The Prairie Prince

by Marcia Lynn McClure

  “Because I like ya, Miss Matthews,” he said. “I like ya more’n I should.”

  With that, Katie sighed and let her body melt against his as he kissed her lips tenderly. He was being careful with her, she knew, and she didn’t want him to be careful with her.

  Their lips parted for a moment and she breathlessly whispered, “I won’t break, ya know.”

  Stover chuckled and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek with the back of his hand. “All righty, then,” he mumbled a moment before his mouth captured her own, hot and driven.

  Katie Matthews met passion in that moment. The kisses she’d shared with Stover in the tree house had been magnificent, beautiful, dream-born—kisses she’d never forget. However, it seemed something had happened since the orchard, for the feelings and sensations Stover’s driven, passionate kisses were evoking in Katie now were even stronger, more magnificent! The way he held her against him, letting his fingers be lost in her hair, the way his breath came rapid, heavy—she could feel the solid contours of his chest rising and falling, feel his whiskers against her cheeks and chin. At one point he stopped their exchange, holding her face as he studied her. She could feel the slight trembling of his hands, noticed the narrow expression of his eyes and the way his lower lip quivered for a moment. She was momentarily astonished to find the strong, impenetrable Stover Steele so affected.

  “I shouldn’t…you’re so…I shouldn’t…” he breathed.

  “But ya already have,” she whispered to him. “What’s one more minute of…” His mouth on hers silenced her words.

  Katie’s mind was alive with images of Stover, the essence of sugary peaches and new-found passion. Bound tightly in his arms she felt cared for, safe, blissfully happy—happier than she’d ever imagined she could be. Stover’s kiss drove all fear and doubt from her mind. He broke the seal of their lips, letting his kiss travel from her cheek, to her ear and down her neck to the hollow of her throat, before pulling her tightly against him.

  “You better get on back home, Katie,” he whispered, resting his chin on the top of her head.

  Katie wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him. She never wanted to let go of him, never wanted him to let go of her.

  “Jared’ll have things in hand with yer pa by now, and I want to make sure I’m still welcome when Thursday’s supper rolls around.” Pushing her gently from his arms, he smiled at her and said, “Run along now. And don’t forget Pillar’s pie plate.”

  Katie looked up at him. All at once he looked worried, nervous, and very, very tired.

  “You’ll come then? To supper on Thursday? Truly?” she asked.

  “Five o’clock on the strike,” he said, smiling at her.

  “Good,” she said before turning, lifting her skirts and setting out at a dead run toward home.

  Once Katie was out of sight, Stover rubbed his face with one hand, ran the other through his hair. He was sweating like an over-worked plow-horse. He held his hands out in front of him and studied the way they trembled. His hands never trembled! Emotions ranging from euphoria to fear battled in his mind and body. He hardly knew this girl! How could it be she had such an effect on him?

  Stover knew he had to get a handle on himself. With Pillar gone, he would have three little sisters to provide for and finish raising on his own. He didn’t have time to…to…to fall in love. Closing his eyes, he breathed a heavy sigh of anxiety, for he’d consciously admitted it to himself—he was falling in love with the pretty little barefooted prairie princess his sisters had found asleep under a pine tree.

  Chapter Seven

  “I hear you’ve managed to coax Stover Steele into callin’ at your house for supper, Katie Matthews,” Hillary Westover said, stepping up beside Katie.

  Katie had come to town with Jared and her mother and was looking over a few new bolts of fabric Mr. O’Malley had just received.

  “I didn’t have to coax,” Katie said. “He asked for an invitation.”

  “And I’m Queen Victoria,” Hillary mumbled.

  Katie drew in a calming breath, determined not to let Hillary get under her skin. After all, Hillary hadn’t been held in Stover’s arms, kissed by him.

  “He’s flirtin’ with every girl in town, Katie,” Hillary said, lowering her voice. “Certainly ya don’t think yer the only one he’s sparkin’ with.”

  Katie’s heart pinched. Doubt had entered her mind, for how did Hillary know Stover had kissed her?

