“Not at all, if conditions are how Cole explained them to be. You do realize there is only so much you can do for the miners, right?”
“I know, but I’ll be satisfied with that.” She frowned. “We did learn some useful information there. Did you know that the store owner across the street, Chastity, and her father control what come in and out of Silver?”
“Is that right?”
“Yes, and I’m worried if our order for stock will even show up.”
“I have given that some thought, too,” Cole said. “After I help with the outhouses, I think Bret and I should check it out. We need that stock and if her father won’t deliver it, I’ll find someone else who will.”
“Check it out how exactly?”
“We’ll have to leave town to make sure we have the supplies we need.”
McKenna was shocked at that. “What about me? Am I going, too?”
“No, you need to stay here. Since we’re living here now, all you have to do is make sure you keep that door locked.”
“I’m not sure about that. It makes me nervous to be here alone,” McKenna admitted.
“Not to worry,” Bret soothed her. “I bet one of the women from the stagecoach would love to come stay with you. I heard good things about that Ethel Braxton. Her husband has found the most gold in the area.”
“I don’t even know how to get in touch with her.”
“We saw her at the boarding house. Her husband is having a house built for them north of town,” Cole said. “That’s the only way I’d even consider leaving you here.”
“She’s a brassy old bird.” Bret laughed. “I bet she even packs a pistol.”
“She does,” McKenna shared. “That’s how she kept those two brothers in line, Charles and Albert. Charles made me so nervous, and he was very crude with some of the things he said to me.”
“Have you seen them since?” Cole asked. “I hope one of them wasn’t the man who grabbed your arm yesterday.”
“No, it wasn’t either of them.”
“You need to teach your wife how to shoot,” Bret said. “We are in the Wild West, you know.”
“That will have to wait for another time. Making sure we have our supplies is most important now.”
McKenna yawned and headed into the bedroom, where a bed sat in the center. It was made, and all McKenna had to do was crawl between the sheets.
She drew the curtains and began to unbutton her dress when she felt a draft from the door. McKenna froze. She knew Cole was there and she didn’t know what to do.
“Don’t be frightened. Bret is sleeping downstairs and I was wondering if you needed help taking anything off.” He sighed. “I meant like your corset.”
“I’m not wearing one.”
McKenna yanked off her dress and put it over a chair. She wasn’t sure if Cole was looking at her since she had her back turned to him, but she felt his eyes on her nonetheless. She smoothed her chemise down before she turned and when his eyes locked with hers, she knew he’d been watching her the entire time. Instead of feeling angry about that, she was warm all over. This stranger she had married became everything but a man she didn’t know. The more time that passed, the closer she felt to him. He wasn’t only handsome, but gentle, sensitive, and helpful. The way he was planning to help the miners showed her just how much he cared for others and not just himself.
Cole advanced toward her and she tried not to look down at his arousal, but couldn’t help herself. He put his hands on her waist and drew her to him.
“I’d be a fool to not desire you, McKenna. I’ve never known a woman like you.”
His face moved closer and when his lips touched hers, she almost lost her balance. She leaned in, lost in the taste and feel of his lips on hers. She felt so alive, every part of her body jumping at attention, but when he pressed her body even closer to hers, she stiffened. She wasn’t ready for this. She wasn’t even sure if she loved him or not. He had said he desired her, but said nothing of love.
She pushed away and his eyes darkened—not in anger, but like she had hurt him.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not ready for this yet.”
“It was just a kiss, McKenna. It wasn’t like I was planning to throw you on the bed and ravish you, unless you want me to.” He smiled.
“No. I mean, that’s not what I want. I’m sorry if I have disappointed you.”
“You’d never be a disappointment to me, but we are married. However, I won’t pressure you to become my wife in every way unless that’s what you really want.”
“It’s not.”
“Fine,” Cole said, his eyes flashing.
McKenna had a lump in her throat, and she climbed between the sheets while Cole began to yank his clothes off. She jumped when his boots hit the floor. Instead of leaving like he had the other night, he slipped between the sheets, not keeping a barrier in the middle. Something had changed between them and she had no idea if she was ready for it.
For the entire night, she felt more nervous than she ever had. She expected at any moment that Cole would slide too near her, breathe on her, and take her as a man would his wife. She actually was disappointed that none of that happened. He was soon snoring, and she punched her pillow to make it a little more comfortable. Or was she really hoping to wake him up?
* * *
When McKenna woke, she was very tired. She’d hardly slept; her body wouldn’t allow her to. She felt more alive than she ever had, thanks to that darn husband of hers. Cole wasn’t in the bedroom, and when McKenna finally was up and dressed, he wasn’t in the kitchen or even in the store. She knew he was planning to help dig the outhouses, and most likely needed to get an early start. The only problem was that she missed him. However would she be able to deal with it when he left to check on their shipment?
After breakfast, she went downstairs and Grace, one of the girls from tent city, waved. She was trying to hang onto a box, and McKenna rushed to open the door to let her in.
“Hello. What do we have here?” McKenna asked.
“You said if we made bread you’d sell it in your store, right?”
“Yes, but the store won’t be open until we have something to sell.”
