Courting Kate

by Rich, Mary Lou

  Doc had returned Kate’s dog to her and Fluffy was already up and around. Doc also said that it would be some time before Toddy Dobbs would be going anywhere, even if he could get out of jail.

  Madame Jeanne insisted that both Kate and her pet spend their nights at the Franco-American, at least until things were back to normal.

  Mark also said that when he went to talk to Kate, he was told she had been given a sedative and was asleep.

  Then he had hung around town until he had talked to Chauncey. It was only after the old miner promised that he wouldn’t let Kate out of his sight that Mark had decided to come home.

  Mark told them that apparently Chauncey had embellished the tale of the night before until Tanner appeared like an avenging angel. Knowing how miners’ gossip traveled, not a soul in the whole country wouldn’t hear about what had happened to Dobbs. Mark said he could guarantee that anybody who cared about his hide would be certain to treat Kate with nothing but the greatest respect.

  “And don’t forget, she’s got Fluffy back,” Matt added. “I don’t imagine he’s likely to forget that somebody shot him.”

  “If that dog ever got ahold of anybody else bent on mischief, there probably wouldn’t be a greasy spot left,” Mark said with a laugh.

  Tanner stared at each of his brothers in turn. “Mark, I want to thank you for being there last night. And Matt, I want to tell you that I appreciate your holding things together here at home. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to live with lately.”

  “Heck, Tanner, we know you’ve got a lot on your mind. ‘Bout time we grew up and helped out a bit,” Mark said, holding out his hand. “Right, Matt?”

  “Right.” Matt held out his hand as well.

  Tanner shook their hands, then much to their embarrassment he pulled both his brothers close and gave them a hug. “God, I’m proud of you. Maggie and Pa would be, too.”

  “Aw, cut it out, Tanner,” Mark said, blushing crimson.

  Tanner laughed and ruffled his hair as he’d done so many times when Mark was little. “Don’t let it go to your head, boy.”

  “I think it’s time I scared up something for supper,” Matt said gruffly, rising to stoke up the stove.

  “I’d better tend to the stock,” Mark said.

  Tanner watched him stride from the room. It might have been his imagination, but it looked like his brothers walked a little straighter, held their heads a tad higher. He was proud of them. They would be fine men some day.

  A few minutes later, catching wind of the squabble going on in the front room, he wondered if the other two would ever grow up. Shaking his head, he reminded himself that they were young yet. They still had a few years to go. He only hoped he’d live through it.

  * * *

  The ordeal of the last couple of days and nights only enforced Kate’s determination to leave Jacksonville. Even though she knew no one would dare try anything after learning how Tanner had dealt with the intruder, she found it difficult to feel secure in her own home. And as ferocious as he was, the dog had been no deterrent to the men who had terrorized her. Fresh tears welled as she thought of what had befallen her poor pet.

  She had wanted to be independent, had thought she’d reached that goal. Instead, once again, she had men looking after her— the sheriff, the deputy, Chauncey, the doctor, and Tanner— men that had better things to do with their time.

  Tanner. She would never forget the stricken look on his face when he realized how near he had come to killing a man with his bare fists. Would he ever forgive himself? Could she ever forgive herself for being the cause?

  Yet, she’d thought about it long and hard and knew she couldn’t have done anything different. She certainly hadn’t given the Dobbs brothers any encouragement. And the pie shop was her home.

  Jeanne had told her to put the incident out of her mind, and Kate had tried. But even though the present danger had passed, how could she ever be sure that someone wasn’t lurking around the corner, waiting for the chance to get her alone?

  She couldn’t, but she could take precautions. She had a gun now. Two guns, she amended. The boys and Chauncey had insisted on it. And they also had made sure that she learned how to use them. She had the dainty, but deadly, Colt derringer that she had seen in the display case at the mercantile, a present from Chauncey. She also had a long-barreled Remington .44, compliments of Dr. Thomas.

