Questions kept troubling her. Why had someone tried to harm her? Perhaps it was just a wild shot, as Franklin suggested. Then again, maybe someone really did want her out of Cicero Creek. Could the shooter have been her grandpa’s killer? Once more she thought about how safe she’d felt with Boone’s arm banded around her, and how angry he’d been over her being in danger. And why did he keep invading her thoughts and dreams? She was not coming to care for this lawman. If she would ever allow a man into her life, it certainly wouldn’t be one in a dangerous profession like shooting at criminals. To tie one’s heart to a man like Boone would entail a lifetime of worry. She simply couldn’t endure it.
Settling into the unfamiliar routine of life on a ranch would surely occupy her every wakeful moment. There were animals to care for, something she knew nothing about. She didn’t even know how to build a fire in the fireplace or saddle a horse, much less ride one, or tend to a garden when spring came. She had a lot to learn. Growing up on the west side of Chicago had not prepared her for life in the wilds of Wyoming.
Cora rapped at the bedroom door. “Annalee, dear, Franklin is back from picking up your purchases. He’ll be up to get your luggage and things as soon as you’re dressed.”
“Thank you, Cora. Have him come up. I’m ready.” Glancing around the room to be sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, she put her mirror, comb, and brush into her valise.
She slipped into her black wool coat and vowed she’d turn her grandfather’s dirty, lonely cabin into a warm, welcoming home. Hard work and determination were all that was required, and she was capable of both.
While the buckboard Franklin drove rocked over the stony bottom of Cicero Creek, a buggy followed them. Annalee turned in her seat and recognized one of the passengers as Minnie from Boone’s restaurant. The woman at the reins, according to Cora, was Mary Ellen Lufkin, the doctor’s wife.
A reddish-brown roan came prancing alongside the buckboard. Annalee cringed as Clarence Stoner tipped his hat in greeting. “Morning, ladies. Franklin. Sure is a mighty fine day ta move, ain’t it?”
Both of his eyes were blackened, and Annalee hoped it was Boone’s fists that had done the damage. The swelling had gone down on his lip. Even so, he looked like a sneaky raccoon, grinning and ogling her. He made her skin crawl. She nodded curtly in response to his remark. “Yes, sir, it is.” Unfortunately, that was all the encouragement Clarence needed. He rode along with them as if he were escorting the love of his life. Annalee rolled her eyes. What made the fool think she’d be the least bit interested?
Sounds of sawing and hammering echoed through the trees once they’d crossed the creek and begun the incline to the cabin. A wagon with lumber sat to the side of the log structure and a few horses were grazing nearby. Men’s voices came from behind the house. Franklin pulled the buckboard to a stop. “Sounds like the work has already started.”
Annalee scrambled down from her seat before Clarence could help her. She’d given the man enough encouragement already. “Franklin, Cora, I’m going to see what’s going on behind the cabin. I won’t be but a minute.”
“You go on, dear. The men can unload the wagon. Clarence, grab that bag of flour, please.”
Annalee rounded the back corner of the house. She stopped dead in her tracks and shrieked. There stood an Indian. A bloodthirsty Indian just like in her dime novels. Red skin, evil look, a hatchet in his hand. She backed up a step, her hands involuntarily rising to cover her hair.
“Annalee.” Boone leapt from rafters over the porch. “Meet my brother, Two Bears. He’s making shingles for the roof.”
Her gaze went from the hatchet Two Bears was holding to Boone’s face. “Sh…shingles?” Her voice squeaked as her heartbeat gonged in her head like the church bells in the tower of St. Francis Church back in Chicago.
Boone spoke in a calm voice, his grin widening as reached her. “Levi, Two Bears, and I have been fixing your back porch. We decided on building a roof over it. We thought it would help protect you from the elements.”
“E…elements,” Annalee repeated lamely, quite unable to take her eyes off Two Bears. His long black hair was parted in the middle and braided. The braids were wrapped in what appeared to be otter fur, similar to what she sometimes used to trim hats and make muffs.
Boone’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Plus, I’ll string a clothesline between the poles of the porch, so you can hang laundry out to dry. Lee draped his clothes over bushes, but ladies have different ideas about that sort of thing.”
