Free Ride The Wild Wind (Time Travel Historical Romance) by Kimberly Ivey

eyes.”
    “No. I don’t want
to see this either.”
    “Do it.”
    “No!”
    “Woman, you test
the limits of my patience.”
    Her eyes flew
open. “Yeah? Well here’s a news flash for you, mister. You test my patience,
too.”
    “Lift now.”
    “No!”
    He growled deep in
his throat. “Tell me when you are ready.”
    “I’ll never be
ready to get on this freaking animal.”
    If she were not
injured he might have turned her across his knee for her childish behavior. “On
the count of three…one, two...”
    “No!”
    He tightened his
hold around her waist and she inhaled sharply. “Am I hurting you?”
    “No.”
    Exasperated, he
blew out a breath. What a difficult woman-child! “Put your left foot in the
stirrup.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Do it now.”
    Her lower lip
trembled. “But I’m scared.”
    He would not give
into female hysteria. “ Now.”
    “But you never
said where you were taking me.”
    “To a friend. She
will see that you receive food and proper clothing.”
    “If you’re lying
to me, so help me God, I’ll—”
    Not wanting to
hear any more, he lifted. She cried out, faltering in his arms.
    “No! Grab the
pommel. Quick!” Her fist feebly closed around it.
    “Shift your weight
to your good leg. I have you.”
    “You are so
freaking d-dead,” she choked out as she lifted. “I’m going to kill you for
this! Do you know that?”
    “Very well. Kill
me later.” He hefted her sore leg over Dinishwo’s back and she doubled over the
mount’s neck in obvious pain. He then swung up behind her, laid a tentative
hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
    “Hell no, I’m not
all right, but gee, thanks for asking.”
    The horse pranced
beneath their weight. Antonio stroked her arms with his palms. “Take your
time.”
    “Go to hell.”
    He chuckled. “I
probably will.”
    She sniffled.
“That really hurt you know.”
    “I’m sorry. There
was no other way. I have nothing else to bind your ribs with unless, of course,
you care to part with a portion of your skirt or blouse?”
    “Not on your life.
These are all the clothes I have in case you haven’t noticed.”
    “When you feel
able, slowly sit up.”
     
Momentarily, her spine straightened.
    “Lean against me,”
he commanded softly. When she did not budge, he eased her back, taking care not
to press on her sore ribs. Her bottom now rested snug against his crotch.
Another mistake.
    She turned her
face slightly, her soft red hair brushing his cheek and his body responded
instantly to the woman in his arms. A residual floral scent in her hair
reminded him of the fragrance he often smelled after his dreams of her.
    She squirmed in the
saddle, as if trying to get comfortable, driving her buttocks harder against
his groin. Unable to put a respectable distance between them, he grimaced at
their predicament.  “Is all this wiggling necessary?” He hadn’t meant to
sound harsh, but she could not possibly know the effect she was having on him.
     “I can’t get
comfortable. Your gun is poking me in the booty.”
    “You are not
wearing boots.”
    She groaned. “Oh
my God, not boots, silly. My booty. You know…my butt.”
    Strapped low on
his thigh, his revolver was no where nearher ‘booty’. He almost told
her so. “There is no extra room in the saddle. We’ve sixty rough miles ahead of
us. You had best get comfortable and quick.”
    “Sixty miles?” She
turned to look at him as much as she could. “Are you nuts? I can’t ride sixty
miles. Not like this.”
    “Would you rather
sit behind me and hang on?”
    She opened her
mouth to speak, then snapped it shut and shook her head no.
    “Then I suggest
you and your um… booty, prepare for a long and uncomfortable ride.”
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    They’d made
excellent travel time, arriving in Albuquerque
long before nightfall. Once at the brothel, the ladies whisked the red haired
woman away to clean her healing wounds and find fresh clothing. After taking a
quick