by Cat Cahill
She blinked at him. “No one’s ever called me that. And I’ve been called plenty of other things in my life.”
A smile crossed his lips, pain flickering briefly as the muscles pulled across his face. He tightened his grip on her hand. She wanted so badly to turn it over and press her palm against his, but that would only make parting from him that much harder.
“I hope to tell you that every day, if you’ll let me.”
Penny’s entire body went still except for a hum that set her nerves on fire. “What do you mean?”
His eyes softened. “I think you know exactly what I mean.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Her lips, pink against the falling snow, drew together in surprise. “I . . .” she started as she glanced down at their hands. “I don’t believe I understand.”
Of course she didn’t, and he could kick himself for that if he wasn’t already in so much pain from Hagan’s fists. It was his fault she’d pushed him away from her heart.
“I love you,” he said simply. It felt so good to finally say it out loud. No matter how far down he’d tried to hide his feelings for her, it was always there. “I thought I could protect you by pushing you away. My work is dangerous, and after what happened to Adelaide—and then you—I felt awful. It was my fault.”
“It wasn’t,” she said, shaking her head. “That was no one’s fault but Hagan’s.”
“Still, if he hadn’t had a vendetta against me, you two never would have been in danger.” He swallowed. He needed to be completely honest with her. If she accepted him, she had to know. “I can’t say something like this won’t happen again. But, I promise with everything I have in me, Penny May, that I’ll fight hard to make sure you’re safe. It might be selfish, but I can’t live without you by my side.”
A tear fell from her eye, and she lifted a shoulder to swipe it away. Then, slowly, she turned her hand upward until it fit comfortably in his. “There is danger everywhere,” she finally said.
She was right—danger was everywhere. He knew that now. There may never be another Hagan, and he prayed there wouldn’t be, but there was sickness and fire and a hundred other ways any of them could be hurt at any time. And none of them had anything to do with his work. “I know that now.”
She raised her eyes and watched him. She was still guarded, almost as if she expected him to reject her. It made sense—he’d done it already, even if not in so many words. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I mean, I know, but it’s so much. All of this.” She threw up her other hand. “I thought I was too headstrong for you. Which hurt, but at least I’d have my work. Until I realized that after being here, well . . .” Her already pink cheeks flushed even more. “I likely no longer have my position at the hotel.”
Anger jolted through Ben like lightning. He’d kill the man if he’d harmed Penny or Adelaide. “Did Hagan—”
“No.” Penny placed a hand on his arm. “Not at all. But people make assumptions, and the Gilbert name can’t have any hint of scandal attached to it.”
Ben grasped her other hand with his. Society was cruel. He knew that well, especially after Adelaide came to him to escape it. “I’m sorry. I know how much you enjoy your work.”
Penny blinked back tears. He knew she didn’t cry easily. He hoped he could make it so she would never cry again.
“So, with that in mind,” she said, “I agreed to return to San Francisco with Adelaide. To start over.”
Ben’s heart warmed at his sister’s kindness. She was willing to return to a place filled with people who likely hadn’t put her antics behind it, just so Penny could have a new life. “You don’t need to, either of you.” He paused, looking at her small hands in his. “But I understand if you prefer to.”
“I don’t,” she said in a thick voice. “I want to stay here. With you. But Ben? There is something you should know first. About me.”
He smiled at her. “I doubt there is anything about you that would ever change my mind.” She could confess to a penchant for thievery, and he’d still want her for his wife.
She drew in a shuddering breath. “I left Wilmington under, well, not the best of circumstances.” Penny closed her eyes a moment, then opened them. “There was a man—”
Ben’s hands tightened on hers, hoping that showed her he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I didn’t truly care for him, I know that now. But he led me to believe he loved me.” She shrugged. “You know me. I don’t always think through my actions. I met him here and there, alone, because I believed him. And when he wanted more than I was willing to give, he turned on me.” She chewed on her lip again, and Ben wished more than anything he could take that pain away from her. He hated this man, and he didn’t even know his name. “He spread all sorts of rumors and lies about me. Everyone was inclined to believe them, because I’ve always been so . . .”
