Read Online Gunpowder Tea (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series) by Margaret Brownley - Free Book Online

side.
    “Well?”
    “Oh, I do apologize.” Annie slipped an arm beneath the ranch owner’s neck and ever so gently lifted the woman’s head off the pillow. Miss Walker took a sip of the hot beverage and wrinkled her nose before pushing the cup away.
    “Dishwater couldn’t taste worse.”
    Annie straightened and set the cup on the saucer. “It’s not my favorite tea, but like I said, it does help heal bones.”
    “Coffee is the glue that holds these bones together and that’s what I want. I want it now and I want it strong.”
    “The doctor said—”
    “Fiddlesticks! I don’t care what Dr. Fairbanks said,” Miss Walker snapped. “What does he know? A man barely dry behind the ears. Anyone who drives a heap of—”
    “I believe it’s called a horseless carriage,” Annie said.
    “I don’t care what it’s called. Horsepower should be left to horses. It’s noisy and smelly and riles the cattle. Anyone with the bad sense to drive around in one has no right to dictate what I should and should not do.”
    Ignoring the woman’s protests, Annie picked a spoon off the tray and scooped up a bite of soft-boiled egg. She faced the woman with her most determined stance. Miss Walker looked about to argue but apparently thought better of it.
    Annie slipped the spoon between Miss Walker’s thin, parched lips. The woman sputtered and coughed and pushed Annie’s hand away. “Dishwater and lye soap.” She spit it out. “Enough of that garbage!”
    Annie set the spoon down. She reached for the linen napkin andwiped egg off the blanket. “If you prefer, I’ll have Able make you oatmeal.”
    “Oatmeal?” Miss Walker made it sound like arsenic. “Forget food. Don’t just stand there, girl. Get my coffee. And after that you can fetch my foreman.” She stopped and grimaced as if in pain but then picked up where she left off. “Tell him I want to see him pronto.”
    Annie sighed. It appeared that tracking down the leader of the Phantom gang would be easy compared to caring for the old lady. “The doctor said you need to rest.”
    “I don’t have time for such nonsense. I’ve got a ranch to run! After I finish with my foreman, bring pen and paper from my office. I need to dictate a letter. Then I’ll meet with each ranch hand individually. I don’t want them thinking they can slack off just because I’m temporarily indisposed. Oh, and make sure Ruckus takes proper care of my horse.”
    Never had Annie met a woman more stubborn—or demanding. “I’ll write your letter for you, but you will be allowed no more than two visitors a day until the doctor says otherwise.”
    Miss Walker’s chest heaved beneath the covers, but then she suddenly surprised Annie by laughing.
    Frowning, Annie straightened Miss Walker’s pillow and covers. On second thought, perhaps two visitors would be too many.
    Miss Walker’s expression grew serious. “I guess you’ll do anything to prove that you’ll make a worthy heiress, even if it means putting up with my demands.” She twisted her head to look Annie square in the face. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”
    Miss Walker pushed hard but apparently she liked people who pushed back in kind. Annie met the woman’s gaze. “I guess that makes us equal.”
    Miss Walker narrowed her eyes and snapped her mouth shut.Fearing she might have overstepped the line, Annie picked up the tray and moved away from the bed. “You’d best get some rest.” Without another word she left the room, closing the door just in time to avoid the thrown clock.

Chapter 6
    The path of least resistance often leads to the hoosegow.
    J ail fare consisted of hardtack and cold coffee and Taggert didn’t have the stomach for either. He marveled at how the other two men attacked the stale, dry biscuits with such relish.
    To quench his thirst, he finished the last of the dark brew and spit out the grounds. “So when’s the boss gonna spring us?” Grady had talked half the night but