She slowly nodded. “Hang…” Goodness, but the native’s earlobes were pierced with brass wire that had pounded silver coins attached. Around his neck was a choker of white beads, four rows of them, and in the middle of the choker was a diamond-shaped medallion of turquoise beads. A man wearing a necklace and earbobs. Who could have imagined such a thing? Sewn onto his deerskin shirt were rows of white and turquoise beads. He wore fringed deerskin leggings and moccasins, also intricately beaded.
His entire countenance bespoke native culture, violence, and hostility. She didn’t think her heart would ever beat calmly again. An Indian. On her property. A true-to-life Indian standing right before her, with bloodlust in his black eyes. And, dear God, he was holding a hatchet.
Two Bears stared at her too. “You are Red Badger?”
“You can talk?”
“Most humans do.” Two Bears glanced at Boone, and if she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn he smiled slightly. He began gesturing with his hands now when he spoke, “You take hands off hair now. Me done scalping for day. Me scalp six people on way here this morning.”
“Six? Holy Mary and Joseph!” Annalee’s voice squeaked again. The world spun and darkened.
****
She fainted into Boone’s arms. He held her close, worried she was harmed in some way. “Now look what you’ve done.” Boone scowled at his brother.
Levi and Two Bears were laughing. Levi slapped the native on the back. “Did you see the look on her face?”
Two Bears nodded and laughed some more. “Sheer terror.”
“You’re a lawyer. You don’t need to talk like that. You frightened her into another swooning spell.” Boone tightened his grip on Annalee, protectively drawing her near his chest. He was staggered at the depths of his feelings for this petite spitfire. Realization slammed into him that he’d go against anyone or anything to keep her safe. In his heart and soul, this woman was his.
Two Bears stood at his elbow and studied the woman. “It’s the way Easterners expect us to talk.” His gaze lifted to Boone’s. “You’ve chosen well, my brother,” he whispered.
“Yes. Although I don’t exactly remember choosing her. God just set her in my path, and she barreled into my heart.” His feelings for this woman—tender yet tough, fond yet fierce, polite yet passionate—were beyond description. Quite simply, this Irish lass had knocked his well-ordered life topsy-turvy.
Levi extended his beefy arms. “Hand her here, Boonie. I yust vanna hold her for a vhile. Vhy should you have all the fun?”
“I think you should hand her over to me.” Two Bears grinned. “Imagine her reaction when she regains consciousness and realizes she’s in the arms of an Indian.” The three men laughed.
****
Annalee was regaining consciousness when Levi asked to hold her for a while. Her temper heated at Two Bears’ comment. Then all three of the male lack-wits laughed. The nerve. They all deserved to have their ears boxed, so they did. “Put me down, you laughing jackass.”
Boone kissed her forehead before setting her feet on the ground.
She whirled on Two Bears. “So you think I’m funny, do you?” She raised her fist. “I’ll show you what a red-headed Irish lass does to a red-skinned, ear-ringed man.”
Two Bears’ hands came up in a defensive gesture. “Now, hold on, Red Badger. There’s no need to…”
Annalee gave him an upper cut to the chin. He grabbed his jaw and bent over. “Ow, I bit my tongue.”
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“I’ll teach you to hold your tongue.”
Before she gave the Indian the good dressing-down he deserved, Boone grabbed her in a bear hug from behind, pinning her arms to her sides. He lifted her off the ground and whispered in her ear. “If you don’t calm down, I’m going to paddle your cute little behind. Is that what you want?”
“You wouldn’t dare strike me!” Annalee growled, struggling to get free.
He turned his back to Levi and Two Bears and whispered near her ear. “I’m sorry, na’hesta. Do you hear me? I’m sorry.” He nuzzled her neck, sending shivers down her spine. “I wasn’t laughing at you. Well, okay, I was laughing at you, and that was wrong.” He planted a gentle kiss below her ear. “Listen to what I’m going to say, will you?”
Listen? He had his arms around her waist, drawing her close to his muscled chest and doing seductive things to her neck. Kisses and nibbles she’d had no idea could make a woman tremble and yearn for more. And he wanted her to listen? How, when all her mind could focus on was his touch?
