The Minx Miner

by Janelle Daniels

  Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself up from the bank, grabbed her backpack, and moved toward a clearing that wasn’t far off. Hopefully, she’d find dry kindling and could make a fire.

  That was her first priority right now. After that, she’d scout out the area, make sure no one was around, and then start testing the water.

  With any luck, she’d find a rich deposit soon and then head to the nearest town to claim it.

  As long as she focused on her list of tasks, everything would be all right. She was going to make this work.

  There was no going back now.

  Logan Walburn rode across his land without seeing any of it. His mind swirled, overwhelmed by the news that the claim his father and mother had founded, one of the oldest and richest in Promise Creek, Montana, had a second mother lode.

  It was astounding, mind blowing, and he didn’t know how to process it.

  His mother and father had brought him here when he was just a child, hoping to strike their own fortune.

  And they had.

  Neither of them could have known how much gold was concentrated on their land, how rich they’d become. Unfortunately, his father had never realized it, dying when Logan was eight years old.

  But his mother, the strongest person he knew, had somehow held the land and fought off every prospector who’d tried to take it from her. She was a woman with grit, and he’d never met her equal.

  No matter what problems she’d faced, no matter the difficulties, she’d held strong. And once he was old enough, he’d stood right beside her, protecting their legacy.

  His mother didn’t manage the mine anymore. He’d taken on all the responsibility of running it, allowing his mother to live the life of peace and luxury she deserved.

  He just wished she would lavish herself with a few more luxuries. Most of the time she acted as though she still had to watch every penny she spent. But those days were long past.

  He couldn’t wait to tell her about this new finding. But with the exciting news came hard decisions. Everyone would know soon, and this type of find would bring people wanting to take it.

  They’d need to add extra precautions and be watchful, wary. He just hoped they had enough time to put things in place before the scavengers came.

  He looked up at that thought, his eyes narrowing at a small trail of smoke next to the river. He stopped his horse, contemplating it, and finally decided it had to be a trespasser.

  Grimly, he took the rifle out of his saddle holster, grateful he’d taken it on the impromptu ride. Whoever it was would regret crossing onto his land.

  As he approached the tree line, he slowed his mount, quietly making his way through the brush to the trespasser’s campsite. He stopped for a moment, watching for movement, but when there was nothing, he moved forward into the clearing, dismounting quietly while still holding his weapon at the ready.

  The fire was dying, but there was a brown, new–looking pack next to it. He was tempted to go through the items inside, but he didn’t want the owner to spot him.

  He scanned the area, still seeing no sign of the trespasser, so he walked toward the water, finding a young man, possibly a boy, panning for gold.

  Anger wove through him. This was his land.

  He cocked the hammer back, and the sound pierced the air.

  The boy froze, but before he could turn around, Logan stopped him. “Don’t make any fast moves.”

  The boy raised his hands in the air.

  “Good. Now, stand up and turn around slowly. Keep your hands in the air.” Logan hadn’t anticipated capturing a poacher on his land and the subsequent ride to the sheriff, but it looked as though he’d need to detour into town.

  As the trespasser stood up, Logan noticed the denim pants and shirt covered a slim figure. Definitely a boy. “Turn around.”

  The boy hesitated, and Logan took a step forward. “I said, turn around.”

  As if realizing he had no choice, he turned but kept his face lowered so Logan could only see the cap on his head. “You’re trespassing.”

  The boy’s hand clenched into a fist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this land was taken.”

  His voice was higher than Logan expected, but he didn’t believe a single word. “How could you not know? This claim is well known to everyone in the territory.”

  He shrugged. “I’m not from this area.”

  That hardly mattered. “It’s a crime to prospect on other people’s land. I’ll be turning you over to the sheriff.”

  “Please don’t! I’m sorry. I’ll just go. Please.”

  His stomach dropped, realizing that even a young boy wouldn’t speak that way. Lowering his gun, he marched over and ripped the trespasser’s hat off.

  Thick, dark curls cascaded down her shoulders, settling at her waist. He gasped. “You’re a woman!”

  Hazel eyes connected with his, sparking with intelligence and fire. “I am.”

  He gazed at her form, wondering how he’d missed the curves of her hips and chest or where her shirt nipped at her waist. In no way was this a masculine form, and he swallowed hard, forcing his eyes away.

  When he looked at her eyes again, she arched a brow, completely calm after his perusal. If he’d done that to any of the women in town who’d chased after him, they would’ve gone into hysterics.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, trying to revert to neutral ground.

  “As I said, I didn’t realize this was your land. If I’d known it was already claimed, I wouldn’t have dared.” She gestured to the area around them. “There was no one around, and I assumed it was free.”

  He frowned. “The territory is vast, but all the land around town is claimed. You’d have to know that.”

  She bit her lip and shook her head. “I didn’t realize I was even near a town.”

  “Then where did you come from? You couldn’t have just dropped out of thin air.”

  Her lips trembled as if she were trying to hold back a smile, but he couldn’t imagine why a person would laugh in such circumstances—unless she was daft.

