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Chapter 16
Tom sent a few men ahead to the store at Doan’s Crossing with a supply list. Angus provided them with enough food to last a week. Because they were mostly traveling off the main roads, he expected the trip to Mexico to take almost a month and he wanted to make sure they could hold out at least during their weeks of traveling through Indian territory without having to search for a supply post. It was bad enough worrying about Indians without worrying about food as well.
“Seems like every time I turn around she’s pukin’,” Mike said as he positioned his horse next to Tom’s. “If she keeps it up, I can’t think how much actual we’ll get for her below the border.”
“She’s carryin’,” Tom said with a shrug, “it’s to be expected.”
“I thought she was untouched?” Mike said with surprise.
“Keep our voice down,” Tom urged.
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Paper Widow Chapter 17
The few choice words Angus had for Nate and Oliver when they informed him that they were quitting, after only just arriving, sat sour in Nate’s craw. He could understand the man’s irritation over having to shift things around to accommodate the gap in the work detail, but, since he and Oliver were only hired the day before, it shouldn’t have been such an inconvenience to warrant the fit the overseer threw. This showed Nate yet another side of the overseer that he did not like; as if his forcing a poke from Elise was not enough.They were half way into town when they decided it was better to wait until they were in a town that was less apt to report back to Angus that Nate was the new ranch owner and he was wiring the lawyer for Angus’ replacement. It would not do to be absent when Angus learned of his dismissal plans. After seeing the temper Angus harbored, Nate did not trust what he might do if left to his own devices. He could
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Angus scowled as he watched Nate and Oliver slowly walk their horses up the long drive with the Paper Widow sitting snug in front of Nate. As they drew closer, he sucked in his breath at the sight of Elise and Nate. They were clearly in a fight of some sort. Was that blood from a battle with Tom and his gang? His body twitched with nervous anxiety as while he waited for them to get close enough to give him answers.“I’m surprised to see you fellas back here,” Angus growled as Nate and Oliver pulled their horses to a halt just feet away from him.“Help me with her,” Nate said to Oliver.Oliver quickly dismounted and held out his hands for Nate to carefully lower the still traumatized Elise to him. Although she could stand, it was not without assistance, so he held her close to his chest while he waited for more instruction from Nate.Angus watched with silent angst as Nate slid off his horse and r
Paper Widow Chapter 19
Elise sat on the porch of the great house and gently rocked in the rocking chair that was placed there just for her. Her eyes were locked on the doctor’s buggy as it made its way down the long drive toward town. She was given a clean bill of health and was now able to travel.The news that her parents had paid the ransom and not tossed her to the wolves invigorated her spirits and aided in her speedy recovery from the ordeals she endured over the last few months. She was anxious to leave the wild west and return to the more civilized east. If she never saw a cowboy or a cow again, it would be too soon. She longed for pretty dresses, beautiful hairdos, glittery jewelry, and elite balls filled with pomp and circumstance.The closer she got to full recovery, the less she saw of Nate and Oliver. In the beginning, Nate was practically glued to her side with Oliver not far away. After speaking with the doctor for a considerable lengt
Paper Widow Chapter 20
Joseph’s upbringing on the farm, combined with few opportunities to rub elbows with the Philadelphia elite gave him a different perspective of the ranch than Nate and Oliver, who were raised in the middle of social society and had no comprehension about the advantages of bonding with the land and had difficulty comprehending it. He was in such awe of the ranch’s grandeur and smoothness of operation that he could not stop complementing it. He spent a great deal of time mingling with the ranch hands while asking questions about the ranch’s general operation and learning all he could about how a ranch differed from a farm.He was surprised to discover that, at one time, cotton was grown on the ranch. Old man Kincaid got rid of it when he took Angus McCormick on as overseer. Angus had no idea how to grow cotton, nor did he have the desire for it. So, for the last fifteen years, the cotton fields lay fallow. Although Jose
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Nate, Oliver, and Joseph stepped off the train with a spring in their step. After a long and frustrating assignment out west, they were finally back in their homeland of Philadelphia. Joseph planned on heading to his farm just as soon as they checked in with the Philadelphia Pinkerton office, while Nate and Oliver had plans for long baths, good meals, and a visit to the gentleman’s club. They did their best to coerce Joseph to join them, but he was adamant about getting his family together and discussing their future plans. The more he considered Nate’s offer to oversee the ranch out west, the more attached to the idea he became. He wanted to waste no time getting started.Nate and Oliver quickly settled into their homes, kissed their families hello, made themselves feel and look human again, and then headed off to the Philadelphia club for a night of good food and cards. They were seated in the dining room at a table near
Paper Widow Chapter 22
“What are the odds of running into Elise Joselyn of the Boston Brahman in Philadelphia?” Oliver chuckled after he and Nate rode their horses far enough away from the Joselyn residence to insure their voices would not carry back for anyone outside to hear. “You did hear her introduced as Joselyn, correct? From what I gather, even Alexander isn’t aware of her little paper marriage. Tsk, tsk, such skeletons.”“I feel like I’m cursed,” Nate growled.“Seriously,” Oliver continued. “We’ve lived here all our lives and never encountered the Joselyns. Then, out of the blue, we befriend a dude from New York who just happens to be their nephew. He invites us to their home for dinner where we’re hosted by the Paper Widow, but we seem to be the only ones who know her as that. I mean, seriously, what are the odds?”“I wish you wouldn’t call
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“I didn’t know you were part of the Joselyn’s social circle,” Lilith said as she looked up at Nate sitting tall on his hunter.“Considering you are still new to it yourself, I would imagine it will take a while before you meet them all,” Nate said with grudging politeness.“Is this your horse or is it borrowed?” she asked coyly.“Still judging people by their cover, I see,” Nate said scornfully. “Or in this case, their horse. Let me assure you, this nag belongs to me.”“Nag?” Lilith said as she stroked his horse’s neck admiringly. “Really Nathan.”“You know I hate that name,” Nate grumbled.“Yes,” she said sweetly as she seductively sipped on her champagne.“Almost as much as I hate you,” he mumbled between clenched teeth.At the sound of her gasp, Nate realized he did the uninten
Paper Widow Chapter 24
He swore off Elise Joselyn. She was cold to him whenever he was around her while exceedingly flirtatious with others, so why wouldn’t he swear off her? He was on the market for a solid, dependable wife of good standing. Elise fell short of these things. Of course, only he and his buddies were aware of this fact. The rest of the eligible men of Philadelphia society were scrambling over each other just to be the recipient of a smile from the beautiful Boston heiress.He did not disapprove of her because of what happened out west, although it could have been avoided had she been a bit more sensible and stayed home. He attributed her actions to that of a spoiled socialite who lacked not only common sense, but worldly exposure. What stuck in his craw was the way she flirted with the men who crowded around her at every opportunity. Her behavior reminded him of Lilith when she was just coming out - and even still. He was so proud when Lilith chose him out of all th
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