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RIVERBOATS & RAINBOWS
By
Jewel Adams
Historical Erotic Romance Time Travel
The renovated riverboat appears to be the perfect
solution for her aunt's annual fundraiser. Angela La
Cross' busy agenda didn't include falling into the
boat's hold. When she comes to and finds she is the
only woman on a boat full of men, she begins to
think this wasn't such a good idea.
James McFarlain wanted his last trip up the
Mississippi to be uneventful. The last thing he
expected to see on the Silver Queen was a woman.
Telling himself she was nothing but a mess of
trouble didn't stop him from looking into her
emerald eyes. When she silently sought his help,
James knew he was done for.
Her trip back in time to 1875 became only a minor
set back for Angie when compared to a good looking
cowboy, cattle rustlers and one very determined
Sioux warrior.
Angela might survive her tumble through time, but
can her heart decide between the love of two men?
Can she find the answers before time runs out? Her
journey is not an easy one when love keeps changing
the rules. Join Angie in the adventure of a
lifetime, one that will capture your heart!
Time Travel Erotic Romance
ISBN: 978-1-935048-09-1
1-935048-09-0
Word Count: 77,742
EBook $6.49
Trade Paperback
$14.49 plus shipping.
REVIEWS
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
ABOUT
RIVERBOATS AND
RAINBOWS
5 Hearts – The Romance Studio -
Riverboats and Rainbows is a wonderful book. The
triangle between the hearts adds quite a twist to
the plot that skillfully takes you through passion,
love and anguish.
Reviewer: Angie
5! Love Romances- Even for those who are not fans of
time travels and westerns, Riverboats and
Rainbows is a “do not miss” story. The
complexities of the characters as they grow and move
through the story will stay with the reader long
after the story ends.
Reviewer: Gina
EXCERPT
RIVERBOATS &
RAINBOWS
By
Jewel Adams
CHAPTER 1 –
The Ante
aise
you a hundred Jamey.” The man’s enthusiasm flowed
over the table to the unaffected player.
The strong, tanned fingers
slowly unfolded the cards, fanning them out for his
private scrutiny. A full house, which meant Duncan
was probably acting. James played him many times on
the circuit. Duncan could never hide his eagerness
when he thought he had James beat. Tonight certainly
wasn’t going James’ way. A full two rounds of the
deal and he’d only taken one small hand.
Looking around at the
other two players, he figured this pot was too rich
for their blood. They’d fold on the raise leaving
only Duncan and himself to bluff it out. Maybe he
should call it a night? Damn, it was too early for
that, but James knew when the luck wasn’t with him.
“I’ll see your hundred Duncan, and raise you fifty.”
He watched Duncan’s face
blotch in anger. As he expected the others threw
their hands down in disgust. James waited for Duncan
to get over what his cards told his tight-eyed
stare.
“You’re a lucky ass hole,
Jamey.” Duncan tossed the cards into the pot.
James pulled the money and
cards over to him, showing little over the
defamation thrown his way. Separating out the cards,
he gathered the small winnings and pushed away from
the table. “It’s been nice.”
“You calling it a night?”
James didn’t bother to
answer. Duncan would relish starting a fight. Going
over to the bar, James angled himself so he could
see the entire room.
“What will it be Mr.
McFarlain?”
“Scotch, Willie.”
“Yes sir.”
James saw the captain in
the bar mirror as he entered the casino. Captain
Welsh wasn’t to be taken lightly. The river was his
domain and heaven help the bastard stupid enough to
cross him. Welsh looked more disagreeable than
usual. James cursed the fact this boat had been the
only one available for the ride up river. If he
wasn’t in such a hurry he would never have stepped
foot on the Silver Queen.
“You still work’n the
river, McFarlain?”
“Now where else would I
be, Captain?”
“Thought you might have
smartened up and gotten off by now.”
Off the river James’
business was his own. Gambling wouldn’t have entered
his past life. But that was before the war and
everything he’d known had been destroyed or taken
away. “The river feels slow tonight.”
“You should be captaining
the Silver Queen, you always did know more than most
men working the tables. Heard once you had a big
plantation, down by New Orleans.”
“Times change.” Sipping
his drink, he didn’t mind the man’s probing. It was
common knowledge who he used to be. What he would be
was no one’s concern but his own.
“Out of luck tonight or
are the tables too cheap for your liking?”
“Like I said, Captain, the
river is slow.”
“Duncan seems to be having
a good night.”
