Butler, Reece - Compromised Cowgirl [Bride Train 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

“Get up. The horses are saddled and ready to go.”

  “Jessie?” After years of moderation and control, Ace no longer had a head for whiskey. However, a man doesn’t refuse toasts from his new brothers, especially with the last of his good whiskey. He ran his tongue over his teeth and wished he hadn’t.

  “Gillis said I’m not allowed in the cabin unless you’re awake, alert and decent. He came home hours ago.”

  The rope bed fought back as Ace tried to stand. He looked down. Yes, he had pants on. He was awake enough to stand, and dressed enough to be called decent. Alert was another thing, but he could fake that.

  “Come on in,” called Sin from the other end of the bed. The man easily rolled to his feet. He wavered a moment, wincing at the light. Sin might get a headache after a night of drinking, but it never affected his stomach.

  Jessie opened the door and took three steps. She stopped, wrinkled her nose, and looked around the room. She stomped over to the stove and grabbed the empty stew pot and metal spoon. Ace covered his ears, but it didn’t do any good. She clanged them together so loud it would wake everyone in Tanner’s Ford. Hell, in BannackCity!

  “Get a wiggle on, boys. Light’s a’ wasting.”

  Henry crawled down the ladder from the loft. “Where are your brothers?”

  “Out working, like you should have been an hour ago.” She clanged the pot lid again. “Are you man enough to work today, or are you so hungover you’re going to embarrass me?”

  “Did you decide to marry me after all?” Ace met her eyes across the room. “I want to know if I’ve wasted a good morning-after drunk.”

  Jessie stomped over to the bed. Each footstep, complete with the jingle of spurs, reverberated around his skull a few times before leaking out his ears. She narrowed her eyes and glared up at him.

  “I’ll be at the wedding.” She growled like a hungry bear. “But only because I want my horse back!”

  She poked him in the gut and stomped back out. She tossed the spoon and lid on the stove on the way past. As a final wake-up call, she slammed the door.

  Sin laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He leaned sideways and fell back on the bed, still chortling.

  “What is it you find so amusing, dear boy?” Ace looked around the room for his boots.

  “That is one damn fine woman.”

  “I beg to differ. She epitomizes everything I dislike in a wife.”

  “That so?” Sin rolled to his feet again. The motion caused Ace’s stomach to roll. “Then why are you marrying her?”

  “Because when I found out she was female, I was so damn horny I grabbed her offer and took her virtue!”

  “Ah!” Sin and Henry exchanged shrugs. “We thought it was because you wanted her brains, her abilities, her horse and her inheritance. And her body, of course.”

  Ace blinked at Sin. “What inheritance?”

  “Ranger and the others thought they’d have to make their own way north and move in with the Rocking E if they wanted to escape The MacDougal. But when Jessie turned twenty-one, she found out her grandmother was the only Bonham left. Mrs. Bonham said the four youngest Elliotts would get an inheritance. But there was a catch.”

  “There’s always a catch,” said Henry. “Especially when there’s a rich harpy in the picture.”

  Ace winced in memory of Henry’s wealthy Aunt Ophelia. The slightest hint of weakness, and she could flay skin with her acid tongue.

  “Only if Jessie proved she was a lady would she see a penny. That meant two years at the Virginia Female Institute. Ben, being a lawyer, helped her to prove he and his brothers were gentlemen enough to receive their portions.”

  “If Jessie spent two years there, she knows how to behave properly,” said Ace. He closed his eyes in relief. When his stomach complained, he opened them once more. Many of their friends, also younger brothers, went after rich American girls for their fortune. One of the reasons he, Sin, and Henry came West was to make their own way. He’d not touch a penny of Jessie’s money.

  “Jessie sacrificed a lot for her brothers,” said Henry. “They owe her. They bought the Bitterroot Ranch and cattle with that money. Jessie’s brothers said they’d build her a home for her dowry. I, for one, would like to spend the winter in a place that the wind didn’t howl, though.” He looked pointedly at the sun streaming between the logs to land on the bed.

  “Jessie earned the money, and she can keep it. We’ll make it on our own.”

