“Then what is the problem?” Ian’s face brightened as he slid the box back to her and placed her hand on top of it, covering her fingers with his. “Accept the gift for the reason it’s intended, Maggie. Please?”
The pleading look in his eyes and the warmth of his hand on hers forced her to agree. She nodded her head.
“Thank you, Ian, for a very lovely gift.” Maggie stood and gathered her things. “I really do need to go home. You promise to rest this evening or I’ll send Tully over here to beat some sense into you.”
“I will, Maggie. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I appreciate it more than you can know.”
Obviously distracted, she smiled and rushed out the door with her basket.
Ian chuckled, watching her retreat across the meadow toward her lonely apartment in town. If the scissors distressed her to such an extent, he couldn’t wait to see what the rest of his gifts would do.
Chapter Twelve
Maggie glanced up from helping the pastor’s wife select a new spring hat and watched Ian stroll by her shop with Eunice Morrow at his side. The girl gazed at Ian with rapt adoration on her face as she minced along beside him.
Irked by his attention to the girl and the unwelcome jealousy it provoked, Maggie moved from behind the counter and stared out the window as the couple made their way down the street.
“Who is that with Mr. MacGregor?” Mrs. Eagan asked as her gaze followed Maggie’s.
“Eunice Morrow. Her family moved to town a few weeks ago. Mr. Morrow is an investor in one of the mines and decided to move here to keep an eye on how his funds are used. They have two older girls and three little boys. Eunice is the oldest.”
“I see,” Mrs. Eagan said, seeing much more than Maggie realized. The older woman reached out and patted her shoulder. “Mr. MacGregor is just being neighborly, dear. I wouldn’t give it another thought.”
“I certainly won’t.” Maggie fought down the urge to stamp her foot as she pasted a smile on her face and turned back to her customer. “Mr. MacGregor is free to escort whomever he pleases around town. Now, what do you think of this hat?”
Inwardly, Maggie fumed the entire time she helped the pastor’s wife. Once the woman left with her new hat, Maggie wanted to scream in frustration.
Perturbed, she picked up her newest issue of Harper’s Bazar and thumbed through the pages. Normally, she enjoyed studying the latest fashions and reading the articles, but her irritation with Ian sullied her ability to focus on the publication.
Angrily tossing it aside, she looked out her front shop window and dropped her jaw. Eunice Morrow stood wrapped in Ian’s arms in what looked like a lover’s embrace.
Maggie fought back an overwhelming urge to slap the girl silly right after she punched Ian in his handsome nose.
The gall of that man! How dare he trifle with Miss Morrow when he’d all but proclaimed his love for her! And in front of her shop, no less.
In spite of the fact she’d vowed not to get involved with another man, Maggie’s heart was already involved with Ian. Deeply, bindingly, and irrevocably involved with the maddening Scotsman.
She started to open the door and give him a piece of her mind. Reason took over and she hurried into her workroom, removing herself from both temptation and the sight of the couple.
Furious, she slammed around bolts of cloth, upended a basket of trims and kicked a ball of yarn across the floor.
After all the times Ian had flirted and teased her, all the special moments they’d shared, she thought he held true feelings for her.
Obviously, she’d just been a challenge to him. One he’d finally abandoned and moved on to greener and much more willing pastures. Miss Morrow was young, perky, and tiny. She looked like the type of girl Maggie imagined most every man dreamed of courting.
“The nerve of that little wench,” she muttered as she picked up a broom and swept it across her spotless floor. “The minx waltzes into town and thinks she can sink her claws into any man that strikes her fancy. Why I ought to…” Unable to contain her anger, she had to get away from the store or do something she’d later regret, like slap Eunice Morrow’s heart-shaped face.
Maggie dropped the broom and stomped to the front of her store, turned the open sign to closed, and locked the door. She hurried upstairs to her apartment and changed into riding attire, braided her hair, and raced back downstairs and outside into the warm, spring day.
