by Danni Roan
“Daliah is hosting school,” Spencer said looking up at Peri. “I made myself scarce. My new wife is much better at getting my son interested in school than I ever was,” he added. “I sure didn’t have a clue what I was getting into when I agreed to bring that wagon train here to Needful for you Dan,” he finished.
Peri smiled nodding at the two men. Both of the brothers were good-looking men with dark hair and eyes. She admired them, but thought that if Daniel Gaines were the man for her, she’d have known it instantly.
“Dan!” a gruff voice called as a huge man stepped through the door, “I need to talk to you Mayor Dan,” the man said, his pale green eyes seeking out his prey, as he scratched a thick sun-streaked brown beard.
“Bear, join us for breakfast,” Dan called waving the man over with a worried expression. “Have you met Miss Peri? She’s Prim’s sister.”
The big man pulled his hat from his head nodding toward Peri, his clear eyes raking her form and making her heart thump. “Please to meet you, ma’am,” he said ducking his head of unruly brown hair that brushed the collar of his buckskin shirt.
“Hello,” Peri said reaching out a hand as she gazed into his intense ice green eyes, starting as her hand was engulfed in his large heavily calloused one.
“Peri, could you bring us another breakfast,” Dan Gaines interrupted, “it’s on me,” he added as the big man scowled. “Now what brings you to town?” Dan asked. As the reluctant Mayor of Needful, he was used to having to deal with unexpected issues throughout the town.
“Somethin’s been into my traps,” the man called Bear spoke, his deep voice rumbling through the dining room and following Peri all the way to the kitchen.
***
Peri hurried into the kitchen feeling flustered after her brief encounter with the burly man. She was sure his given name wasn’t Bear, but in fact, the nickname fit him to a tee. He was large, shaggy, and brown.
“Rosa, who is that man with the Gaines brothers,” Peri asked as she filled her tray with more breakfast platters.
“Who?” Rosa asked hurrying to the door to peer out. “That is Bartholomew Cassidy,” the small woman said. “I do not believe he has ever been here. He keeps to himself, out in a cabin near the forest. He makes furniture,” she finished hurrying back to turn the eggs in the pan.
“So he’s the one Anderson got Mama’s rocking chair from,” Peri mused.
Peri stood in the doorway for several seconds stunned by the man’s wild appearance and rumbling voice.
“Peri,” Olive chided as she pushed past her to refill the coffee pot. “Men are waiting, can’t you please move?” the old woman said.
“Sorry,” Peri said jumping back to work and wondering where a man like Bartholomew Cassidy came from.
Shaking herself out of her distraction, Peri hurried to serve the remaining breakfasts as men rushed through their meals before heading out to work at the sawmill, various ranches, or even the Mikalite mines. The town of Needful was a busy place, but it still had a good deal of growing to do.
This morning Peri had only had to turn down three off-the-cuff proposals from the men crowded into the dining room. It was no wonder Mrs. Hampton had attempted to lure more women to the town as mail-order brides. Men outnumbered the respectable women of the town nearly ten to one, and by the way, they were looking at her, brides couldn’t be procured fast enough.
After the breakfast rush ended, Peri determined to speak to Olive about a new scheme, one that wouldn’t leave a young woman stranded in the middle of the prairie because their prospective grooms had no idea they would be arriving soon.
Olive’s last attempt at finding a match for Daniel Gaines hadn’t gone to plan, so perhaps with a little tweaking they might be able to start a whole new industry right here in Needful.
With a new spring in her step, Peri finished serving the first meal of the day, her ears tuned to the big man’s deep voice as she caught snippets of his conversation.
It sounds as if the man called Bear suspected that a panther was stalking the area near Needful and wanted to start hunting the animal in earnest before anyone could be harmed. If the beast was willing to go for a man’s traps, it wasn’t nearly frightened enough by human scent and could prove a danger to individuals and livestock alike.
Cleaning the now empty tables, Peri slipped into a seat wondering what it would be like to see a real panther. She had known that they lived in the mountains surrounding her Tennessee home, but had never seen even a sign of the elusive creatures.
She had seen hides though, hung up in the general store and they were beautiful in color and texture. Still, the thought of ever coming face to face with such a dangerous wild thing made her shiver.
Turning from where she sat, she gazed across the room at the big man once more, sensing in him something almost as wild and tantalizing as the panther itself. He had such a rugged look, with his unkempt hair and thick beard.
As she studied him, he turned toward her as if sensing her eyes on him and when their eyes met Peri felt as if she had been struck by a bolt from the blue.
“I’ll keep you two posted,” Bear said pushing himself from his seat and breaking the connection between them. “I’ll do my best to either drive the animal from the area or kill it depending on what condition it is in.”
“Thanks for letting us know Bear,” Dan said rising and clasping the man’s hand. “We’ll get the word out for everyone to be on the lookout. I don’t want any harm coming to the more vulnerable members of Needful.
