Courting Kate

by Rich, Mary Lou

“Remember, not a word to Tanner,” Mark warned. “We’d better swear on it.”

  The boys stood in a circle, each of them clasping the right shoulder of the next. “I swear nothing we said will go beyond this circle,” they said together.

  “If I tell, I hope a chicken buzzard eats my rotten heart,” Luke added, staring pointedly at John.

  They waited until each of them had repeated the pledge.

  “Amen,” John said solemnly. He glanced up at the sky as if expecting some giant bird to swoop down and attack him. “I won’t tell. I swear I won’t.”

  “You’ve got him half-scared to death,” Matt whispered accusingly.

  “I’ll bet he won’t be the one to spill the beans,” Mark said, watching his younger brother dash ahead of them.

  “Well, I sure won’t be the one to tell,” Luke declared.

  “I’ll bet you will. You can’t keep a secret for nothing.”

  “Can so.”

  “Can not.”

  His mind full of matchmaking possibilities, Matt quickened his step to avoid the argument, and hurried after John.

  Chapter 7

  Kathleen had made a decision, several of them in fact. From now on she would call herself Kate Deveraux. Everybody else did. Calling herself Kathleen would only make her seem standoffish. And she couldn’t afford that—not if she wanted to succeed in business.

  After the boys had left she had discussed her idea of a pie shop with Madame Jeanne—Jeanne, she amended, for the Frenchwoman had insisted that Kate call her that. Jeanne had suggested that Kate set up her pie business in the small storage building that sat behind the boardinghouse—for the same rent as her former room, of course.

  The place had been filled with odds and ends stashed there over the years. Some articles Kate had been able to use, but most of it had gone to the local dumping site.

  Jeanne had hired a handyman to repair the roof, replace the window glass, and do the heavier cleaning. He also built a few cabinets and shelves and installed a large cook range that had been stored after Jeanne had purchased a new one for her boardinghouse. She’d also had him install a small pot-bellied stove for heat and a bed.

  After he had finished, Kate took over. Now, five days and several cooking lessons later, she glanced around at the small shanty and was pleased with what she saw.

  Although small, the building was larger than the bedroom she’d occupied at the boardinghouse, and even though it wasn’t as fancy, Kate liked it even better because she had a part in the transformation. And now, if her business succeeded, she wouldn’t be dependent on Tanner Blaine.

  The stained walls now wore a fresh coat of white paint, and several colorful rag rugs dotted the board floors. Another of Jeanne’s discards, an oaken chest of drawers and a mirror, gleamed after a thorough cleaning. Kate had given the rusty iron bedstead a coat of pale blue paint. Jeanne had supplied linens and several colorful quilts to keep Kate warm on the coldest nights, not to mention a small kitchen table and chairs, along with dishes and cooking items she thought Kate might need. The woman was a virtual saint in Kate’s eyes, or at least, she was her fairy godmother.

  Kate looked around her and nodded in satisfaction. Everything was ready. The cook stove was polished, the damper cleaned. Shelves and a discarded butcher table had been arranged to help display her baked goods. She had posted signs in the various businesses around Jacksonville, and had asked Jeanne and Mr. Beekman and others to pass the word. Starting tomorrow, Kate’s Pie Shop would be open for business.

  Only one more thing needed doing before she began her baking. She pulled a chair close to the wall and climbed onto the seat. In one fist she held nails and a clothesline strung through the top edge of a long curtain. Her other hand clutched a hammer. She stretched toward the ceiling, only to find the curtain still dragged on the floor. If only she were a tad taller. She stood on tiptoe.

  “What are you trying to do, besides break your neck?”

  “Oh-h,” she squealed and twisted to peer behind her. The chair rocked, then tilted, launching her into thin air.

  Tanner scooped her up before she hit the floor. “What were you doing?” he asked again.

  “I was trying to hang that curtain before you scared me half to death.”

  “What for?”

  “You can put me down now.” She squirmed, pushed at his shoulder.

  He sniffed, like he was smelling her, then he sniffed again. She found it most disturbing. “Put me down. Now.”

