Free Bride Gone Bad by Sabine Starr

he hadn’t left anything behind, and then walked over to the door. “Ready to go?”
    â€œThat’s all you’re taking?”
    â€œI’m traveling light. You’ll need to do the same.”
    She nodded, looking about the area, as if reluctant to leave. “This is not so different from my room.”
    â€œNo table and chairs.” He chuckled as a new thought struck him. “No telling what Saul will add to the Temperance Tempest Room.”
    â€œNone of this seems real.”
    â€œIt’s happened fast.”
    â€œWhy me?”
    He looked at her, trying to see her as if for the first time. “You’re beautiful. You’re a lady. And there’s innocence about you. These are rare qualities out here where land and life ages you fast. Add an independent woman who dares invade male domains and you’ve got Temperance Tempest.”
    â€œIt’s fantasy. None of those qualities are me. I’m just a woman past her prime with a major affliction that’s caused a lot of problems.”
    He crossed the room in two strides and wrapped her in his arms. He held her tight, molding her to the length of him. He felt her tremble, but didn’t know if it was from anger, despair, or passion. He wanted her like he’d never wanted another woman. He wanted to heal her, teach her, love her till she believed in herself. But that wasn’t his mission, not right now.
    Stepping back, he lifted her chin with his fingertips, not daring to touch more or risk losing control. “In time, you’ll learn that you are the fantasy, not the reality that you’ve come to believe.”
    She shook her head, smiling slightly. “I do think you’d say about anything to get me to work for you.”
    He started to protest, but she held up her hand.
    â€œNot that I don’t appreciate your lovely words, but there’s no need. I’m committed. Let’s go pick up supplies and be on our way.”
    He couldn’t argue with her reality, but he had every intention of changing it. He put his saddlebags over one shoulder and held out his elbow. “Allow me to escort you to Adler Emporium.”
    She clasped his arm. “Lead onward, kind sir.”

Chapter 12
    Tempest preceded Lucky into Ludmila’s dry goods store, a deep space with glass cases and shelves of merchandise. Colors, shapes, and scents filled her senses. In one corner, two chairs were positioned on either side of a checkerboard set on top of a wooden pickle barrel. She wanted to explore every nook and cranny of the fascinating store, but she had to keep her mind on essentials.
    â€œGuten Morgen!” Ludmila called as she walked down the center aisle, wiping her hands on the white apron over her blue calico dress.
    â€œHello,” Tempest said. “Your store is wonderful. I’d like to stay here all day.”
    â€œWe’re in a hurry.” Lucky pointed toward the display of saddlebags. “She needs one of those.”
    Ludmila chuckled. “Men are always in a hurry when they step inside a dry goods store.”
    â€œUnlike a saloon,” Tempest said.
    â€œLadies, you need to understand that men are simple beings with simple tastes.” He gestured around the store. “I doubt we’d know what to do with most of this stuff.”
    Ludmila winked at Tempest. “Perhaps somebody here would be interested in the new Smith & Wesson Model 4 revolver, .32 cartridge, double-action, nine-shot, central fire, automatic cartridge ejector, twelve and a half ounces, three-inch barrel, blue plated, rubber stock for twelve dollars and fifty cents. If you prefer ivory stock, fourteen fifty. One hundred cartridges, a dollar fifty.”
    â€œLet me see it,” Lucky said eagerly. “Not that I’d change my S&W Model 3. I like the stopping power of a .44 and the fact that I can use the same cartridges in my rifle.”
    â€œThought I might be able to interest