by Bella Bowen
BOOK TWO: THE BRIDES
OF DIAMOND SPRINGS RANCH
By Bella Bowen
AMAZON KDP EDITION
PUBLISHED BY
Bella Bowen
www.bellabowen.weebly.com
Book Two: The Brides of Diamond Springs Ranch © 2014 B.Bowen
All rights reserved
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This ebook is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations
is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To Hemmy.
This was a great idea.
Thank you.
CHAPTER ONE
Lizzy Tanner checked for gaps in the blindfold, but it looked like Connor McGee couldn’t see anything, even if he looked down.
“Now, you hold good and tight to that rope, Connor. If you let go, even with one hand, I’m going to leave you here to explain yourself to my uncle.”
“I won’t let go, Lizzy,” he breathed solemnly. “I swear it.”
“Down on your knees, then.”
The young buck lowered himself to his knees. Easily done while holding onto the rope above his head.
“You want a drink of milk? I just love warm milk, don’t you?” She pressed a mug to his lips before he had a chance to refuse it. A generous tip, a generous gulp, and a little bit of splashing. “Sorry, Connor. But don’t worry. I’ll lick it off.”
The boy gasped and held still, trying to hide the slyest smile.
Satisfied, Lizzy stepped back to the pen and led Bessie’s little calf forward. She hummed to disguise the sound of the little animal shuffling forward until it stood directly before Connor. Then she dropped to her knees beside it.
“Lower your head, laddie. I can’t quite reach your lips.”
Conner scooted his hands down the rope a bit and dropped his head. The little calf smelled its mother’s milk and lifted its head to find it. A sniff, a lick, and the little beast latched onto Connor’s upper lip.
Lizzy was so surprised at how long it took the boy to realize it wasn’t her sucking on his face, she nearly forgot to run. The lad hollered enough to wake the dead. The calf cried for its mother, and Bessie started kicking at the wall before Lizzy got clean out the back barn door. Then she dissolved into a giggling fit while she wondered how long the boy was going to hold onto that rope.
“Lizzy!” Connor bellowed.
She stood straight and listened, watching the door so closely she didn’t notice the figure sneaking up on her. Someone grabbed her hand and she gasped as she was spun around to land against the broad chest of Robbie Shaw. Or at least she thought it was Robbie until she realized the chest was a bit too wide and far too high to belong to that boy.
Good heavens! It was Robbie’s older brother! The one who’d just arrived on the train. Some say he’d been in jail somewhere. Robbie said he’d been away at school. Either way, the Shaw family wasn’t too ashamed to throw the party for him.
Lizzy’d only had a glance at the man before Connor had asked her to dance. Then she’d been too busy teasing him and Robbie to notice much else.
“I just found my brother tied to a tree,” the man said. He didn’t sound angry. “And now you’ve gone and done somethin’ to poor Connor? Busy girl.”
She wiggled, but he held tight. He still grasped her hand and his other arm was wrapped around her waist. She chose to use the same tactic that worked on the younger boys because that’s all she knew to use.
“I’ll thank you to unhand me, Mr. Shaw. It’s unfitting for you to speak to me at all until we’re properly introduced, let alone touch me.”
She breathed steadily, in and out, in and out, while she waited for him to understand. The man was definitely a bit slower witted than his brother because it took a good long while for him to let her go. Or maybe he wasn’t slow at all and was drawing out the moment, to take advantage.
She was just about to kick his shinbone when he finally let go. Though the urge to run was powerful, she was afraid to turn her back on him. She had to settle for stepping back and brushing her skirts. When he didn’t try to set upon her again, she lifted her nose into the air and took a step, intending to walk around him.
“Just a moment, Miss Tanner.” He held up a hand. “Forgive me for speakin’, strangers as we are, but I must ask what you’ve done to Connor.”
Lizzy considered denying that she’d done anything at all, but the man would eventually hear the truth of it anyway, what with Robbie and Connor being constant companions. And he didn’t look like he’d be as gullible as his brother, either. It might just be best to tell him the truth. Maybe if she made him laugh, he’d let her pass.
“I blindfolded the boy and tricked him into kissing a calf.”
Mr. Shaw grinned. It made him look younger, but most of all, it made him appear almost harmless despite the dark.
“And how did you get these boys to do your biddin’?”
She shrugged. “I promised them a kiss.”
He snatched up her hand again and tugged her toward him. She resisted, so he took a small step to close the distance himself. He smelled like leather train seats and cigar smoke, which distracted her, otherwise she was certain she would have fought harder to keep distance between them. And just like that, it was too late. He had that arm locked around her again.
“Then on behalf of my brother and Connor McGee, who is as good as a brother to me, I demand to collect their payments for ‘em. After all, they did what you asked.”