  Even though she could now hit a target with a degree of accuracy, Kate knew she could never bring herself to shoot a man. The idea of taking a life... She shuddered. Not only did she consider it a mortal sin, she wouldn’t be able to do it.

  But to put her friends’ minds at ease, she continued to take her daily shooting lesson.

  * * *

  “She’s still set on leaving town,” Matt said, staring at Tanner across the table he was clearing.

  “Well, she can’t go,” Tanner stated. He thought he’d already settled the matter, but apparently he hadn’t.

  “There’s only one way you’re going to keep her here,” Mark replied from his place at the sink. He lifted his hand from the dishwater and pointed at Tanner. “And you know what that is without me saying.”

  Tanner stared at the coffee grounds floating on the surface of his brew. He knew, all right. He’d just hoped to have a little more time. He glanced up at Matt. “Do you know when she’s planning to leave?”

  “She didn’t say for sure. But I got the feeling she’s anxious to get on her way. Maybe as soon as next week.”

  “What?” He hadn’t expected her to go so quick. That put a different light on the matter. As long as she remained in Jacksonville, she had him and his brothers and her friends to watch over her. Dobbs and his brother were still in jail and would be for some time to come. Since there hadn’t been any more trouble, Kate had insisted on moving back into her shop, but the sheriff and his deputy, upon Tanner’s and the doctor’s insistence, continued to patrol her house every night.

  But if Kate moved to Portland or Seattle—or anywhere else, for that matter—anything could happen to her, and he wouldn’t even know. He scowled.

  He couldn’t just let her wander off and get into no telling what kind of trouble.

  What if she left, and he couldn’t find her?

  What if she liked it up there?

  What if she found somebody else?

  He thought about Kate and some other man. She had no sense when it came to men. She came all the way across the country to marry somebody she had never even met. What if it hadn’t been him? What if it had been somebody like Toddy Dobbs, or worse—if that was possible. Even if she met somebody decent... That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it?

  No, dammit. That wasn’t what he wanted. That wasn’t what he wanted at all.

  Tanner shoved the cup back. He needed to get his financial responsibilities squared away before he could think about committing to anything. But it didn’t look like he was going to have that option.

  “Since I’m the one who caused the problem, I should be the one to pay the price. I guess I’d better marry her. I think that would be the right thing to do.” He looked at them, expecting their approval.

  Matt looked at Mark and rolled his eyes.

  “We wouldn’t want you to put yourself out, or anything,” Mark replied dryly, vigorously scrubbing at a dirty spot on the table.

  “I thought you wanted me to marry her.”

  “Tanner, if you go into town with that attitude, I can guarantee she won’t have anything to do with you,” Matt said.

  “Yeah. To hear you tell it, you’re doing her a favor by marrying her. She sure ain’t gonna stand for that.”

  Tanner mulled that over. Maybe they were right. “What do you think I should do?”

  “The same as anybody else. You have to court her. Bring her presents. Quote poetry and stuff.”

  “Presents? Poetry?” The only kind of poetry he knew he’d learned from the working girls at Madame Jeanne’s. Sure wasn’t fit for a lady�
�s ears. “I don’t know....”

  “Do you want to marry her or not?” Matt asked, shooting him a look of disgust.

  “Yeah, but...”

  “We may as well forget it. Besides, somebody else is sure to beat him to the punch.” Mark hung up his dish towel and started to leave the room.

  Tanner moved in front of him. “Hold on, now. What somebody else are you talking about?”

  “You think you’re the only man around?”

  “Has she been seeing somebody else?” Tanner thought she didn’t want to be courted. He’d heard her tell them that.

  “Could be.” Mark smothered a yawn with his hand. “I’m going to bed.” He darted from the room.

  Tanner whirled. “Matt, is she?”

  “Come on, Tanner. Courting Kate has been every bachelor’s goal for months now.”

  “Is that right?” Apparently she had changed her mind.

  Matt looked him up and down, then shook his head. “You need a haircut.”

  “Anything else wrong with me?” Tanner asked dryly.

