He hesitated for another moment and then took the seat she offered. Once he had settled, his hat resting on his knee, she made assurances she hoped sounded authentic. “I promise there’s no reason to be fearful of me, Sheriff Grayson. I can assure you I’m not the same woman that left Creede two years ago. The Hanovers paid for the best education a young woman could possibly hope for and I can testify that their money was not wasted.”
She offered him an indulgent smile and folded her hands in her lap and crossed her feet at the ankles to prove her point.
He nodded his understanding and then looked away. Charity took the opportunity to study his profile.
Her eyes caressed his strong jawline. And there was that moustache of his she wanted so much to feel tickling her mouth. She wished he would smile more. Those gray somber eyes of his sparkled when he found something amusing. And then there was that dimple in his right cheek that made her toes curl when he sent it in her direction.
“So tell me, sheriff, why are you here? I’m certain this isn’t a social call, especially after our—shall we say less than friendly history,” she mused.
He looked uncomfortable. She waited for him to tell her why he was here. Finally, he looked up from his intense study of his hat on his knee. “No, Miss Montgomery, this isn’t a social call. I’m here because witnesses from the train said a red-headed woman was the person responsible for shooting the man who attempted to rob the train.”
She cocked her head in a coquettish angle and stuck out her wrists. “Then you are here to arrest me again, sheriff. Isn’t this about where we left off two years ago?”
She watched his face pink at the memory. "I'm sorry, sheriff. That was very improper of me to remind you of my inappropriate behavior back then." Thoughts of him placing her in handcuffs and walking her down to the jail the day he arrested her and Cora for fighting in the streets came to mind.
Those thoughts should have embarrassed her. She had thrown herself at him more than once on the trip to the jail. She had even kissed him and for a split second, she swore he kissed her back. But then he pulled her off of him and pushed her into the cell next to Cora.
Yes, she should be embarrassed for her untoward behavior toward the man, but she wasn’t. Not in the least. Instead, parts of her body warmed at the memory of his body brushing against hers. His firm grip on her arm as he marched her and Cora down to the jailhouse. She kept her gaze on his face, but her mind was on his—
“I would like to get a few more facts about what happened during the robbery, if you don’t mind. Miss Montgomery.
“Certainly I don’t mind.”
“So, you and the other passengers on the train are witnesses to the fact that the man who attempted to rob the train is now in my jail. I just want to be sure I have my facts straight when the federal judge arrives to try the man.”
“That’s correct. He shot one of the conductors and I had every reason to suspect that he would should one of the passengers if anything was not to his liking.”
Her fellow classmates had taught her that it was very important to keep a man guessing. Since she had not been exactly subtle about her feelings for the man when she was here last, she had a lot of damage control to do before she hoped he would turn a corner and begin to pursue her instead.
Determined to win this man's heart, she reigned in her emotions and put her plan into motion. “I’ll be happy to tell you whatever it is you wish to know, Sheriff Grayson.”
She stood and his eyes grew round. She knew he expected her to throw herself at him. So instead, she turned and walked away from him toward the shattered figurine. She exaggerated her walk to ensure her hips swayed provocatively beneath her dress. Then, she carefully and strategically bent down to pick up a piece of ceramic lying on the rug. Bit in hand, she rose and turned to the man still sitting in the chair. But the look on his face was reward enough for the present. He look like he had been hit over the head with a poleaxe.
“Sheriff, you look flushed. Can I get you some water? Or maybe something stronger? I know Hiram has some excellent Irish whiskey in his—”
“No, I don’t want something stronger.” Miles shook his head and it appeared he was trying to find his voice. “No, I—I just need…to ask you a few more questions.”
She returned to her seat and placed the bit of shattered ceramic on the table in front of her. “Of course. As I said, Sheriff, I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” He blurted.
The next morning, Miles replayed his visit to the Hanover house the night before over and over and over again. He had gone there to question Charity Montgomery about the robbery and subsequent shootings on the train yesterday. Instead, he had asked the woman out to dinner. His only excuse in doing so was he must have temporarily lost his mind.