“Let me know if you want any help,” Spencer, the recently elected sheriff of Needful, added standing and shaking hands. “I’m pretty busy with the drunk and disorderly crowd in town most days though.”
“I think I can manage Spence,” the big man drawled, “but I’ll let you know.”
The three men turned leaving the dining room and walking outside taking with them all of the warmth and air from the room.
Chapter 10
The lunch rush had ended and Peri was eating her dinner when Rosa carried her daughter Christina into the dining room followed by a stout man with black hair and dark eyes.
“Always you are away,” Rosa said. “You never are here.”
“I’ve been home for nearly three days,” Raul Rodriguez said placing his hand on her arm.
“No you were here, but you leave again. I do not even know who you work for now. Always you must go, and I must stay.”
“I’m doing this for us, Rosa,” the man said. “When I have enough money saved, I will start a farm here in Needful, and we will live there always.”
Peri slid further back out of sight as bright tears spilled down Rosa’s face and Christina began to fuss.
“You go if you must,” Rosa said, “but every time you go you break a piece of my heart.”
The man leaned in kissing his wife sadly on the lips. “I must go,” he said his dark eyes full of sorrow and doubt. “I love you.”
Rosa shook her head as the man turned away shouting something after him in a language Peri didn’t understand. She did, however, comprehend why Rosa seemed so sad all the time.
How dreadful it must be to always be saying goodbye. It was hard enough the few times Peri had needed to do it, how much harder to watch the man you loved leave again and again.
Getting to her feet Peri walked over to Rosa taking little Christina from her arms. “Why don’t you go for a walk or possibly take a nap,” she suggested. “I’ll watch Christina and keep an eye on the stew for supper tonight.”
“Gracias,” Rosa said with a sniff. “I am sorry you had to see this,” she said gesturing widely around her. “We did not used to fight, me and my Raul.” She finished pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and racing away to her room at the back of the house.
“Lord, I don’t know what’s going on with Rosa and Raul, but she’s my friend and I pray you’ll help her,” Peri said snuggling little Christina close.
“Now what should we do?” she
asked the little girl leaving her prayer with the Lord. “How about we play dollies?”
Peri spent a pleasant hour playing with Christina as she waited for the dinner rush. She had told Prim she would be home early, but with so much happening, she would serve the first round of meals then head back to the ranch.
“There you are,” Olive said walking into the dining room where Peri and Christina were laughing. “Don’t tell me Rosa and Raul are fighting again?” she said with a shake of her head.
“I’m afraid so,” Peri said. “I didn’t know there was so much trouble.”
“It’s been going on for a while,” Olive said taking a seat and placing Christina on her knee. “Rosa thought once he took a job at a ranch, he wouldn’t be gone so much, but he seems to come and go all the time now.”
Peri shook her head sadly. “I hope it will get set straight soon.”
By the time the dining room had filled once more with hungry men who had put in a hard day’s work, Rosa had returned to the kitchen and Peri hurried to place hot bowls of thick stew and fresh biscuits on the tables.
“Olive, I’m sorry, but I must go,” she said as she noted the sun sinking in the west. “I’m sure I’ll meet Jacks somewhere along the way. He said if I was too late he’d ride out to get me,” she added. “So don’t worry about me getting home.”
“Are you sure you can’t wait?” Olive asked looking at the dark clouds skidding across the horizon. “I can ask Orville to take you.”
“No,” Peri said. “It’s not far to the ranch, and Sparrow probably knows the way better than I do. I promise not to dawdle,” she added with a laugh. “See you tomorrow.”
Stepping out the back door Peri hurried to the barn through skidding dust, and dry leaves, tumbled by a sharp wind. Away in the distance, she could hear thunder, and she raced to get Sparrow saddled and ready to go.
Swinging up into the saddle only moments later, she urged the sweet mare to a brisk trot pointing down the road toward home.
***
The first fat drops of rain slapped Peri on the neck as she pushed Sparrow into a hard gallop but she was too far from home not to get a good soaking no matter how hard she rode and eased the horse to a smooth canter.
“I’m sorry you’re going to get wet girl. I’m afraid I waited too long to leave,” Peri said to the horse as the first clash of thunder rolled over them and the little mare rolled her eyes.
“You take it easy now Sparrow,” Peri soothed. “We’ll get home alright.”
A loud boom and sizzle dashed the earth on the other side of the road as a large tree snapped bursting into flames. The little mare, screamed, rearing on her hind legs and tossing Peri to the ground before plunging down the road at breakneck speed. As the next crack of thunder burst above Peri slipped into oblivion.
Peri blinked up into the rain as she tried to get her bearings, her head pounding like a drum. She didn’t know how long she had been lying there, but her dress was soaked through and a deep shiver passed over her as the chill rain stole her body heat.
Pushing herself upright, Peri’s head swam, and she collapsed back onto the sodden earth as blackness claimed her once more.