“Annalee?” he whispered, tightening his arms around her waist.
Her mind snapped from her lascivious thoughts to his words. “I’m…I’m listening.”
“Look, you can show me all the disrespect you want, but not Two Bears. He’s only now stepping back into the land of the living.”
“What do you mean?”
“Soldiers killed his wife and little boy.”
Annalee gasped and stilled her struggling. “No.” How awful for him, for anyone. She understood that manner of heartache.
“It happened over a year ago. He didn’t speak to anyone for months.”
Annalee closed her eyes. Hadn’t she just gone through the same level of absolute loss?
“He’s been here since sunrise, working with me. Don’t you owe him respect in payment for his kindness?”
A strong measure of shame flooded her. She sighed and then slowly nodded.
“Show the man some kindness and he will honor and protect you. You’ll never need to fear him. This I promise.” Boone set her on the ground and released his hold.
Annalee straightened her clothes. How was she going to handle this situation? Don’t treat him like the Irish were treated, me girl, she could almost hear her da say. She nodded once as if her da could see her reply to the imagined remark.
With her thoughts composed, she turned toward Two Bears. “I’m sorry for my behavior.” His eyebrows rose. She looked away for an instant and then cleared her throat before looking him in the eyes. “One could say I have a slight problem with my temper.”
Two Bears rubbed his chin. “Yes, I suppose one could say that.” His English was remarkably polished.
“I’ve had my share of spankings because of my temper, don’t think I haven’t. And I got into trouble a lot at finishing school. Spent more time in detention than I care to admit. I’m a graduate of Miss Feather’s Finishing School for Refined Ladies of Culture and Proper Decorum.” She sighed and shook her head. “But you wouldn’t know it by my behavior sometimes. I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. You’re the first Indian I’ve met, and all I know about them is what I’ve read.”
“Which wasn’t good, I’m sure.”
“No, and it’s ashamed I am for that. When I was growing up, there were signs on factory fences that read ‘N.I.N.A.’—no Irish need apply. My da started his own business when no one would hire him, using money my mother made from sewing and doing laundry. It stung his pride and made him a man determined to succeed. Now here I am judging you by those same ignorant standards. My da would give me a sound thrashing for it, too. Don’t think he wouldn’t.”
Annalee extended her hand. “I want to thank you for your help. I’m much obliged.”
Two Bears’ expression changed from surprise to a slow smile of acceptance. Dark eyes exuded warmth when he shook her hand.
Just at that moment, Clarence walked around the side of the cabin toward the group. “Well, well, well, lookie who we got here. Cicero Creek’s dirty Injun.” He slung his arm around Annalee. “This here’s a moving party, not a powwow. Didn’t no one tell ya, Mr. Pretend Lawyer?”
Annalee narrowed her eyes at the man with a lofty opinion of himself. “Clarence Stoner, I’ll not stand for your disrespecting my new friend. He’s been here working since daybreak. And if you’ve got a fondness for that arm of yours, you better remove it before I break it off and beat you over the head with it.”
Clarence slowly and wisely removed his arm.
Boone reached for a saw and ax. “Clarence, you take over for me. I’m going to attack that fallen pine tree so Annalee has enough wood to last the winter.” Just as he reached her, he leaned and whispered in her ear, “Thanks for what you said to my brother.”
“Wait, what about last night? Did you catch the person who shot at me?” Her curiosity nagged at her again.
“No, we’ll talk about that later…when we’re alone.”
Boone sauntered down the hill to the fallen tree. He raised a hand in greeting as another wagon came up the lane.
“Red Badger?”
She turned and smiled. “Yes, Two Bears?” Imagine this, I’m making friends with an Indian. And, good Lord, am I really answering to an Indian name?
He jerked his chin toward Boone. “My brother is a good person. A brave man with honor.”
“Your brother is a strange man. He bothers me, and I don’t know what to do about him.” She pushed in a hairpin to secure her hair. “Well, I’d best go inside and get to work. I’m pleased to have met you, Two Bears.”
He smiled and took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “You are a charming lady.”
