Corsets and Cuffs: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 3)

by Shanna Hatfield

  Filled with an acute ache in the region of her heart, she wanted to curl into a ball and cry out her frustrations. Rather than give in to the desire, she stood a little taller and lifted her chin.

  No matter what Davis said, she did have a deadline to meet on an article she’d started about Edwin and Hattie Greenfield taking over the boarding house. She could finish it back at her apartment, but she certainly wouldn’t divulge that detail to her irritating fiancé.

  Instead, she wracked her brain for something that would give her an hour or two of relief from the annoying man. Struck with sudden inspiration, she changed direction and headed toward the livery stable.

  “I say, Brianna, where are you going in such a common manner? It’s most unbecoming. Decorum, precious. Walk with decorum and let those around you know you are unhurried and have no need for haste,” Davis scolded, lengthening his stride to keep up with her.

  “A story I’m working on requires me to ride out to one of the mines.” Brianna slowed and looked at Davis with big, pleading eyes. “Will you ride along with me? The trail there is dusty and hot, and there’s nowhere to stop for a rest. Horseback is the only way to reach the location. The arduous journey wouldn’t seem so challenging if you’d go along.”

  A look of horror crossed his face and the façade Davis maintained slipped. The only thing he feared more than committing a social blunder or poverty was horses.

  Amused, Brianna watched the wheels in his head spin as he tried to concoct an excuse not to go. “My dear, I just remembered I need to send a telegram to Father. I should see to that right away, lest I forget. Why don’t you run along and do your little story? I’ll meet you back at the hotel at four. We can enjoy a spot of tea.”

  A becoming pout rode her lips as she looked at Davis, pretending she found his news distressing. “I shall miss you. Somehow, I’ll manage to make the trip on my own, if you’re certain you must stay here.”

  “I’m certain, but I’ll walk you to the livery.” Davis took her elbow in his hand again and walked her down the street to the livery.

  When he lingered at the door, Brianna had to carry through with her ruse, asking Milt to place the sidesaddle on a horse for her. Taken aback by her request, he didn’t say anything as he saddled the horse she often rode and led it outside for her.

  Brianna looked to Davis and smiled. “Will you help me mount?”

  “Of course,” Davis said, taking the parasol from her hand then stepping back. “Now you have both hands free.”

  The urge to roll her eyes or lambast Davis for being such a cowardly milksop made her turn her back to him. Milt gave her a hand up to the saddle. She settled her skirts before taking her parasol from Davis and holding the reins in her other hand.

  “Enjoy your ride, my dear,” Davis called as she rode away from him toward the south end of town.

  “At least I won’t have to listen to your incessant blathering for a while,” she muttered under her breath. Her dress wasn’t meant for riding and rubbed in places it shouldn’t, but she’d do most anything to escape Davis for an hour or two.

  One thing she could be thankful for about his unexpected visit was the clothes he’d brought along. Three trunks of her belongings traveled with him on the train. She was happy to have every shoe, stocking, and gown the staff at home had packed.

  Aware of how his mind worked, he’d most likely assumed she’d run off without a change of clothes, or some such nonsense.

  Repeatedly, he’d questioned her about why she traveled to Baker City, of all places. The story she gave him was the same one she’d told everyone else in town: she came to check on her father’s holdings in a mine and it turned out to be nothing more than a hole in a hill owned by a very filthy, testy old man.

  Davis offered to pursue a lawsuit for false representation with Clive Fisher, but Brianna refused. No matter what else happened, she liked the crusty miner, even if he did stink to high heaven and back again.

  Thrilled with an hour or two to relax without Davis looking over her shoulder, she rode past Ian’s lumberyard then took the road that circled around the back of town. The horse moved at a plodding gait, but even so, she’d only been gone about fifteen minutes when she reached the north end of town.

  Turning the horse around, she headed back to the lumberyard. As she rode past the office, Ian hurried out, waving to her.

  “What are you about on such a bonny day, lass?” he asked as she reined in the horse.

  Brianna smiled, knowing she could be truthful with him. “I’m hiding from Davis. I needed a little quiet time.”

  Ian laughed. “The man does like to talk and talk.”

  With a grin, she nodded in agreement.

  “So why are you out here?” Ian rubbed a gentle hand along the horse’s neck and glanced up at her.

  “The only means of escape was to go for a ride. Davis is terrified of horses. He is under the assumption I’m riding out to a mine to work on an article, which is only partially untrue. I do have an article I need to write, but I didn’t need to ride anywhere to do it.”

  “Ach, lass, pardon my bluntness, but why is it ye’re engaged to Mr. Gordon? I know for a fact one of the finest men in town would be happy to court ye.” Ian’s brogue thickened as he spoke, which it often did when he was mad or excited. “Deep are the wounds ye’ve caused him.”

