Emmy (Gold Rush Brides Book 2) by Cassie Hayes Page B

nodded. Mason’s size always ‘encouraged’ many eyewitnesses to tell the truth, though he didn’t purposely try to intimidate anyone. Deep down, he was a peaceful sort of man, preferring talk to fighting. It was a shame not everyone believed the same.
    “Dang, where is that good-for-nothin’ Jake?,” said David. “S’pose the lunkhead fell in? He better hurry up or this rabbit will be burned to a crisp.”  
    Suddenly Mason was acutely aware that his deputy hadn’t returned. A patrol around a campsite like this shouldn’t have taken longer than getting camp set up, or at least the coffee brewed. Either he’d run into something — Mason hoped it wasn’t trouble — or he was off having a ‘necessary’ break. If that was the case, he’d just earned himself a good chewing out. But Mason didn’t think that’s what was going on. Jake knew enough to check in first before taking care of personal business.
    A rustle in the trees drew their attention and the muffled sound of a struggle got them to their feet. Mason didn’t have to look around to know both deputies had their pistols drawn and ready, just as he did. Could be that Kirby found them first or it could be a California lion looking for its own supper.
    “Let go of me, you brute,” someone shrieked in the darkness. Then Jake burst through the underbrush with a bundle of wriggling white fabric in his arms. He shoved the bundle on the ground and swiped a forearm across his sweaty brow. Red scratches on his cheek were already starting to puff up.
    “Found her about a quarter-mile back, Sheriff,” he explained as he tried to catch his breath. “That one’s so mad she could swallow a horn-toad backwards, let me tell ya!”
    Mason watched in awe as delicate pale arms and legs flailed around, trying to extricate their owner from the pile of white silk. Finally a mop of blond hair popped free and he was staring straight into the bright blue eyes of a she-devil.
    “You!” he roared at her, fury coloring his world red. “What in tarnation is this?!”
    Normally when he shouted at someone like that, the recipient was wise enough to cower, at least a little. Not so with Emmy Gibson. She raised her chin up at him defiantly, as if he didn’t scare her one tiny bit.
    “Yes, it’s me. Very observant, Sheriff Wilder. Now if one of you fine gentlemen would be so kind as to help me up…”
    All three of his deputies moved to help her — including Jake, of all people.
    “Stop!” he shouted. “Not one muscle, any of you. If Mrs. Kirby is man enough to ride out after a murderer, she’s man enough to stand up on her own.”
    “Don’t you dare call me that. That hound is not my husband!”
    Mason shrugged his indifference, but the black look on his face told the deputies he wasn’t kidding about helping her. She struggled to free herself from the tangle of her wedding dress, but finally managed to gain her feet, which she used to stalk over to him.
    “Your man there was quite rough with me, Sheriff,” she said, pointing at Jake. “I really think you should have a talk with him.”
    Mason couldn’t believe his ears. He wasn’t sure if he should laugh or shout. “Lady, you really are a piece of work. I should drag you back to Nevada City right now and throw you in a cell. With the door closed, this time!”
    She gave him a shrewd look. “But then you’d lose Roy’s trail altogether, and you wouldn’t want to do that. Furthermore, you can’t spare a single one of your deputies to escort me back to town because his troupe or gang or whatever you call it has four other men in it. You’re already outnumbered, if they’re all with him. No, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
    Mason’s head threatened to pop right off his shoulders. She was right, of course. He couldn’t spare the time or the manpower to make sure she got safely back to Nevada City. And he certainly couldn’t leave her to fend for herself out in the wild. A city girl like her