Texas Stranger Read Free

parked near the house making it impossible for her to park close. The rain hadn’t let up if anything it had gotten worse. She sat trying to decide how she would get inside the house without getting drenched to the bone. She couldn’t possibly put the plastic bag over her head again. Not only would it look ridiculous, but it held little protection under the howling rain outside.
    Thinking that she never had found the invitation that was responsible for her being out in this mess, she made a blinding dash toward the door of the elegant home. ‘
If I can get to the covered porch I’ll not look so bad when they open the door,’
she reasoned, running and jumping over the large puddles. “Look out!” she screamed as a large black umbrella bolted out in front of her.
    January groped wildly for something to hold onto, causing her ankle to turn with excruciating pain. Falling backward and unable to catch her balance from the blow, her feet flew out from under her, and she landed in the puddle she distinctly tried to avoid.
    “What were you trying to do anyway?” Came the stranger’s voice as he stood over her holding out his hand to help her up.
    “You...You idiot! You imbecile! How could you be so blind!” she shouted angrily spitting dirt and water out of her mouth after realizing who had caused the accident. “Now look at me!” she exclaimed. Her auburn hair now down in her face and her dress soaked with mud and water. “Get your hand away!” she slapped at him. “I can get up myself. Just get out of here and leave me alone.” She groaned trying to stand up. Butthe pain in her ankle was so bad she sat back down on the cold ground.
    “Here let me help you,” he said, barely able to control the urge to laugh.“Haven’t you done enough damage for one evening? Just leave me alone!” she snapped ignoring his outstretched hand.
    January was near tears as she shivered from the cold water she was emerged in. Trying to stand up again she managed to steady herself by putting the painful foot on the ground but was unable to put full pressure on it. Hearing his voice again only made her more angry.
    “Why don’t you let me help you to the house?” He started to reach out to her again.
    “I’m not going into their house in front of all those people looking like a soaked rat, you idiot.” She snapped at him again.
    He shot her a cold look and started to turn away. “If you insist on helping yourself, by all means be my guest. I on the other hand am getting wetter as I stand here arguing with you. Good luck, Miss Manson.”
    Surveying the damage again to her ankle she cursed. Without warning, someone picked her up and walked toward the other end of the drive.
    “Put me down!” she ordered after discovering it was the stranger.
    “No, not until you’re safely in my car.” He said with indifference.
    “I don’t want to get in your car. Put me down.”
    “I really don’t care what you want at this point, no female is going to make me feel like a heel, not even you, Miss Manson.” He stated, ignoring her squirming efforts.
    Sitting her down heavily on the car seat, he slammed the door. He was almost to the other side when she opened the car door and started to get out. Misjudging the swollen ankle she put pressure on it and groaned in pain. By this time he was in the car reaching over the top of her and pulling her back inside.
    “Don’t try that again Miss Manson, I am wet enough, and I don’t intend to come down with a bad cold.”
    “Mr....Rich, I couldn’t care less if you caught a cold or anything else for that matter, just what do you intend to do with me?” She shouted.
    Furious green eyes stared at her. “What I’d like to do with you is against the law, but what I’m going to do with you is take you back to the motel so you can get out of that wet dress, which I might add, is too reveling to be seen in public.” He said, through clenched teeth.
    Quickly looking down at the front of the silky