowed hard.

  “Fixin’ a wheel?” She could have cringed at her own question. It couldn’t have been any more obvious what he was doing.

  “Yep,” he replied, giving her a smile that sent shivers down her spine.

  “You made that look easy.” She bit her lip and fixed her eyes on the river. Anywhere but his broad, muscular chest. If she didn’t look at him, maybe she would stop saying stupid things.

  “Thank you, kindly. I love working with wood. Someday I’m going to have my own shipyard and build boats.” He sounded exactly like Garrett…full of big dreams. She took a half step back.

  “Best of luck,” she said as she turned to leave.

  He stepped forward, his eyes penetrating into hers. “Kind of you to say. I’m getting close. A few more wagon trains and I’ll have the money I need to buy the land.”

  Blinking, Annie forgot to keep her eyes on the river. She stared back at him and asked, ”You’ve saved the money?”

  “Well most of it. It isn’t easy crossing the country delivering goods but it pays well and if I can build the ships, it will be worth it. Besides, it’ll be good experience for running a shipping company.” He shrugged his shoulders and the muscles of his chest flexed. She blinked twice. He ran a hand through his tousled hair and then rubbed it along his chiseled jaw. As his muscles rippled and flexed with the movement, her insides melted.

  “That is wonderful,” she whispered as she backed up. The sight of him was doing funny things to her insides. She needed to leave now. Swallowing hard, Annie turned and fled. Her body was betraying her and she had to get some measure of control before her head did the same.

  When she got to the river, she splashed water on her face before she filled her bucket. She needed to cool her heating skin. Lord, that man did funny things to her.

  This time, she was going to be smarter and stay away from handsome men. She wasn’t going to let another man lead her on a wild goose chase. She pressed her cold hands against her cheeks, closing her eyes. She couldn’t seem to control her own body. How was she ever going to succeed in this mission?

  Taking a deep breath, Annie opened her eyes and filled the bucket. She told herself she wasn’t going to think about it. She would take one step at a time. The first was crossing the country. She shook her head. Was she exactly like Garrett…chasing dreams?

  “Need any help there, little filly?” a man they called Cookie asked from behind her. She turned her head. He was an older man with grey hair and eyes but he was still strong and healthy. She liked the men in Mack’s crew. They worked hard and went about their own business.

  “I think I got it, Cookie, thanks,” she called from the river.

  “You need anything, you sing out. It’s a tough world to be alone in.”

  “I’m doing just fine but I appreciate the offer. It might be a tough world but it’s easier for me to walk it alone than it ever was to be married.” She grimaced as she said the words. She hadn’t meant to reveal that much but her attraction to Mack was clouding her judgment. Grabbing her bucket, Annie began hauling the bucket back to the wagon.

  Cookie gave her a long look before he asked, “How’d your husband die?”

  Pausing, she blew out a breath. Annie hadn’t shared very much about herself on this trip but now that she had begun, she may as well finish. “He died in a mining accident in San Francisco.”

  Realization dawned across his face. She was travelling to her husband’s resting place. “I’m sorry, Annie,” he said.

  She gave him a sad smile. “Nothing to be done now but keep on moving and try to make the best I can with what I’ve got. Thanks for asking, Cookie. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go start dinner.”

  “Sure thing.” He nodded once as he spoke.

  Annie headed back to the wagon. Mary Beth would have gotten the fire going and they could begin cooking.

  It was a much easier job for Annie and Mary Beth who only needed to feed themselves. While many of the travelers were men alone, headed for the goldmines, there were a few families looking to farm. Annie’s heart went out to those families. It was a grueling process for an adult, and she couldn’t imagine it as a child. She made an easy dish of fish with dried fruit. Her animals were already grazing and her water bags full.

  The two children stared longingly at her food. Ellie and Jim were five and eight and they had walked most of the day. She shot a questioning look to their mother, who gave her a nod. Annie called the children over. “Would you like some fish?”

  The children nodded eagerly and Annie set them up with food. The children dug into their plates and Annie smiled as she sat next to them. She knew lots of people didn’t share but she also knew Mack wouldn’t let anyone starve. She could afford to give these children a little of her rations. If she ran out, Mack would help her. She shook her head. When had she started trusting Mack so much?

  As if her thoughts had conjured him, Mack walked by and grinned at the trio, tousling Jim’s hair.

  Ducking her head, Annie looked at her plate. After her reaction before dinner, she was even more afraid to make eye contact with him than she usually was.

  “Did you kids thank Miss Annie for sharing her food with you?” Mack sounded like her father had when he spoke to her as a child. It made her heart twist.

  “Yes sir,” the children chorused between bites.

  “It’s awfully kind of you,” he said. Annie
could feel his eyes watching her as he spoke.

  She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. His gaze locked on her for another moment before he turned to walk away. Just as he moved, Annie heard the hiss of an arrow sailing through the air. Her head snapped up in time to see it whizz past Mack’s left ear.

  In an instant, he had drawn his pistols. “Attack!” his voice boomed over the camp. The children threw themselves on the ground and Annie tossed herself on top of them. She drew her own pistol, peering through the spokes of her wagon wheel but she could see nothing.

  Mack’s hand came down on her back, his voice close to her ear. “Stay down, keep them safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  She didn’t have time to respond before he moved just behind her wagon. He pointed a gun between the gap of her wagon and the one behind hers. Men all around the circle of wagons moved into the same position, as the first blood-chilling cries of the Indians ripped through Annie’s nerves.

  She lowered her head again, not wanting to see what was coming as she clutched the children closer. The thunderous beats of horses’ hooves filled the air as arrows flew past them. Guns fired all around her.

  Ellie cried softly underneath her, and Annie soothed her, stroking her hair. More guns fired as the hooves continued to beat. A cloud of dust choked them, making it difficult to see. Her eyes itched but Annie tried to squint through the dust to see what was happening.

  A hoard of natives circled around the outside of the wagons on horseback. Their faces were painted and looked terribly fierce. Mack fired and one of the Indians fell to the ground. Another looked directly at her and started making his way between the wagons.

  Annie was frozen in fear as his cold eyes locked on her, his war paint masking his expression. He headed straight for her, when suddenly, he was falling off his horse. She hadn’t even heard the shot, but Mack had fired. The man lay dead on the ground, his limbs stretched out at odd angles. Annie looked at the body with absolute horror.