A Sheriff's Passion

by Michelle Beattie

  Silver slid her gaze over to Wade’s partner and friend, Scott Taylor. “She takes after you already?”

  Scott’s appetite was legendary around the Triple P.

  He grinned. “Food solves everything.” Then he gazed at his wife, blushed. “Well, most things.”

  Katie’s cheeks went near as red as her hair. Unlike Jillian’s hair, which was a softer auburn color, her sister Katie’s tresses were a bright fiery hue. The same could also be said of the sisters’ personalities. While both strong and capable of being on their own, Jillian wasn’t quite as bold and adventurous as Katie. Knowing Katie had met, bedded, and married Scott all on the same day, and was now looking lovingly into her husband’s eyes, Silver couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps the same approach would have worked on Shane.

  She sighed, knowing it wouldn’t. Oh, she’d no doubt he’d take her body if she was so bold as to offer it, their kiss a few weeks ago proved that, but Shane would never give her his heart. His name.

  “Have you seen Ma and James?” Wade asked of his mother and foreman.

  Wade’s pa had passed away years ago and, two years this July, only a few months after Jillian had arrived in Marietta, Eileen had married her longtime friend and foreman of their ranch.

  “I haven’t,” Silver answered. “I was just getting here myself when I recognized you riding in.” She tipped her head toward the basket she’d set down.

  Wade picked it off the ground, sniffed loudly. “Fried chicken?”

  “And rhubarb cobbler.”

  “My two favorites.” He uttered a defeated sigh. “I suppose I’ll have to settle for potato salad and ham sandwiches,” he said referring to the lunch everyone else would be eating.

  Katherine started to whimper and Jillian reached to take her daughter back.

  Her arms feeling especially empty, Silver took the basket from Wade. “I don’t feel the least bit sorry for you,” she stated. Not when he had everything she wanted.

  “You shouldn’t,” Annabelle stated. “We had fried chicken last night for supper.”

  “Button, shh,” Wade admonished, using the pet name they all used for Annabelle.

  Silver was both embarrassed and touched. It was a bone of contention with her that the only man who ever bid on her basket was the reverend himself. It was sweet of Wade to hint that whoever didn’t bid on it would be missing something special. She smiled to let him know what it meant to her.

  “I suppose I should get this one in with the others.”

  Jillian leaned forward, kissed Silver’s cheek, and whispered, “Maybe this will be the year.”

  Silver shook her head. “We both know that will never happen.”

  They all walked toward the picnic area and parted ways at the back of the church when Silver veered away to add her basket to the rest. Were there more this year? It seemed to Silver there were. Just as it appeared there were more people this year as well. She supposed with the amount of prospectors coming to the mountains, with families discovering the beauty and possibilities Marietta had to offer, it made sense there’d be a larger crowd. Hadn’t she noticed the increase in business at the saloon? Yet she hadn’t thought what that increase would mean at the picnic.

  That there’d be more men bidding than usual.

  “It appears as though I may have some competition this year.”

  Silver set her basket down, smiled as she turned. Reverend Donnelly looked warmly at her, his eyes creased at the corners as he grinned.

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” she said. “But I did make you the fried chicken you like so much.”

  “Then I truly hope I’m wrong about the competition.”

  “You know as well as I do that you’ll be the only one bidding.” Besides she wasn’t sure she wanted a miner or prospector bidding on her basket.

  Those who were new to town and learned she owned a saloon assumed she was a woman with loose morals and she’d had to fight off more than one man who’d come at her with the wrong impression. Eventually they realized she wasn’t what they thought but not until they made a nuisance of themselves. And a few hadn’t stopped until she’d threatened to shoot off their penises. While it would hurt her pride, she’d still rather the reverend won her basket than a stranger she’d have to fight off later.

  He set a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You never know.”

  Silver shook her head. “It would take a miracle.”

  His eyes lit up like the heavens. “It happens I believe in those.”

  Silver didn’t. She hadn’t since her pa died.

  Lined up along all the other women who’d made baskets, Silver stood and silently urged the reverend to get started.