  He held her a moment longer, then set her feet on the floor.

  She straightened her clothing, and shoved a midnight black curl behind her ear.

  “Well?” Arms crossed, he waited for her answer.

  “I wanted to string a divider to separate my bedroom

  from the pie shop,” she explained.

  “Pie shop? What pie shop?” He frowned. “And what bedroom? You’re supposed to be sleeping at the boardinghouse.”

  “Well, I’m not. As of tonight, I will be sleeping right here.” She pointed toward the sleeping area. “And tomorrow, I will open for business.”

  “Oh, no you’re not,” he said, shaking his head. “I won’t stand for it. You’re going right back to Madame Jeanne’s.” He took her arm and marched her toward the door.

  “You won’t stand for it?” She jerked free. “You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my father. Nor my husband. You have no say in the matter. I am a grown woman, and I will do as I please.”

  His eyes narrowed. “If I were your father, or your husband, I’d turn you over my knee.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “I might do it anyhow for being so sassy.”

  She eyed him warily, then backed away. She whirled and retrieved her hammer. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned, brandishing the weapon.

  “You’d really hit me?”

  “Not unless it became necessary.”

  He placed his hands on his hips and stared at her. “Why are you being so blamed stubborn? A woman back here—all alone. Why, anything could happen.”

  “The boardinghouse is right there.” She pointed across the alley. “Besides, I can’t go back. My room’s been rented to someone else.”

  “What? Jeanne and I had an agreement. I’ve already taken care of everything.”

  “I don’t want to be taken care of. I’ve made a different agreement. I refuse to be a burden. I am my own woman. Besides, Jeanne thinks this is a good idea.”

  “Well, I don’t. Besides, Jeanne isn’t going to be sleeping here, you are.”

  “I’ll be perfectly safe.”

  “Oh, yeah? The only way you’d be safe is if I put you under lock and key.” His mouth set, he took a step forward.

  She took one look and raised her weapon. It only made him madder.

  “You think that puny little hammer would stop some man intent on sampling a piece of you? It wouldn’t stop him for a minute. He’d just throw that hammer away—like this.”

  The hammer clanged against the opposite wall.

  “Then he’d just gather you close—like this.”

  He jerked her against his chest.

  She pushed at him. “Let me go,” she said between gritted teeth.

  His arms tightened, so that she was unable to move. “Then, he’d do this.” Like a hawk after a dove, he bent his head and captured her mouth. “And this—” When she gasped, he kissed her again, slowly, thoroughly, then his breath grew ragged, his mouth more intense, plundering hers. He kissed her as if he couldn’t seem to stop.

  More frightened than she’d ever been in her whole life, Kate began to fight in earnest. To no avail. He was heavier, stronger, and seemed intent on kissing the life out of her. His lips were cool and warm, fierce, then tender. He kissed her hair, her nose, her eyes, making her dizzy with his presence. He smelled like pine trees and wood smoke. And his hands made her feel things she had never felt before. This was no innocent kiss like she had experienced behind the gazebo at sixte
en. This was... She didn’t know what it was. She only knew it opened doors to her imagination that she never knew existed.

  A band of heat coiled in her middle, making her dizzy, confused. She wanted to shove him away, but she couldn’t. It was as if some outside force had taken control of her body. She was only aware of Tanner. Tanner... Even her heartbeat seemed to echo his name.

  She wasn’t sure when her arms went around his neck, or when she began kissing him back. She sighed and closed her eyes. Breathing heavily, he stopped, removed his mouth from hers. Dazed, she opened her eyes and saw him observing her.

  “Convinced yet?” he asked huskily.

  “That-that wouldn’t happen,” she somehow managed to say.

  “Then he might get right down to this—” Tanner bent, slid an arm under her legs and lifted her off her feet. His expression hot and hungry, he took two steps and placed her on the bed. The next thing she knew, he was beside her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress.

  Now really frightened, she tried to twist away from him. It was no use. “No. No, please...” Despite her best intention, a sob made its way past her throat. The sound seemed to bring him back to sanity. His assault stopped as abruptly as it had begun. But he didn’t let go of her.