James’ blue eyes watched
the players’ reflections in the mirror. He didn’t
like the way Duncan’s group looked, but kept it to
himself. It was his last trip up river and he didn’t
need any trouble.
One of the crew called the
Captain away. James motioned Willie to set up
another drink. Anxious to be off the river James
thought about the future, something he hadn’t done
for some time.
Mike would be waiting for
him in St. Louis. They would start the drive from
there to take the cattle to Montana. His crystal
blue eyes went deep in concentration over the ranch,
Twin Creeks. He didn’t like admitting how much he
counted on that unknown place.
When he won it off that
man last year, he’d been madder than a rattler and
ready to throw the deed away in the next hand just
to be free of it. Why he’d pocketed the deed he
couldn’t recall.
That night in his cabin,
it fell out of his coat. Picking it up James took
his first look at the document. It was all there,
all legally his, because of one man’s foolish pride
in a card game. James thought long and hard over the
land he now held title to. Remorse or conscience
made him seek out the man that next morning. Mr.
Burr must have been on a road of self-destruction.
He learned the man got into another card game after
James left. In the process Burr picked a fight with
the wrong man and got himself killed over a
five-dollar pot.
Finding he couldn’t give
the land back, James decided to investigate what he
owned. Wiring a banker associate of his, he learned
just about all he could without actually seeing the
property. The reports said everything was in order
with the deed and that Mr. Burr had no living
relatives. The land and ranch were said to be in
good shape, though neglected.
Locating his brother
Michael proved more of an effort than finding out
about Twin Creeks. Mike, like James, left New
Orleans after the war and discovering their uncle
sold their home to carpetbaggers. It was a blow
neither brother took lightly. James turned to
gambling because it was there and he proved to be
good at it. Being cautious over his playing
partners kept him alive. He hated his present life
and Twin Creeks looked like the answer he’d been
searching for. There were enough funds from his
gambling takes to buy a large herd of cattle and the
stores needed to start the ranch. Hopefully, what
was left would keep them going until she started
holding her own.
He learned all he could
about the territory and James decided to take one
last gamble. The cattle would be their staple stock,
but there were herds of wild horses free for the
taking. He planned to do just that. The government
was hungry for horses, good riding stock, and James
intended on getting in on the contracts they were
issuing. Purchasing the stallion cost a large chunk
of their funds, but he needed a good bloodline to
start the horse ranch Twin Creeks would someday
become.
Mike hadn’t been idle
since he’d seen him two years ago. Working as trail
boss for various outfits he willingly joined James
in the venture. Between them, they would rebuild
what took their family generations to accomplish and
loose overnight.
“Another, Mr. McFarlain?”
“One more, Willie.”
Home? It felt strange to
call it that. Neither of them had seen it yet, but
James felt anxious to get there.
* * * *
In the thick darkness she
wasn’t sure if her eyes were open. But when she
moved, the pain in her head sent them squeezing
shut.
Holding the back of her
head she gingerly made it to her feet. Finding the
wall as she reached out in the darkness, Angie
bumped into the ladder. Leaning against it, she
waited until the throbbing ebbed before trying to
climb the slippery rungs.
Angie feared falling again
and stopped repeatedly to fight off the dizziness.
It felt like it took forever to reach the doorway.
After several tries to open the hatch, Angie put her
full weight against it before finally dislodging the
hatch door. She collapsed on the deck, exhausted by
the effort.
Moaning, she struggled to
sit up and face the night. A cool breeze came off
the river helping to clear away the fog inside her
head. Angela cringed over the mishap of falling,
deciding she more than missed her dinner
appointment.
She managed to standup,
leaning against the boat for support, a strange
steady vibration moved up her legs. For a second it
confused her, but then she realized it was coming
from the riverboat. Listening, she heard the
swishing sound of the large wheel turning through
the water. The movement of the boat was slight and
sluggish, but unmistakable. “We’re moving! Oh no...”
How long had she been out?
Looking around her she
failed to locate her purse, positive she left it
beside the hatch. She tried to catch some light to
see the time at her wrist, but strangely there
wasn’t any light coming from the shoreline.
Stumbling to the rail she scanned the dark line of
trees along the riverbank. Wherever they were on the
river was certainly a ways from New Orleans. Stars,
she hoped this wasn’t an all night cruise.
She was dirty and bruised
all over. The knot on the back of her head felt so
tender it hurt when she walked. Looking around the
deck she couldn’t think past the throbbing to figure
out what bothered her about it.