  The gathering went quiet when Reverend Donnelly raised his hands.

  “I’d like to thank you all for coming today. We have several new faces so I’d first like to welcome you all to Marietta and remind you that service is every Sunday at ten.” Chuckles spread through the crowd. “We’re going to start with a prayer as we always do, then I’ll move on to the basket auction. A reminder that these baskets were kindly donated by the available ladies and each bachelor who wins a basket will join the woman who prepared it for a picnic lunch.

  “This is a family gathering,” he added when there was some rumbling at the back, “and only lunch is being auctioned. The rest of us will partake in the food, which has been graciously brought to be shared. After lunch there’ll be several races for the children as well as the annual baseball game. Now, let’s bow our heads in prayer.”

  When the prayer was over and the reverend stepped aside to grab the first basket, Silver sought her friends in the crowd. Jillian gave an encouraging smile, Katie waved. She saw Wade, Scott, James, and Eileen but her gaze was drawn to Shane. Her stomach fluttered as it always did when she saw him. Dressed in black pants and vest, his white starched shirt was as bright as the silver badge pinned to his vest. A black hat covered his dark hair and shadowed his eyes, yet she swore she felt his gaze.

  Foolishly the reverend’s words skipped through her mind. Could this be the year Shane finally bid on her basket? She pressed a hand to her belly. It was possible. After all, they had kissed and while he’d pretended it hadn’t happened and gave no indication it would again, maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe he’d waited until today to make a grand gesture. She bit her lip, clasped her hands together.

  Despite Silver’s attempt to avoid the woman, Melissa Lake had managed to position herself next to Silver.

  Melissa leaned toward her, whispered, “Oh, thank goodness, there’s Shane.” She waved at him and he tipped his head in acknowledgement. “I should have known he wouldn’t miss this. He looks forward to these picnics as much as I do.”

  Silver’s heart sank. When would she learn? She’d foolishly thought he’d been watching her when clearly he’d been looking at Melissa.

  Although Melissa wasn’t the only one holding Shane’s attention. He kept looking to the right and when he did, his mouth pinched. Silver angled her head but there were too many people to see who he was frowning at. Certainly she didn’t see anything or anyone worthy of his scowl. In a sea of hats, many faces were either hidden behind their own brims or obscured by those standing in front of them.

  As Shane’s hand remained at his side and didn’t reach for the six-shooter riding low on his hip, Silver had to assume whatever or whoever was upsetting him wasn’t dangerous.

  After the first year when her basket had sold last and she’d had to stand under scrutiny and embarrassment until the reverend took pity on her, Silver had asked that hers now be auctioned first. That way once the reverend bought it, she’d be free to fold into the crowd until he was done rather than be forced to stand there.

  She stepped forward when he held up her basket and introduced her. As expected not a bid was called out. She heard the whispers, saw the smug look on the men’s faces. Silver gnashed her teeth. They wouldn’t be near as sanctimonious if she were to call out the names of every man who
had, at one time or another, offered to pay for some time in her room. Knowing they were hiding their rejection behind their self-righteousness did little to appease her temper. Clearly, in their eyes, she was good enough to bed but not good enough to be with in polite company.

  “I bid two dollars for Miss Adams’ basket,” the reverend said.

  Silver smiled, focused on the same branch of the cottonwood she did every year. She’d hold her head proud. She wouldn’t further hurt herself by looking directly at anyone. If nobody else saw her value then there was nothing she could—

  “Three dollars!” a deep voice called from the back of the gathering.

  Silver’s jaw dropped.

  Murmurs spread through the crowd as heads turned. Silver couldn’t help it; her gaze instantly went to Shane. He was once again looking to the right. His lips were no longer set in a tight line. They were pinched so tight they’d disappeared altogether. She still couldn’t see who he was looking at but had to assume whoever it was had just bid on her basket. And Shane wasn’t happy about it. Intrigued, Silver tried to peer through the crowd but the stranger remained out of sight.

