Annie's Chance (Mail-Order Brides Of Prairie Meadow 3) by Maggie McCloud

Author:Maggie McCloud [McCloud, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, Victorian, 19th Century, Adult, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier & Pioneer, Western, Cowboys, Mail-Order Brides, Prairie Meadow, Series, Marriage Of Convenience, Father Unstable, Arranged Marriage, Payoff Debts, Gambling, Train Station, Secretly Writes, Harrowing Escape, Tragedy, Devastating Ordeal, Letter Failed, Fate Conspires, Agreement Canceled, Second Chance, Short Storys
Publisher: Maggie McCloud
Published: 2015-12-06T05:00:00+00:00

After supper that evening, James came over to help Annie load up her wagon for the return trip back to Emily’s. Jed watched them chatting together while he talked to Henry about plans for the following day.

‘It’s none of my concern who she talks to,’ he thought. But seeing Annie with another man did some funny things to his insides.

A couple of days of watching James spend time with Annie had Jed steaming. If James had been on his crew he wouldn’t still be there. But since James worked for Henry, there was not much he could do.

Things came to a head when he noticed James help Annie climb into her wagon and leave his hand holding onto hers longer than Jed thought was necessary. He came stomping over to the wagon.

“Haven’t you got chores to take care of, Lawson?” demanded Jed.

James spun around, “What concern is it of yours? I don’t work for you.”

“Well, you’re on my spread right now, so I reckon I have some say. Now get moving.”

James eyed Jed warily. He didn’t want to push his luck and get fired. He turned to Annie, tipped his hat and said, “Good night now, Miss.”

Annie couldn’t believe what she’d just witnessed. Annoyed, she climbed back off of her wagon and confronted Jed.

Hands on hips she angrily asked, “Why did you do that, Mr. Nickels? Mr. Lawson was just being friendly and helpful.”

“You shouldn’t be mixing with the hired help, Miss Sampson. You don’t know a thing about him and neither do I. He just showed up one day looking for work,” Jed replied with arms folded.

“Mr. Nickels, you have no say in who I talk to or in what I do. You gave up that right some time ago,” said Annie heatedly. Turning her back on Jed, she added, “You forget that I need to make my own way now. So please mind your own business, Mr. Nickels.”

“Miss Sampson, you’re right in saying that it’s not my business,” Jed replied hesitantly, “But I, I do feel some responsibility for you. It’s because of me that you’re here at all. You haven’t lived in the west long enough to understand the way things work out here.”

Turning back to Jed, Annie answered, “I appreciate your concern Mr. Nickels, but you are not responsible for me. You made your feelings clear. So let me make mine clear as well.”

She took a deep breath before adding, “I chose to come her to Prairie Siding and I have chosen to stay. So please, in future do not involve yourself in my life.”

Climbing back up into the wagon, she picked up the reins and nodded at Jed, “Good night, Mr. Nickels.”

Jed could only stand there and watch as she drove off. He knew he had no right to meddle in Annie’s affairs, but whether she liked it or not, he intended to keep an eye on her and on James Lawson.

With Annie out of sight, he turned back towards the barn. Henry’s men were just pulling away in their wagon, to head back to their bunkhouse for the night.

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