The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance by Tammy Andresen

her fear of the water entirely as she grabbed the rope and headed up after Tom and Mary Beth. She turned to see Mack climbing behind her.
    As she crested the rail, she could see Mary Beth with a pistol in the man’s face. Tom stood a few feet back with his gun drawn and a smile spreading across his face. Annie had never noticed how handsome Tom was when he smiled.
    “You took every penny I had saved for a house, and you took off without a word,” she was yelling.
    “It’s my right as your husband―“
    “It ain’t your right to abandon me without a penny. I had slaved for that money while you were out drinkin’. You’re paying me back and you’re signing for a divorce.” The gun waved in his face again.
    Annie noticed several barely dressed women and all at once, she realized they were at a brothel. She looked at Mack with wide eyes but he only gave her a devilish smile. Several of the women were staring at him with undisguised interest. A few looked more than interested. Annie took a step closer to him, feeling a little jealous at their attention.
    Mary Beth could only look at the man in front of her. “Not a letter since the note saying you were going. What kind of man does that?” Her voice was only growing louder as she pulled papers out of her satchel. “Is there an inkwell somewhere on this ship?”
    “Sure sugar, come right this way,” one of the other women volunteered.
    “Thank you very ki―“ Mary Beth finally seemed to notice her surroundings. Tom stepped up next to her.
    Albert took the momentary silence to say his piece. “I ain’t signin’ those papers and I ain’t―” Albert stopped dead.He took the barrel of his pistol and shoved it up Albert’s right nostril. “Shut up.” Tom’s face was only inches from Albert’s. “Mary Beth, how much money did he take?”
    “One hundred and fifty dollars.”
    Tom nodded. “Empty his pockets. If he’s here, he’s got some money.”
    Mary Beth dove her hand into his pants pocket. In a second, she came out with handful of gold. She sucked in her breath. “You can’t steal from me,” Albert croaked as Tom pressed the gun further up his nose.
    “New plan,” Tom announced. “Albert, you’re coming with us. Ladies, Albert will be back here before nightfall but he’s got some papers to sign and some debts to settle.”
    Albert looked ready to protest but Tom gave the pistol another shove against his nose.
    Mack and Annie headed down the ladder first. Mack kept his pistol trained on Albert as he came down the ladder.
    “This is kidnapping,” Annie whispered.
    Mack gave a small nod. “If there was any law I’d be worried but we’ll return him right here and no one will say a word.”
    Annie bit her lip. Albert reached the boat and Tom jumped in right behind him. Mary Beth finished the group. Mack moved to the middle to row while Tom kept his pistol trained on their prisoner.
    “We were attacked by Injuns this mornin’, Albert. Killed three myself and I ain’t in a pleasant mood, so you are going to do some good listening to Miss Mary Beth and you’re not gonna say too much. And then you’re gonna hand over some gold and sign some papers. Do all that, and we will deliver you right back here in a few hours. Don’t do it and, well…theft is a serious crime around here. Vigilante law says I can dole out your punishment.”
    Albert paled several shades. He reached into his pocket to hand over the gold but Mary Beth waved her hand. “I’m not a thief. We will weigh it and I will take only what you owe me. Then I never want to see you again for the rest of my life.”
    They reached the shore and Mack tied Albert’s hands behind his back. “Rake and Annie, keep him in your sights. Tom and Mary Beth, I want to talk to you.”
    The three stepped over to the side and two minutes later, Mack was gone. Tom rejoined the group with Mary Beth. Rake holstered his pistol, growling, “I don’t like this one bit.”
    Annie looked up at him in