Cooper's Wife

by Jillian Hart

  “To marry us.”

  White-hot anger speared through him. “Katie, you’re right. This is the baddest thing you have ever done.”

  Cooper spun at the back door and crossed the length of the room, fists jammed at his sides, his jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. Nice little girls didn’t do the things Katie did. They didn’t climb trees and play in mud and race ponies. Or propose to innocent strangers.

  Maybe it was because those other little girls had mothers.

  Katie burst into tears again. “They got hurt and Maisie still doesn’t have a m-mama!”

  Frustration, rage, defeat. It all melded together in his midsection and churned.. He wanted to punish her. He wanted to comfort her. He wished to hell and back Katie would learn to embroider or something ladylike and stop with the wild harebrained schemes.

  “It is your fault that Mrs. Bauer and her daughter were on that stage.” He managed to keep his voice calm.

  Harder tears.

  “But you couldn’t have known they would come to harm.”

  “I d-didn’t.” True sorrow shone in those eyes, the same color as his.

  Cooper stared at his reflection in the dark window. “How did you find Mrs. Bauer in the first place?”

  “I bought a newspaper advertisement.”

  “You did what?” Renewed fury roared through him. He would never understand his daughter. She was too flighty, too headstrong, too—He didn’t know what, but it wasn’t a good thing. Little girls were supposed to be demure and polite, cute and neat—not muddy and outrageous. “You placed a request for a mother in a newspaper?”

  Katie’s eyes still brimmed with tears. “No. I pretended to be you.”

  “Anna Bauer thinks that I—” His knees buckled. Speechless, he simply stared at his daughter. The pony rides, the trousers, the mud, the disobedience and now this. Katie didn’t need a mother, she needed a warden and steel bars on the window.

  Cooper held out his hand. “There’s no need to cry.”

  She tipped up her tear-wet face. “You’ll fix everything, Papa?”

  “Of course I will. I’m the sheriff. That’s my job.”

  A smile nudged away the sadness and Katie’s fingers wrapped tightly around his. “I knew you would.”

  All the trust in the world shone in those eyes. Cooper’s chest filled. How he loved his little girl. “Come, let’s get you back in bed.”

  It was a sweet task, tucking the covers up to her chin, wishing her good dreams, waiting as she drifted off. His two little daughters, safe and snug.

  A noise downstairs spun him around. With his five shooter strapped tight to his thigh, he started down the stairs. This part of Montana was isolated but saw its share of trouble. That’s why the good people of Flint Creek had hired him. He had promised to keep their families and their businesses safe from crime. It was a tall order, but Cooper Braddock was a man of his word.

  “I saw your light on,” Laura’s voice called out to him before he strode into the kitchen.

  “More problems with Katie.” He unbuckled his gun belt, the day’s work done.

  “That’s nothing new. What is it this time?”

  He studied his young sister’s pretty face, the concern so bright in her eyes. He knew Laura loved his daughters, but the emerald flashing on her left ring finger left no room for doubt. Laura would soon be married, starting a new life, making her own family. It was time to stop depending on her so heavily.

  He laid the gun belt on the table with a soft clink. “She can’t sleep. Nothing to worry about.”

  “With Katie, there’s a lot to worry about.” Those caring eyes twinkled. “Will you share your coffee?”

  “With pleasure. If you can stand my bitter brew.”

  “Let’s just say I’m used to your cooking, big brother.” She lifted the enamel pot from the stove, just as she’d done hundreds, maybe thousands of times. “What are you going to do when I marry?”

  “About the girls?” He sat down at the table. Sighed. “I’ve tried not to think about it. I don’t think Mrs. Potts is going to stay without you here.”

  “I think Mrs. Potts is ready to run screaming to Canada if Katie brings one more slimy creature into this kitchen, whether on purpose or not.” Laura’s fondness rang in her voice. She set her steaming cup on the table and sat across from him. Her gaze met his. “Cooper, those girls of yours need a mother.”

  “They have me.” He lifted his chin.

  “A father’s love is important, but you’re a man. You’re busy providing for your family, protecting the town and doing your job. A man has to do that, I know. You need to provide for your girls and that takes you away from them. I’m not faulting you.”

