Free Silver Nights With You (Love in the Sierras Book 1) by Sawyer Belle Page B

here with me, David. I appreciate your escort, even though we only met yesterday."
    "Don't trouble yourself over rules of etiquette out here, Lila," he said. "The west breeds a different kind of people. Pioneering takes the strong sort. It's a vicious fight for survival and we're all in it together. No one here minds that you're out with me, and they wouldn't think twice if you were here on your own either. Many respectable ladies live and work alone in this town." He smiled as he turned to face her. "We're much more liberal than you're accustomed to."
    "As refreshing as that is, Ellie seems to be a true guardian of etiquette where it concerns me."
    "Well, Ellie is a bit old-fashioned." He crossed his arms behind his back as he continued walking. "And somewhat of a hypocrite. She was no older than you when she turned up in the area without friend or family. And she's done just fine for herself not bowing to any social constructs."
    She found his words interesting, and the desire to question Ellie on her rise of stature was burning sharp in her mind. A woman without connection of any kind who could build a successful business was worthy of respect and admiration. The idea that there were more of these kinds of women in town proved stimulating enough to distract her from her purpose.
    When the wooden marquee of the city's newspaper came into view across the road, all the fury welled inside her once again. She stormed across the busy dirt road, dodging horses, carriages and wagons as if they were no more hindrance than a hot breeze. Several horses were tethered to wooden rails in front of the office. As she stepped onto the planks of the walkway, Samuel Clemens was emerging from the office with another gentleman at his side. When he saw her, the long fingers of his mustache tilted up in a smile.
    “Miss Cameron,” he said cheerfully. “Good morning to you.”
    “Good morning, indeed,” she mocked with her fists on her hips. “I came to congratulate you on your work of fiction.”
    “I’m afraid I don’t understand.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
    “Well, then, let me explain it for you,” she began. “You have grossly misrepresented the events of last evening. You’ve twisted my words, insulted my father, destroyed my character and have completely left out the facts necessary to make your article credible. You, sir, are no gentleman, and you are a liar!”
    Samuel scrunched up his nose and squinted. “How now, Miss Cameron? You speak with such inflammation! It is true, I am no gentleman. Burn me as you will. But as for your other claim, I contend my article was completely true.”
    “It was not. It was completely fact-less.”
    “Facts are not essential to truth,” he said with a shrug.
    “Of course they are.”
    “Nonsense,” he quipped. “Christ spoke in parables to illustrate truth, yet not one of his tales was factual.”
    “You are not the son of God,” she sneered. “You are a journalist whose sole duty it is to report facts. You made me look like an arrogant, reckless, self-absorbed, bloodthirsty...”
    “I made you look courageous.”
    “…wild, lacking good breeding, good manners, good sense and utterly obsessed with conflict.”
    “Oh no, madam,” he said with a laugh. “I didn’t make you out to be anywhere near that interesting.”
    “The people of this town are going to read your article and believe that’s who I am and what I did.”
    “Only for today,” he answered happily. “One thing you must learn about the newspaper business is that everyone loves a good story, but only for a day. Something else will come along to grab their attention tomorrow and you will be forgotten. I, myself, have already driven you from my mind. Now, if you’ll excuse me I am about to take lunch with my brother.”
    He walked off, leaving Lila to huff on her own. She watched his easy swagger, his unrepentant smile, and her fists curled. Every inch of good sense