  But she didn’t look crazy.

  She smoothed her features and stood a little taller. “I didn’t realize I was so near town because the stagecoach I was on was attacked. I jumped to escape, unaware of where I was.”

  His jaw dropped, and he quickly looked over her again. “And you’re well? You suffered no injuries?”

  She shifted. “I rolled as I hit the ground. And I made sure to jump on soft-looking grass.”

  He didn’t think such a thing would make much of a difference. But if what she said was true, it was a miracle she’d survived. “What happened to the other passengers? The driver?”

  She winced. “I don’t know.”

  “Did no one else jump?”

  “Not with me.”

  Realizing she wasn’t a threat, he hooked the rifle strap over his shoulder so it rested behind him. Her eyes widened at the move, and she did a little perusing of her own, her gaze lingering on his shoulders and chest before moving all the way down and back. Her eyes were warmer as they met his, and then she blushed. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

  “Couldn’t help what?” His mouth was dry. Why had such a thing affected him so much?

  “Uh…” She gestured at him. “I mean, never mind.” He thought he heard her mumble, “Not appropriate, Gemma.”

  He cleared his throat, trying to focus on the situation again. “Where were you heading? On the stagecoach?”

  “Which town is nearby?”

  “Promise Creek.”

  She held up her index finger. “That’s right where I was going. How fortunate!”

  He frowned. “What business do you have there? Were you traveling alone?”

  “Oh, um.” She took a moment before answering. “Yes. I was alone. I’m here as a mail-order bride.”

  A lead ball settled in his gut. She’d already agreed to marry another? He didn’t know why the news should affect him so, but it did. Fo
r the first time, a woman had intrigued him enough to want to know more about her. He’d courted a few of the women in town—mainly to appease his mother—but none had interested him.

  The woman before him was gorgeous, confident, and, from the looks of things, knowledgeable. That wasn’t her first time panning, and the fact she was out here, doing it alone, spoke volumes about her character.

  He cleared his throat. “Who is your fiancé?”

  “My fiancé…” She spoke slowly. “My fiancé is…” She turned away and rubbed her head.

  He frowned. “Is something the matter?”

  “No. I feel fine. Maybe a little headache.” She looked at him. “The thing is…I don’t remember who he is.”

  “You don’t remember who you’re supposed to marry?” He couldn’t imagine such a thing.

  She pressed her lips together. “Yes. We didn’t write very many letters before I set out this way. And you see, with the stagecoach robbery, my trunk was taken as well. My letters with his name were in them.” She looked away as if embarrassed.

  “I see.” Had she hit her head, lost her memory, and just didn’t recall the injury? “You can’t remember anything? His profession? The location of his home?”

  “No. All I remember is Promise Creek. That’s where I’m supposed to be. I know it.”

  A terrible part of him, one he pushed away the moment he realized what was happening, was glad she couldn’t remember. If she couldn’t remember, she didn’t truly care for her intended.

  But people married for reasons other than affection all the time. This woman was off-limits to him no matter how attracted he was.

  She might not remember who she was supposed to marry, but Logan bet the man waiting for her did. The minute she stepped into town, her fiancé would claim her. “If you’d like, I can take you to town,” he offered. It was the right thing to do.

  Her head jerked up. “No! I mean. No, thank you. I’m not ready to meet him yet.”

  “I don’t understand.” He looked at her clothing again and made assumptions. “If you need proper attire, I’m sure we can find something for you.”

  She looked down at her denim clothes. “You mean a dress, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” How hard had she hit her head?

  “I have one in my pack. It’s probably a wrinkled mess.” He must have looked confused, because she added, “I fell in the river. Everything got wet.”

  His heart skipped a beat. “You fell into the river, and you made it out?” He looked at the calm water in this area, but he knew that just a bit farther from here, the rapids were strong and would drown even the strongest swimmer.

  “Fortunately, I was wearing this. I don’t think I would have made it out in a dress,” she said softly.

  He didn’t either. It was a miracle.

  She let out a long breath. “Look, I’m exhausted. I don’t know the man I’m meeting. I don’t know anyone.”

  The need to protect her rose within him. “I can take you to stay with my mother.” He winced. Maybe not the most accurate way of putting it, but he didn’t want her to get the wrong impression. Staying with his mother technically meant she would also be staying with him. “I bet she would enjoy the company for a day or so while you recover from your experience.”

  She looked around the clearing as if weighing her options and laced her fingers in front of her. “What did you say your name was?”

  Right. He’d seen her, held a gun on her, and hadn’t properly introduced himself. “Forgive me. I’m Logan Walburn.”

  She smiled. “I’m Gemma Watts.”

  He wanted to take her hand and place a kiss on the back of it in a courtly gesture, but he didn’t give in to the impulse. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Watts.”

  Her smile widened slowly until she was grinning at him.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I’ve never met anyone quite like you before, I think.”

  He didn’t know what to say to that, so he just nodded. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Oh, it is. Most definitely.”