“Sheriff? Are you alright? I’ve asked you the same question three times.” His deputy’s voice punched through the haze of confusion he was experiencing because of Charity’s return to Creede.
“I’m sorry, Wendell. What’s your question again” He shook off his distraction and focused on his deputy’s voice.
“I asked you if I needed to take our prisoner over to the doc’s office today. You said something about he’d need a bandage change. Is doc coming here or—”
“That hasn’t been decided yet, but I think it best if Doc comes here. Less chance of your prisoner meetin’ up with friends of his.”
“I heard Charity Montgomery was back in town. Have you see her yet? I heard over at the boardinghouse café this morning she was quite the looker, all dressed up in her fancy manners and fancy clothes.” Deputy Bishop was curious this morning. Miles wasn’t sure he liked all the curiosity into his personal business—not that Charity was his business—personal or otherwise. Maybe everyone was just indulging in some idle curiosity considering her new appearance.
He couldn’t get over the changes in her. She was a stunning woman that much was not in doubt. What was in doubt was whether or not she could mean trouble. Lots and lots of trouble.
He had always been attracted to the damn woman ever since she first arrived in town. There was something about her that made him want things he shouldn't. And that thought was sobering.
He could never allow anyone to get close. It wouldn't end well. It never did. Damn.
“Have you found out who our prisoner is yet?” Deputy Bishop asked.
Miles shook his head and sat down at his desk. “Not yet.” He pulled out the desk drawer full of wanted posters and set the stack on top of his desk. Miles raised his voice so the prisoner could hear loud and clear. “But I’ll figure it out.”
His office door opened and the recent topic of conversation strode inside. He still wasn't used to the sight of the new Charity. Her former unruly red hair was now piled high on top of her head in an attractive curlicued arrangement. Those intriguing little ringlets of fire danced around her perfect porcelain face. He sucked in a breath of surprise. Perfect? Where the hell had that come from?
“Good morning, Sheriff Grayson. I hope I’m not disturbing you?” She closed the door behind her. Suddenly, the room seemed warm to the point of uncomfortable.
“No,” it was all he could managed, but yes, she was disturbing him and that made him uncomfortable.
“That’s her, Sheriff. That’s the she-devil that shot me.” His prisoner yelled from behind his prison bars just past the open door that separated the cell area with his office.
He watched Charity turn and look at the man who made the accusation. Her disdain was evident on her face.
He was prepared to rush to his prisoners rescue since it wouldn’t be the first time he had to protect someone from Charity’s irrational anger. He was surprised when she had no reaction at all to the man’s accusation. Instead, she turned her gaze from the prisoner back to him.
“I hope your day is going well, sheriff,” she nodded her head in polite greeting.
“Um, good
morning, Miss Montgomery. You know Deputy Bishop?”
She nodded and extended her hand in greeting. “I don’t think you were here when Sheriff Grayson and I butted heads. So nice to make your acquaintance, Deputy Bishop? Are you married? Do you have a wife?”
His usually gregarious deputy was suddenly at a loss for words in front of the lovely new miss in their midst.
Miles answered for him. “Yes and no. He’s married to this job just like I am, so yes to married, but no to a wife.”
He took her hand and kissed it. He didn’t even know Bishop knew how to do that.
Miles turned to Charity. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit, Miss Montgomery?”
“I wanted to let you know that I am unable to have dinner with you this evening.”
His embarrassment at having made the invitation in the first place was only outweigh by his embarrassment at being caught as issuing the invitation. A quick look to Bishop and he knew he would never hear the end of it.
He should have been happy to learn she wouldn’t hold him to his impulsive invitation. But, he realized he wasn’t. And the raised eyebrows from his deputy at hearing the news didn’t help either.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Montgomery.” He wanted to ask the reason why, but it was none of his business why she wasn’t able to accept his ill-advised and extremely spontaneous invitation. It was an invitation he should never have made in the first place.