  “Well, it wouldn’t hurt if you tried asking her something, instead of trying to boss her around all the time.”

  Tanner opened his mouth, then shut it.

  Matt had already escaped from the room.

  Had Kate told Matt about the kiss that night at the door? He didn’t think she would, but... He rubbed his chin, then ran a hand through his hair. It had grown some.

  The boys said he should court her. The problem was, Tanner didn’t know how. He had brought her flowers—once. That hadn’t worked out too well.

  Court her?

  Every time he got near her, they ended up in a fight. Mostly it was his fault. He’d always ended up kissing her even when she didn’t want to be kissed. Thinking back on it, she hadn’t complained much. In fact, as long as they were kissing, they got along fine. It was the talking that always got him into trouble.

  If he could get to the kissing without having to say anything... then he could explain the rest of the stuff later, why he’d rejected her and such. Kind of ease into it....

  Pondering the strategy of that, he headed off to bed.

  * * *

  After quitting work early and going to the barber shop, Tanner went to Kate’s only to find she wasn’t there. She also wasn’t at Madame Jeanne’s. He strolled down Main Street, thinking he might run into her.

  He didn’t.

  And now, hours later, she still wasn’t home.

  Tanner paced in front of her house, sat on her doorstep, then got up to pace again.

  Where was she?

  Who was she with?

  He lit a match and checked his pocket watch. It was way past her bedtime. Didn’t she know she had to work tomorrow?

  When he finally heard a buggy approaching, he sprinted for the toolshed. He didn’t want her to think he had nothing better to do than stand around and wait for her.

  Dr. Thomas pulled the horse up in front of the house. Then he hopped out of the buggy and went to help Kate down. He walked her to the door. “Thank you, Kathleen.”

  “Thank you, Fred. The meal was delicious, and I really enjoyed the buggy ride.”

  Buggy ride? What was she doing out riding around in the old coot’s buggy—in the moonlight? He clenched his fists when Kate stood on tiptoe and kissed the doctor on the cheek.

  “My dear, being with a pretty woman like you makes this old man feel like a schoolboy,” the physician said.

  “You’re not so old. More like in your prime, I’d say,” she retorted with a smile.

  Prime! Doc Thomas is old enough to be her father, Tanner fumed inwardly.

  “Well, guess I’d better get along home,” the physician said.

  “Good night, Fred.”

  “Sweet dreams, Kate.” After she was safely inside, the medical man got in his buggy and drove off down the street.

  Tanner brushed the dust from his clothes and strode toward her door. He knocked. Once. Twice. Couldn’t she hear him? Finally he pounded on the door with his fist.

  “Get away from there or I’ll shoot,” she called out.

  “Kate. It’s Tanner. Open up.”

  He heard the latch click, then she opened the door, a gun clutched in her hands. It wasn’t the little derringer he’d taken away from her before; this one looked as big as a cannon. He stepped back.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “Put that thing down, and I’ll tell you.” He eyed the weapon nervously.

  “Still giving orders, are you?” She looked him up and down. “You may as well come in. I don’t want to wake the whole neighborhood.”

  He took off his hat and stepped inside.

  She closed the door.

  He waited, expecting the usual amenities.

  But she didn’t offer him a seat or anything else. And she still held the gun, although it wasn’t pointed at him—at present.

  “Well? What do you want?”

  “I came courtin’,” he said, shoving a box of candy at her.

  “C-courting?” She looked at the candy then at him. “It’s been opened.”

  “I got hungry,” he explained. “Aren’t you going to ask me to sit down?”

  “Why? It’s late, and I want to go to bed.”

  He looked at the bed, then he lifted a brow and looked at her. He smiled.

  She frowned—and raised the barrel. “I want you to leave—right now.”

  “But I came courtin’.”

  “I doubt if you even know what the word means. When you court a woman you don’t show up on her doorstep in the middle of the night. And you don’t give her a half-eaten box of sweets.”