  “Three dollars,” the reverend repeated, pleasure booming through his voice. “Do I hear three and half?”

  “Four dollars.”

  The entire congregation turned in Shane’s direction.

  “What? He can’t do that!” Melissa argued, though nobody was paying her any mind.

  But apparently Shane could. And had. Silver couldn’t have been more stunned. He’d done it! He’d finally come to his senses. Elation filled her until she thought she’d float into the bright blue sky. While she wished he’d have come around on his own and hadn’t needed someone else to take notice of her first, she was not about to bemoan her good fortune.

  Although, when she’d dreamed of him finally bidding on her basket, she’d expected he’d do it with a smile on his face. Not annoyance pinching his mouth.

  “Five dollars!” the stranger countered.

  Five dollars? Good Lord that was nearly half a week’s wages for some. Silver pushed onto her toes, leaned to the side. Still, she couldn’t see who this man was. Was he deliberately hiding? Why? She certainly hadn’t recognized the voice; therefore, it couldn’t be anyone she knew.

  Beside her Melissa muttered, praying for Shane to stop. Clearly she didn’t like the fact that not only was this the first time he’d bid on Silver’s basket, it was also more than he’d ever bid on one of Melissa’s.

  Not that Silver kept track of such a thing.

  But, while Melissa willed Shane to stop, Silver willed him to counter the stranger’s bid. Come on, Shane, you’ve come this far.

  “Five dollars!” the reverend roared. “Do I hear five and half?”

  Silver couldn’t look away. She locked eyes with Shane, held her breath even as her heart tried to pound its way out of her chest. Her mouth suddenly drier than a dried-up creek bed, Silver licked her lips. She felt something zap through the air between her and Shane and swore, despite him being too far away to know for sure, she saw something darken his eyes.

  “What’ll it be, Sheriff?” someone shouted.

  For a moment Silver was sure he would. But then the crowd began to rumble and Silver’s heart sank when he looked away, gave his head a slight shake as though he couldn’t believe what he’d nearly done. With an embarrassed look on his face he signaled to the reverend that he was through bidding. A stabbing pain tore through Silver’s heart and she had to clench her jaw to keep from gasping aloud.

  “Oh, thank heavens.” Melissa breathed.

  The congregation clearly agreed with the woman as sighs and looks of relief passed through the gathering. Beside Shane, Silver saw Katie and Jillian’s expressions. Seeing their sympathy nearly undid her and she had to fight back the threatening tears. She’d always wanted him to bid on her basket and now she wished he never had. Why had he gotten her hopes up if he was only going to humiliate her in the end?

  As Shane began to turn his head toward her, Silver whipped her gaze away. He’d made his choice and she wouldn’t be caught staring at him like a dog who’d just been beaten by his owner.

  She hoped Shane choked on Melissa’s cooking.

  “Five dollars,” the reverend continued. “Going once, going twice. Sold!”

  Despite the hurt Shane’s actions had caused, Silver was nonetheless intrigued to learn who’d bid and won her basket. Clearly Shane didn’t care for this stranger and the ornery side of Silver couldn’t help relishing the fact he wouldn’t be happy about her and this man having lunch together. Stepping forward, she took her basket from Reverend Donnelly.

  He winked at her. “I told you I believe in miracles.” He reminded her with a wide grin that, despite the grey liberally streaked through his black hair, made him look years younger than he was.

  “So you did.” Silver couldn’t help but smile in return.

  Then, with rising anticipation, she watched the man and his black hat make his way through the crowd.

  She heard Shane’s name being whispered, cringed as she supposed folks would be talking about Shane and this man’s bidding contest for weeks to come. As the stranger got closer, Silver couldn’t help thinking there was something familiar about him. Perhaps it was the way he walked in purposeful strides. Or the dark hair poking beneath the brim of his hat. As he had yet to raise his head enough for her to see more than his strong jaw and square chin, it was impossible to say why there was something so familiar about him.

  But then he cleared the gathering, tipped his head up, and looked at her.

  Oh my.