“I accepted your invitation before I knew that Aggie and Hiram Hanover are hosting a welcome home party for me tonight at their home. I do apologize for the misunderstanding.”
He hid his disappointment with a shrug. "No need to apologize, Miss Montgomery."
“Well, another time then.” He watched the woman who used to openly chase him through the streets of town turn to leave. This was something new and he had to admit, he didn’t exactly like it. He reminded himself that he shouldn’t care one way or the other and it was none of his business what the woman did. Or didn’t do. Or who she did it with. That thought grated on his nerves a little bit.
Charity turned to go when his prisoner yelled out again. “You gonna let that she-devil go, sheriff? She shot me. Don’t that count for somethin’? His prisoner yelled from his cell.
Charity’s dainty eyebrows rose at him in question. A hint of a smile on her face told him she thought the prisoner’s accusation was amusing.
"No, I'm not going to arrest her. Not when all the witnesses on the train said she could have killed you. Instead of demanding justice, which wouldn't end well for you I'm afraid, you should be thanking her for not putting that second bullet through that thick skull of yours.” Miles hollered back at the prisoner, but he never took his eyes off the woman standing in front of him.
He nodded to his deputy. “I’m going to walk Miss Montgomery home and then I’ll stop by the Doc’s office on the way back and ask him to come here and check on his patient. Mrs. Bennet (one t or two) over at the boardinghouse has the prisoner’s food. I’ll be back just before supper. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. Sheriff Grayson.” Deputy Bishop assured him he had everything under control.
Miles turned to Charity and extended his arm. “Miss Montgomery?”
“Sheriff.” She nodded in acceptance. The jaunty little feather sticking out of her fashionable hat danced in the air.
“Thank you.” She placed her gloved hand lightly on his arm. “I had no idea I would get such personal attention from you considering our rather checkered past.” Her green eyes sparkled with mischief.
He knew she was teasing him and he liked it.
“I believe the best way for me to keep control of you is to know your whereabouts at all times.” He teased back.
“I wasn’t aware you had a desire to control me, Sheriff Grayson.” Her sly comment made him study her a bit closer. Was she serious or teasing him? He couldn’t be sure, but her voice wrapped around the word desire gave him a tingle where there shouldn’t be one. His answer was noncommittal. “What I desire is to maintain what little peace I’ve managed to wrangle out of this town, and my past experiences with you have taught me that you do have a way of disrupting a town that would make even the hardest lawman nervous.
Her slant eyed look reminded him of a cat about to eat the canary. “And you are one of those very hard lawmen, aren’t you, sheriff?”
A jagged bolt of white-hot desire pulsed through his body. If he allowed this conversation to go any further, he was going to embarrass them both along with his deputy and his prisoner.
Miles shook off the sensations her words created. He was in charge of this town and every citizen in it—including this one. And although he wasn’t convinced she was a reformed young woman who knew how to behave, he liked the changes he saw in her. It excited him and worried him at the same time.
“Do I make you nervous?” Her green-eyed gaze sent another jolt of desire through him. Damn.
She was gonna be trouble. He could feel it down deep in his lawman bones. He shook his head to deny her accusation more for himself than her. “No, I’m not nervous. Let’s just say I’m cautious where you are concerned.”
He answered Charity's question still unsure if she was deliberately sending him messages of a sexual nature or if it was just—Charity being Charity. He guided her to the front door. “Bishop, I’ll be back in—”
Just at that moment, the door to his office opened once more.
"Hello, Miles. I thought you could use some fresh baked bread and some—" The blonde haired woman in the blue and white checked gingham dress with the basket of bread draped over her arm stopped short. He could see the curiosity on her plain features and he cut a worried look toward the wild card in the room. Charity Montgomery wasn’t known for her rational behavior. This was going to get messy.