  That was encouraging. “Good. Then what would you like to do, Miss Watts? Would you like a ride to town, or would you prefer to be a guest of my mother for a day or two?”

  “A guest of your mother if you’re sure she won’t mind.”

  “Not at all.” Their house was gigantic. If his mother wanted, she would never even have to see Gemma. But he had a feeling Gemma and his mother would get along just fine.

  He bent down to take her bag, and she stepped forward. “Oh no. That’s okay. I can carry that.”

  When she held her hand out for the bag, he handed it to her. “It’s really no trouble.”

  She slung it over her shoulder. “I appreciate the offer. It’s just…this is all I have left.”

  She’d lost everything else when the stagecoach was robbed. Of course. It made complete sense. Before Logan turned her over to her fiancé, he would purchase whatever she needed. He didn’t care if she demanded ten dresses, he’d get them for her without blinking. “I understand. Why don’t we head out before it gets late?”

  He headed toward his horse, and he heard her follow until they cleared the brush and his mount came into view. At her soft squeak, he turned toward her. “What is it?”

  She pointed at his horse. “Are we riding on that?”

  The question was so outrageous he couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. I don’t generally take a wagon unless I’m going to town for supplies. We can ride double if you don’t mind.”

  She shifted from foot to foot but didn’t move any closer to the horse.

  Realizing something was truly wrong, he retraced his steps until he was only a few feet from her. “What’s the matter? You aren’t afraid of horses, are you?”

  “Not afraid, exactly.” She looked into his eyes then, and the sun brought out a bright yellow ring around her pupil he couldn’t look away from. “I’ve just never ridden on one before.”

  Her words finally cleared the haze from his mind. “You’ve never ridden a horse?” He couldn’t hide the astonishment from his voice.

  “No. It’s terrible, right?”

  “Not terrible. Just astonishing.” Then again, she was probably from a larger city. She probably had walked everywhere or ridden in a carriage. “I can teach you, if you’d like.”

  She brightened. “I’d like that. Seems like I’ll need to learn now that I’m here.”

  Reality returned. She belonged to someone else. He had no right to offer to teach her anything. “Or, um, your fiancé could, I’m sure.”

  She dimmed. “Oh. Yes. I’m sure he could.” She straightened and smiled. “Thank you for the suggestion.

  She marched over to the horse as if determined not to be afraid. But she didn’t touch the animal as she looked him over. “What’s the best way to get on?”

  He could give her instructions on how to put her foot in the stirrup and pull herself up. But he couldn’t stop himself from touching her.

  “Like this.”

  He stepped into her space and placed his hands on her waist. Her eyes widened and her gaze went from his chest up to his eyes. “Oh,” she breathed out softly, shivering.

  His heart thumped harder at her reaction, and his body itched to pull her close instead of putting her up on the horse.

  But before he could make the choice, he was already lifting her into the saddle.

  No matter what he wanted, she didn’t belong to him.

  He needed to remember that.

  Chapter 3

  Gemma couldn’t decide which was more shocking—that she was riding on a horse across vast, open land or that her back was pressed up against the handsomest man she’d ever seen.

  Seriously. Thor has been demoted to second-hottest man in the world.

  Logan was the type of man she always envisioned in the novels she’d read, but even then she’d known that such a person couldn’t possibly exist.

  No
real person was truly like the men in romance novels. But if anyone could come close, it was the hunky, muscled guy behind her.

  It’d taken every ounce of willpower not to drool once he’d spoken with her and lowered his weapon. The way he sounded and looked, his manners and masculinity, everything about him attracted her.

  His clothes weren’t overly fine, but his horse looked—horsey. She snorted. She had no idea what made a horse quality or not. But she was impressed that it was able to move at all with both of their weight on top. Could all horses do that?

  She wished she could tell him the truth—that she was from the future—but who would believe such a thing? She hardly believed it.

  The horse moved faster beneath them, and she weaved precariously atop the saddle, unable to find her balance quickly enough.

  His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her firm against him, and her heart knocked against her chest.

  “Lean against me. It will make things easier,” he said directly into her ear.

  She shivered as his breath caressed her neck.

  His scent of sandalwood and healthy male wafted to her, and she thought she’d die of bliss. She’d never been this aware of another man, and she wanted even more.

  She did as he asked, leaning completely against him. But instead of feeling awkward, it felt comfortable. Right, even.

  She thought he’d remove his arm from around her waist, but he didn’t. He kept it there, curled around her, to keep her steady.

  She knew he was just being practical—he probably thought she would fall off and break her neck if he let go—but she relished the feeling.

  This was why she’d come here, why she chosen this era. She wanted a simple, easy-going, protective, and rugged man.

  Logan was all of those things.

  And maybe this was how it worked. Maybe Dr. Lachele dumped her here because she knew Logan would find her. Gemma wanted someone she could have a life with, stake a claim with, and build a future with.

  She could envision it all with him. He might be working someone else’s claim or maybe just protecting it, but she knew how to find gold. And if she could just orient herself, she knew exactly where the richest deposits were.