She forced a smile so he might not sense just how frightened she was. “I can’t argue that. They certainly did…” Her words fell off when she realized yet another trap she’d fallen into.
Mr. Shaw was more clever than she’d given him credit for. None of her usual tricks were going to work on him. She had to change tacks. Maybe if thought her a featherbrain, he would relax his guard and she could get away.
She sighed dramatically. “I’m sorry, Mr. Shaw, but I cannot possibly oblige you.” She fiddled with one of the buttons on his shirt, leaned forward to see it better, then stretched back to let the light of the moon fall upon it.
The man loosened his hold a bit so she could have the distance she seemed to need. She rewarded him with a smile.
“And why can’t you oblige me? Lizzy? I’m collecting for family, after all.” His voice had changed already. Soft and coaxing.
She shrugged a shoulder, still intent on his button. “Still impossible. I’m soon to be engaged, you see. And I will not allow such liberties.”
It was the truth. She was determined to share her first kiss with the man she married and no other.
It didn’t keep her from teasing young men with promises because she never intended to keep them. But she never would have been foolish enough to tease a full grown man. She only teased Mr. Shaw out of necessity, of course. It was akin to a bird pretending to be injured, to convince the predator he shouldn’t waste time guarding against her taking flight.
Shaw leaned close and searched her face. “Say it isn’t true, Elizabeth. I’ve only just arrived. I’ve only just learned the name of the most beautiful girl in town. You can’t go and say I have no chance at courtin’ her. You’ll break m’ heart.” He searched her eyes in the darkness. “Who are you promised to? Robbie didn’t say nothin’ about you being engaged.”
If he hadn’t already shown his colors, she might have been softened by his flattery and his sincerity. She’d been called pretty all her life. No one had ever called her beautiful. And no one had ever been in danger of having a broken heart on her account. The man was too clever by half. No doubt he used the same words to steal kisses from every girl he met.
She continued with the featherbrain act.
“I am not engaged yet, sir,” she said, like he was silly for jumping to such a conclusion.
His eyes lit with hope.
“But I will be soon enough. You see, I am leaving on the train in the morning, destined for a place called Diamond Springs where I will be—”
“You’re going to that Wyomin’ Bride School? Tomorrow?”
“Why yes, I am. You’ve heard of it?”
He snorted. “Then you have no choice. You have to kiss me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t I’ll write a letter to that Carnegie woman.” He shook her a little in his loose grip. “I’ll tell her what kind of a girl you are.”
“And what kind of girl is that? I haven’t kissed anyone yet.”
“Oh, but I’ll tell her you go around kissing and tormenting young boys and men alike. Kissing and tormenting. Tormenting and kissing.” He clicked his teeth with his tongue. “Hardly the type of woman she’d want representin’ her school.”
Lizzy’s heart twisted. She so dearly wished to be the kind of young lady Mrs. Carnegie believed her to be. She’d received a letter stating she’d passed a number of tests she hadn’t realized she was taking and that Mrs. Carnegie herself was looking forward to meeting her and befriending her.
She simply couldn’t let Robbie’s brother ruin it all for her. But if she kissed him, she herself would be sullied.
“Come, now, child. Give us a kiss and your secret will be safe with me.”
Lizzy’s fear dissipated and she nearly felt sorry for the man. He really oughtn’t have called her a child.
“Fine. If you swear you won’t tell a soul, you may have one kiss—”
“Two kisses.”
“On the cheek only.”
“Oh, no my dear. Only two good-sized kisses on the lips’d be good enough to buy my silence.”
It was as if the moon and stars collected together at that moment to reveal Mr. Shaw’s character. Light reflected off his black eyes and flashing smile. He was the devil himself. And she knew without a doubt the gossip had been correct; Mr. Shaw hadn’t been away at school, he’d been behind jail bars.
She took a good hold of the man’s shirt front, then took a good deep breath and stretched up toward his face, smiling…
And screamed like she was being murdered.
CHAPTER TWO
Jake shifted in his seat again. His sister, Caroline, sat next to him and pretended not to notice, though he knew she had. She wouldn’t comment, however, or she might have to admit that forcing him to ride with her from the train station, instead of allowing him to ride a horse, was nothing short of torture for someone his size.
Of course, forcing him to take her along on the trip, no matter how comfortable their quarters, was torture in and of itself. Caroline complained about every little thing. He probably should have been grateful, though. At least he knew what he did not want in a wife.
“It’s your own fault, you know,” she said, keeping her eyes on the dusty window.
“How is that?”
“There was no need for you to make the trip at all. No worthy woman would allow herself to be attached to some bride…factory. And I have plenty of friends—”
“I’ve met your friends.”