“Brave,” he filled in for her.
She raised her eyebrows as if she didn’t believe him. “My mother found the ad for the Gilbert Company. She scraped together the only money we had and bought me a train ticket to Raleigh. No one there knew me. They gave me an interview, and I answered all their questions as if the week prior had never happened. If they knew the things that man said, I would’ve never been hired.”
“But you were.” Ben paused as another thought entered his mind. “Are you willing to give it up for me? I know how much you enjoy your work.”
Penny nodded slowly. “I am—if I even still have a position when I return. But Ben . . . you don’t mind what I just told you?”
His heart pinched at the way she looked at him, as if she expected him to announce everything was over because of one useless man hundreds of miles away. “I don’t. Not in the slightest.”
“What about your work? If word got to Cañon City about it . . . and now this mess with Hagan. People will talk.”
He rose to his knees, dropping both of her hands and cupping her face instead. “Penny, all I want is you. And if anyone says anything about you that I take issue with, they’ll answer to me. I love you just as you are.”
Her beautiful green eyes swam with tears, and this time, she didn’t blink them away. He wiped them from the corners of her eyes as her hands clutched his arms. “Will you have me?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I’ll marry you, Ben.”
With those words, he didn’t even feel the cold anymore. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”
She smiled. “Then what are you waiting for?”
He laughed. With this woman, his life would never be dull. He brushed one finger over her lips, almost in disbelief that she wanted him. When she sighed, he lowered his face until their lips met. His dragon was honey and fire, and she melted against him as he kissed her.
No, his life certainly would never be the same with Penny by his side.
Chapter Thirty-six
Penny barely made it into the door of the hotel before Mrs. Ruby and Mrs. McFarland swooped down on her.
“My dear!” Mrs. McFarland exclaimed, gripping her tightly in a hug. “We were so worried.”
The moment she let go, Mrs. Ruby took over, wrapping Penny in her motherly arms before setting her back and examining her from head to toe. “I knew that scoundrel would be no match for you,” she said, a proud smile crossing her face. “Are you all right, though?”
Penny nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Dirty but unhurt.” She gestured at the dove-gray skirt under her coat, both of which were filthy from the cave floor.
“We’ll get you cleaned up, don’t you worry about that,” Mrs. Ruby said, holding both of Penny’s arms. “You wouldn’t believe how many of the guests and the railroad men have been asking after you. I believe you may be our most popular waitress.”
“Is that true?” She could hardly imagine so many people missing her loud voice and inability to act even remotely demure.
Mrs. Ruby
smiled. “It certainly is. I don’t lie, child. You are well-loved in this hotel.”
Her words washed over Penny like a warm bath. Never in her life had anyone except her mother said they missed her or appreciated her for who she was. But now . . . she glanced over at Ben.
He caught her eye and smiled.
Mrs. McFarland pressed a hand to her mouth as she glanced behind Ben. “This must be Miss Young!”
“You’re right. This is my sister, Adelaide.” Ben took her hand and gazed down at her, ever the protective older brother.
“Oh, my dear. You’ve been through so much.” Mrs. McFarland immediately stepped forward and wrapped Adelaide in a hug too. The girl started, and then smiled. “We’ll find you a room, let you get cleaned up, and then get some food into you. I’m sure one of the girls has a dress you can wear.”
Mr. McFarland arrived at that moment, clasping Ben’s hand as his eyes landed first on Penny and then Adelaide. “Excellent work, Sheriff. Thank you for finding Miss May. All I’ve heard since she’s been gone is how indispensable she is to the restaurant.”
“I hope she’s not too indispensable,” Ben said, his smile alighting on Penny.