  He rubbed his brow, tired. “Whatever my daughters need, they have my love. Not every man stands by his family.”

  “You’ve made a fine home for them.”

  Those tender words, brimming with understanding, hurt more than Cooper could admit. He’d worked hard to do right by his girls after Katherine walked away. To love them, provide for them. “I couldn’t have done so much without your help, Laura.”

  “I’ve been glad to do it, Cooper.” Her lower lip wobbled. “I’m proud of you for taking a risk and doing what’s right for yourself and my two beautiful nieces.”

  Love filled him up. “That means a lot to me, Laura. Life would be damn empty without my daughters.”

  He thought of Anna Bauer and how she’d come so close to losing her child. His family was safe, healthy and happy. Yes, he was a lucky man indeed.

  Laura’s hand covered his, an act of comfort from sister to brother. “I haven’t taken the time to meet your Anna yet, out of respect for her injured girl, but from what Tucker says, she’s wonderful.”

  Cooper’s hand shook, the cup slipped. Hot coffee scorched his thigh. “What has Tucker been saying, that no-good brother of ours?”

  “Only that he found certain letters in the stage wreckage and because they were so personal, he’s keeping them away from the other deputies’ prying eyes.” Laura’s face beamed with happiness. “Oh, Cooper. Why didn’t you tell us? I’m so happy you’ve found a wife.”

  Chapter Four

  Lee Corinthos held the revolver in a white-knuckled grip. He hated the way the gun shook. Hated weakness of any kind, no matter how hurt he was. “Are you sure you ain’t causin’ more harm?”

  Fear glittered in the doc’s watery eyes. “No, sir. I’m doing the best job I can. Your man is hurt real bad.”

  Excuses. Corinthos was tired of those, too. “If my man dies, you die too, Doc.”

  More fear in those eyes. Educated men didn’t know how to fight, Corinthos knew. The doctor brought up from Rocky Gulch would prove no threat. Men like him didn’t have the guts.

  “I’ll do all I can.” The doc swallowed hard, as if realizing the importance of his surgery, and returned to digging the bullet out of Jeffrey’s thigh.

  “Those lawmen were waitin’ for us.” Dusty wiped his brow, winced in pain, then lowered his bandaged hand. “It’s that sheriff Flint Creek hired to replace old Joe.”

  “Old Joe made things easy for us.”

  “With a little bit of bribery and just the right pressure,” Dusty cackled.

  “I wish to hell he’d stayed. We’ve got problems.”

  “We’ll find a way to deal with Braddock. Every man has his pressure points.” Dusty stopped. “Want me to keep a gun on the doc?”

  “I can do it,” Corinthos growled. He was the toughest son of a gun in all of Montana Territory. He refused to show weakness in front of his men, even if he was hurt bad enough to pass out. “Yep, that damn new sheriff is a problem.”

  “Braddock’s his name. Cooper Braddock.”

  “He’s gotta cooperate or we’ll take him out of our way. I plan on keeping my business profitable.” With the amount of gold traveling from the mines on this side of the Rockies, he’d be rich before long. “First, I’ll have to pay that Braddock back for plowing
a bullet into me.”

  “I wanna be there to see it.” Dusty chuckled, as always relishing even the thought of violence.

  “Doc, are you done yet?” Corinthos nosed the revolver against the scrawny doc’s neck. The room was starting to spin and the outlaw couldn’t keep standing much longer without a flask of whiskey, but he wouldn’t say it. Wouldn’t let his men know it.

  “I’m just closing up now.”

  “Then I’m next.” Corinthos gritted his teeth against the pain. He would get his damn wound stitched and then he’d be heading right back to Flint Creek. He had a witness to silence and a score to settle.

  And settle it he would. Lee Corinthos always got what he wanted—at any cost. It didn’t pay for a man to be honest and polite. No, it was a ruthless man who won every time. Corinthos had learned that bitter lesson the hard way, for it was the way of the West.

  As the hours passed watching Mandy sleep, Anna had to struggle to tamp down her fears. She could stand any amount of grief and hardship, but not the death of her daughter.