Briskly marching to Tully’s place, she whistled to the horses in the pasture and waited as one trotted her direction. She looped a length of rope around his neck and led him into the barn, talking softly as she saddled him.
Daniel had purchased the gentle gelding for her not long before he died. At the time, she jokingly named the horse Danny Boy, just to tease Daniel. Now, both the name and the animal made her feel closer to her husband.
She held back her sobs as she tightened the cinch on the saddle and slipped the bridle over Danny Boy’s head.
“Come on, Danny. Let’s go for a run.” Maggie led the horse out of the barn and closed the door then pulled herself up into the saddle. She walked him out of town. As soon as the last of the buildings disappeared behind them, she leaned forward and kicked him into a gallop, riding west toward the tree-covered hills. If she rode south, odds were high she’d end up at Thane and Jemma’s place. Maggie wasn’t in the mood to bare her soul to her friends.
Uncertain she wanted to examine the depths of her emotions, she just needed to escape — from her thoughts, her past, and the man who captured her heart.
Tears stung her eyes as she blindly followed a trail up into the wooded hills, losing herself in the scent of pine, blue skies, and fresh breezes.
Danny Boy shied at the buzz of a rattler, so they detoured away from the snake and continued upward on a different path. Maggie sometimes rode high into the hills when she wanted to be alone and think.
From experience, Tully and Thane both knew when she ventured off to the woods, she would return red-eyed from crying and sullen. They never said anything, but she often wondered if one of them followed her just to be sure she arrived home in one piece.
Since Tully waited at the jailhouse for a U.S. Marshal to arrive to transport a prisoner and with Thane busy on the ranch, she was on her own for the day.
The only other person who might have followed her, or asked to accompany her, stood in front of her shop wrapped in the arms of a beautiful, blond-haired jezebel.
It was wrong to despise the girl, despite how nasty Eunice had been to her the day they’d met. Maggie wished the Morrow family had never moved to town.
At the top of a rise, she pulled the horse to a stop and dismounted. After tying Danny Boy’s reins to a tree branch, she sat on a boulder and gazed down at the valley below.
If she cared to be honest with herself, she would admit Ian had charmed and finagled his way into her heart. The man was handsome — so incredibly handsome — strong, and solid. He laughed easily, put the needs of others before his own, and worked hard. There were many times he had stayed at the lumberyard long after his crew went home, branding boards and completing paperwork.
Tully mentioned that he’d seen Ian working in the pre-dawn hours before his crew showed up for the day, getting a head start on the work.
He faithfully attended church, lavished attention on Thane’s adopted children, and never turned down someone who needed his help.
Ian MacGregor was a wonderful man who would make some woman an amazing husband.
The startling realization that she wanted Ian for her own was the reason Maggie’s heart currently felt like an iron fist tried to squeeze the life out of it. She’d wanted Ian since the first day he set foot in town even though she’d tried to convince herself she didn’t like him.
In the past weeks, she’d come to not only like him, but respect him, admire him, cherish him, and, blast it all — love him.
However, the cost of loving someone was a price Maggie refused to pay again. She
just couldn’t do it. Losing Daniel broke her heart, but losing Ian would kill her.
It pained her to admit her feelings for Ian were stronger, more intense and passionate than she could recall them being for Daniel. She was wise enough to know part of it stemmed from the fact her love for Daniel had been a girl’s first love for a boy she never dreamed would return her affection. He died before she or her love had the opportunity to grow and mature.
Not a single man had stirred her interest and caught her eye in all the years since Daniel passed away.
Not until Ian.
Something about the tenacious, self-assured Scotsman whispered to her heart. The strange voice was one she’d never heard but immediately recognized when her heart whispered back to his. If she ever cast aside her promise to remain unwed, Ian was the one she longed for and dreamed of loving.
To see him embrace someone else, especially someone so young and beautiful, reminded her that Ian would never belong to her. It was no wonder he’d turned his attention elsewhere. She’d done everything possible to rebuff him.