“I can find more. The east coast is positively swarming with—”
“You had your chance, Caroline. And besides, the place is run by that woman you’ve been worshipping for years. Don’t pretend you’re coming along to save me from my own bad judgment. You just want to meet Mrs. Carnegie in the flesh.”
Caroline’s brows puckered in panic. “Promise me you won’t use such expressions around the woman.”
“And what expression might that be?” He knew exactly what she was referring to, but he wanted to make her say it.
“In the…flesh,” she whispered.
In such tight quarters, his bark of laughter was too loud, even to him, so he brought it down to a chuckle.
“She’s the former wife of a rancher. I’m sure she’s heard much worse on a regular basis.” He patted his uppity but well-meaning sister on the knee and shifted his legs again. His only solace was knowing she wouldn’t be able to argue with him when he sent her home in the carriage alone.
~ ~ ~
The town of Sage River was an ant hill. Not a soul seemed to be standing still, and the sound of busy hammers punctuated every bump in the road.
People hurried to and fro as if dogs were at their heels. A few turned to look at the carriage, then a few more. Eventually, the ants came to a halt and watched as he and his sister rolled through town.
Jake noticed the sheriff's office and gave the ceiling a thump to signal the driver to stop.
“Wait here,” he told his sister. He folded his body to get out the little door, then unfolded it again once he was on solid ground. He'd be damned if he'd be getting back inside.
The office was empty. The cells weren't occupied, but he wasn’t surprised. In a town that industrious, who had time to make trouble?
He stepped back outside. A man with a black hat and a blacker look walked down the boardwalk with a star on his chest. He noticed Jake and narrowed his eyes.
Jake waited for him, then tipped his hat. “Jake Montgomery,” he introduced himself and stuck out his hand.
“Devlin Zollinger, temporary sheriff.” The other man nodded and reluctantly shook hands.
“Temporary?”
“Just until a real one can be found. Did you need something?”
The man didn't seem too friendly, but then again, he wasn't a real sheriff, so he probably resented all the folks that came to him for directions.
“I suppose I could have asked anyone. But I'm looking for Diamond Springs Ranch.”
The man's spine straightened and his eyes narrowed again.
“What's your business?”
Jake gave a short laugh. “I would have thought it was obvious, but I've come to take a closer look at Mrs. Carnegie's Bride School.”
Zollinger shook his head. “No men are allowed on Mrs. Carnegie's half of the ranch. You'll have to make an appointment and meet her here, in town.”
“Her half?”
“Yeah. The other half's mine.”
Well, maybe that was why the man seemed so defensive. But that couldn't account for all his hostility. It wasn't as if Jake was after something that belonged to him.
“Jacob, introduce me.” Caroline appeared at his elbow.
He did the honors. Zollinger didn’t look a bit impressed by his preening sister, which Jake found interesting. His sister was a beauty, and not many could resist staring a little, even if she rubbed them raw.
“So how do I go about making an appointment with Mrs. Carnegie?”
The man nodded across the street and down a bit. “In the saloon. Ask for Fontaine. She'll take a message to Diamond Springs.”
“Much obliged,” Jake
tipped his hat again and offered his sister an arm.
“She'll be easy to find,” Zollinger added.
Jake smiled over his shoulder. “Because she's a woman, in a saloon?”
“Nah. Because she'll be wearing britches.”
Caroline stumbled on the steps and would have landed in the street had she not been holding snugly to his arm.
Jake tried to keep from smiling when he asked her if she wanted to get back in the carriage or go with him to find Fontaine.
Caroline was not amused.
CHAPTER THREE
“There's yer Sage River, Miss.” Nathanial, the wagon driver, pointed to the town on the far side of the valley. They’d reach the place long before dark.
Elizabeth could have cried from pure relief.
Somewhere nearby was Diamond Springs Ranch. And as soon as she stepped foot on it, she would never set her backside on another bare board again!
Early the previous day, the stagecoach had broken down, but Nathaniel and his wife had come along headed for Sage River with their two wagons. She’d been rescued. The stage driver had tried to assure her he could have his coach back on the road again in a few hours, but she'd put her faith in Nathaniel instead. He and his wife had a load of goods to deliver to the very town she was for, and Lizzy took it as divine intervention that they were willing to deliver her too.
Later that day, when the stage had passed the wagons, the driver tipped his hat and smiled, but didn't ask if she wanted back aboard.
A bug flew at her face and she wiped it away. It was then she realized how much dirt had gathered on her skin. They were only moments from the town. She could see a large well in the middle of the road, but she couldn't ask Nathaniel to stop and wait for her to wash up.
She pulled her kerchief out of her sack of personals and asked the older man for his canteen so she could wet the cloth. Then she wiped her face as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Her precious kerchief was covered with mud before she was done.
