The Firecracker Gets Her Man Read Online Free Page B

you so sweet, and I am leaving before I put my other foot in my mouth!” He hurried from the parlor and the house with the doctor’s laughter ringing in his ears.
    “That boy is head over heels for you, honey,” Caleb told his perplexed daughter. “Do you feel anything for him?” he questioned.
    “I think he is very handsome, Papa. I like him – a lot!”
    “That’s good. I think he is planning to court you once he captures Jared Cane.”
    “I am going to help him do that,” she whispered, and then they heard a crash from Caleb’s office. They took off running and found their patient lying on the floor.
    “Here, here! What are you trying to do, young man?” Caleb scolded as he helped him back into the bed.
    “They have my wife! I’ve got to help her!” he weakly protested.
    “Can you tell me what happened?” Rachel asked, and listened carefully as he haltingly told his story. He fell into a troubled sleep once again, and Rachel turned to her parent. “I have to go and tell Lance what happened.”
    “He said for you to stay here,” Caleb reminded her.
    “I know, but he could come across Jared Cane and his gang and be taken unaware. I must go, Papa. I will hide the fact I am a woman and I will be very careful, I promise.”
    “No, daughter!”
    “Papa, I must! You cannot go because of our patient, and we wouldn’t know who we could trust to protect Lance’s identity. You heard him tell us the sheriff is not happy with him right now, and I have always thought the man an incompetent fool! I really must go.”
    “Carry a gun, and for God’s sake, wear a hat and hide your hair!” Caleb reluctantly ordered. “I suppose I should warn you that Lance believes in spanking, and I promise you I shall not do a thing to stop him if he decides to take you across his knee and wear out his hand on your posterior.”
    “Papa! You really don’t think he would attempt to punish me like I am some naughty schoolgirl?” The thought truly gave her pause.
    “To quote him, ‘No female ever gets too old for a good spanking.’ I would think him quite capable of paddling the pants off of you if you push him too far, and since he has told you more than once to stay inside this house—”
    “But this is an emergency, Papa. Lance needs to know about this man’s wife! I am going to change and be on my way.”
    “Very well. Gray is in his stall, and he will be happy to see you are home.”
    “Gray! You didn’t sell him, Papa?” she asked, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her father had promised to sell her stallion if she ran off with that snake!
    “I couldn’t sell Gray, honey. I knew you would be back and I just couldn’t get rid of your horse. He loves you as much as you love him. I’m a real softie.”
    “You are a dear man, Papa, and I truly love you and I appreciate you so much more now that I have grown up. Thank you for Gray,” she tearfully proclaimed, and then hugged Caleb and gave him a kiss. “I am crying I am so happy!” she admitted, permitting herself to show her true emotions. Crying wasn’t something she did very often, but when she did cry, the emotion, whether happy like now, or sad, was very real.
    She hurried to run upstairs, and when she came down she was dressed in boys’ clothing, and wearing a floppy hat that had enough room to tuck up her hair, which she’d plaited into a very thick braid. The shirt and her jacket effectively hid her breasts, and the pants were baggy enough to hide the feminine shape of her backside. She wore a gun belt strapped around her waist, and her father knew her well enough to know she would use her gun to protect herself if necessary.
    “You be careful, little girl. I really don’t like this, you know.”
    “I know, Papa. I have to try and get help for that poor woman. If she is with Cane’s gang, she will need you too.”
    “Be careful!” Caleb repeated, giving her a fierce hug that hurt. When she squealed, he quickly released her. “I’m