She tried to push her hair
back and she realized she’d lost the clip holding
her bangs. She’d be damned if she would go back down
there and look for it. “One fall a night is enough,
thank you.”
With the rail’s support
Angela decided she better find the captain or
manager, someone that could help her. She didn’t
think they would turn back just for her, but maybe
they could radio shore so her Aunt Belle and Sally
wouldn’t worry. “Damn! I didn’t even tell them where
I was going.”
She could see it all now.
Auntie would call the police within an hour of her
missed dinner appointment. They would find her car
on the docks, of all places. Auntie would go into
vapors. Well, she couldn’t do anything about it
until she found someone.
The music and muffled
voices drew her forward. It sounded familiar; she
remembered feeling this way when she entered the
room this afternoon. It seemed the Silver Queen was
all she’d imagined it would be.
His blue eyes seemed to
find her of their own accord. Framed in the doorway
was something he never saw aboard Captain Welsh’s
boat. Funny, but even after his initial shock over
seeing the woman’s reflection in the mirror, he
couldn’t stop looking at her.
Wild dark locks of ebony
hair floated around the woman like a protective
cloak. They did little to hide the lovely creature
behind the veil. Looking closer, James also saw the
dirt smudged across her cheek and forehead. Sucking
in his breath over what his scrutiny uncovered,
anger and concern flared in unwanted quantities for
the pain and confusion marring her lovely face.
James tried to pull his eyes away, but she seemed to
hold him in the most peculiar way.
Maybe it was the
outlandish attire she wore? It wasn’t everyday you
saw a woman dressed like a man; an Indian one at
that if those boots were any indication. Eyes the
color of emeralds, they weren’t Indian and neither
was that ivory complexion.
James felt the strangest
chill move over him. She was undoubtedly beautiful,
statuesque, and yet too vulnerable as her brilliant
eyes searched the room. For just a second they
seemed to latch onto his, making him feel like she
physically touched him or something more. But they
pulled away too quickly to discover the answer.
Angie wondered what it was
about the room that made her uneasy. Things came too
slowly past the pain assaulting her head. Just as
lethargic were the eyes turning in her direction.
Even the murmurs ended as an uncomfortable silence
fell over everyone. No, that wasn’t right…every man,
there were no women, anywhere!
Angie swallowed hard over
the ill feeling this gave her as she unconsciously
raised her chin against their probing gazes. She
tried to think past the foreboding she felt, but it
became increasingly difficult. She wanted to tell
them how rude their observations were, yet thought
better of it.
Seeing no one standing
about that looked in charge, her gaze finally went
to the bar. Having so many men in one room must have
addled her, because she could swear the room looked
different. Taking a deep breath she forced her
unsteady legs to walk towards the bar. She could
feel their eyes following her. It took all her
control not to turn and glare back at them.
She came hard against the
bar and held it to fight the dizziness plaguing her.
Afraid to look at any of the men leaning there, she
tried to concentrate on only the young bartender and
forming her words. “Excuse me? I need to see the
captain or manager, please.”
What was wrong with them?
The buzz immediately following her announcement made
her knuckles whiten in apprehension.
“Can I help you?”
The effort to turn and see
the man who owned the deep decisive voice nearly
defeated her. When she faced him his eyes stole the
last of her breath.
How long she looked at him
she didn’t know or care. Shaking away the volatile
feelings she brought her thoughts back to the here
and now. But stars how he seemed to fill her mind.
He was so...devastatingly
handsome!
Stars, but that hit on her
head must have rattled her common sense. What was
the matter with her? She never let any man affect
her like this and certainly not a stranger. “Are you
the captain?”
His smile could melt ice,
but it was the questioning in his cool gaze that
captured her attention, making it hard to
concentrate on his answer.
“No, but are you sure it
is the captain you want to see?”
“Well yes, I think so,
unless there is a manager around.”
Why had he approached her?
Knowing every man in the room was glaring bug eyed
at them James sure wasn’t paying any attention to
the warnings. She was trouble he didn’t need.
“Willie, go fetch Captain Welsh.”
“You sure about that Mr.
McFarlain? You know he ain’t going to like this
none.”
She listened to the
conversation that concerned her yet seemed to be
ignoring her presence. Angie hurt too much to care
what these men thought. “Look, I need to get to
shore or radio the authorities.”
One of the men snickered.
James watched the lady’s pride spark over the
insulting remarks bouncing about the room. He
couldn’t control his admiration when she refused to
don the insults with even a reproachful glance.