She felt her cheeks go warm. Mr. McFarland raised his eyebrows, but before he could speak, Ben pointed over his shoulder to the doors. “I have a few prisoners outside. Some are injured. I don’t suppose I could trouble you for a couple of rooms? Although I understand if you prefer not to have them in the hotel.”
“We’re at your service, Sheriff,” Mr. McFarland said. “I have some empty rooms at the end of the hall. I can send word on the evening train to Cañon City for a doctor.”
“Thank you. I fear a couple of those men need some doctoring.” Ben paused a moment. “Could I have a word with you in private?”
Penny couldn’t keep the smile off her face as her entire body tingled down to her toes. Mrs. McFarland led Adelaide to a room while Mrs. Ruby bustled off to oversee the end of breakfast. As Penny slowly drifted upstairs, fatigue dragging her steps, she wondered when Mrs. Ruby would tell her she no longer had a position at the Crest Stone Hotel. It hurt to know that after all her hard work, she’d be let go. Of course, she couldn’t keep her job once she was married, but it would’ve been nice to leave on her own terms.
Mrs. McFarland had instructed one of the maids to bring a bath into Penny’s room. As she soaked, she was certain no bath had ever felt more luxurious than this one. She stayed in the tub until the water grew cold. All she wanted to do now was crawl into her bed and sleep for the rest of the day, but she’d promised Adelaide she’d meet her for the noon meal. And then, of course, there was the little matter of how Mr. McFarland had taken Ben’s offer of marriage for Penny.
She pinned up her hair quickly and dressed in her Sunday clothes. After a moment’s hesitation, she donned the hat Caroline had bought her for her birthday. The green looked lovely with the dashes of emerald in her dress. Mrs. Ruby had informed them they would eat in the dining room, and Penny hoped the hat wasn’t too much. The last thing she wanted was to look as if she was putting on airs with the girls she loved so much.
Downstairs, Adelaide waited for her in the lobby. Penny looped an arm around hers, and Adelaide grinned.
“Truth be told,” Adelaide said, “all I really wanted to do was go to sleep.”
Penny laughed. “I had the same thought. Although now that I’m here, I’m ravenous.”
They sat at a table large enough for Ben and any of his men to join them. One by one, the girls working the lunch shift came by to hug Penny and tell her how worried they’d been and how happy they were she was home. Dora and Millie stopped by together.
“I couldn’t sleep, I was so anxious for you,” Dora said, one arm around Penny’s waist as they stood next to the table.
“Your handsome sheriff left to find you the moment he discovered you were gone,” Millie teased.
Penny smiled. “I might soon have news about that.”
Dora’s eyes widened, while Millie gave a tiny shriek.
“Shh,” Penny said, grabbing her hand. “I can’t say anything just yet, but I promise to tell you as soon as I can.”
The girls bustled off back to work after hugging Penny once more, and she sat down to a bowl of chicken soup with a contented sigh.
Adelaide had already finished her soup and now sat watching Penny, her head tilted and her eyes looking a million miles away.
“What are you thinking about?” Penny asked.
The ghost of a smile lifted Adelaide’s lips. “How much everyone here cares for you. You seem to have such good friends.”
Penny nodded. “I had friends at home before, well . . .” She trailed off and Adelaide nodded in understanding. “But it’s different here. All we have is each other, and I suppose that makes us closer.”
“I don’t have anyone like that at home,” Adelaide said, twisting her napkin in her lap. “I know I’ll have to return to San Francisco eventually, but . . .” She crumpled the napkin as she looked up at Penny. “I’d rather stay here.”
Penny set her spoon down and studied Adelaide for a moment. “How old are you?”
“Sixteen.”
That was old enough. “If you’re not opposed to work, I can speak to Mrs. Ruby. She’ll likely need someone to replace me.” She blushed a little, thinking of Ben. She refused to consider Mr. McFarland saying anything but yes to Ben’s offer for her. “Anyhow, it would take the company weeks to send another girl. Of course, if you’d prefer to remain in Cañon City, you’re more than welcome to stay if Ben agrees.” And she’d push him to agree. She couldn’t imagine returning to Wilmington now, and she was certain Adelaide felt the same way about San Francisco.