  “I’m not giving this back.” Henry lifted a cloth bag off the table. He weighed it in his palm and whistled. He looked around the small cabin. “Trace doesn’t want Jessie to be a poor relation to Beth and Amelia.” He held the bag six inches above the table. When he saw Ace watching, he let go. It fell with a hard, solid clunk.

  “You wish me to guess what is inside that bag?”

  Henry shook his head at Ace. “It’s gold. Couple pound’s worth, I figure.”

  “Where did it come from?”

  “You spent half the night arguing with Gillis,” said Sin. “We took the opportunity to ask a few questions about family history.”

  “And?”

  “Both families arrived here in 1846. Plenty of time to pluck gold nuggets from a few streams before anyone knew it was there.” Sin absently scratched his chest. “I figure Trace and Gillis have enough to pay off the debt on all three of our family estates.”

  Ace met Sin’s hard stare. “That has nothing to do with us. I can see using their money to build Jessie a decent home. I won’t refuse the building. But the rest will come from our sweat. I have no intention of tugging at their coat tails. I wouldn’t do it in England, and I’ll be damned if I’ll do it here!”

  Sin and Henry nodded.

  “Are you working today or do I have to come in there and whup your asses?”

  Sin’s lip twitched at Jessie’s bellow. Henry snickered. Both fell silent when Ace ground his teeth.

  “What do we do with the gold?”

  “You and Sin bury it somewhere up the hill,” said Ace. “I don’t want to know where.”

  Ace sat up, head and stomach reeling, and stomped on his boots. His temper rose as his head throbbed. Did the Elliotts think they could buy him? Jessie would be embarrassed by him? He was as good, or better, than her blasted brothers! So he wasn’t as good on the range, but they’d done it all their life. He could do many things they couldn’t. He’d show them he was a force to be reckoned with. And he’d start with their sister!

  * * * *

  Jessie waited on Trouble between the cabin and barn. She was unwilling to go in and roust them again. She had a bit of a headache thanks to drinking potent cordial as if it was juice, and banging the pots had hurt her head as well.

  She was about to dismount when the men finally hauled their sorry asses out of the cabin. Henry and Sin shuffled around back, but Ace crossed the porch and came right toward her. In fact, he huffed and puffed like a steam engine as he stomped across the dirt.

  Now he was up and moving, she regretted her words. Maybe banging those pots was a bit too much as well. He had a bit of that look Fin, Hugh, and their father got. Almost as if steam came out of his ears. Usually someone got beaten shortly after.

  Yeah, he was pumping his fists. He squinted his eyes in the morning sunshine, and his color looked a bit too white. Trouble felt her fear and snorted. Ace kept coming, his face all screwed up.

  He didn’t yell, but that could be because his head hurt too much. His expression was a lot like Hugh, who liked to punch her in the chest and belly. Fin preferred to use his boots. Their father used a belt or the back of his hand.

  She slapped the reins and took off before he could tan her hide. Ace yelled something, but she kept on riding, leaving the danger behind, for now.

  On the MacDougal spread, if you ran from their pa’s punishment, you got it worse. Fin and Hugh didn’t have that power. As long as she got away from them at the time, she was safe for a while.

  She pushed Trouble west, toward th
e place she’d found the cigarette makings. If she found more evidence of someone watching, she’d have an excuse to go into town and talk to Frank Chambers. Then she’d head to the Rocking E. Trace said she was to stay with Beth tonight. They’d adopted three children who were eager to meet her.

  Maybe by tomorrow Ace would have calmed down. Or would he be like The MacDougal, and punish her worse for running?

  * * * *

  “I found more tracks, Sheriff,” said Jessie, settling in the extra chair in front of Frank Chambers. “Someone’s been watching the Double Diamond. The tracks lead along the ridge to the east, then down to Tanner’s Ford.”

  “Good to know, but there’s not much I can do about it.”

  Frank nodded for Jessie to drink her coffee. Mary was back, which meant he didn’t have to drink black sludge. He would never offer a tin cup of jailhouse coffee to a lady in a dress, gloves and parasol, but he couldn’t imagine Jessie dressing that way. Though, from what he’d heard, she spent two years covered in frills and bows.

