When A Cowboy Asks (A Rancher's Bride Book 2)

by Chula Stone

  “Then why do you think I shouldn’t take the chance on leaving for Bumchuck?”

  “Because when a girl’s upset, she’s liable to do all manner of crazy things. Witness what happened this afternoon. She got mad at you and now she’s being mauled by that side-winder, Bailey Branson.” Pinkie waved an accusatory hand in the direction of the bandstand where a three-piece ensemble was just winding up their performance to enthusiastic applause from the growing crowd. As the shadows lengthened throughout the town square, more and more people joined the mingling throng making it hard to keep sight of the pair.

  Shep stepped out into the boardwalk. “Do you think he’s putting his hands on her?”

  “Not if he wants to keep all his fingers.” Pinkie pulled at Shep’s arm. “I was just exaggerating to make my point. You know good and well she wouldn’t give a rat like that the time of day if she didn’t think it would make you mad, but you can’t do anything about it until Betty finishes up at the quilt booth.”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “Because you told me, remember? And besides, I’m relieving Betty at the booth.”

  “You? Well, why didn’t you say so?” Shep stared down at her and wondered again how somebody so small could make such big trouble. His admiration for Vince grew again as it always did whenever he dealt with Pinkie.

  “Because I need to talk to you first. There’s a job I want you to do for me and it’s a pretty big one, but I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “A job?” was all he could manage to say, but his gut twisted like a lasso in a thunderstorm. Anything this lady would want him to do couldn’t be good. How to get out of it without offending her?

  “Don’t look at me like that! You don’t even know what it is yet I’m asking you to do.”

  “Yeah, but it’s you doing the asking, isn’t it? That’s enough of a clue for me.”

  “Oh, fiddle-dee-dee. It’s nothing bad. I just need some roof repair done but the location is a bit remote.”

  “Why me? There’s a dozen cowboys on the Frogleg that could repair a roof.”

  “Yes, but would they want to? Most cowboys don’t want to do any work they can’t do on horseback. Come to think of it, you could do most of this mounted on a tall horse. The roof isn’t that far off the ground. I just can’t figure out how to get the shingles up there without taking them one at a time and that takes too long.”

  Shep considered for a moment but couldn’t figure out how shifting a few shingles for the boss’s wife could do any harm. “Are you in some kind of a hurry?”

  “I want it finished before the cold weather sets in.”

  “Then you’ve got plenty of time. It’s still the tail end of summer.”

  “But that’s the thing. We can get a cold snap any time from September on.”

  “And you want it done before that happens?”

  “Exactly. That’s why I want you for this job, Shep. You catch on to things so quickly. I don’t have to explain every little thing to you. If I ask you to keep this little job just between the two of us, you’ll be able to figure out why.” She patted his arm and gave him an admiring smile.

  “Of course, I will,” he agreed, glad at least someone appreciated his intellect, even if Treli didn’t. Wait. What had he just agreed to?

  “Discretion is so very important. It might take a bit of creative planning but I’m sure you’ll be able to bring in the shingles and do the work without ruining the surprise.”

  “It’s a surprise? For who?”

  “For Vince, of course.” Pinkie made it sound like anyone should have been able to predict her answer.

  “Well, I figured, but I thought it was best to be clear.”

  Pinkie gave his arm a quick squeeze in parting. “Wonderful! That’s all settled, then. I’ll go take Betty’s place so you can get a head start on impressing Treli.”

  “Wait. What?”

  “Go be the responsible gentleman you are. Treat both girls well and Treli won’t be able to miss the contrast between you and Bailey Branson. Then she’ll realize she’s got to get a move on or Betty will steal you away from her.”

  Shep’s head was spinning again. What was Pinkie talking about? Did females really think this way? “I’m not sure she’d care if Betty did steal me away.”

  “Of course, she’d care.”

  “All she ever does is insult me,” Shep noted with resignation.

  “Really? Oh, that is a good sign. I’ll bet that by the time you get this roof finished, you’ll have her eating out of your hand.” Pinkie stepped away from him and back toward the square.

