Free See Bride Run! by Unknown Page A

Darla have left her? Especially knowing she didn’t have a dime to her name? She didn’t even have enough money to call anyone. Besides, who would she call?
    “You can drink it down with a cold beer, and that headache’ll be history.”
    Annie saw a car turn off the highway into the parking lot, and she prayed it was Darla’s. She almost went weak with relief when it turned out to be a Jeep driven by Sam Ballard. He pulled up beside her.
    “Out slumming tonight, Annie?”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “If you’re looking for trouble, this is the place to find it.” Sam slammed the Jeep into park and climbed out. Annie noticed the stranger’s friend had come up and both of them towered over Sam.
    “I asked you what the hell you’re doing and who these men are?” he almost shouted.
    Annie’s jaw dropped. “I don’t have to take this—”
    The man next to Annie nudged her. “Do you know this guy?”
    “Yes, I—”
    “I happen to be her husband,” Sam said, his words clipped and precise. “She has a new baby at home waiting to be nursed. She told me she was running to the store for disposable diapers.”
    “Oh, well—” The man looked from Sam to Annie and back to Sam. “Hey, man, we don’t want to cause no trouble between married folks. Me and my brother was just passing through town.” He regarded Annie. “You should be home with your kid, lady.” He looked at the other man. “C’mon, let’s get outta here.”
    Annie was glad it was dark and nobody could see the crimson color on her face. “That was despicable,” she told Sam.
    “Would you rather see me get beat up by the rhino brothers?” He didn’t give her time to answer. “Where’s Darla, and what the hell are you doing in a dark parking lot with some men you don’t know?”
    “I don’t know where Darla is, and I don’t have to answer your questions.”
    “Great. Then I’ll just leave you here to fend for yourself.” He turned and climbed back inside the Jeep.
    “Wait!” Annie hurried over. “Darla’s car is gone. She took off with some guy named Hank.”
    “So you decided to wait for her in a parking lot filled with drunk rednecks and bikers. Great idea, Annie,” he said, sarcasm ringing loud in his voice. “Now I see why your father had to make your decisions.” He regretted his choice of words the minute they left his mouth, the very second he saw Annie’s face fall. But, dammit, she could have gotten in bad trouble there.
    Sudden tears stung her eyes. “You can just go straight to hell for all I care.” She started walking.
    He pulled up beside her. “I’m sorry, Annie. That was a lousy thing for me to say. Get in the car, and I’ll take you back to Darla’s.”
    “I’d rather walk.”
    “You can’t walk. It’s dangerous this time of night.”
    “I can take care of myself. Contrary to what you might think,” she added angrily.
    They had reached the highway. “I’ll bet you don’t even know how to get to Darla’s trailer.”
    Annie wasn’t listening. It had been such a miserable day, not to mention humiliating as hell, and her head felt as though it would explode. She had spent the better part of the evening wondering what she was going to do with her life and cursing the fact that she hadn’t taken charge long ago. The last thing she needed was for Sam Ballard to show up and rub her nose in it.
    “Annie, I’m warning you, either get in the Jeep, or I’ll personally put you in.”
    She kept walking.
    Sam gunned his engine and parked a good distance ahead of her. He climbed out, then slammed the door so hard, his Jeep rocked on its wheels. Teeth gritted, he closed the distance between him and Annie, then, without warning, hefted her up and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked and squealed like a stuck pig.
    “Shut up, dammit!” he ordered. “Folks’ll think I’m kidnapping you.” She screamed louder, and he gave her a sound whack on the behind.
    Annie saw red. She kicked her legs and