  “Kate, I didn’t mean to scare you. Kate?”

  She couldn’t answer.

  Heaving a great sigh, he moved to the edge of the bed and sat up. He smoothed her hair back from her face, his calloused palm gentle against her cheek. “Are you all right?”

  She stared at him, then turned her head away to hide her tears.

  “Doggone, honey, don’t cry.” He carefully raised her to an upright position, then awkwardly patted her back. “I only wanted to show you what could happen.”

  He’d done more than that. She drew in a breath. “I’m not crying, and I’m not your honey.” She slapped at his hand. “Don’t touch me.” She scooted away and got to her feet. Furious now, she whirled to face him. “And as for showing me what could happen... I think I got the idea, Mr. Blaine.”

  “I was trying to teach you a lesson,” he said, as if such a lame excuse would explain his outlandish behavior.

  “I don’t need any lessons. And I certainly don’t need you.” She pointed toward the door. “Get out!”

  He gave her a feeble smile. “I’ll come back a little later, then maybe we can talk, after you’ve calmed down and all.”

  “Talk? Is that what you call it?” Her eyes narrowed. “You come anywhere near me, and I’ll sic the dog on you.”

  “What dog?” He peered around the room.

  “The one Mark’s walking. He should be back any minute.”

  “Mark? What’s Mark doing in town?”

  “He’s your brother. Why don’t you ask him?” She shoved him through the door, then clicked the lock.

  More shaken than he cared to admit, Tanner stared at the closed door. He didn’t blame her for being upset. He didn’t know what had gotten into him. If anyone else had tried such a thing, he would have shot him on the spot.

  The ease with which he’d relieved her of the hammer gave him cause for alarm. And what followed... Another man wouldn’t have stopped.

  Worry gnawed at him, making his brows knot in consternation. Maybe he ought to get her a gun.

  On second thought, he’d better not. He’d probably be the one she shot.

  She said she had a dog. It had better be a mean son-of-a—”

  “—Tanner, what are you doing here?”

  Tanner whirled, primed for a fight, then blinked. “I might ask you the same question.” He stared at Mark, then at the ungainly critter beside him.

  The thing was of an indeterminate color, a splotch of this, a streak of that, almost as if God had a lot of colors left over and dumped them, letting them fall where they may. The rest of him wasn’t any better. Big as a pony and shaggy as a yearling spring bear. The critter also looked like it had about as many teeth, all ready to fasten onto him. “That is about the ugliest varmint I’ve ever seen.”

  At that, the beast dropped to its haunches, ready to spring. A growl rumbled in its throat, low and menacing.

  Mark took another half hitch on the already straining rope. “He don’t appear to think much of you, either.” He reached out and patted the stiffly bristled hair on the dog’s back. “Easy, Fluffy.”

  “Fluffy?” Tanner stared at the dog, who snarled back. “His name is Fluffy? That’s plumb ridiculous.”

  “Kate named him, I didn’t.”

  “No wonder he bites.”

  “Mark, is that you?” Kate appeared in her doorway. “There’s my sweetiekins.” She knelt and held out her arms. “Come here, Fluffy.”

  The big dog yanked the rope free of Mark’s hand and galloped forward, slathered Kate with wet kisses, then threw himself at her feet.

  “Good baby,” she crooned.

  Tongue lolling, tale wagging, the beast looked like a giant puppy—until Tanner took a step toward Kate. Then the dog had all the affability of an outraged lion.

  “Call him off, Kate,” Tanner warned.

  “Maybe he thinks you need to be taught a lesson,” she suggested, her eyes narrowing.

  Lips curled, teeth bared, the dog trembled in anticipation. “You’ve made your point,” Tanner said with a calmness he certainly didn’t feel.

  “Good.” She stood up and dusted her hands together. “And I didn’t even have to manhandle you.”

  “Manhandle?” Like a feisty banty rooster, Mark stepped between them. “Tanner, what’s she talking about?”

  “Don’t push it, boy. You’ve got some explaining of your own to do.”

  Uncertainty showed in Mark’s eyes, but he didn’t back down.