Annalee froze, her mouth gaping with surprise. This Indian was more gentleman than most of the men she’d met in Cicero Creek. She smiled again. “No, Two Bears, it is you who has charmed me. I have much to learn from you, haven’t I?”
Chapter Eleven
Boone’s back molars hurt. He’d ground them together every time a man came up the lane toward Annalee’s cabin. Some rode in on horseback, a few drove teams of horses or mules attached to buckboards, and two rowed down Cicero Creek in canoes. News of her arrival was like a magnet drawing them all in, and he’d had just about enough of every single man within a twenty-mile radius preening and fawning for Annalee. Every man’s arrival drove him deeper into a dark mood.
He’d been able to tamp his anger earlier when Clarence put his arm around Annalee.
And he’d struggled not to get upset when he saw his brother kissing Annalee’s hand. He remained relatively calm by reminding himself that Two Bears knew how his feelings were growing for her. Surely he’d misunderstood what he saw.
Still, not every man had fared well by coming here today. The look on Annalee’s face when Big Jim Thornton showed up with his brood would be a memory he’d chuckle over the rest of his life. He’d been stacking wood along the side of the cabin, near where Big Jim lined up his ragtag girls for an introduction to Annalee. Her eyes grew wide as Big Jim called off his daughters’ names while they stood at attention—dirty, unkempt, and hostile.
“Miss Annalee,” Big Jim had said, his thumbs hooked in his suspenders, “these here’s my girls. Pay ’tention now, ’cause I’m only gonna say ’em once—Faith, Frieda, Frannie, Fawn, Felicity, Feather, Fern, Flora, February, and the baby, Forever. My wife named her Forever ’cause she claimed she was through with birthin’ babies—forever.”
Annalee looked first at the line of girls, which contained two sets of twins, and then at Big Jim. “Where…where is your wife, Mr. Thornton?”
“Run off two months back with the travelin’ tinsmith. Left me with these here ten girls and a full set of tin plates and that there tin dishpan I jest give ya.”
The oldest of the girls, who was holding a dirty-faced baby, stomped over to Annalee. “We need a new ma, and you’re it. We done took a vote on it, soon as we heard you got off the stage.” She thrust the squalling baby into Annale
e’s arms. “Here, Forever needs her diapy changed. I’m through bein’ nursemaid to all these kids. I ain’t but eleven years old.” She turned and ran toward the gang of children playing tag in the woods near the creek.
Annalee watched Big Jim’s retreating back as he marched off to the barn, presumably to see what needed fixing there. More than likely he planned to check out the stock. Then she looked at the red-faced, angry, squirming child in her arms. “Ah…Mr. Thornton? You can’t leave your child with me. I’m not prepared to take care of a baby.”
Big Jim, a man rumored to demand his orders be followed, barely paused. “No time like the present to learn. Jest so you know, I done set aside next Friday afta’noon to wed ya. Make sure you’re at the church by one o’clock. I cannot abide a woman bein’ late.”
Two Bears stepped beside Boone. “Did I just hear what I thought I heard?”
Boone folded his arms across his chest and broadened his stance. “Yup.”
In response to Big Jim’s remarks, Annalee puffed up and reared back like a diamondhead snake.
The brothers stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Two Bears crossed his arms in a mirror image of Boone and grinned. “This ought to be a treat. Big Jim’s got a good hide-peeling coming, the way he treats his animals.”
“That’s what I figure.” Boone narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t miss this showdown for the world. The woman is indomitable. If I’m ever in a fight, I hope she’s on my side.”
Annalee stomped after Big Jim. “Mr. Thornton,” she bellowed. “Stop right there, you overgrown, big-feeling galoot!” Before the shocked man could register the list of insults hurled at him, the petite woman thrust the baby into his arms. “How dare you think for one minute that I, a graduate of Miss Feather’s Finishing School for Refined Ladies of Culture and Proper Decorum, would lower myself to marry an arrogant oaf such as yourself?”
Two Bears grinned. “She’s right fond of that finishing school, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is. Get used to hearing about it, Brother. She’ll hurl it at you every time she gets riled, but mercy, ain’t she something when she does? Oh, and if I ever catch you kissing her hand again, you’ll be known forever as No-Teeth Bear.”
A Man for Annalee Page 8