  “Wait! The roof! You haven’t even told me where it is or what you want done.”

  “You know the old mill road on the Frogleg? Just follow it back till it ends and turn right. Follow that path till you come to a pond. You can’t miss it.”

  “But aren’t you going to tell me any details?”

  “Like what? It’s a roof. I think you can find it. It’s the part on the top.” She made a little covering gesture with her hands and her sassy tone reminded him of Treli. Funny how when she did it, he just felt sheepish, like a schoolboy scolded for not knowing his lessons. When Treli talked that way, he wanted to take her over his knee for a good hard spanking.

  “Like the size of the repair. Is it a hole or just a bare patch? How much shingle will I need?”

  “I trust your judgment on all of that, Shep. You’d know better than me anyway.”

  “But I could save time and at least one trip if I knew what I needed to take with me. I could go by Coleman’s Hardware store today and get the shingle.”

  “You can’t go to Coleman’s, Shep. Vince trades there all the time and Mr. Coleman would ask him about you buying anything there.”

  “That could be said of anyone in this town, Miss Pinkie.”

  “Exactly. See, I knew I could count on you. I really must dash. Get yourself over to the quilt booth as quick as you can, but you’d best circle around behind the square. I don’t want us to be seen talking together. Remember, Shep, discretion!”

  Discretion, Shep mused. He would be discreet all right. He would keep this job a secret from everyone, including himself because he had no idea what he had just gotten himself into.

  Chapter 4

  Would this afternoon never end? How had she gotten herself into this mess? Betty was a nice enough girl, but not that close of a friend. Why was she sacrificing herself for the girl? Let her fend off Ollie the Octopus over here. “No, thank you, Bailey, I wouldn’t care to try the cake walk. What would I do if I won? I’ve got more than enough cakes, thank you.”

  “But you could give it to me,” he answered in a low suggestive voice. How could he make even the most benign statements sound dirty? “And wouldn’t you look fetching sashaying around on the stage?”

  “I don’t make a habit of sashaying,” Treli noted drily, leaving the bandstand area.

  Bailey trailed behind her for a moment then drew up beside her, forcing her to either accept his arm or appear rude. “Perhaps not for me. Who would you sashay for? That Shepard character?” She tried to jerk away, but he held her wrist at his bent elbow with his free hand. “Don’t get offended. I’m only teasing. Here, now, that’s enough fun and games. Let’s end this pretense, shall we? It’s time to meet the others and we need to have our strategy in place if this is to work.”

  “What strategy? What are you talking about?”

  “How you’re going to get rid of the cowboy. That is what you want, isn’t it?”

  “Is that why you asked me to join you for the afternoon? Did you think I needed rescuing from Mr. Shepard?” Treli stared at him incredulously.

  “I did it mostly to annoy him, truth be told. I could tell he hated the very thought of us walking down the street together.”

  “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  Bailey just laughed. “If you’ll help me get Betty away from him, I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you any more to
day. Does that sound acceptable?”

  It didn’t. Not on any level. She liked neither his idea or its implications. The man was still determined to plague Betty, which disturbed Treli deeply, but whatever he had planned for Shep bothered her even more somehow. She might enjoy harassing Shep, but no one else had better try it. But she couldn’t give Bailey the tongue-lashing he deserved. Betty was right to fear the man and how his displeasure might affect her family. “I don’t think either of us has to worry about anything much happening for the rest of the day. Look at that sky. It’s sure to rain before too long.”

  “There’s not a cloud to be seen,” Bailey countered.

  “That’s how it goes around here,” Treli informed him in her most officious voice. “This is your first summer here in Merriview, isn’t it? Let me tell you, the weather can change at a moment’s notice. Without that much warning, even. We’d better meet the others and get our ice cream then hurry home quickly before we get drenched.” Treli turned rapid steps toward the quilt tent, hoping Betty would be ready to go by the time they arrived.

  “What makes you think that?” Bailey demanded. “This is a very expensive suit. I wouldn’t want it ruined by the rain.”