Warm arms wrapped around her and Peri could feel herself lifted from the wet road, but she couldn’t seem to open her eyes. She could still hear the storm pounding around her, but it sounded muffled as if far, far, away. Her head fell onto a strong shoulder, and she thought that surely Jacks had found her on the road, but the pounding in her head made her want to leave the world behind, and she drifted back into peaceful darkness.
Chapter 11
Peri’s first sensation was warmth, a strong steady heat washing over her in glorious waves, and she smiled wanting nothing more than to burrow into the depths of it. Rolling onto her side to press her face into the heat, she snuggled deeper into her blankets willing herself back to sleep amidst the smells of wood and pine.
Peri’s eyes flew open as she realized she wasn’t home in her own bed. Jumping from the warmth that engulfed her in confusion her head swam, and she closed her eyes as a wave of nausea and pain swept over her.
The creak of furniture permeated her brain, as Peri felt herself tipping forward only to be stopped by two strong hands that seemed to sear her shoulder.
“Whoa, there little lady,” a man’s deep voice called and she focused on each word willing herself to open her eyes once more. “You’ve had a nasty bump to the head,” the voice said, “You need to slow down a pace.”
Peri followed the words from the darkness, each one a beacon calling her from the black abyss, as her eyelids finally popped and she gazed into the ice-green eyes of Bear Cassidy, standing on the other side of a narrow cot in nothing but a faded union suit.
“Mr. Mr. Cassidy,” Peri stuttered, “where, where are your clothes?” she asked as her knees began to sag.
Mr. Cassidy’s strong arms twisted Peri on the spot letting her drop on her bottom to the soft cot. “I can explain,” the big man drawled. “The important thing is that you’re safe and alive.”
Peri closed her eyes letting her spinning head come to rest in her palms as she braced her elbows on her legs. Her head hurt, and now that she was out from under the blankets, her skin felt clammy. Forcing her eyes open once more, she looked down at her still damp bloomers and screamed.
***
Bear scooted around to the other side of the bed, keeping one hand on the young woman the whole time to prevent her from falling on her face. She was in shock after her ordeal, and he needed to explain.
He had been walking home from checking his traps when he saw the flames from the lightning-struck tree and hurried to investigate. Fearing a wildfire, he trudged through the violence of the storm only to find Miss Perkins unconscious in the middle of the road that was quickly becoming a stream.
“I found you on the road,” the man said gently pulling the blankets across the young woman who was shivering once more. “I figured your horse must have dumped you when lightning struck that old tree, and I couldn’t hardly leave you there to freeze to death or possibly drown.”
Peri pulled the blankets around her covering as much as she possibly could to hide the indecency of her shift and bloomers.
“I don’t see why you felt the need to undress me,” she snapped feeling a new heat of embarrassment and anger flicker into life.
“You were soaked clear through,” Bear said. “By the time I got you back here your lips were nearly blue, and I did whatever I needed to in order to save your life.”
“Then why are you only wearing a pair of long johns?” Peri asked as her eyes roved and expanse of chest speckled with brown hair, and the heat in her middle kicked up a notch.
“I had to get you warm,” Bear said pulling the blankets further around her. “You were cold through and through, so I stripped off your sodden outerwear, stoked up the fire,” he nodded toward the roaring fire behind him, “then used my body heat to get you warm. Everyone knows that’s what you do when a person is next door to frozen.”
Peri grabbed either side of the blanket wrapping it completely around her, swallowing hard as she watched the man’s shoulder muscles ripple as he tucked her in.
“Well I’m not next to frozen now,” Peri snapped, “so I think you should probably get dressed.” Her cheeks were on fire and a strange warmth seemed to rumble deep in her middle as the man stood to his feet, his heavily muscled form filling out the union suit all too well.
Peri snapped her eyes shut rolling back into the bed and hiding her face in the pillow.
Bear moved to the peg on the wall where his trousers hung and stepped into them, keeping his back to the young woman. Perhaps the situation was embarrassing, but at least she wasn’t dead.
Peri opened her eyes watching as the man who had saved her pulled his trousers up over his long johns, biting back a gasp as they slid over his narrow hips. Snug and warm she knew she shouldn’t be watching, but the sight was mesmerizing. Closing her eyes as the m
an turned around to button his shirt she spoke again.
“Where are my clothes?” she asked. Her head still pounded but her stomach had settled, and she wanted to have her clothes so that she could at least sit up. A loud rumble of thunder shook the sturdy cabin and Peri yelped despite herself. She had never been afraid of storms in Tennessee and didn’t see why this one should jangle her nerves so.
“Your clothes are drying by the fire,” Bear said, “but they’re still mighty wet. You can put on some of mine if you like,” he finished.
A smile twitched at Peri’s lips as she thought of wearing the man’s clothes, but if she did, she could at least sit up.
“All right,” she said sitting up slowly, “but you turn your back.”
A deep rumble emanated from the man’s chest, and Peri gaped as he laughed at her but didn’t say anything. Instead, she took the heavy wool shirt, and trousers he handed her. “Turn around,” she said, making spinning motions with one hand.