“Miss?”
“Miss La Cross.”
“Well Miss La Cross, I
think the captain will be more than happy to oblige
your request.”
“Good.”
She watched the man give a
silent signal to the young man behind the bar,
sending him out from under it to do as she
requested.
“Thank you...McFarlain,
isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Angie felt better knowing
the captain was coming. She couldn’t shake the
growing nervousness over these men and their apt
attention on her. Chancing a look about the room,
not a one of them resumed their game seeming to
think she was more interesting. She actually thought
a few of the glaring eyes held expectancy in them.
“Hey, what’s wrong with them?”
“Wrong, Miss La Cross?”
Moving closer to him, she
whispered. “Why are they watching me? I didn’t mean
to interrupt anything. If it’s a stag party or
something like that, I am sorry.”
James couldn’t stop
looking at her. She made less sense than he felt his
actions did. He didn’t like the men’s gazes anymore
than she did. Something compelled him to try and
ease her concerns.
“You are a rarity on
Captain Welsh’s boat.”
“A rarity? In what way?”
Was that innocent look in
those green eyes as real as it appeared?
“You are a woman.”
Her laughter died beneath
the unwavering look of concern he held her in. He
was serious and Angie felt herself become cold over
the implied danger. She would have left, right then,
if the dizziness hadn’t returned when she tried to
move.
The strength in the hands
holding her up became all too clear, tearing through
her muddled thoughts.
“Miss La Cross are you
alright?”
“My head, I fell.”
When his fingers glanced
over the bump at the back of her head, she groaned
and fell against him. Righting herself wasn’t
possible. Finding the will to leave what she found
in his hold defeated her efforts. Closing her eyes
she told herself it would only be for a minute, just
a minute. There was so much strength...and safety.
James’ hands seemed to
move on their own, retaining the embrace she didn’t
end and he couldn’t. God, she was so soft, so very
nice. He couldn’t stop himself from touching her and
allowing the wild hunger loose that holding her
drove to the surface.
Shaking himself, his eyes
registered the tight lipped anger and wanting his
present stance brought out in his staring
companions. Swallowing his groan of awareness, James
needed to get a hold of himself. What the hell was
he trying to do? Commit suicide? Before he could
disengage her he heard the gruff astonishment of the
Captain coming up behind him.
“What the hell do you
think you are doing, McFarlain? Damn, you know my
rules and the consequences!”
He lost his concentration
to her fingers digging into his sleeve. Her silent
fear was unmistakable. The distraction proved to be
his downfall.
He felt the hands
relieving him of his gun, just before two pairs
enclosed about his arms. She remained in his hold.
It was the Captain’s fingers that came around in
front of them to dislodge her.
“Release the harlot this
instant McFarlain!”
James’ dislike for the man
seemed to fuel his irrational behavior towards the
woman. Mike and the two thousand head of cattle were
forgotten. “I’d love to, but she is hurt.”
The scoffs came from the
room and James felt the dread close over him. A few
well placed calls from the men reddened the
Captain’s enraged face.
“Look Welsh, I don’t….”
“Save it McFarlain, your
gentlemanly charms won’t get you out of this.”
Angie couldn’t stop her
shiver. Every spoken word made them worse. She
should move away from the man whose arms supported
her. Why were they mad at them? At him? She could
understand the captain being upset over having an
unwanted passenger. But why take it out on Mr.
McFarlain?
Calling on her remaining
strength she pushed away from him and looked into
the angry glare of his eyes. Was it her or the
captain that lit that fire? His face was like stone,
showing nothing of the turmoil she felt in the hands
still holding her arms. His eyes held the graying of
the storm she sensed, making her shake her head in
denial, only to realize her mistake too late.
His hold tightened over
her renewed weakness, refusing to obey the Captain’s
ravings. Pulling her back against his chest was the
worse thing James could do. No one wanted to believe
he didn’t know her. James saw this too often; they
were now the night’s entertainment. An example for
the Captain, not to be dismissed until tried and
convicted.
Rage engulfed him over
what he knew was coming. Thoughts of fighting his
way out ended as quickly as they surfaced. It would
mean leaving Miss La Cross to face these men, alone.
He couldn’t bring himself to do that to her. Neither
would he release her to the furious man reaching out
to pull her away.
“Keep your hands off her,
Welsh!”
It was a foolish threat
considering he was unarmed and held by two oversized
goons. But the captain took the danger glaring at
him at face value and stopped his advance.