  “My leg always aches when it’s going to rain,” Treli noted. This much was true. She hadn’t felt a twinge in a month, but she felt no compulsion to admit that fact. Darting up to the booth, Treli waved at Pinkie who was now standing behind the table. There were Betty and Shep, chatting amicably. Why was she standing so close to him? It wasn’t as if the area were crowded with customers. Vince and Dub, his eldest son, were just delivering more quilts but there was still plenty of room.

  “How has the quilt sale gone?” Treli asked brightly. “Looks like you’ve had some customers since I left.”

  Betty smiled modestly. “I did manage to make a few sales. People are generous when the cause is a good one.”

  The young boy screwed up his face as if he were being made to take medicine. “A library is what you call a good cause?” Looking at Dub, Treli knew she was seeing what Vince had looked like when he was nine. The boy was aptly named, being an exact double of his father, thus the nickname. “Why not use the money to build a good baseball field? That’s what this town really needs!”

  “That’s not such a bad idea, I suppose,” Vince noted, ruffling his son’s hair. “Good healthy exercise to keep you youngsters out of mischief.”

  To Treli’s surprise, Betty countered before she could. “Baseball is fine, but we need a library in this town to attract the right kind of folks to settle here.”

  “What a quaint idea,” Bailey murmured, coming up behind Treli. “Where did you get that notion?”

  “It’s just my opinion,” Betty replied, abashed.

  “She could have a point,” Shep said.

  “Libraries are for girls,” Dub mumbled.

  “Just because you don’t like to read yet doesn’t mean a library is not good for the town.” Vince shot his son a quelling glance.

  The boy reddened and looked at his shoes. “Yes, Pa.”

  Bailey gave a short indulgent laugh. “But the boy’s instincts are right, Sloan. He knows nonsense when he hears it. Nobody moves to a town due to the presence or absence of a library, my dear Betty, but I do adore hearing what fancies the ladies come up with when they try to have thoughts about business!”

  Treli thought Pinkie would explode any second, or better yet, dive across the table and throttle Bailey where he stood. Treli considered holding him down and letting her have at him, but that wouldn’t do. While she was trying to think of some diversionary tactic, Vince came to the rescue.

  “Dub’s instincts need a bit of work if he’s ready to dismiss an idea just because it comes from a lady.” Vince laid down the rest of the quilts he was carrying and glared at Bailey. Turning to his son, he put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Go get two of Mr. Brown’s quilt stands from his shop. Your mother thinks it will help sell both the quilts and the stands.”

  The boy ran off with a quick touch of his cap, seemingly eager to get away from this tense adult conversation.

  Bailey’s tone was still dripping with a sickly condescension. “Better be careful with the lessons you’re teaching your son, Sloan. Do you really want him questioning what everybody knows? It’s a given that a lady can’t have a head for business.”

  “I hope I’ll raise my son not to be fool enough to judge anyone before he’s heard them out,” Vince answered quietly. He was ostensibly talking to the whole group, but Treli could see that his comments were more for the benefit of his wife than anyone else. She seemed, while not mollified, somehow satisfied with his remarks as if they made her proud of him and distracted her from other considerations. “He’ll learn to listen to everybody with respect and consideration before making up his mind.”

  “Oh, of course, when it comes to topics like cooking and fashion ladies like Miss Pinkie here do a fine job. Her hat shop and café are fitting amusements for her, I’m sure. Those sorts of things are what ladies know about, but can you imagine a lady dealing with city planning and important matters like what will and won’t attract the right sort of people to this town? Why, next thing you know, someone will suggest that women should be allowed to vote!” He gave a hearty, derisive guffaw. “Good thing your young son isn’t here to be exposed to that absurd thought.”

  Again, Treli fought to find a way to defuse the atmosphere. Again, it was a man who beat her to the punch. “Good thing there isn’t a common sense test to pass in order to vote. I know a lot of men who’d fail,” Shep asserted. “I’m sure Miss Betty here is right. A library would improve the quality of life for all of us.” Shep looked down at Betty with a smile. “Anybody can talk about helping the town. My hat’s off to all of you who are doing something about it.”

