The Rancher's Rules Read Online Free

bring her along, it’s really not much of a honeymoon then, is it?”
    “I had thought to ask Zeke and Ruth to have her to stay, but they’ve got Ruth’s mother and sister visiting for a few weeks and don’t have the room.” Tom paused. “Would you at least think about it before you say no?”
    Rafe was rubbing his whiskered jaw the whole time Tom was talking. He really hated to turn Tom down. In Rafe’s mind, Tom had helped him out a whole lot more than Rafe would ever be able to repay, not that Tom ever even thought that way. How could he say no? He couldn’t. He looked straight at Tom and his brow furrowed. “Just so long as she understands that she needs to mind me.” Rafe may as well lay the law down now.  He was, as always, surprised at how easily Tom seemed to cope with whatever was thrown his way.
    He always took things in his stride. Tom didn’t seem much bothered by Annie’s behavior. Or her sassy mouth and penchant for wearing men’s clothes. He actually seemed almost amused by her. He definitely wouldn’t take a strap to her backside, or even his hand for that matter. Tom didn’t seem that inclined toward physical discipline, unlike his best friend. Rafe figured that, from what little he knew of Jenny already, she’d probably never give Tom a reason to even raise his voice to her, let alone take her across his knee. They really did seem perfect for each other.
    Annie, though, almost seemed to require a man with a very firm hand. She seemed the type to just run wild if left to her own devices. She sure wouldn’t be running wild while she was in Rafe’s care. He would make sure of that even if he had to tan her backside every day that Tom and Jenny were away. Heck, she wouldn’t even get away with slamming a door when he was in charge of her.
    Tom smiled and clapped Rafe on the back. “Jenny and I both appreciate this, Rafe.” Tom’s smile was wider than a mile. “Now, how about some of that pie?”
    * * * * *
    Rafe burst through the side door into the kitchen and dumped Annie from his shoulder none-too-gently onto her butt on the kitchen floor. “Just what the hell did you think you were doin’ in there?” Rafe’s voice could probably be heard in the next state, Annie thought.
    Rafe still couldn’t quite get over the shock of walking into the bunkhouse to find Annie playing poker with some of the hands – and from the first looks of it, winning to boot! But, of course, that wasn’t the worst of it. Annie seemed completely oblivious to the way two of the men were paying extra special attention to her, and not because of the cards she held. They were seasonal ranch hands, not regulars. Rafe didn’t know them all that well, and what he did know, he didn’t like very much. They were not to be trusted as far as he was concerned, and she was lucky Rafe walked in on them when he did. Tom and Jenny weren’t gone a full day and she was already causing trouble for him.
    “Me?” Annie was shocked. She jumped up from the floor and got right in Rafe’s face, returning his angry glare with her own. She didn’t do nothin’ wrong as far as she was concerned. And she had had a full house when he interrupted their game. “What the hell do you mean – me?”
    “Watch your mouth!” Rafe warned. He was so angry he could spit and was in no mood right now for any of her sass. No mood at all.
    “Oh, so it’s fine for you to cuss but not me? Do I have that right?”
    There was the sass. She sure as shootin’ didn’t know what was good for her, this little girl, and she was gonna be real sorry she mouthed off to him. Real sorry, real soon. Rafe grabbed Annie as he pulled out a chair and had her across his lap before she even knew what he was about. He then began spanking her backside in earnest.
    “What the hell?” Annie screamed. “Stop it! Stop it right now!” Annie thrashed about trying to free herself, but Rafe Stanton was big and all those muscles apparently weren’t just for show. He