  “Don’t pay him any attention, Mark. You come on inside and have a piece of pie. You, too, Fluffy. Jeanne brought Fluffykins a great big bone.” She ushered Mark and her pet inside. She glared at Tanner, then shut the door.

  Tanner didn’t care that he wasn’t invited in. He figured he’d had enough temptation for one day. He was also grateful to have escaped in one piece.

  He’d thought Kate might need a gun; now he knew better. She had Fluffy. And Mark. And probably the rest of his brothers, and Madame Jeanne, and no telling who all else. He pitied any interloper who dared come near her. He’d be lucky to escape with his life.

  Still, Tanner couldn’t help but wish that she was bigger. He almost wished she had buck teeth or some sort of deformity. A woman alone, especially one who looked like Kate, even in a halfway civilized town like Jacksonville, was a walking invitation to trouble. Still, there wasn’t much he could do about it. She had made that clear. After the way he’d behaved today, he’d be lucky to get within shouting distance.

  He had thought to teach her a lesson, but it had backfired on him. He stared at the shack. He could still feel the heat, the warmth of her breasts pressed against his chest. Her hair, like fine silk, tangled in his fingers. And the way she’d smelled... She’d set his head reeling. He hadn’t intended to take her to bed, but that’s exactly what would have happened if he hadn’t come to his senses.

  He closed his eyes, his body throbbing with frustrated lust. Maybe he should have. From the way she kissed him back, maybe that’s what she needed, too.

  And afterward... He sighed, envisioning himself and Kate all warm with loving and cozy in the narrow bed.

  Someone else appeared in the picture, and his eyes sprang open.

  The sheriff, peering at him over the barrel of a shotgun.

  And behind the sheriff, Mark glowered and hefted a chunk of stove wood.

  And the preacher, license in hand, and the rest of the town, waiting just outside the door.

  Along with Fluffy—and a whole pack of snarling dogs.

  Sweat popped out on his forehead. It had been close. A few minutes longer and it would have been all over but the singing. A few more minutes and he would have been either lynched or hitched.

  A feeling of relief
shook him right down to his boots. Then, remembering how warm and soft she was and how perfectly she fit in his arms, he decided it would almost be worth it.

  Worth it? He swallowed. Amazed that he could even think such a thing, he turned on his heel and hurried toward his horse. “Tanner? Hey, Tanner, wait up,” a gruff voice demanded.

  Expecting to see the sheriff, he turned and was almost relieved to see the owner of the Lucky Strike mine striding toward him. “Howdy, Tom.”

  “I’m surprised to see you in town, on a prime sunny workday and all. Have you finished cutting my timber yet?”

  “No, but in another couple of days, I should have the first load ready for you.”

  “I have to have water to operate my hydraulic hoses. I need those logs, Tanner. That flume has to be in place by snow melt in the spring.” Thomas Fuller’s scowl deepened. “If you don’t think you can get the job done, Sim Williams up on Stewart Creek has enough trees cut right now to pert’ near build the flume.”

  “You have a contract with me,” Tanner reminded him. “I’ll meet the deadline. If I don’t, according to that contract, I’ll forfeit everything I’ve cut.”

  “I’m glad to see you remember. I won’t abide any excuses, Tanner. I’ve got to have those trees.” With that, the miner crossed the street and went into the bank.

  With Tom’s warning ringing in his ears, Tanner shot one more look toward the pie shop, then he mounted his horse and rode out of town. She’d said she didn’t need his help. He hoped she was right. Until he had that timber contract finished, Kate would have to fend for herself.

  “Here’s the list. With the scarcity of pretty, single women, we sure don’t lack for takers. I told the fellers we would look them over and give our approval. I also threatened them with Tanner and the dog if they didn’t follow the rules.” Mark placed the paper on the tabletop, and pointed to a long line of names.

  “What if we don’t like them?” Matt asked.

  “Then we cross them off.” Luke wet the end of the pencil and drew a line through one name.

  “What’d you do that for?” Mark asked, grabbing up the paper. “He’s as rich as Cornelius Beekman.”