  Even dressed in pants, shirt, and boots, she was a lady from the tip of her nose to her tiny feet. But, like Beth and Amelia, she was strong and proud. She reminded him a bit of his wife when they were first sparking. Of course, Mary had never worn anything but a dress.

  “What’s this I hear about a fistfight between your brothers, cousins, and the Double Diamond?”

  Jessie groaned and dropped her head back. “Don’t ask me. I think the whole thing is ridiculous. Grown men beating each other up in the name of friendship? Gah!”

  “Mary and a few other women are trying to raise money to build a schoolhouse and church. One building, used for both.”

  Jessie sat up. “Beth was saying she hoped there’d be a school in the next few years. Amelia’s teaching Daniel how to read, but Meggie and Bridie need more.”

  “What would you think if we charged a couple dollars for people to watch the fight? The money would all go to the Tanner’s FordSchool and Church Fund.”

  “Then their fight would actually have a purpose.” Jessie nodded. “Five dollars each.”

  Frank thought about the high cost of the needed building and nodded. “Instead of a free-for-all, we could set up matches. Maybe draw names.”

  “What if we charged a fee for others to join in? Ten dollars, with a cash prize for the winner.” Jessie had dimples when she smiled coyly. “Of course, the ladies would suggest a real man would donate his winnings to the fund.”

  “All weapons get locked up in there.” Frank pointed to the lone jail cell. “I don’t want any beer or whiskey until the show’s over. Maybe the ladies could sell lemonade.”

  “We could have other competitions as a warm-up. Roping or riding greenbroke horses, winner gets a few ounces of gold.”

  Jessie laughed when he nodded in agreement. He knew she planned to win at least one of the prizes. She jumped up and hugged him. He held her just as hard, thinking of how much he missed his daughters.

  “Bloody hell! There you are!”

  Ace stood in the door, a tall, black shadow. Frank felt Jessie sag before she straightened like a flagpole.

  “We’re planning a fundraiser for the Tanner’s Ford school and church building,” she said. Her voice, instead of laughing, sounded brittle.

  “Is there a purpose to this demonstration of affection, Sheriff? Or are you staking a claim on my fiancée?”

  Frank gave her arm a friendly squeeze before letting her go. “Get off your high horse, Langford. I’ve been hugging Jessie Elliott since she first rode into town in front of her pa.”

  “Why are you here?” The fun-loving young woman was gone, replaced by a hard, cold cowgirl.

  “You are not to leave the Double Diamond without my permission. Do you understand?”

  Jessie gaped at him for a moment. She shut her mouth and stuck her hands on her hips.

  “No, I don’t. I’m not your wife, and I don’t need your permission to do any damn thing.”

  “But you are going to be my wife. That changes everything.” Ace stepped forward. Though he spoke and moved quietly, Jessie backed up. “I will not allow my fiancée to be seen in public unless she is decently dressed, acting like a proper wife. And you will never swear again.”

  “I hate dresses,” she blurted. “I can’t ride in them, and they twist around my legs when I walk.”

  “Then I guess you won’t be going far from the cabin,” replied Ace, quiet and sure.

  Frank could almost feel the heat generated by the two young people as they stared at each other. There was anger, but also a different type of burn.

  “If I have to marry someone, I’ll marry Sin, not you. At least he likes me.” She panted as if she’d run all the way from the river, uphill.

  “You no longer have the right to a decision.”

  Frank winced. Instead of August heat, the temperature in the room dropped to a mid-January freeze.

  “You agreed to marry me, Miss Elliott. Therefore, everything about you is under my control.”

  “No!”

  “This is for your own good. I won’t be made a laughingstock because my wife flaunts her body to every roustabout and miner like a two-bit whore. You can, and will, do that in private. But in public you will show respect by obeying me in every way.” He looked over her body. “At least you wore a long coat to cover your bottom. Otherwise I’d have to punish you.”

  She blanched. She looked right and left, but the jail had only one door, and he stood in the way. He jerked his head.

  “Get home before anyone else sees you.” He stepped to the side. “Go!”