  Hillary’s eyebrows raised and she giggled, “But ya do! Don’t ya? Ya really think yer the only one Stover’s been payin’ any attention to.”

  “I don’t know what yer talkin’ about, Hillary,” Katie said, trying to appear calm and indifferent.

  “And do ya think that just because he’s comin’ to yer house for supper tonight that he won’t be somewhere else tomorrow night?” Hillary said. “I never realized how truly naïve you are, Katie Matthews. Nope. Never realized it—not until this very moment.” Hillary smiled sweetly at Katie. “You have fun at supper tonight, Katie. I’ll have my fun at supper tomorrow night.” Tossing her head triumphantly, Hillary turned and left the store—left Katie drowning in worry and doubt and wonder.

  It couldn’t be true! Katie knew it couldn’t. Stover cared for her—he did! Enough to kiss her, to ask for a supper invitation, and to meet her mother. Hillary was just up to her old tricks. At least, that’s what Katie tried to tell herself.

  “Find anythin’ ya like, lassie?” Mr. O’Malley asked.

  Katie shook her head and muttered, “Not today, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, ya look a bit like ya seen a ghost, ya do,” he said. “Try some fresh air. It does wonders, it does.”

  Katie forced a smile for Mr. O’Malley’s sake. She nodded and left the General Store and headed toward the dress shop. Her mother was there helping Jenny Washington choose some fabric for her daughter’s wedding dress. Maybe her mother could calm the doubts Hillary had planted in Katie’s mind.

  As she neared the jailhouse however, her attention was arrested by three little girls peering down the alley. Katie smiled, recognizing Stover and Pillar’s three little sisters.

  “Hello, girls,” Katie said.

  Each of the girls gasped, completely startled.

  As they turned to see Katie standing behind them, Berty said, “Ya plum scared the waddin’ out of us, Katie!”

  Katie couldn’t help but smile, though she could see how unsettled the girls were. “Well, what are you three doin’,” she asked.

  “Spyin’ on the murderers,” Bunny exclaimed. “We thought we might get a look at one of ‘em.”

  “They’s gonna take ‘em back to Summerville for hangin’,” Bonnie said in a whisper.

  All at once, the hair on the back of Katie’s neck stood on end.

  “I’m mighty glad Stover got to ya in time, Katie,” she said.

  “Ya could’ve had yer throat slit clean,” Bunny said.

  “Ear to ear,” Berty added.

  Katie began to tremble. She’d tried very hard not to let her mind linger on what might have become of her if Stover hadn’t rescued her that day. Yet, suddenly, being so near to the place where the sheriff was keeping the men, having the triplets remind her of the great danger she’d been in—it unnerved her something terrible.

  “Don’t worry about it no more, Katie,” Bonnie said. “The sheriff’s got them locked up tight in that jail. They can’t get to ya.”

  “And anyway—Stover broke ‘em all up perty good,” Berty reminded her.

  “Hush, Bonnie! Berty!” Bunny scolded. “Yer frightenin’ Katie with all that talk.”

  Katie forced a smile and said, “Oh, I’m fine. Just fine. What’re you girls up to today?”

  “Well, Bunny opened her big mouth and told that nasty Hillary Westover that we caught you and Stover kissin’ the other day. That’s what Bunny’s up to,” Berty said.

  “What?” Katie exclaimed, surprised and delighted. If the Steele girls had told
Hillary about seeing their brother kiss Katie, then maybe Hillary was just trying to sew seeds of distrust in Katie where Stover’s sincerity was concerned. “You girls saw that? Ya told Hillary?”

  “Ain’t much that gets by us Steele girls, Katie Matthews,” Bonnie said. “We figured if Pillar and yer brother were smoochin’ out under the apple trees—then Stover was sure to be smoochin’ you up in the tree house.”

  “We watched ya for a long time,” Bunny stated. “It was downright interestin’.”

  “Then when Pillar and yer brother finished up—we figured it was safe to climb up into the tree house and say hello to ya,” Berty explained.

