Read Online Texas Bride by Carol Finch - Free Book Online

rounded the bend of the trail and made abeeline for the saddlebag. She fished out the bottle and took a swig. Fire burned her throat and left her choking for breath. Jonah whacked her between the shoulder blades, then snatched the bottle from her trembling hand.
    “Take it easy with that stuff. Sip it. Don’t gulp it.”
    Nodding mutely, Maddie pried the bottle from his fingertips, took a sip and then said, “How do you do it?”
    His dark brows bunched over his thick-lashed eyes. “How do I do what?”
    “Face outlaws and wild beasts daily without letting it get to you?” She wheezed, then helped herself to another sip.
    “Practice,” he replied, then jerked the bottle from her hand once more. “You’ve had more than enough. The way you’re going at it you’ll be stumbling drunk and pitch yourself off the edge of the cliff.”
    “I’m sure you’d prefer that,” she mumbled as she wilted bonelessly to the ground. “Then you’d be rid of me for good.”
    It was more than obvious that Maddie wasn’t a connoisseur of liquor. The stuff went straight to her head in nothing flat. “Better eat something,” he advised as he strode over to lift the burned quail from the fire.
    Reluctantly she accepted the food he extended to her.
    “Hell’s going to break loose soon,” he predicted as he glanced at the threatening sky. “We’ll call it a night and get an early start in the morning. We should reach Fort Griffin by noon.”
    “And then you will be rid of me,” she said between bites.
    Yes, he would. In less than a day he could put Maddie Garret out of his mind and enjoy his vacation.
    Jonah hurriedly finished his meal, then doused the fire. The wind was swirling around the bluff with increasing speed and a shaft of rain hung over the valley. He estimated that they were going to be drenched in less than five minutes. He strode off to tuck his gear in a dry place before the storm unleashed its fury.
    Jonah scowled when he exited the cave and saw Maddie tipping the whiskey bottle again. In four long strides he was at her side, snatching the bottle away. “Damn it, gimme that.”
    “You’re no fun a-tall.”
    “I’m alive and kicking. That’s fun enough,” he muttered, noting her goofy smile.
    “Wha’d it take fo’ you to like me better? You might fin’ this har’ to believe, but some men act’lly do like me.”
    “Do tell. Garret, you’re wasted,” Jonah stated. Then he frowned disapprovingly. “Rule number two, if you can’t handle liquor, don’t drink.”
    She looked at him, eyelids drooping noticeably. “What’s rule number one? I forget.”
    “Pay attention to your surroundings,” he prompted as he reached down to hoist her to her feet. “If you weren’t soused you’d recall that we’re about to get wet.” He directed her attention to the sheet of rain that was sweeping over the valley, heading directly toward them.
    He curled his arm around her waist and shepherded her toward the cave as raindrops splattered the sandstone ledge beneath his feet. Maddie didn’t object, thank goodness, just allowed him to guide her into the cavern to wait out the storm. Sighing heavily, she sprawled on the pallet while he tucked away the whiskey—what was left of it.
    Jonah stood there watching her stretch like a cat before she pulled the quilt over her. Damn, she looked so incredibly tempting lying there with that droopy smile on her dewy lips. The curtain of rain that tumbled past the mouth of the cave gave the impression that he and Maddie were all alone in the world. There was nothing he wanted more than to stretch out beside her and create a storm of passion that rivaled the one that Earth Mother had unleashed outside.
    But that erotic fantasy was not going to collide with reality, Jonah promised himself resolutely.
    “Come to bed, Jonah,” Maddie murmured as she drew back the quilt and patted the empty place beside her. “I promise not to throw myself at you.”
    Jonah looked around,