  Anna reached for the borrowed storybook, smoothed open the nch paper pages to a favored tale. Over the rasp of Mandy’s breathing, she began to read. The story was familiar, often read in quiet hours back home, and Anna’s mind drifted. She thought of Dalton. Thought of her sister, who’d sent him in the wrong direction. She hoped Meg was safe. Anna thought of the stage robbers. Hoped that they, like Dalton, didn’t favor silencing every last witness.

  Fear coiled through her, squeezing tight. What could she do? Where could she go? She had no money, no belongings, no help. Mandy was too critically injured to move. And Cooper Braddock hadn’t proposed to her. There was no husband, no home, no family waiting for her.

  “Anna?”

  A jolt of awareness skittled along the back of her neck. She knew by the commanding feel of him that it was Cooper. Did he know why she’d come to town? What should she do now? Troubled, she rubbed her tired eyes.

  “You’ve been crying.” His voice rumbled with concern. “Is it your daughter?”

  “Mandy’s doing much better. She’s sat up and taken some chicken broth. The doctor has high hopes.” Thank heavens for that.

  “May I come in?”

  “You? Always.” What should she say to him? He still stood in the threshold, one wide shoulder propped against the door frame. He was a big man; he filled the small dark room with his powerful presence. Dizzy, Anna caught her breath as he pulled up a chair. “You don’t need to keep checking up on me.”

  “It’s the least I can do, being the sheriff and all.” He winked, and the kindness, the strength of him shone in his dark eyes. “I take it you’re a rather independent woman.”

  Was he commenting or criticizing? She couldn’t tell for sure, but he looked to be holding back a smile. “And you’re a rather overbearing man. Maybe because you take your badge a little too serinously.”

  A broad, lopsided grin stretched his mouth and reached all the way to his laughing eyes. “Smart mouthed, too. I must warn you, I have a lot of experience dealing with your type of female.”

  “Because you’re a sheriff?”

  “No, because I’m a father.”

  They laughed together. There was no mistaking the affection in his eyes, the great love he had for his daughters. Anna wrung her hands, truly awestruck by such a man. Such a wonderful man.

  “I was hoping since your child is out of danger, that we can talk.” His eyes darkened.

  “Talk?” she squeaked.

  “It’s important.” He gestured toward the door. Anna hesitated. She wasn’t up to discussing the letters. Had he figured out why she was here?

  Embarrassed, afraid that her feelings showed, she stepped out into the hall

  “I’ve got a real serious situation.” Cooper gestured toward a chair in the doc’s parlor.

  Anna sat, her pulse beating like a drum in her ears. Had he found out about Dalton? It was possible. After all, both men were sheriffs in the same county, even if nearly a hundred miles separated their towns.

  “This is the first time anyone has survived a stage robbery by Corinthos’ gang. You stood the closest to him. He spoke to you. Could you identify him if you saw him again? If this goes to trial, we will need all the witnesses we can get.”

  “You want to know about the robbery?” Relief shivered through her veins. At least she still had some secrets.

  A noisy clatter pounded outside the window, and then the door swung open. “Papa! Papa!”

  Two little girls tumbled into the clinic, Katie wearing trousers and a big flannel shirt, and a smaller child in a pink calico dress.

  “What are my two favorite girls doing here?” Cooper turned toward the little intruders, a smile tugging away at the stern set of his mouth.

  “Mrs. Potts is shopping, so she said we gotta come on over and see Anna.” Katie ground to a stop in the middle of the parlor, braids bobbing. She rubbed several strands of escaped hair out of her eyes. “Papa, Mrs. Potts is really, really mad at you again. Hi, Anna.”

  A little blond sprite of a girl stared out at her from between Cooper’s knees.

  Anna’s entire heart warmed. “Hello.”

  He cleared his throat. “You mean Mrs. Potts is really mad at you. What did you do this time?”

  “Nothing. A snake got into the pantry, that’s all.” Katie’s eyes twinkled with barely restrained mischief. “She’s awfully scared of things like that.”

  “You and I will discuss this later.” He didn’t look pleased, but he wasn’t angry, wasn’t punishing.

