Read Online Much Ado About Madams by Jacquie Rogers - Free Book Online

did, he’d be plenty ready to warm her up. He waited.
    Soon Lucinda approached him like a bear cub would approach a snake. He knew she had to be miserable, but still she maintained perfect posture and a schooled, ladylike expression. She looked delicate as a rose petal, but she was one tough woman. He admired her spirit.
    “ I’m ready to return to Dickshooter now,” she announced.
    Reese pointed to dim light in the western sky. “Sorry, darlin’, we’re not going anywhere right now. It’s dusk and tonight’s a new moon. In fifteen minutes, it’ll be black as a coal miner’s ass.” He tossed her the red long-handles. “You better put these on. You’re bound to get mighty cold in that wet dress of yours.”
    Lucinda caught the underwear in midair and held them by her forefinger and thumb away from her body. “I am not your darling, Mr. McAdams.”
    Reese suppressed a chuckle over the indignant look on her face. “Like I said, you’re likely to freeze your bustle off.”
    She sniffed, still holding the underwear at arm’s length. “I refuse to wear your underwear. It’s positively indecent.”
    “ Suit yourself.” He knew she’d have second thoughts real soon. The temperature would probably drop twenty degrees in the next hour. “But I’m not sharing my bedroll with a soggy woman.”
    She tossed the long-handles back to him. “That is one thing I’m happy about. I wouldn’t dream of doing so, no matter what the circumstances.” She blew an escaped lock of blonde hair from her forehead. “This situation is…is...oooh!” She tossed up her hands, stomped off to the picnic blanket and sat down, wrapping the corners around her shoulders.
    “ You at least ought to bring your blanket over here by the fire.”
    Lucinda looked away from him. She didn’t have to write her contempt on a piece of paper—he knew when a woman had her mind made up. The last vestiges of light ducked behind the western mountains and any minute the cold would set in, then the wolves would start howling. He wondered how much chill it she’d take before she changed her mind. Or froze her pride off.
    Reese fed the fire and took a drink of water to wash the nasty taste of lemonade out of his mouth. He couldn’t resist the urge to glance over to the beautiful, foolhardy woman perched like a statue clutching her blanket. Soon enough, she’d realize the error of her ways and crawl into bed with him. He settled his head on the saddle and pulled his hat over his face just enough so he could still sneak a peek at her.
    “ Goodnight, darlin’.”
    Odds were, he’d have a beautiful woman snuggled beside him inside half an hour.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Aaa-ooooo!
    One wolf called to another. Lucinda hoped they weren’t planning on inviting her to dinner—theirs. She strained to see through the evening dusk, hoping to spot the enemy before they saw her. Danger lurked everywhere, from the wolves howling in the hills, to the wolf sleeping under his Stetson on the other side of the campfire. The warm campfire.
    She silently pleaded with the sun not to betray her but darkness settled over the meadow all too soon. The cool night breeze sliced through her wet bodice and probed her skin. Her dress hadn’t dried a bit and the only defense she had against the clammy material was goose bumps the size of thimbles.
    Teeth chattering, her determination faltered to the point where she wasn’t quite sure just what she was determined about. How does one huddle in a ball with any decorum? She pulled her knees to her chest, draping her skirts so not even her toes were exposed. The flickering flames of the campfire invited her to share its warmth.
    Just beyond it lay that cur of a man who had refused to take her back to Dickshooter, and who had the gall to offer her his underwear , of all things, and even thought that she, an unmarried lady, would want to share his bed!
    She tossed her head in disgust, only to huddle up again to keep the wind off her