Seated on a rock in the woods, crying out her fears and disappointments, Maggie knew it wasn’t fair to expect Ian to continue to pursue her. Their relationship would never advance any further than the friendship they shared.
It just hurt more than she expected to see him with Eunice Morrow.
Contrite, Maggie wiped at her cheeks and smiled. “It might not have been so bad if he’d picked a homely, toothless, witless girl.”
Danny Boy shook his mane and stared at her, adding his agreement to her assessment.
Maggie brushed away her tears, swiped at her nose with the handkerchief in her pocket, then took Danny Boy’s reins in her hands.
“Come on, boy, we might as well do a little exploring while we’re out here.” Maggie mounted then guided Danny Boy down the path they’d traveled until she reached a fork in the trail. She turned the horse north and followed it for a few miles, stopping when she topped another rise and saw men working at a mine.
A mine full of men was no place for her, so she turned the horse around and faced a tall, wiry man with a lecherous grin on his face.
“Where you headin’, little lady? Ol’ Jonas could use some comp’ny, ‘specially from a girlie as purty as you.”
Maggie glared at the man, covered in filth. When he spoke, she noticed several teeth missing and a gruesome scar running from his eye to his chin on the left side of his face. It smelled like he’d not had an acquaintance with soap and water for a very long time.
She breathed through her mouth and narrowed her gaze. “Pardon me, sir. I was out for a ride on my horse and got turned around. Can you please direct me to Baker City?”
“Well, missy, I reckon I might, but I’d rather keep you here for a while. Me and some of the fellas could use some attention from a fancy lady.”
“You seem to be confused, sir. I’m not a fancy lady and I most certainly have no interest in giving any of you attention, as you put it. Now, if you please, I’d like to leave.” The man blocked her path. She had no problem riding Danny Boy right over the top of him, but wanted to attempt to be civil before he pushed her into a defensive action.
He took a menacing step forward, leering at her. The man licked his lips as if he was about to partake of a tempting, tasty morsel.
Maggie shuddered in revulsion.
Slowly, she worked her hand into her pocket and pulled out her revolver while he gave her a thorough once-over. “I’ll ask one last time, sir. Please let me pass and we’ll pretend this never happened.”
“You can pretend all you want, girlie, but you and me are gonna have a little fun before the other fellas find out you’re here. When they do, it might be awhile before you make it back to town.”
Maggie sighed and shook her head. “In that case…” She squeezed with her knees as she yelled “Go!” The horse lunged forward, right over the disgusting miner. The man made a grab for Maggie and caught her foot, but she booted him in the face. His howls of pain rang loudly behind her as she raced Danny Boy down the path she’d come.
Attuned to her sense of urgency, the horse ran full-tilt toward Baker City. She slowed him when she felt assured no one followed and patted him on the neck.
“Oh, you are the best boy, Danny, my love. The very best. It’s an extra scoop of feed for you when we get back.” Maggie patted his neck as they walked sedately back to town. She rode down a side street then circled around the edge of town to reach Tully’s place, hoping she wouldn’t run into Ian or his new friend.
Since she wasn’t willing to pursue a relationship with him, she shouldn’t overreact when he showed interest in someone else.
With that in mind, she brushed down Danny Boy, fed and watered him, then spent a few minutes with Tully’s other horses. Loco even approached her as she turned Danny Boy out in the pasture. She scratched his neck before brushing off her hands and strolling into town. Tully stepped outside and waved as she neared the sheriff’s office. She crossed the street and smiled at him as he hurried toward her.
“Hey, Mags. I assume you took Danny Boy for a ride today. I noticed the shop sign was closed and when I went home I saw he wasn’t in the corral.” Tully fell into step beside her as they walked along the boardwalk.
“I did go for a ride up to the hills.” That was her way of letting him know she didn’t want to talk about it.
Tully gave her a concerned glance then pulled her into his arms, kissing her temple. He didn’t care if his actions made every gossiping tongue in town wag, it was obvious that Maggie needed a hug and some comfort.