  She scrambled past and out the door, pulling it closed behind her as if to keep him from following. Ace stood tall for a moment and then sagged onto the stool Jessie had vacated. No longer the outraged husband-to-be, he dropped his head on his hands and groaned.

  * * * *

  “You’re in a heap of trouble, son. That woman will never forget how you humiliated and scared the hell out of her.”

  Frank tossed the remains of Jessie’s coffee out the window and poured another cup. Ace shook his head at the offer, keeping his hands deep in his pockets. Frank suspected they were tightened into fists.

  “If she’s afraid, she’ll follow my orders,” said Ace. His voice shook. “How else can I keep her safe?”

  “Keep her safe?” Frank sighed and settled his hip on one corner of his scarred desk. “Your fiancée is almost as good as Ross with a knife, her roping is some of the best I’ve seen, and I’d bet on her shooting over Jack. She’s a ferocious pixie, fast and sweet and deadly.”

  “Thank you,” said Ace. His eyes proved the words were only a polite form of speech. “I’m aware she can kill me in many ways. Is that supposed to encourage me to let her wander around town whenever she wants?” He stood and paced across the jail. “I heard how Beth had to kill two men right in front of her own home. Two more kidnapped Amelia, again from her home. If she hadn’t burned her prison down around herself and Ross’s ravens hadn’t shown the way, Amelia would be worse than dead.”

  Ace turned to Frank.

  “The Elliotts and MacDougals had enemies who attacked their women at home. Jessie will be safe at the Double Diamond’s cabin. But her coming into Tanner’s Ford is dangerous. There’s all kinds of rough men who could grab her from behind one of these buildings.” He held up his hands in a shrug. “If she comes to town, she must be with me, Sin or Henry, and she must behave like a perfect wife. We’ll keep her safe.”

  “You think if she puts on a dress and spends her days cooking and cleaning that everything will be fine?”

  “Of course. The only danger to her is in town.”

  “Have you forgotten how you acquired your land and cattle?” Frank shook his head. “You’ve got at least one enemy, son.”

  Ace tossed his hand as if dismissing the idea. “You people seem to think Smythe’s the devil incarnate. He’s just a lower-class braggart. A bully, hiding behind his money.” Ace smirked.
“I understand the man has a fear of horses. Any man who is afraid to sit astride a horse is not worthy of my attention.”

  “Smythe may have come from a lower class that you, but now he has money, and money means power. He’s cozying up to the governor and the railroad men. Don’t dismiss him just because he wasn’t born with your privileges.”

  Ace dropped his head. Frank noted his quick breathing, the fists on his hips. Even the cords of his neck stood out as he fought to control his temper. Frank watched the boy calm himself. Whatever he’d said had hit Ace hard. The boy might be the son of an Earl, but something about his past was stuck in his craw.

  “Some ‘privileges’ come at a very high price, Sheriff,” said Ace quietly. Frank saw a flash of pain and betrayal in Ace’s eyes. “But we were discussing my fiancée. The one who will behave properly if I have to chain her to the bloody stove to keep her safe!”

  Frank had a good idea Ace would never follow through on the threat, made out of frustration. It was obvious the two of them shared a passion that they wouldn’t admit to. He and Mary would have a good chuckle tonight. Young love, when both parties denied its existence, was always a source of entertainment to those well-married.

  Watching Jessie tame the three lordlings would brighten his days. With the older Elliotts and the MacDougals settled with their wives, he was looking forward to Ranger trying some shenanigans. The Circle C men were too mature for that, but he had hopes for the J Bar C cousins. The Flying X had Southern boys, too gentlemanly to cause much ruckus.

  Damn, he was looking forward to that fight! He bet Jessie’s men would want to squash their in-laws to prove their worth. Be interesting to see if Jessie would holler for her brothers, or her husband and his partners. She was ornery enough to do both. As soon as she started walking she followed Trace everywhere, tripping over her skirts to keep up until her ma finally let her wear pants right after Patrick was born. Jessie was demanding as all get-out, but a hard worker. Ace had to learn she was smart as well.

  “You think Jessie wandered into town because she had nothing better to do?”