  Emotions that simmered close to the surface threatened to spill over as Brianna looked at her friend. “It’s complicated, Ian. If I were free to choose, Davis would be on the first train heading east and I’d beg that fine man you mentioned to forgive me.” A remorseful sigh rolled up from her soul. “Since I can’t do as I please, I’m trying to do the best I can in a less than ideal situation.”

  Ian studied her then pointed to his house across the meadow. “Why don’t you make yourself at home this afternoon? I guarantee Mr. Gordon won’t bother you there. You can finish your article for the newspaper and no one will be any the wiser.”

  The thought of spending the afternoon at the beautiful MacGregor home sounded too good to be true. “Are you sure I won’t bother you or Maggie?”

  “Not a bit, lass. I’ll be here and Maggie’s at her shop. The back door is unlocked. Go right on in. You can leave the horse down by the barn. No one will see him there from the road. If you’d rather, I can take him back to the livery.”

  “Thank you so much, Ian. If I hope to maintain my ruse, it’s best I ride the horse back into town later.” Brianna smiled at the kind man. “You don’t know how much I appreciate this.”

  “I think I might have an idea. Help yourself to anything you like at the house. Maggie made a delicious cake yesterday and there’s a pitcher of lemonade in the refrigerator.”

  “That sounds delightful,” Brianna said, waving at Ian as he walked back to the office.

  She rode across the meadow to his home, left the horse tied to the hitching rail by the barn, then hurried to the house. As she walked across the yard, she admired the colorful flowers blooming in profusion.

  Maggie mentioned something about Charles and Martha Byron working for them to take care of the yard and the spotless home. Brianna wondered if either of them would be at the house.

  Rather than rush inside, she tapped on the back door and waited to see if someone opened it. When all remained quiet, she stepped inside. The house felt so much cooler than the heat outdoors.

  Relieved to have somewhere quiet to work away from Davis, Brianna removed her hat and gloves, poured a glass of lemonade then took a notebook and pencil from her reticule.

  The kitchen table provided the perfect spot for her to work the next hour, finishing the story. After she penned the final sentence, she relaxed in the calm luxury of Maggie and Ian’s home, grateful to have such good friends.

  In all her life, she’d never met, or even imagined meeting, such open, kind people as she’d encountered in Baker City. Thoughts of her friends, of people she’d come to care a great deal for, led her mind straight to Tully.
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  He’d stayed far away from her since Davis arrived in town and she missed him so much, she ached to see him.

  She missed the scruff on his face, the dimples in his cheeks and his teasing smile. She longed to hear the deep baritone rumble of his voice, see the mischievous sparks dance in his hazel eyes, and watch his shirt stretch across those broad shoulders as he moved.

  In love with the man, she had no idea what to do about it.

  The arrival of Davis had made it clear to Brianna that no matter how much she cared for Tully, she’d rather break both their hearts than allow anything to happen to him.

  Although Davis assured her that her father’s death was a robbery, she wasn’t convinced someone hadn’t wanted him dead. The question was why. Why would anyone want her big-hearted, jovial, wonderful father dead?

  Dwelling on questions to which she had no answers wouldn’t help anything, so Brianna finished her lemonade then washed and dried her glass. Hastily writing Maggie and Ian a note, she thanked them for allowing her to hide in their house for a while, and gathered her things.

  It took a little work to mount the horse without any help, but she finally settled her skirts and headed past the lumberyard. After waving at Ian, she once again took the road that skirted around the back of town then rode in from the north.

  In case Davis watched for her, she wanted to make her afternoon trip appear real. She returned the horse to the livery and paid Milt then walked to the newspaper office and left the article.

  Mr. Packwood gave her another assignment to work on then she exited through the newspaper office’s back door and wandered to the park.

  Barely had she taken a seat on a bench in the shade when Sammy plopped down beside her.

  “How are you, Sammy? I haven’t seen you much the last few days.” Brianna gave the boy a one-armed hug, pulling him against her side.

  The child gazed around, as though he expected Davis to materialize. Finally, he pointed to Brianna with a questioning look.

  “You want to know who the man is that’s been with me. Is that it?” she asked.

  Sammy nodded.

  Brianna settled against the back of the bench and Sammy leaned against her. “Well, that man is from the town where I used to live. I’m supposed to marry him and he wants me to go back with him.”

  Sammy sat up and shook his head.

  “I don’t want to leave.” Brianna bent down close to Sammy’s face and dropped her voice. “I’ll even tell you a secret. I don’t like Mr. Gordon and I have no interest in marrying him. In fact, nothing would make me happier if he’d just disappear.”

  The boy wrapped his thin arms around Brianna and gave her a tight hug. Rather than let go and run off, the child held on, offering his own bit of comfort.

  Brianna blinked back the tears that burned her eyes at the child’s affection and pasted on a bright smile. “It’s much too lovely a day to be sad, Sammy. Do you think a dish of ice cream might make us both feel better?”