“Oh, I know that, but I thought I could make the bread here so you’d know how good it really is. I don’t want you thinking I don’t know what I’m doing,” Grace told her.
“I’d never think that, Grace.” McKenna laughed. “Come upstairs and I’ll show you where the kitchen is.”
“I already know. We were here cleaning before, remember?”
“So you have. Would you like to come with me? I need to find the woman who was on the stagecoach with me, Ethel Braxton.”
Grace’s face lit up. “I’d love to. She’s probably in the restaurant having her tea. She used to live in England, you know, and is quite classy, don’t you think?”
“Is it really true that her husband struck it rich here?” McKenna asked.
Grace’s eyes widened considerably. “Yes, he sure has.”
“I really hope your sister finds gold soon. I’d like to see you and your sisters living somewhere else. How safe is it at the tent city when you don’t have any men to look after you?”
“We’re just fine. Our sister Fanny made sure the men knew if they ever tried and lay a hand on any of us, she’d rip off their man parts.”
McKenna grimaced. “That’s harsh.”
“That’s how Fanny is. She stepped up and assumed the role of our father after our parents died.”
“Father?”
“Yes, you’ll know why when you meet her. She’s more manly than some men.”
“I understand. Let’s head to the restaurant then, and hopefully, we can catch Ethel there.”
McKenna locked up and saw Chastity was outside speaking with a man. The pair stared over at them, but McKenna walked up the street, crossing only when they were near the restaurant.
“You better watch out, McKenna,” Grace warned. “That Chastity wil
l never allow you to open your store.”
“What can she do?”
“Prevent her father from shipping you anything.”
“I’m not worried about her. Cole will handle it.”
When they walked into the restaurant, Ethel was indeed inside, having a cup of tea and speaking with several women all dressed richly.
“Hello, Ethel,” McKenna greeted her. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
Ethel’s face lit up. “Sit down, McKenna. I’m so glad you came to see me.”
McKenna didn’t sit down yet. “This is my friend, Grace. Can she join us, too?”
“Of course! Sit, ladies.”
One of the women rolled her eyes when she stared at Grace. “Since when do you consort with her kind?” she asked.
“What kind is that exactly?” McKenna countered. “She works in the tent city kitchen to help feed the miners. What have you ever done besides ridicule others?”
The woman sucked in her breath, but before she said anything, Ethel stated, “She’s right. That’s an honest living. You forget that those tent cities built this town. Before the miners came here, Silver was nothing more than tumbleweeds.”
“Well, don’t expect me to sit at the same table with her,” the woman said.
“Suits me fine,” Ethel told her. “But don’t think you’ll be coming back to have dinner with me later. I don’t care for women who think they’re a step better than another. Especially when your mother was less than proper herself.”
The other women gasped and left with a rustling of their silk skirts.
“I didn’t mean to cause any problems,” Grace apologized.
“You’re fine, honey. They just have forgotten who they used to be. Ever since their husbands struck it rich in California, they look down their noses at everyone who hasn’t.”
McKenna smiled. She knew she liked Ethel before, but even more so after that display.
“It’s so kind of you to speak up on Grace’s behalf,” McKenna remarked. “What I wanted to ask was if you would be able to spend time with me at the store while my husband and his brother leave town to check on the shipment. We were under the impression that Chastity’s father might not ship us any of the items we ordered to stock the store.”
“I’ll look in on you, but you should have Grace stay with you. I’m sure the kitchen tent can do without her for a week.”
“A week? I was hoping it wouldn’t take that long.”
“Since the train doesn’t come into Silver, it might take longer than you think,” Ethel informed her.
“I suppose I didn’t think about that. Today, my husband is helping the miners dig new outhouses that are further away from the wells.”
“Was that your idea?”
“Yes, actually, but how did you know?” McKenna inquired.
“I see you as a right smart woman. So, how is your new marriage going?”
“I-It’s going fine. We’ve been so busy readying the store that we haven’t had time to do much else. We did help out in the tent kitchen just yesterday, though.”
“And that’s when you came up with the idea that they needed better conditions?”
“Yes, it’s hard not to feel that way.” McKenna stated.
“Tents are all they need for now. If the gold continues to be found here, they’ll eventually build shacks that will offer them more protection from the sun. In my husband’s years as a prospector, we’ve seen gold just drying up like a creek in drought. Nobody really knows how much gold is here, or how long it will continue to be found.”
“My sister Fanny hasn’t found anything yet,” Grace said.
“So, you’re one of Fanny’s sisters. I’ll have my husband speak with her, but don’t you dare tell a soul. He really has an eye for where’s the best place to look for gold.”
McKenna smiled. “That would be great. So, you’ll stop by starting tomorrow afternoon? I’ll make sure I have some tea.”
“Take care, McKenna. Don’t let that woman across the street intimidate you. I’m sure you and Cole will be very successful once you get up and going.”
She thanked Ethel and they left. When they passed by the saloon, Bella was outside chatting with a handsome cowboy. McKenna merely nodded at her since it was obvious that she might be discussing business.
Once they were back in the store, Grace asked, “Who was that woman you nodded at by the saloon? She’s a saloon girl, isn’t she?”