  “And—and you three told Hillary about what ya saw?” Katie asked, a smile spreading across her face.

  “Of course!” Berty said. “She’s a pill! She slobbers all over Stover like a thirsty puppy.”

  “Someone needs to take her britches in a size or two,” Bonnie added.

  Katie dropped to her knees, gathering all three girls in her arms. “You angels!” she exclaimed. “You’ll never know how glad I am for you three!”

  “For us?” the three girls simultaneously asked.

  Katie nodded. “Yes, for you!” she said. “And ya haven’t seen your brother sparkin’ with anybody else? Besides me, I mean?” she asked them.

  “Heck no!” Berty said.

  “Why would I be sprarkin’ with anybody else, Miss Matthews?”

  Katie looked up to see Stover standing over her. He smiled and winked at her, and she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms. Of course, propriety wouldn’t allow that, so she simply stood and smiled at him.

  “Hillary Westover just finished tellin’ me ‘bout how you’ve been spendin’ a considerable amount of your time sparkin’ every girl in town,” she explained to him.

  “And ya didn’t believe her, right?” he chuckled. “Not for a second. Right?”

  Katie guiltily hung her head for a moment before explaining. “She’s boiled my skin ever since I can remember,” Katie admitted. She was startled when Stover burst into laughter.

  “Don’t ya mean she’s boiled yer blood ever since ya can remember?” he said.

  Katie felt a mad blush rise to her cheeks. What a fool she was! Couldn’t she ever say anything right? “Yes—I meant she’s boiled my blood ever since I can remember,” Katie admitted, embarrassed by her mistake.

  “Imagine it, Bunny…Bonnie,” Berty said then. “Boilin’ blood!”

  All three little girls looked to their brother with wide, frightened eyes.

  “Do ya think that’s what them men in that jail was plannin’ on doin’ to Katie if they caught her the other day, Stove?” Bonnie asked. “Do ya think they was plannin’ on slittin’ her throat and boilin’ her blood?”

  “Mercy sakes alive!” Pillar exclaimed as she walked up behind the girls in time to hear what Bonnie had said. “What in the world are ya goin’ on to these girls about now, Stove?” she scolded. “You’ll give ‘em nightmares for certain.”

  “It ain’t my doin’, Pillar,” Stover chuckled. “Talk to Katie here about it.”

  “Me?” Katie exclaimed a moment before her mother and Jared appeared from across the street.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Talkin’ to little girls about boilin’ skin and blood,” Stover teased.

  “But I…” Katie stammered.

  “Hey there, Stover,” Jared interrupted as he and Katie’s mother stepped up onto the boardwalk behind Pillar. Jared shook Stover’s hand and kissed Katie on the cheek. “Ladies,” he added tipping his hat to first Pillar and then the girls. “I’d like ya to meet my mother, Evelyn Matthews.”

  “Pleased to meet ya, Mrs. Matthews,” Berty said.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Bonnie and Bunny chimed.

  “Aren’t you girls just little angels?” Evelyn exclaimed as she smiled at them. The triplets giggled with delight and Katie thought of the many and unexpected blessings Jared’s marrying Pillar would bring to her mother. “And you must be Pillar,” Evelyn said, reaching out and taking Pillar’s hands in her own.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Pillar said.

  Katie noticed the way Pillar reached up, pulling her hair down over her right ear.

  “And we’ll have none of that,” Evelyn told her. “You’re even lovelier than I imagined.” Evelyn leaned forward and whispered to Pillar, “I hope Jared don’t drag his feet too much longer about takin’ you for his own.”

  Katie smiled as she saw Pillar’s crimson blush and Jared’s reassuring wink.

  “And you—what a handsome devil you are, Mr. Steele,” Evelyn said, looking at Stover. “I’ve never seen a more attractive family in all my life!”

  “You’re too awful kind, Mrs. Matthews,” Stover said. “And I can sure see where yer daughter gets her purty and charmin’ ways.”

  Evelyn smiled and Katie adored Stover all the more for his kindness to her mother.

  “I’ll be seein’ ya for supper tonight then, Mr. Steele?” Evelyn asked.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” he said.

