Ellie: Runaway Brides of the West - Book 13 by Zina Abbott

Author:Zina Abbott [Abbott, Zina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-21T23:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 11

~o0o~

Medicine Bow, Wyoming Territory – July 6, 1879

R and stepped off the train in Medicine Bow and looked around. The town seemed unusually quiet, even for a Sunday. With Isaac, who held the lead for the mule Ellie rented, and Frank following, he tossed the canvas drawstring bags he carried over his shoulder. He already told the two his first stop would be the mercantile while they took care of business at the livery.

“We should have come Friday to celebrate Independence Day.” Frank stepped up next to him. “Where I come from, that is one of the biggest holidays of the year. What did we do? After working all day like it was any other day, we sat around the campfire and ate beans with beef jerky that Ellie cooked until it was soft and stringy. Like any other day.” Scowling, he folded his arms and shook his head.

“Because I don’t have the luxury of allowing us to take a day off to celebrate a holiday. I am expected to return to the university in September to teach, Frank. If this quarry yields good results, I will ask for a year of sabbatical leave starting during the spring semester. That way, I can spend the entire season supervising a dig. For this summer, our time here is limited. I explained all this when I organized this expedition. If you consider the Independence Day holiday that important, you can do your celebrating once you return to Iowa.” Clenching his teeth, Rand kept his gaze forward. For most of the previous week, Frank had complained about not taking a day off to commemorate the Fourth of July. Rand had gotten tired of hearing it.

“You should have at least allowed Ellie to come today.” Frank quickly stepped and then turned so that he blocked Rand’s path. His fists clenched at his sides, he leaned toward Rand. “I could have shown her around town. Even though it would be late, she and I could have had our own celebration.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to celebrate with you.” Rand stopped and lifted his chin as he straightened his spine. His jaw tight, he studied Frank, the challenge in the man’s stance and expression unmistakable. “She is my fiancée, Frank. You will not go near her.”

“Who’s going to stop me? You?”

“Frank, she is my fiancée. What is there about that you do not understand?” Inside, he felt resentment build. First, he yielded to Henry and Lester’s pleading to allow her to join them as a cook. Then he accepted Lester’s argument that, in order to protect Ellie’s reputation, he had to claim her. This is why—because there are Franks in the world.

“Oh, stop lying, Doc.” As he turned his head aside and twisted his body, Frank threw one hand in the air. Glowering, he turned back to glare at Rand. “With the way you ignore her, who do you think believes the nonsense that you two are engaged? You’re hardly ever with her.”

“No, I don’t continually follow her around.

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