“Yes. She rode on the stagecoach with me when I came out here. Cole doesn’t think I should speak to her, but she’s really nice and even helped me when a man grabbed me the other day.”
“You need to be careful. You see how judgmental some women can be. You don’t need everyone in town avoiding your business.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Grace. Go ahead and start your bread. I have a few things to do down here.”
* * *
When Cole and Bret came home, they were layered in dirt, but otherwise in good spirits. McKenna had been warming water expecting this, and she greeted her husband, “You sure look dirty. Lucky for you, I’ve been warming water for a bath. I knew you’d be needing one.”
“That sounds great, but I’m starved.”
“Good, because Grace has been here all day cooking. She made a lovely western-style soup. We found beans and rice in one of the boxes. Oh, and she’s made fresh bread.”
“Count me in,” Bret said. “But I’ll be taking my bath at the saloon.”
“Saloon?” McKenna asked.
“Well, he is quite unattached,” Cole reminded her.
“I know, but—”
“Let’s go upstairs and eat. I don’t think Bret cares to hear us discuss his decision of a bath location.”
When they were upstairs, Grace smiled shyly, which must have been because Bret was there. “Have you met Bret yet?” McKenna asked.
“No, but I saw him the last time I was here.”
McKenna introduced them and soup was put into dishes and on the table. When the bread was sliced, she asked Grace to sit down and eat with them. Grace shuffled her feet looking mighty shy, but finally sat.
Bret took the first spoonful and smiled. “This tastes great. Your husband is one lucky man.”
Grace blushed. “I suppose, if I had a husband.”
Bret’s eyes lit up and McKenna felt that she needed to protect Grace. If Bret was talking about taking a bath at the saloon, he wasn’t the type of man for her.
She was worrying about nothing, though, since neither Grace nor Bret spoke another word to each other, just sneaked a peek every once in a while. Cole moved from the table and began taking the pans of hot water into the other room where the bathtub was, while McKenna cleared the table.
“I insist on doing the dishes,” Grace said. “Relax and speak with Bret.”
Bret stood. “I’m actually leaving. I’m going to find where I can get a bath, but I’ll wait until Grace is done and escort her back to the tent city. It’s not safe for a woman to be walking around by herself.”
“I’m used to it,” Grace told him. “And my sister Fanny wouldn’t care for a man walking me anywhere.”
“Okay then.”
Bret left and McKenna watched over Grace. “You know, if things go well when we open up the store, I’d like to keep you on. It sure would be handy to have a cook around.”
“Oh, that would be great, but I’d have to check with Fanny first. She doesn’t like it when we make our own decisions. She’s a little overprotective, you might say.”
“I can see that, but I’m sure your sister wouldn’t want to stop you from having a life of your own, or even meeting a man or getting married some day.”
“Married? That won’t happen for me. All I’d be able to find would be a miner, and that’s not the kind of life I want to lead. If I got married, it would be to someone who had a house at least, even a farm.”
“So, someone out of Nevada?”
“I suppose. Not any farms around her
e.” She laughed.
By the time Cole appeared, clean and refreshed, Grace had left. She did so by crossing the street instead of walking by the saloon, obviously a better choice.
“We should get the painting started,” Cole said.
“Aren’t you too tired to do that?”
“I am, but it needs to be done. I’m leaving to check on the stock I ordered with Bret tomorrow. Did you ask Ethel to stay with you while I’m gone?”
McKenna wanted him to feel comfortable and wasn’t sure if she told him that Ethel would only stop by and check on her, so she said, “I did, and Ethel said she’d be happy to.”
“Good. I’d rather not worry about you the entire time I’m gone.”
“I could always start the painting when you left. That way, I’d have something to do while you’re away.”
“That would be nice, but I really think I could help you get started at least. Unless you can think of something more fun to do upstairs tonight?” Cole asked with a wink.
“The painting will be fine.”
McKenna practically flew down the stairs to gather up the painting supplies. She really was drawn to Cole, but she wasn’t ready to consummate their marriage unless she was sure of how Cole felt about her. As for her, she could barely even think straight when he was in the same room. She even wanted to peek on him while he was taking his bath, for curiosity’s sake. She really hadn’t ever seen a man naked before. Although, her mama had described it in full detail, much to her embarrassment.
Cole came downstairs just as McKenna was looking over the supplies, as if she was a doctor contemplating her first operation.
He didn’t say a word as he opened the paint can and stirred it. “This is how you—”
“I’m no simpleton, Cole. I can figure it out.”
“Fine, go on ahead. I can’t wait to see this,” he said with a snicker.
McKenna picked up the brush and was about ready to stick it into the paint can, but Cole beat her to it. He put some paint on his brush, carefully wiping off the excess, and began to paint a shelf. Not to be outdone, McKenna did the same, but after ten minutes got a little frustrated with how it looked and began to saturate the brush more. She hardly even felt the paint speckle her arms.
McKenna laughed when Cole had a speck of paint on the end of his nose.
McKenna, (Sweet Western Historical Romance) (Nevada Brides Series Book 1) Page 10
