Free Project Enterprise by Pauline Baird Jones

thing.
    â€œLet me go!”
    Didn’t see the point of holding her when he had her gun, so he did. She staggered a few feet, then faced him, all of her on defense. This Ani wore a dress and her hair had probably been up before he grabbed her. Now it hung to one side in an untidy, blonde mass. So this was how his Ani would look in a dress, as a woman. Had a few more curves than his—or Ani’d done something to minimize them. The idea intrigued—and gave him another reason to survive and make it to Marfa to claim his bride.
    â€œI’m not going back!”
    That got his mind back in the moment. “Back? To Marfa?”
    â€œWhere else? You can tell your boss I’m not marrying him no matter what he does!”
    The hairs on the back of his neck lifted. There’d been no sign of any man in Ani’s life in the other reality, but then she’d been dressed as a boy. “Where’s your Pa?”
    â€œMy Pa ?” Her brows rose. “My father is, well, he’s in Marfa and, as you well know, perfectly happy to let me pay his gambling debts.”
    Now the hairs went on high alert. “Who is this boss?” He smelled trouble incoming. Her brows arched higher. “Let’s pretend I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    She huffed out a sigh, half glanced around like she expected someone. “Doc Smith, of course. He runs Marfa since he got control of the ’tons.”
    Smith. He tried not to jerk at the name. It was a common one on Earth. Didn’t mean it was his Smith. Or even the ancestor of his Smith. But he was someone willing to force a woman into marriage.
    And he’d just sent Ani—this one’s twin—right to him.
    Chance opened his mouth to tell this version of Analisse that he had to leave, but they both heard the sound of a horse approaching at a fair pace. She tensed and he for sure tensed. Was this his Ani returning or the person Analisse expected?
    â€œAnalisse?” It sounded like Everly. Chance shifted into the shadows.
    Her shoulders slumped a bit, but her chin set in a way that reminded him of his Ani. “Please—” She cut off the rest of what she’d intended to ask, when Everly rode into sight and pulled his horse to a stop.
    â€œThis was a foolish move, girl. All you’ve done is put Roberto in danger, too.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” She tried to sound tough, but her voice quivered.
    â€œHe’s not coming. Doc knows about him. Had him arrested. He’s going to hang him in the morning if you don’t come back.”
    â€œIf I don’t marry him, you mean.”
    Everly shifted and looked away.
    â€œHe’ll kill him if you do marry him,” Chance said, stepping out of the shadows weapons ready. Didn’t matter if this was his Smith or a version, anyone who forced marriage on a woman wouldn’t keep his word.
    Everly jumped, making his horse skitter sideways.
    â€œDo you think I don’t know that,” she snapped, shoving her hair back. “But I have to try—”
    â€œThat’s wise—”
    â€œI can help,” Chance cut Everly off. If he was in the business of rescuing damsels, he couldn’t draw the line at just one, particularly when he suspected this one and had put his in the cross hairs of her problem.
    â€œWhy would you help us?”
    â€œYou remind me of someone I know.” If he were lucky, he’d save both damsels and settle a score, maybe get to be the hero instead of the bad guy.

    H ope kept her upright in the saddle for the long, silent ride through the night. The ghost lights, the arrangement of the mountains, and the lights from the Marfa settlement kept her on course until she ran on to the railroad tracks. She followed them after that, half dozing in the saddle. She saw the windmills first, helped by the rim of sun topping the mountains at her back. Ani reined in Delphine and considered. The one thing