Defiant Heart Read Free Page A

thoughtful nod, and bit back a grin. So she was one of those women who wanted to compete with men. Who thought they should have the right to vote and own their own land. “Hard workers are always needed.”
    Triumph lit her beautiful eyes, and her full mouth curved into a smile that nearly knocked him off his feet. “Well, then…?”
    He gathered himself and steeled his heart. “There’s still one problem.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œI don’t allow unaccompanied women on my train.” He turned his attention back to the floozy. “Find yourself a husband first, and maybe I’ll make room for you. Otherwise…” He let the silent words speak for themselves.
    The girl named Fannie stomped the dirt floor. “But that don’t make any kind of sense whatsoever! And only someone touched in the head would suggest such a thing.”
    Beautiful or no, this young woman was beginning to grate on his nerves like a squeaky wheel. Why wouldn’t she just take no for an answer?
    â€œIs that so?”
    She nodded and jerked her thumb toward the other woman. “She wants to go west to find herself a man. Didn’t you hear her? She’s not interested in any of the riffraff around these parts. She’s looking for a good man to marry up with. Not some drunk mountain man who only wants to relive his biggest bear kill.”
    Toni sniffed as her eyes filled with tears, but she composed herself just as quickly. The quick action drew Blake’s admiration in spite of himself. She leaned in closer to Blake, and whispered. “If I don’t get away from this town, I’ll die. I’ll just die.”
    â€œHiram!” A woman’s high-pitched scold sliced through Blake’s foolishness. He glanced beyond the prostitute to the husband and wife headed their way. The man was trying hard not to stare at Toni, but he wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding his lust. His wife’s mouth pursed in indignation, and her eyes sparked anger as she swept her skirt aside lest it touch the prostitute. Blake pressed his lips together in steadyresolve. He didn’t envy that man once his wife got him alone and started in on him. Not that he blamed her. Still, this was the sort of contention he couldn’t encourage by allowing immoral women along.
    Blake slipped his fingers through his thick hair. As much as he’d like to help this woman, this scene would be the inevitable if he were to allow this fancy woman to join them.
    Blake turned back to Toni, but she refused to meet his gaze.
    â€œAnd that is exactly why you’re not coming with us.” So saying, he slapped his hat on his head, took one more look at Fannie, whose face was mottled with anger. She jerked her chin as she deliberately looked away and placed an arm around the distraught Toni’s shoulders.

Two
    Fury exploded in Fannie as she stared after the bullheaded wagon master. “Don’t mind him. We’ll figure out a way.” Fierce determination gripped her shoulders, drawing them straight and proud. “Even if we have to go it alone.”
    Toni shrugged her off and turned sharply, her eyes narrowing to catlike slits. “What do you mean ‘we’?”
    Fear licked Fannie’s insides as she realized her mistake. She glanced about to be sure no one had overheard. If Tom got wind of her plans, he’d kill her for sure. Besides, the last thing she needed was to be saddled with a fancy woman who probably couldn’t even hitch a pair of oxen to a wagon—not that she was much accomplished in the task herself. “Never mind. I meant you. You’ll find a way to make him change his mind. I best get back to my other customers.”
    â€œAnyway,” Toni breathed, defeat quivering in her voice. “I best get back before George finds out I was talking to the wagon master. Not that it did me any good.”
    Compassion tugged at Fannie’s