  “If you had been home instead of out gallivanting around half the night, I could have done it right.”

  “A gentleman would ask a lady ahead of time. Then, when and if she accepts his invitation, a gentleman would take her out to supper, or a play, or whatever.”

  “What kind of ‘whatever’?” he asked, not liking the sound of that.

  “I can guarantee it’s not the kind of ‘whatever’ you’re thinking about,” she said, drawing herself up primly.

  “All right, since I’m already here,” he grumbled, “How about a walk in the moonlight?”

  “At this hour?” She shook her head.

  “It’s not my fault you got home so late.”

  “It’s also none of your concern what hours I keep.”

  “A lady would be home at a respectable hour,” he countered.

  Kate’s eyes narrowed. “Are you implying I’m not a lady?”

  He could tell by the glare she shot at him that he’d stepped into that with both feet. “Damn, I knew this talking business would get me into trouble.” Well, he just wouldn’t talk any more. He reached for her.

  She backed away—and cocked the gun. “Get out!”

  “You are the most aggravating female I ever met.” He jammed his hat back on his head. “I don’t know why I ever decided to court you in the first place.” He jerked the door open and stomped outside.

  She followed him over the threshold. “Well, I’m sure I don’t know why, either. I certainly didn’t ask you to.”

  He locked his gaze onto hers. He could have told her he loved her, but staring down the barrel of a loaded gun didn’t exactly appeal to his romantic nature. This wasn’t going right. Not right at all. “Good night, Kate. Sweet dreams,” he said, mimicking the doctor’s phrase.

  She glared at him, then whirled and got the candy box from the counter. “Don’t forget this. You might get hungry again.” She threw the box at him, then stepped back inside and slammed the door.

  A stray dog crept from the shadows. He eyed Tanner cautiously, then ravenously devoured the spilled candy.

  His own stomach rumbling, Tanner shot a resentful look toward the cur. She could have handed him the box. She didn’t have to throw it in the dirt.

  A gentleman would ask a lady ahead of time.

  Maybe he... He glanced
at the house and saw the lights go out. Pondering the perversities of women, he headed for his horse.

  * * *

  Inside the house, Kate eased away from the window. So he wanted to court her, did he?

  Why?

  It wasn’t like she hadn’t given him ample opportunity. He’d had months, and he hadn’t said a thing. He’d had no objection to fondling her at every opportunity. He would have gone even further if she had give him the least encouragement. But he had certainly never given any indication of making a commitment. That day on the mountain the preacher had practically asked him over the barrel of a shotgun.

  Tanner hadn’t said a word.

  Had he changed his mind?

  And, if he had, why now?

  Why now?

  Chapter 21

  The next night, Kate went to a play at Horne’s hall with Hank Jordon, the owner of the Tin Peak mine. The night after that, she attended a church social with Dr. Thomas. Then last night, when she had supper with Madame Jeanne, some man, apparently a salesman, sat with them most of the evening.

  Tanner knew this because he had been watching Kate, first through the boardinghouse window, then from the toolshed across from her house.

  Every day, after quitting work early, he’d come into town, planning on doing the gentlemanly thing, only to find somebody else had beaten him to it. He’d intended to knock on her door, pass a few pleasantries, then ask her out—ahead of time, like she’d said. But, dang it, he never had the chance.

  Then when she did get home, it was too late to do any courting. And with the attitude she’d had the last time he’d tried it, he figured she would have to be softened up a bit before she’d ever consider going anywhere with him.

  Tanner scowled, wishing he could run off with her, marry her and be done with it. But if he tried such a thing, he’d probably end up at the end of a rope.

  He was getting tempted to try it anyway, but before he could act on the impulse, the same man who had been such a nuisance at the boardinghouse pranced up the alleyway and knocked on her door.

  Dressed in a fine checkered suit, a bowler hat, his shoes polished, and his hair slicked back and reeking of Macassar oil, the salesman cut a fine figure—if you cared for that sort of thing—which most women did.