  Silver’s eyes went wide. Her gaze swept to Shane. His mouth was once again pinched tight. She turned to the stranger before her, looked into his grey, humor-filled eyes. Could it be?

  “You’re not wrong,” he said as though reading her mind.

  Silver couldn’t help but gape. She knew a little of Shane’s past. Knew his father had been a drunkard. Knew he had two brothers who’d moved away from Marietta as soon as they could manage on their own. Knew the oldest was a US Marshal. She didn’t know much about them otherwise but one thing she did know, she was looking into the eyes of one of them now.

  Chapter Two

  The family resemblance was strong. They both had dark hair and grey eyes, though this man’s weren’t near as serious as Shane’s were. Neither man wore a beard or mustache and the line of his jaw was as defined as Shane’s. He was similar in height and build to his brother but, unlike Shane, who typically only wore black and white, this man wasn’t opposed to color. His vest was the color of a rich merlot, while his shirt, jacket and trousers were a charcoal grey.

  Silver was no expert on fashion but his clothes had clearly been tailored to him and his boots shone with a polish rarely seen in these parts. In fact, other than Mr. Bramble at the bank, and the shoes on display in the cobbler’s window, Silver couldn’t recall ever seeing polished boots in Marietta before.

  “Not that I mind a pretty lady staring at me, but how about we take this basket somewhere a little more private and then you can stare at me all you like.”

  Silver’s cheeks flamed but the teasing grin he gave her eased her embarrassment. Taking the basket with one hand, he offered his other elbow. Aware she had every set of eyes on her, including Shane’s, Silver hooked her arm through his and followed him around the far side of the church, away from the crowd and their nosiness. The noise dimmed and Silver drew a deep breath. She didn’t like being on display and was glad he’d chosen a more secluded spot.

  He set the basket onto the grass, set his hat beside it then held out a hand. “I’m Mitch. Mitch McCall, as I’m sure you’ve figured by now.”

  “You’re one of Shane’s brothers.” The one who, when Shane had once described his two brothers, had brought shadows to his eyes. Silver shook Mitch’s hand. “I’m Silver Adams.”

  He arched a thick brow. “Silver? Someone named a saloon after you?”

  Chucklin
g, she pulled the blanket from inside the basket. “I named it after myself.”

  “You own it?”

  “That surprises you?” Silver shook out the blanket.

  “Not necessarily.” Mitch grabbed an end and straightened it before settling himself onto it.

  “I hope you like fried chicken,” she said as she unwrapped the golden-brown pieces. “I made it specially for the reverend.”

  “The reverend?”

  She smiled ruefully, placed some sliced cheese down next to the chicken, then pulled out the soft rolls she’d baked that morning. “Until today, he’s been the only one to bid on my baskets.”

  His brow rose again. “Shane’s never bid on one before?” He looked as though he’d just struck gold.

  “No,” she answered, curious at his reaction. Where Mitch’s presence seemed to annoy Shane, Mitch didn’t appear to be anything but amused by his brother.

  “Has he become dim-witted since I’ve been gone? Taken a sharp blow to the head?”

  Her laugh came from her belly and stretched her cheeks. “There are days I believe he has,” she answered. She passed him one of the small jars of sweet tea. “Had I known I wouldn’t be eating with the reverend I’d have brought wine instead.”

  Mitch winked and for a moment he looked so much like Shane it made her ache. If he noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it.

  Instead he raised his jar. “Here’s to wine next time.”

  Charmed, Silver tapped her jar to his. “You’re welcome at Silver’s anytime.”

  He peered at her over the rim of his jar. “What if I was thinking of another picnic?”

  “Oh.” She dipped her head, stared into her tea.

  In all her twenty-seven years, Silver had never been courted. Men had tried to trifle with her, had made inappropriate suggestions, had been crude and rude to her, or turned their head when they saw her coming. She had dear friends like Wade and Scott and even Shane, but she’d never been treated as a woman a man might be interested in. It made her feel beautiful and special. And a little sad it wasn’t the man she’d hoped it would be.