  Treli hoped that this gracious speech would turn the conversation to safer topics, but Bailey seemed to be determined to offend. “Come, come, now, Shep. You surely wouldn’t allow your wife to get mixed up in city affairs.”

  Pinkie, fists clenched, hissed in a breath, her face pale but her eyes blazing. Vince actually stepped behind the table and clamped one strong arm around his wife’s shaking shoulders, but this didn’t deter her from letting one horrible insult escape her lips. Unfortunately, just at that moment, Dub returned with a painted wooden quilt stand hanging off of each of his slim shoulders. He dropped the stands in shock and bolted from the booth. The clatter of the stands falling helped mask the rest of Pinkie’s comment, but it also drew the eyes and attention of everyone in the surrounding area.

  This time it was Betty who jumped into the gap before Pinkie could make a bigger scene. “Oh, my, I hope they don’t sell out of chocolate ice cream. That’s my favorite. Perhaps we ought to be hurrying along.”

  Treli finally overcame the shock and disgust that had robbed her of speech. “Good idea, Betty. If we want to avoid the rain, we’d best get a move on.” The two girls moved out arm in arm, leaving the men no alternative but to follow in their wakes.

  “The rain?” Betty’s voice carried as she babbled. “Do you really think it’s going to?”

  “My old leg injury is telling me so. It aches all up and down when the rain is going to turn cold, but it’s more of a stabbing pain around the knee when it’s going to stay warm.” Treli was practically shouting in order to keep the men in the conversation without slowing her pace. She had no intention of letting them say another word until they were all clear of the danger zone.

  Betty seemed to understand and did her best to help. “Of course the weather can change in an instant.” She babbled on for several more minutes until she had managed to put a bit of distance between them and the men by steering Treli around a sharp corner formed by two booths full of jars of homemade jellies. “Do you think we’re safe?”

  “For a minute anyway,” Treli replied. “But we can’t leave them on their own for long unless we want a homicide on our hands.”

  “Can we at leas
t change topics? I mean, really! Your gimpy leg? That’s not exactly a romantic subject to bring up.” Betty lowered her voice and slipped back into the flow of traffic just in time to stay ahead of their trailing admirers.

  Treli hissed her response a moment before the men caught up with them. “Then it’s a perfect topic. Romantic is the last thing I want to be around Bailey Branson!” Treli heard Betty chuckle and realized her mistake. “Or Barty Shepard either!”

  Betty gave her a ‘whatever-you-say’ sort of look and continued her monologue. Apparently, it was her intention to bore Bailey to death. For the most part, it seemed to work. Between her chatter and Shep’s polite attention, the lawyer was completely cut out of the conversation. When Treli turned all her attention away from him, he left his desert unfinished and made a quick exit.

  After that, the three young people spent an incredibly enjoyable afternoon. When it was time to leave, Shep bent both his elbows and gallantly strolled down the street with a smile on his face and two ladies at his sides. All the way to the boarding house, they laughed and chatted together. Treli hardly noticed that Betty had all but fallen silent until they reached their destination. Though they had never done so before, it seemed completely natural to stop in the parlor and continue talking, just the two of them, after Shep left them on the porch with a polite, “Good evening, ladies.”

  As soon as he was gone, Treli asked the question uppermost in her mind. “So, do you think we pulled it off? Are you safe from Bailey Branson? I could have bitten my tongue out when I realized that I might have caused your family trouble by my careless words.”

  “I think we’ll be fine,” Betty assured her with a grin. “No man can stand to listen to all that nonsense I was spouting. And you with your sore leg stories! He’ll probably run a mile next time he catches sight of either of us.”

  “I sure hope so. That man is a menace. All those old-fashioned ideas.”

  Betty shrugged. “Most men think like he does. What bothered me more was the rude way he expressed them. I mean, talking about ladies in business right there in front of Miss Pinkie, the most successful businesswoman in town.”