Free One Pink Rose; One White Rose; One Red Rose by Julie Garwood Page A

Adam’s insistence, he liked hearing Emily tell it much better. Her animated expressions made the characters seem real.
    He happened to glance over at One-Eyed Jack then, saw what he interpreted to be a genuine smile on his face, and knew that Emily really had won the bet fair and square after all. The proof was hanging on her every word. Hanrahan was definitely smitten.
    â€œIf he didn’t run away, what happened to him?” Millie asked.
    â€œHe refused to give a pound of flesh, and the moneylender refused to let him out of his promise or give him any more time, and so a trial was held to determine the outcome.”
    John slapped his hand down on the tabletop. “Leave it to the law to interfere.”
    â€œAn attorney saved the man, of course,” Travis said.
    â€œWho just happened to be a woman,” Emily reminded him. “Her name was Portia.”
    She and Millie shared a smile over that interesting fact before she continued.
    â€œI’m wanting to know what in tarnation happened to the man who borrowed the money,” Millie said. “What did the judge have to say?”
    â€œHe decided the agreement was legal and binding and that the moneylender was entitled to his pound of flesh.”
    â€œI knew it, Millie. Didn’t I tell you a promise made is a promise that’s got to be kept?”
    â€œYes, you did, John.”
    â€œBut,” Emily hastily added before she was interrupted again, “it was also ruled that while the moneylender could take his pound of flesh, he couldn’t take a single drop of blood.”
    John rubbed his jaw while he mulled the judgment over in his mind. “Well now, I don’t believe you can take any flesh without taking some blood.”
    â€œIt’s a fact you can’t,” Emily explained. “If the moneylender had been more specific,” she said with a meaningful glance at Travis, “the outcome might have been different, but he wasn’t specific, and neither were you with our wager, Travis. I won fair and square.”
    He admitted defeat, told her there were no hard feelings, and even suggested that she gloat if she felt like it.
    â€œWant me to kiss you to prove I’m not mad?”
    He realized he’d embarrassed her as soon as she lowered her gaze to the tabletop and shook her head at him. He reached over and put his hand on top of hers.
    â€œYou’ve got a lot in common with Portia,” he whispered. “But I don’t think she blushed when she won her case. You have her passion though.”
    Emily was pleased by the compliment. She wasn’t given time to thank him, however, for a loud thumping sound interrupted all of them.
    Someone was trying to break through the front door. John jumped up and ran to the entrance. Travis was right behind him.
    â€œAre the men from Murphy’s ranch here, Millie?” Emily asked.
    â€œFrom the way they’re banging on my door, I’d have to say it’s them all right.” She hurried over to Emily’s side and latched onto her elbow. “You can finish eating in the kitchen tonight. You’ll feel much safer, and Travis will make sure the ranch hands stay in my dining room. I don’t know how I’m going to get you up those stairs though, but I’ll let John worry about that. Come on, girl. This isn’t the time to dally. Lord, I sure hope they aren’t all liquored up. There’s nothing worse than a drunk,” she added with a shiver. “And if any of them steal my valuables, I swear I’ll shoot them myself. Oh, I hope they aren’t drunk.”
    Millie really was frightened. Emily wasn’t about to take any chances. She picked up her plate of stew, followed Millie into the kitchen, and then offered to help her get the ranch hands’ plates ready.
    â€œYou sit on down at the table and eat. I’ll see to the chore after I put some more biscuit dough into my oven. After you’ve