"Miles? Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?" The woman smiled, but he could tell by her expression she was not finding the situation amusing. Her eyes cut to Charity’s fingers wrapped around his arm. Damn.
He unwrapped Charity's fingers from his arm and stood apart from her. "Of course." He accepted the basket of bread the woman offered and made the introductions.
"Selina, this is Charity Montgomery. Charity, this is Selina Watson.”
Selina nodded. “Hello, Miss Montgomery. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. I don't believe I've seen you around town before today. Are you new here?“
Miles jumped in before too much conversation could take place. "No, Selina. Miss Montgomery is from Creede. She's been living back east for a couple of years. And she just returned on the afternoon train. Yesterday."
“Charity Montgomery? I’ve heard that name before. Montgomery? Montgomery? Hum, I can’t place it now. Well, no matter. It is good to make your acquaintance and I’m sure you’ll be quite busy catching up with family and friends. How long will you be staying in town before heading back home.”
Miles knew what Selina was getting at. He just hoped Charity hadn’t picked up on it. At least not yet.
Charity smiled a sweet smile at Selina, but he knew that look and her eyes held a message not disclosed by her words. Yet. “Oh, I’m not leaving, ma’am. Creede is my home and I plan to never leave it again.”
Selina cut a look at him. He pulled at his shirt collar. His office was getting warmer by the minute.
“And what about you? I don’t remember you when I was here last. When did you arrive in our fair little town?” Charity took it upon herself to return Selina’s question. Why did women always have to ask so many questions, he wondered? And then, Charity turned to him and gifted him with a smile that let everyone in the room know she was including him in that ‘our’.
Miles could tell by the set of Selina’s jaw, she got the message. The usually soft-spoken baker surprised him when she boldly staked her claim. On him. “I arrived in Creede last year. She cut her own look toward him. “And I dare say it has been an enjoyable twelve months, wouldn’t you agree, Miles?”
Geesh. He felt like a bone between two scraping hounds. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t worry about this little interchange. But these weren’t normal circumstances and Selina wasn’t the one who worried him. She knew how to behave herself. What he wasn’t sure about was whether or not Charity was really a changed woman. He intercepted the question in hopes of diffusing the situation before it lit up the Colorado skyline.
”Um, yes. Selina here is Mrs. Watson’s brother’s daughter. And Selina here, along with Olivia Palmer, I mean Olivia Garrison now, you know, our town’s schoolteacher? Well, Selina and Olivia went into business together.” Miles stumbled over his words. “You remember Olivia’s delicious cinnamon rolls, right?”
Charity nodded and smiled, but he knew by the look on her face she wasn’t in the mood to talk about cinnamon rolls. He rushed on with his explanation hoping to fill in the awkward silence between the two women.
“Well, anyway, Olivia still teaches school, but now Selina bakes the cinnamon rolls and helps her aunt in the bakery. Some days it is standing room only outside that bakery door. In the mornings. Isn’t that right? Selina.” He couldn’t seem to shut up talking. He sounded like an addled adolescent trying to talk to a girl for the first time.
Charity nodded her head toward Selina. “That’s good to know. I’ll have to visit your establishment some morning and try them out, Mrs. Watson.”
He noticed that damnable feather in her hat bobbing again as if to say you are in big trouble now, lawman. He shook off the notion. He hadn't done anything wrong. Exactly. He didn’t belong to either one of these woman even though he had accompanied Selina to a dance or two during the past year. Wait. What? Mrs. Watson? Oh, crap. Before he could get out one word, Selina was already in correction mode.
Selina smiled. “Oh, I’m not a missus. At least not yet." She sent a knowing look in his direction.
He braced for the eruption he expected when the crazy red-headed firebrand standing next to him took offense to the little baker’s attempt to usurp Charity’s self-imposed claim on him. Instead, he watched in total disbelief as the woman who chased him relentlessly around town for years nodded to the other woman in polite conversation.
Charity (Brides of the Rio Grande Book 4) Page 3