“What brought this on? Did something happen I need to know about?” Tully placed a hand on her shoulder, guided her around the corner, and down the alley to the back of her shop.
“It’s nothing, Tully. I just needed some time alone to think.” Maggie unlocked her door and opened it.
“You spend far too much time alone, Mags. It’s past time for you to let go and move on. Thane and I both…”
Maggie placed her hand over his mouth and smiled at him. “Tully, I love you and always will.” She stood on tiptoe and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “But I won’t ever speak to you again if you bring up it being past time for me to let go and move on. Who are you to decide when it’s time? You aren’t the one who lost a spouse.”
“I know, Maggie. I’m sorry. It’s just that I worry about you and want you to be happy again. You haven’t truly been happy since Daniel died. Although I thought, maybe…” Tully cleared his throat and released a long-suffering sigh. He took Maggie in his arms again and gave her another comforting hug. “I’ll try to refrain from expressing my opinions, but it’s hard when I have so many and I’m most often right.”
Maggie laughed and pushed against his chest. “That’s all I ask, Tully. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Maggie.”
Tully walked back in the direction of his office, wishing there was something he could do to help his broken-hearted friend.
Ian happened to be leaving the hardware store when he glanced up and saw Maggie riding into town on her horse. They’d ridden together a few times and he’d noticed she treated Danny Boy like a pet instead of a mode of transportation.
Absently wondering where she’d been, she looked upset and sad. He decided to take the box of supplies he’d just purchased to the lumberyard, then go check on her. If luck was with him, he might even convince her to join him for dinner.
After dropping off the supplies with Lon, he circled back to town and turned the corner in time to see the sheriff wrap Maggie in his arms.
Jealousy twisted his gut and sneered accusations at him. When Tully draped an arm around Maggie’s shoulders with a familiarity he feared he’d never be able to share with the woman, he wanted to pummel the sheriff with both his fists.
In the past weeks, he’d made great progress with Maggie. Even though she still refused to accompany him to the rapidly approaching dance, she had dropped most of her r
eserve around him. He thought they were on their way to becoming good friends.
Convinced in time she’d come around to the idea of marrying him, Ian drew on every ounce of fortitude he possessed, persistently doing his best to win her heart.
In the moments when she left her guard down, something shimmered in her beautiful topaz eyes that looked a lot like love. Vainly, he liked to think he also saw desire and admiration mingling in a passionate combination.
He held onto those moments with the hope that they would last longer and come with more frequency. One day, Maggie would realize she loved him as much as he loved her and surrender to the inevitable.
From the first day that he saw her, he knew he wouldn’t rest until he’d made her his own. For two long years, he’d patiently waited for her and he supposed a few more weeks or, heaven forbid, months wouldn’t make that much difference in the grand scheme of things.
If it was up to him, he’d sweep Maggie into his arms, march her over to Pastor Eagan’s place and have the man pronounce them man and wife. He would carry her home and keep her tucked away from the world until he quenched his insatiable thirst for her.
Now, as he watched Tully Barrett drape his arm around the woman he loved, Ian fought against the envy flooding over him. He didn’t care how long she and the sheriff had been friends, it didn’t give the man leave to put his paws on her.
Ian followed them as they turned a corner and rounded the alley to Maggie’s shop. Even though he skulked about, hiding in the shadows at the end of the alley like some criminal, Ian couldn’t walk away.
He sucked in a gulp of air as Maggie leaned toward the sheriff. Her words floated down the alley, making him angry and depressed. “Tully, I love you and always will.”
Then the woman did the unthinkable and rose up on her toes, giving the sheriff a kiss. Since Tully had his back to him, Ian couldn’t tell if it was on the lips.
Thoughts of the sheriff tasting what Ian desperately hungered for made him want to beat the smile right off the man’s face.
When Tully wrapped his arms around Maggie and held her close again, Ian couldn’t stomach any more of the exchange between the two.
Thimbles And Thistles (Baker City Brides Book 2) Page 13