  A good father, Anna decided. Just the sort of man she’d hoped to find. “Katie, I haven’t forgotten about returning your storybook. I’m still reading to Mandy from it.”

  “Only Maisie likes those stories now.” The girl turned serious, obviously concentrating on more important matters. “Do you like my papa enough to marry him yet?”

  Anna couldn’t hold back her chuckle. She looked up and caught the surprise in Cooper’s eyes, laughed at the astonishment slackening his unshaven jaw. “No, Katie. I don’t like your father that much.”

  “Pretty women always say that.” Katie affected a troubled sigh, her heart-deep need for a mother’s love dark like lost hope in her eyes.

  “Katie. Maisie. Let’s go outside.” Cooper wouldn’t meet Anna’s gaze as he headed for the door. Apparently he did know about the letters, about her embarrassing situation. Why hadn’t he said anything? Was he afraid she’d demand marriage whether he wanted her or not?

  “Anna, come see Bob,” Katie called as she bolted toward the door, braids flying.

  “Yeah. Come see Bob,” Maisie chimed.

  Cooper’s gaze snared hers, intense and unflinching. The air stalled in her chest. She saw the warmth of this family and couldn’t help wanting to be a part of it, just in a small way, for this one moment. “Who’s Bob?”

  Katie hopped out onto the sunlit boardwalk. “Bob is my pony.”

  “A very bad pony.” Big blue eyes met Anna’s. Maisie blushed shyly, then dashed outside in a pink blur.

  “She’s precious.” Delight transformed Anna’s heart-shaped face.

  “You see what I’m up against. Two adorable girls who have me wrapped around their little fingers.”

  “I’ll say.” She smiled, but it was warm, without censure. Not judgmental, not disapproving. When it came to Katie, he got the latter reaction most of the time.

  He could only stare at Anna, liking her for liking his girls. He couldn’t help it, even if he was looking disaster in the face. Not only did Anna know he knew about the letters, but now both his girls thought a marriage between them was possible.

  That matchmaking Katie had gone too far this time! Cooper gave Anna one more look, for he was too angry to speak, then stepped outside.

  He had to remember Anna wasn’t all that different from Katherine. Needing his help. Seeking his protection. Looking up at him with doe-soft eyes so that he would lay down his life—or his honor
—to protect her, no matter the cost. He would not make that mistake again.

  “Anna, come on!” Katie’s voice lifted in the springscented wind, loud enough to make people turn on the other side of the street and look.

  “Katie,” he admonished, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. “This is going too far and you know it. You can’t go against my wishes like this.”

  “What?” Innocent eyes. Yes, they really were innocent. With Katie, he had to be certain.

  “You know very well Mrs. Bauer is not going to be your mother. I thought we agreed no more—”

  “But you promised!” Dismayed, she stepped back. Then remembering, lowered her voice. “Papa, you promised. You said you would fix everything. Make it all right.”

  He closed his eyes. Counted to ten. “Yes, that’s what I said. But I never said I would marry the woman.”

  “Nor should he,” Anna’s voice, firm but gentle, interrupted. Thank goodness she was on his side. “I know you wrote the letters, Katie.”

  “You do?” Eyes so filled with surprise.

  He turned and looked down at her exhaustion-lined face. His skin buzzed with her nearness. He breathed in the scent of the dust-filled air and Anna, soft as roses, intoxicating as fine whiskey.

  “I appreciate this, Anna.” He caught her gaze, as soft as a featherlight touch to his face. “I didn’t know how to bring up the subject.”

  “I understand.” And she did. It shone clear and honest in her eyes. She didn’t blame him. She didn’t blame Katie.

  The guilt and his burden doubled. A harridan or a manipulator he could send out of town on the next stage without a thought. But Anna... She posed a real problem.

  Yep, she was as appealing as the lemony shafts of sunshine burnishing her gold curls. She breezed by him, and the hair stood up on his arms. She smiled at him and his heart stopped beating.

  Maisie hid behind his legs, her grip on his knees keeping him from stepping forward. Bob’s mouth opened, those beady intelligent eyes focused on Anna’s dress.