Rescuing the Heiress Read Online Free

smartest, most persuasive girl in San Francisco was going to get away with doing that.
    He sighed, realizing that Miss Tess Clark fit that flowery description to a T.
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    Tess settled back on the velvet tufted upholstery in the rear seat of the cabriolet and watched as they finally turned south on Van Ness and approached the center of the city. The streets in this district were well lit and broad enough to accommodate plenty of traffic, yet still seemed terribly crowded.
    Parallel sets of trolley tracks with a power line buried between them ran down the center of the thoroughfare. These lines sliced their way through the cobblestones in much the same way the cable for the cable cars did, except for the fact that the trolleys were driven by electric power. Traffic increased rapidly and included quite a few of the infernal motorcars that Michael had spoken so strongly against.
    Tess leaned forward and placed one gloved hand on the low back of the seat near his elbow while pointing with her other. “There’s an automobile. And two more. See? They seem to be much easier to maneuver, particularly over the ruts of the streetcar tracks, no matter how the driver approaches them.”
    â€œThat’s only because most buggy wheels are narrower,” he argued, carefully maneuvering the cabriolet between a parked dray and one of the modern streetcarsas it passed. “I can’t believe how some people drive with no concern for anyone else. It’s little wonder there are so many accidents these days.”
    â€œFather says the motorcars will put an end to that because there won’t be any horses to get frightened and bolt.” She noted how hard Michael was working to control her spirited mare in the presence of the unusual, sputtering vehicles. Some of the other teamsters were having similar difficulties. “See what I mean?”
    â€œAll I see is that there’s probably not going to be a good place to leave this rig near the pavilion,” he replied. “Would it be all right if I let you ladies off near the door and then looked for a spot around the corner? There should be more room on Market Street, as long as the drovers have their cattle rounded up and moved on by now.”
    â€œOf course,” Tess said, hoping her inflection wouldn’t inadvertently reveal a desire to remain near the handsome fireman. “You can stop anywhere. I see the banner. This is where we belong.”
    â€œIn your opinion.” Michael huffed. “I don’t believe I have ever seen so many women gathered in one place before. There must be thousands.”
    Tess tensed. “Wait. How will you find us again if we go inside without you?”
    â€œI don’t know. If you weren’t wearing that enormous hat I could probably spot you in the crowd by your pr— By your hair.”
    â€œYou were going to say pretty, weren’t you?” She smiled, amused by the way his cheeks grew more ruddyin the light from the streetlamps surrounding the enormous meeting hall.
    â€œIt would be wrong of me to mention such things, Miss Clark.”
    That made her laugh softly. “But I would find it delightful if you did. Does that embarrass you, Michael?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    He brought the buggy to a halt as close to the curb as possible, then quickly helped both young women alight and saw them to the curb before once again climbing into the driver’s seat.
    â€œTake off your hat after you get inside,” he called over the din of the crowd. “I’ll find you.”
    She knew that her eyes must be twinkling because she was keenly amused when she shouted back, “And how will you do that, sir?”
    Michael paused just long enough to lean down from his perch and say more privately, “By your beautiful, dark red hair.” Then he flicked the reins and the horse took off.
    Beside her, Tess heard Annie sigh. “Oh, my. That man’s smile could melt butter