The younger girl’s eyes lit up. “Would she have me? I know nothing about waitressing. My mother would just die!”
Penny grinned. “I’m sure she’ll get used to the idea. None of us knew a thing about it either. You’ll learn. And I’ll have to introduce you to my friend Caroline. Her parents were none too happy when they discovered she’d come here to work instead of staying home in Boston.”
“What will my darling sister learn?” Ben asked as he pulled out the chair next to Penny.
Penny’s entire body went warm at seeing him again. Even though they’d only been apart for a few hours, it had felt like a lifetime after everything that had happened up in the mountains. She searched his face for any sign of Mr. McFarland’s approval—or disapproval—of their engagement, but he was focused on Adelaide.
“Well . . .” Penny turned to her new friend. “Why don’t you tell your brother about our plans?”
Adelaide’s smile lit up the room, and Penny prayed Ben would agree it was a fantastic idea.
Chapter Thirty-seven
“I want to stay here and become a Gilbert Girl instead of returning to San Francisco,” Adelaide said all at once.
Ben sat back. He rubbed his face as he studied his sister. Adelaide had always been impulsive, and by this point, nothing she said or did surprised him. She’d always seemed so out of place in San Francisco—too wild for society but too well-bred to make her way on her own in that city. And he understood why she wouldn’t want to stay with him once he and Penny were married. She didn’t want to be a burden to them.
Their parents would be furious, that was for certain. Girls of their circle didn’t work. They might volunteer at missions or in children’s homes, but that was all. But he knew Adelaide would never be happy married to some stuffy old gentleman with no other purpose to her life than choosing new linens for a grand house.
“Mrs. Ruby is like a mother to us girls,” Penny said, breaking into his thoughts. “And there are rules in place to keep us safe. As you know.” She blushed a little at that last part.
Ben smiled, remembering how she’d had to break those rules to meet him the evening she wished to learn to shoot.
“I don’t think I’d get into too much trouble here,” Adelaide said.
That made B
en laugh out loud. “I have a feeling you’ll be trouble anywhere. And I love you for it, little sister.”
“Does that mean I can stay? If they’ll have me, of course?” she asked.
“I don’t see any problem with it. I’d be happy to have you just a brief train ride away. And I’ll take care of Mother and Father.”
Adelaide squealed and Penny reached over to hug her. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Ruby,” Penny said.
Ben waited for them to finish and then fixed his eyes on Penny. His beautiful wife-to-be. She wore a white dress with flecks of green and a hat with a vivid green ribbon that made her eyes seem even brighter than usual. Normally Ben couldn’t have told her the difference between one frock and hat and another, but this one . . . he hoped she wore it often. She looked radiant in it. “Don’t you wish to know how my talk with Mr. McFarland went?”
Penny turned her smile toward him, but before she could say anything, Adelaide blurted out, “Yes!”
Ben laughed before taking Penny’s hand in his. “He was surprised. After all, it isn’t every day an outlaw kidnaps one of his waitresses and a sheriff has to ride to her rescue before proposing marriage.”
“I love you,” she said, her sneaky smile making him realize she had much more to say. “But Adelaide and I rescued ourselves.”
The woman was right, and he’d expect nothing less of her. “Regardless, he was more than happy to give his blessing, although he seemed sad to lose you.”
Penny flung her arms around him. Ben laughed again and held her, ignoring the stares of the other dining room patrons. They could only wish they had someone as loving and brave as his dragon.
“How do you feel about a Christmas wedding?” he asked through the feathers on her hat.
Penny sat up, her hands still resting on his arms. “I think it sounds lovely!”
“That leaves barely any time to plan!” Adelaide said.
