Bride On The Run (Historical Romance) by Elizabeth Lane Page B

would be at his mercy.
    He was waiting for her to speak. She could feel his gaze on her, burning through her tough facade, leaving her naked and defenseless. She had to counter now, while she was still able.
    “I know this sounds crass,” she began, “but you didn’t, by chance, save any of your wife’s clothes, did you? I could really use something to wear.”
    She felt his own defenses go up with suddenness of a slamming door. “No,” he said, “there’s nothing. As soon as I’m able, I’ll ride one of the mules intotown and pick up a dress for you. Until then you’ll just have to make do with what you’ve got.”
    “I’ve got nothing !” Yes, it was working. He was becoming so annoyed with her that, any moment now, he would get up and go storming back to the house. “My only dress is ruined! You can’t expect me to walk around all day in this !” She tugged at the faded flannel nightshirt for dramatic effect. “I demand that you find me something decent to—”
    “Pa!” Josh’s urgent voice rang out along the riverbank. An instant later the boy burst into sight, out of breath from running.
    “What is it?” Malachi had already sprung to his feet.
    “There’s somebody coming down the road, on two horses!” Josh panted. “Can’t tell for sure, but it looks a lot like Eddie Johnson and his pa!”
    Malachi muttered something under his breath, turned, and strode off toward the house. Anna stared after him, her pulse suddenly racing. For all the discomforts of this remote canyon, at least she had felt safe here. Now that precious sense of security had vanished.
    She fought down rising waves of panic. Why hadn’t it occurred to her that there would be visitors? Why hadn’t she thought about it beforehand and planned what she would do?
    Now it was too late.

Chapter Seven
    A nna’s stomach churned with apprehension as she rose to her feet, then hesitated, glancing upstream. Maybe she could find some rocky shelter and hide out until the unexpected guests were gone. Or maybe, if she could make it to the bedroom without being seen, she could crawl into the bed, burrow under the quilts and play sick for the duration of the visit. No, Anna decided swiftly, neither plan would work. She might succeed in keeping out of sight, but then she would have to answer to Malachi.
    Still uncertain, she gazed at the river, her fingers twisting a loose button on the nightshirt. Judging from what she’d overheard the night before, Sam Johnson was neither a lawman nor a bounty hunter. Perhaps she had no reason to fear him. But there was no way to be sure. The fact that he was Malachi’s friend didn’t mean he hadn’t seen the Wanted poster. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t turn her in for the reward money.
    “Hey, come on!” Josh came bounding back along the trail, waving his straw hat. “We’ve got company—my friend Eddie and his pa! They’ll want to meet you!”
    “I’m not exactly dressed for company,” she protested, hoping he would leave her alone.
    “You look nice and slick, like a wet squirrel! Come on!”
    Anna forced herself to follow him, her footsteps heavy with dread and dismay. Unless she wanted to throw herself into the river and drown, there was no way out of this mess. All she could do was hope she would not be recognized.
    As they emerged from the willows, Josh seized her hand and tried to tug her forward. “Wait,” she insisted, halting behind the house. “Give me a minute to catch my breath.”
    “You haven’t been running.”
    “Hush.” Anna pressed herself against the adobe wall and edged forward. Sam Johnson and his adolescent son were just dismounting from their mud-coated horses. Malachi had opened the corral gate and was leaning lightly against it, one boot resting on the lower rail. Only the twitch of a muscle in his cheek betrayed his unease.
    “Had a helluva time getting the horses over that slide!” Sam Johnson had a ruddy, bearded face and a belly that hung over the