  “And, Pillar,” she said, turning to the girls then. “You bring yer sisters on out one afternoon, and we’ll meet out at the crick and pick some berries. There’re some lovely huckleberry bushes out by our crick.”

  The triplets giggled with excitement and Pillar said, “Yes, Mrs. Matthews.”

  Evelyn smiled and told her, “Call me Evelyn—for the time bein’, anyway.”

  Katie smiled when her mother winked at Pillar. She could read the love and hope on Pillar’s face as plainly as if it were written across her forehead in ink.

  “I want to drop in on Mr. O’Malley, Katie,” Evelyn said. “Then I want us to head for home—so don’t go far.”

  “I won’t,” Katie assured her.

  “We better be gettin’ on back, too,” Stover said. “I got chores need doin’.” He looked at Katie, smiled and moistened his lips.

  A delightful thrill traveled through Katie’s body, just at his nearness, at the very sight of him. She wished they were alone, isolated in a tree house or a grove of pines, but for the moment she just smiled, happy when he winked at her.

  “You’ll be out for supper, Jared?” Pillar asked.

  Katie’s heart pricked a little, for with all Jared’s attention and kindnesses, she could see Pillar still doubted herself.

  “Of course,” Jared assured, taking her hand and tenderly kissing the back of it.

  Katie smiled while the little girls all giggled, pleased by the affectionate display.

  “Pillar,” Stover began. “You and the girls run on home. I’ve still got to stop in at the Feed and Seed for a couple of things. I’ll be along shortly.” Then nodding to Jared he said, “Afternoon, Jared. I expect I’ll be seein’ ya this evenin’.” Jared nodded. Unexpectedly then, Stover reached out and brushed Katie’s cheek with the back of his hand and said, “And I expect I’ll be tastin’ you—I mean yer Mama’s good cookin’ later this evenin’, too.”

  Katie’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe he’d flirted with her in such a manner in front of everyone.

  “Stover Steele!” Pillar scolded, a wide smile spreading across her face.

  Jared just chuckled, nodding at Stover with amused approval.

  “Good day to ya then,” Stover said, stepping down from the boardwalk and heading toward the Feed and Seed.

  Katie, still smiling, still delighted, sighed as she watched him go. He was too wonderful! Jared and Pillar were having a quiet conversation, and the triplets were busy slathering affection on a mother cat and her litter of kittens, which had appeared out of nowhere. But Katie was too excited to stand still, too excited to sit and play with kittens.

  “I’’m goin’ down to the crick,” she told Jared, turning to leave.

  “Be back in half an hour. I don’t want to go huntin’ ya down,” Jared told her. “And—and be careful.”

  Katie nodded and tried not to let Jared’s warning frighten her too much. After the inciden
t with the men, Katie had been determined not to let her fear get the better of her. So far, she’d done a good job of being brave, of going on about her life.

  Still, she felt ill at ease as she stepped up onto the old bridge that crossed the crick just outside of town. She paused, leaning over the bridge railing and gazing into the water below. She searched the bridge planking, finding a twig and dropped it into the water, quickly rushing to the other side of the bridge in order to watch the twig reappear as the water carried it away.

  Katie gathered several more twigs and sticks, dropping each off one side of the bridge and watching it appear on the other as she thought on Stover Steele. Her heart deemed him as perfect to love, not simply because he was handsome and strong, but because he was determined, compassionate, responsible, hard working. And his kisses! Could Heaven itself be any more wonderful?

  Again Katie thought on the way he took care of his sisters, not just providing for their physical needs, but playing with the little ones, consoling Pillar, laughing, scolding—everything he did for them showed his genuine care and love for them.

  Trying to distract herself from such obsessive thoughts of Stover Steele, Katie climbed up onto the bridge railing as she’d done a hundred times. She’d never understood why she liked to walk the bridge rail. It was rather dangerous, after all. Still, she hadn’t once lost her footing, and it always gave her an odd little thrill and something else to concentrate on whenever she needed something else to concentrate on.