Anna: Bride of Alabama (American Mail-Order Bride 22) by Lily Graison Page B

had slipped away from their group. She sighed, then smiled and nodded as the gentlemen in front of her talked. She listened for nearly ten minutes before getting aggravated.
    “Are you not enjoying the party?”
    The man who spoke was blonde with a mustache that curled on the ends. He was nearly as tall as Gabriel and of all the men in the little group, he was the least in love with his own voice. He hadn’t said much, listened mostly, so it was no surprise when he excused himself from the conversation and wrapped an arm around her waist and took her with him.
    “Thank you.” She laughed as they walked away. “I was beginning to think I’d be stuck there all night.”
    “Well, with this crowd, its just best to be rude. Most of them are. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around. I go to all these parties and know almost everyone.”
    “I’ve only just arrived in town a few weeks ago.”
    “Oh? Do you have family in the area?”
    She wasn’t sure how to answer. Did she tell him she was a mail-order bride whose groom didn’t want her? She avoided the question by asking one of her own. “I don’t believe I got your name.”
    “Ronald Douglas.”
    Where had she heard that name before? She didn’t get a chance to ponder the question. A noise that sounded like a feral animal filled the air before she was shoved away and Ronald Douglas was pinned to the wall behind him by a one hand. Anna blinked, stunned as the commotion around her grew and voices were raised.
    Gabriel had found her.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I leave you alone for half an hour and this is who I find you with?” He scoffed at her, pressed his hand around Ronald’s neck a bit harder and glared at her.
    “We were just talking.”
    “And then what?”
    She opened her mouth to answer but shut it. What was happening? Why was he so angry? Had she done something wrong? “Why are you doing this?”
    He turned to Ronald, who was for some reason, smiling. “I could snap your neck.”
    “Go ahead. You have nearly a hundred witnesses. They’ll hang you by the end of the week.” He looked in her direction. “Don’t worry. Someone will be sure to console your new friend.”
    Gabriel released his hold on him but it was only so he could hit him. Ronald’s head flew back and hit the wall with a dull thud before he slid to the floor.
    Anna gasped, shocked. “Why did you do that?”
    He didn’t answer. He grabbed her arm and pulled her through the house, out the front door and yelled for his carriage.
    “What is going on?” When he didn’t say anything, instead, searching the street of carriages, she jerked on her arm and pulled away. “Gabriel!”
    He turned on her, his face contorted into an angry mask. “You’re just like her.”
    “Like who?”
    He started pacing down the street before coming back. “I knew I made the right decision by not marrying you. You’re just another pretty face with a mouth full of lies and deceit.”
    His words cut like ice, her heart hurting with each barbed comment. He didn’t stop insulting her, his voice lowering to the point each word sounded as if it were dripping with hatred.
    She turned on her heel and started down the road, weaving through carriages and buggies and told herself she wouldn’t cry. It didn’t matter her night was ruined or the hem of her new dress was being dragged through dirt and whatever else lay in the road. Gabriel had hurt her with nothing more than a few hate filled words.
    She’d walked a good distance from Winter Place when she heard a carriage. Moving to the side of the road, she slowed down so it could pass but it stopped instead.
    “Get in.”
    She didn’t bother looking. She’d know that voice anywhere. She quickened her steps.
    He followed her for another block before he stopped, jumped to the ground and picked up her.
    “Let me go.”
    “As you wish.” He dropped her into the seat on the carriage and climbed in behind her, grabbing the reins with one hand and