Desperado by Sandra Hill

this as any other landing within enemy lines,” she said, all business now.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou know. The Army survival manual. Live by your wits, but rely on basic skills.”
    Rafe groaned. “Here we go again.”
    She tried to recall the specific instructions. “Make decisions quickly. Improvise. Adapt. Remain cool, calm, and collected. Be patient. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” She felt really good about remembering so much from the manual . . . until she looked at Rafe.
    He was shaking with laughter. “You are a real piece of work, Prissy. Do you really believe all this crap?”
    She stiffened. “Okay, Mr. Know-It-All, what’s the plan?”
    â€œFirst, we sleep together on this blanket tonight.”
    â€œOh, Lord, we’re back to that again.” And the tingle on her palm raced up her arm, out to her breasts, and then, slam dunk, down to her groin.
    â€œTrust, Helen. Remember?”
    She eyed him suspiciously.
    â€œWe have to pretend we’re married. No, don’t look at me like that. I don’t mean make love, or put on a show for these creeps. Although, if you want to make love, I’m willing.”
    â€œCut it out, Rafe.”
    â€œI’ll try,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “Anyhow, what we need is time. Their belief that we’re married will put them off for a little while. That, and your demonstration of how you’ll karate chop their privates if they touch one hair on your . . . hmmm . . . you know, not your chinny-chin-chin.”
    She inhaled sharply at his vulgarity.
    He didn’t notice her reaction and went on. “We can make our move tonight, after they fall asleep. This is as good a place as any to ditch them.”
    â€œAnd head back to our landing site?”
    â€œUh, not right away,” he said evasively.
    â€œBut, Rafe, we have to be careful. Don’t forget that they believe you’re the Angel Bandit, and there’s a price on your head. Geez, in this primitive time period, the authorities might really hang you.”
    He waved her concerns aside. “I’ll be careful, but I can’t go back right away.” He avoided looking at her directly.
    â€œWhy not? Spill it, Rafe. What exactly do you have in mind?”
    â€œOh, hell! You’re not gonna like this—”
    â€œTell me,” she demanded icily.
    He held her eyes defiantly. Helen could bitch and moan all she wanted, but he’d be damned if he backed down from this one. It was too important. “If I have the dumb luck to land in 1850, I’d be a fool not to turn it into good luck, and . . .”
    â€œAnd?”
    Rafe hesitated, watching Helen’s stubborn chin lift to the sky. He’d been avoiding this moment, but he couldn’t put it off any longer. “And I’m headed for the goldfields. We’ve landed in the middle of the Gold Rush, for God’s sake. I’m not going back to 2015 without a load of gold in my pockets.”
    She stood indignantly. “Money again? Everything comes back to material goods for you, doesn’t it? Is there anything more important to you than money?”
    His eyes traveled over her body in a slow, smoldering sweep. “Well, there is one thing.”
    â€œForget I asked.” She glared at him. “What about me? What am I supposed to do while you gallivant off to prospect?”
    He smiled optimistically. “You gallivant along with me. We’ll be partners. We can share a claim. It’ll be fun, Helen. Really. An adventure. We’ll get rich together.”
    She rolled her eyes. “How long?”
    â€œJust a few weeks. Maybe less.”
    â€œWhat if I refuse to go?”
    â€œI’m taking my harness with me. You can do whatever you want.” Actually, he cared a whole lot about what she decided, and he would never leave her behind, no matter what he’d just implied. He’d even force her to