Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance Read Free Page A

sleeping only and my bedroom is now ours.”
    “Of course, that would be best.”
    When they got back to the boarding house he opened the door to their room and held it for her to enter, then closed it behind them.   It wasn’t a large room.   There was a small dresser, wardrobe, commode with pitcher and basin on it, a small table with two chairs and dominating the room, the bed.
    She stared at the bed.
    “It seems awful small for two people.”
    “You’ll get used to it.   You can sleep under the sheet and I’ll sleep on top of it.   Trust me.   You’re quite safe from me.   Tonight.”
    Rosie was disappointed.   He rejected her.   Didn’t find her attractive enough to want to have sex with her.   Maybe he used a whore at one of the whorehouses.   That wouldn’t be something he’d tell her.   Oh well, he may not want more children, but she did.   She’d just have to seduce him.   After all, as far as she knew there was still only one way to get pregnant.   Yup, with all her feminine wiles, she could easily seduce him.   Right.
    “I’m sure I am.”   She blushed.   “Mary promised me a bath and I’d like some privacy once it gets here.”   She could be as detached as he was.   For a while anyway, but not for long.   He’d change his mind about this or her name wasn’t Rosemary Louise Stanton Harris.

CHAPTER 2

    Tom knew his words hurt her.   But she needed to know where he stood.   She needed to know she’d never have him, never have his heart. It was for the best she didn’t know how attractive he found her.   Round in all the right places, that he ached to touch.   And her lips.   Those amazingly kissable lips she nibbled when she was nervous.   He doubted she even realized she did it.   And he wasn’t dead after all.   He may not have been with a woman in years, Sarah quit having sex with him even before she left.   Said she needed her strength for the children.   But that didn’t mean he didn’t get urges just like the next man.   Maybe he should have forced her, other men would have.   They would’ve thought it their right.   But Tom wanted a woman to want him.   Want to lie with him.   He wouldn’t force himself on a woman ever.
    Still, sleeping next to her and not touching her was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done.   He’d consigned himself to hell for as long as she decided to stay.   But he knew she’d leave.   Women always left.   Didn’t Sarah prove that?  
    He’d stayed at the boarding house many times over the years.   But in all those years he’d never noticed that the beds were so darn small.   He’d be touching Rosie all night if he didn’t hang off the side.   It was going to be torture.
    “When the bath comes I’ll go for a walk to give you some privacy.”  
    He watched her turn a pretty shade of pink from the tops of her ears all the way down her neck as far as he could see.   Which wasn’t far since she had her blouse buttoned clear to the top.
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    There was a knock on the door.
    A man carried the long metal tub into the room setting it down in the center.   He was followed by two more men with buckets of steaming water and a third with cold water.   They filled the tub.
    “Here you go, ma’am.   Mary sent up some of her bath salts for you.”   He handed her a small packet.
    “Thank you and tell Mary I appreciate it.”
    He nodded and left.  
    Tom got up to leave.   “Enjoy your bath.   I’ll be gone about a half hour, so be done by then.”
    She took her hair down from what was left of the bun atop her head.   Once all the pins where out of it, she ran her fingers through it and shook her head to get it all loose.   Tom had never seen anyone with such beautiful hair.   The urge to touch it, to run his hands through it was nearly irresistible, but he managed.   He turned on his heel and left before he did something he’d regret.
    It felt so good to have her hair