Cautiously eyeing James,
“Then you admit it?”
What was he saying? Admit
what? Angie must have missed something. This had
gone far enough she needed to get a hold of herself.
She managed to push herself away from McFarlain to
face the captain.
James watched the girl
that disengaged his hold. She swayed, but he forced
himself not to reach for her. Her eyes stayed him
from helping. A daring mix of pride and stubbornness
held her up. James felt something swell inside him
for this woman, something he couldn’t define, but
had to accept.
“Captain, I believe?”
“You know damn well I am!”
“There is no need to get
excited.”
James’ humor nearly broke
free. Her indignation was sending Welsh into a
huffing fit.
“You insolent….”
“Welsh, I wouldn’t.”
James’ voice was low and controlled, but it was a
warning that silenced the room.
Angie didn’t dare look at
the man standing close enough behind her that she
could feel his heat. Whatever they all saw in
McFarlain she cared only for the relief she felt
that it kept this bull of a captain away from her.
“Look Captain, I think you
have misunderstood. I’m sorry if you find my
presence on your boat upsetting, but I can assure
you it wasn’t intentional.” She didn’t like the way
he was gloating at her. When he crossed his arms
over his bloated stomach, straining the brass
buttons of his uniform, she bit the inside of her
cheek not to groan.
“So your presence wasn’t
meant to be found out, hey?”
“No...I meant, I didn’t
plan to be here at all. I fell down your ladder, and
I guess I knocked myself out. Could you please
contact the authorities, my aunt…?”
“The only authority around
here is me and believe me, missy, you’ve made
contact.”
Why didn’t that make her
feel any better? He certainly wasn’t what she
expected and he’d not get any booking for the party
with this kind of insolent attitude. If his eyes
raked over her breasts one more time, she...she’d
slap him, that’s what she’d do!
“The name is Miss La
Cross. Now, would you please radio the authorities
and let them know where I can be picked up.”
James hadn’t heard a
Creole accent like that since leaving New Orleans.
The lyrical tones almost made him miss Welsh’s
reply.
“Now, Miss La Cross, I’d
be obliged to accommodate you if I had such a
thing...what was it? A raydee-oh?”
She ignored his sarcastic
use of her name. “Then just let me off at the next
port.”
James tensed over what he
felt was coming, which caused the brutes holding him
to secure their hold more.
“I’d be glad to, only
we’ve some unfinished business to attend to first.”
She wanted to ask what,
but the whooping and hollering rushing through the
room drowned out her voice. Clamping her mouth shut,
she couldn’t stop herself from turning to Mr.
McFarlain for answers.
“Oh my stars!” Angie felt
what little color she possessed drain away. Her
anger surged over what she stared open mouthed upon.
“Miss La Cross, I think it
would be best if you didn’t say anything else.”
James didn’t think the woman would listen to his
request.
Spinning back to confront
the captain, she gripped the bar in order not to
fall. Ignoring McFarlain’s warning her angry words
were forced past clenched teeth. “What is the
meaning of this? Release Mr. McFarlain!”
She was shaking under the
shock of seeing him held by those men and a knife
pressed to his throat! How dare they do that to him!
“Missy, I have every
intention of doing just that, but first.” She wanted
to disappear from the sneer he gave her. “Men gather
round.”
Looking from him, back to
McFarlain and the stern uneasy look he gave her did
indeed shut her up. McFarlain’s eyes conveyed the
message that she only made it worse. The knife
pressing close to his jugular vein wasn’t a joke.
Angie tasted the bitterness of true fear.
“Now you all know my rules
about women on board my vessel.” Looking directly at
her, “They are not allowed and the punishment is
severe.”
His speech was hilarious,
Angie felt like she was in some corny movie. Opening
her mouth, she snapped it shut when McFarlain’s
strained curse reached her ears.
Glaring at him under the
circumstances would be silly, but she was getting
angrier by the second. Instead, she directed her
tempered glare at the captain. Ugh, but she wanted
to smack that satisfied grin off his pug face. Who
did he think he was, anyway? She’d sue him for
falling on his unattended vessel! Physical trauma,
yeah, she probably suffered a concussion. Mental
anguish was a certainty.
Building up her nerve to
verbally attack the man, the tirade froze in her
throat over his next announcement.
“Men, we have a wedding to
perform.”
“Wedding?” Her outburst
drew everyone’s humorous glances.
“Why yes, Miss La
Cross...your wedding.”
