Wild Roses Read Free Page A

the train car was staring at her. Then fury pushed aside all other feeling. Harrigan sprawled in the seat next to her and she glared at him.
    â€œThis is not necessary,” she said in a cold voice as she fruitlessly tried to free her wrist.
    â€œI will release you once we are moving and have put a goodly distance between us and this dusty town,” Harrigan said.
    She looked at the other man, the one Harrigan had called George, who sat across from them. George was not much taller than she was and slender of build. His somewhat narrow face was softened by thick waves of dark brown hair and surprisingly large hazel eyes. Those eyes revealed his discomfort, and Ella wondered if she could use that to her advantage.
    â€œDon’t waste your time,” drawled Harrigan, smiling faintly when she scowled at him. “George may not agree with all I do, but he will not go against my wishes.”
    â€œAh, I see. The lackey has a lackey.”
    â€œThis journey will go much more quickly and smoothly if you would cease to hone your tongue on my skin.”
    â€œI do not see why I should consider your comfort when you are taking me to my death.”
    Harrigan studied her closely and frowned. He was beginning to think that she really believed what she was saying. For one brief moment, he considered the possibility that she was telling the truth, then shrugged it aside. She did not want to go home and was simply trying to sway him to her side. The rich were good liars, he thought bitterly, and would say or do anything to get what they wanted.
    â€œThat is utter nonsense. You might as well give up that lie because I will not swallow it.”
    â€œI do not lie.”
    He uttered a short, scornful laugh. “The rich always lie.”
    â€œYou are Irish, Mr. Mahoney, and I would have thought that you would know well the folly of such sweeping condemnations.”
    She was pleased to see the flicker of discomfort on his face, but still inwardly cursed. There had been a wealth of bitterness behind his insulting words. Some wealthy person had done him a wrong and now she would pay for that. It was unfair, but she would be foolish to ignore the fact. Nor did she have the time to change his mind. It surprised her to realize how badly she wished to do so.
    â€œWhat you believe or do not believe,” she continued, “does not matter to me in the slightest.” She hoped he could not detect the lack of conviction behind her words, something that deeply troubled her. “I will not be in your company long enough for it to affect me.”
    â€œNo? Already planning your escape?”
    Ella ignored the derision in his deep voice. “Yes, and I am sure that Aunt Louise will soon be along to assist me.”
    â€œYour faith in your aunt is admirable, but misplaced. She is nearly as delicate as you are and we are secure within a moving train. There is nothing she can do.” He frowned and felt a twinge of unease when she slowly smiled.
    â€œYou do not know my auntie.”

Chapter Two
    â€œLouise, are you sure we ought to do this?” Joshua Longtree asked quietly as he sprawled in a delicate chair. He warily watched Louise Carson march in and out of the front parlour of her small house throwing the things she thought she needed for a trip to Philadelphia onto a plush burgundy settee.
    Louise stopped after tossing a large bowie knife onto a tangled pile of clothes, and slowly turned to face Joshua and his three equally concerned companions, Edward, Manuel, and Thomas. Joshua and Thomas were half Indian, Manuel and Edward half Mexican. All of them had known little more than abuse and hatred in their lives and it had made them hard. She had saved the life of each one of the young men, taken them in, nursed their wounds, and given them work on her small ranch. She had never asked any return for her kindnesses, but had gained their unfaltering loyalty. There was no doubt in her mind that they would