The men’s laughter echoed
through her head like a bad dream. He grabbed her
arm and made her follow the men leading McFarlain
outside.
To his credit McFarlain put up
a valiant struggle. To her dismay, he received a
vicious blow to his jaw for his effort. If he got
loose the rage burning inside that man wouldn’t have
stopped until these men were desecrated. Abhorring
violence she couldn’t believe she was actually
wishing he would break free.
Angie swallowed back her
cry over what his hard blue eyes told her. This
wasn’t a joke. These men were serious. They all had
to be nuts!
All kinds of crazy
thoughts careened through the intense pain that each
dragged step sent off in her head.
James never took his eyes
off her. When she stumbled he’d gone wild. The anger
over seeing her in pain took over. The ache in his
jaw snapped him back into some resemblance of
sanity, but the fury inside him was near
uncontrollable.
If only she’d keep quiet.
He feared what they might do to her if she
continued. It was obvious she had no idea of the
dangerous extent of her situation. Welsh could be a
vicious man. He relished the attention he was
getting and it made him unpredictable. James wasn’t
in any position to help either of them. Getting her
away from these men was imperative. James didn’t
like the ugly way the crowd was turning or the looks
in their eyes for her. She didn’t realize what he
was seeing and he hoped she wouldn’t, fearing what
she might do.
When they placed her
beside him he took the chance to whisper to her.
“Just do what he wants and agree with whatever I
say.”
Angie’s eyes enlarged over
McFarlain’s request. Was he crazy too? Didn’t he
hear what the captain was up to?
She wanted to ask him, but
the captain didn’t give her a chance.
“Now, I have here the
bible and as captain I have legal authority to wed
these two. It’s legal, you will be husband and wife.
What better match, right boys?”
The cheers sent chills up
her spine.
“Now, James McFarlain do
you take Miss...what’s your first name?”
Glaring at him she had a
good mind not to answer. Scanning the sea of
expectant faces her pride stiffened. “Angela.”
“James McFarlain, do you
take Angela La Cross as your lawful wedded wife?”
Not looking at him she
held her breath with the expectancy she felt over
his answer. Why should she care?
“I do.”
The captain chuckled over
the angry outburst everyone knew McFarlain wanted to
lash out with.
“And you, Angela La Cross,
do you take this man as your husband?”
“What? No love, honor and
obey?” Her indignation made her antagonize the man.
“Throw in obey would you
Welsh, I think I’ll need that one.”
Glaring up at McFarlain
she didn’t know with whom she was angrier. The
captain repeated the vow, tossing in obey at
McFarlain’s request.
“Well, we’re waiting, get
to it Missy.”
Angel didn’t need the
obnoxious captain to tell her what he expected. “You
can wait till....”
“Angela come on, it’s not
like we’re strangers.”
Her mouth dropped open
over James’ remark. She closed it when his hard gaze
didn’t reflect anything close to what his words
implied. Was he only saying this for their benefit?
Instinctively, she knew,
he was the only one here she could trust. He didn’t
want this any more than she did. Why should he?
Remembering his warning she gave the only sensible
answer. “I do.”
“Good, a wise decision
Missy. I pronounce you, man and wife. You may kiss
your bride, James.”
Before she could object
McFarlain pulled her into his arms and captured her
lips, smothering her protest in a kiss that did more
than just silence her outrage. Too stunned to hide
her response, she could only stare at him when he
released her.
The cheers ended her short
lived trance, but the shouts coming at them quickly
made her seek the very man that just left her
totally rattled. Moving to McFarlain’s side she
released her breath when his arm came about her
waist. “Alright Welsh, you’ve had your fun.”
“Not quite James. You
never should have crossed me. Your marriage papers
will be filed in St. Louis. You can pick your gear
up there.”
James had been afraid
Welsh would do this. Right now, seeing the eager men
surrounding them, it was probably the best way out
for her.
“Now James.”
“Can I have my gun?”
“Sure. Boys, give the man
his gun.”
She watched, too confused
to do anything else, as the man passed the captain
McFarlain’s gun. The captain emptied the filled
chambers of the bullets. Staring, she watched the
bullets hit and roll across the deck before he
passed the gun over to McFarlain.
Starting to move away,
James stopped and came back to her. Taking her arm,
“Come on Angela.”
Pulling her arm out of his
grip, she stared at him in disbelief finally
understanding what they all expected.
“No...you are all crazy.”
The shaking of her head wasn’t anything compared to
what her knees were doing. “No, I am not going into
that River!”
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