  The boy hopped to his feet and tugged on Brianna’s hand. She laughed as she stood and together they made their way to the drugstore where they each ordered a scoop of caramel ice cream.

  Tully had been making his rounds through town after lunch when he noticed Brianna and her fiancé exit the hotel and stroll down the street.

  The woman appeared so lovely, it made his heart hurt. A satin-striped gown the same shade as her blue eyes looked like she’d pulled down a piece of the summer sky and wrapped around herself. The gossamer sleeves and ruffle around her neck might have been accents made from bits of the fluffy clouds overhead.

  A white hat decorated with blue plumes and ribbons sloped at a saucy angle on her head, and she carried a white parasol in one gloved hand.

  He followed the couple as they meandered down the street, admiring the swish of Brianna’s skirts as she walked.

  Davis kept close to her side, talking nonstop. Something he said irritated Brianna. Although she turned and smiled, Tully knew her well enough to discern the smile as fake and catch the flash of anger in her eyes. That alone gave him hope that she wouldn’t leave town with the simpering fool.

  As he skulked along behind them, he wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on the couple. Tully caught a glimpse of Sammy trailing along, almost out of sight. Humored that he and the boy both lurked in the shadows behind Brianna, Tully remained silent.

  Without luck, he’d been trying to find Sammy to see if he could get the boy to respond to some questions. Now that he’d located the child, he wasn’t of a mind to speak to him. He was much more interested in seeing what Davis was up to with Brianna.

  From the alley across the street, he watched as she mounted a horse at the livery and Davis walked toward the hotel. Sammy scampered off in the direction of the park.

  Tully wondered at Brianna’s choice of riding attire. The gown belonged in some fancy parlor, drinking tea. It certainly wasn’t made for riding, even if she had asked Milt to use the sidesaddle.

  Concerned she might fall off in her getup, he hurried down the street after her. Someone stopped to ask him a question then he noticed old Mrs. Jepson trying to butcher a chicken and having a time of it. Tully helped her before rushing toward the edge of town. He’d nearly reached the lumberyard when Brianna rode up.

  Tully ducked behind a tree and observed as she spoke with Ian then rode off toward his house.

  “Why don’t you talk to her?” a voice asked as a hand thumped him on the back.

  Tully spun around with his gun drawn, scowling at his best friend.

  Thane held his hands up in front of him, smirking.

  Flustered and frustrated, Tully holstered the gun and pointed an accusing finger at Thane. “Are you trying to get your dang head blasted right off your idiotic body? Do you know what kind of trouble that would stir up with your wife if you made me kill you?”

  Thane chuckled and slapped him on the back again. “What’s got you so peevish today, other than Brianna’s fancy pants fiancé?”

  Tully sighed and leaned against the tree. “Isn’t that enough reason?” He removed his hat and ran a hand over his head before settling it back in place. “I don’t know what to do, Thane. What if she leaves with him?”

  “Give her a reason to stay,” Thane said, looking at Tully like he’d missed the most simple solution. “If you marry her first, Mr. Gordon sure couldn’t drag her back to Rhode Island as his bride.”

  “Marry her?” Tully shouted, then dropped his voice and looked around the tree to make sure no one heard him over at the lumberyard. “What put a crazy notion like that in your head?”

  “You.” Thane shook his index finger at his friend. “Deny it all you want, but you are smitten, besotted, in love with, and otherwise taken by Miss Brianna Dumont.”

  The truth in Thane’s words left Tully without the ability to protest.

  “The way I see it, the chance for a happy future is right in front of you, my friend. All you need to do is reach out and grab it before someone else takes it from you.” Thane grinned, mindful his next words would spur his friend to action if nothing else would. “I never knew you to be such a coward. All this time, I thought you were a man, but it looks like I may have been mistaken. Only a boy would lurk around corners, whining about missing out on something he could just as well have, if he was brave enough to lay claim to it.”

  “You better watch your mouth, or I might just have to punch it.” Tully’s scowl darkened and he straightened to his full height.

  “Just telling it like it is. You’ve been worse than a rabid badger in a cage ever since Brianna came to town. If you don’t at least tell her how you feel, you’ll regret it the rest of your life.” Thane gave Tully a serious, solemn look. “I mean it, Tully. If your heart’s telling you she’s the one, listen to it.”

  Tully slumped against the tree again. “I can’t just walk up to her and say, ‘Pardon me, but I’m in love with you, let’s get married.’ That isn’t how things are done.”

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sp; Thane pulled Tully away from the tree and settled his hand on his shoulder, walking with him back into town. “No, that isn’t how things are done. You need flowers, maybe a box of those chocolates Frank carries in his store.” Thane wrinkled his nose in feigned disgust. “Take a bath. Have the barber give you a trim and splash on some shaving lotion. Definitely put on some clean clothes. Then here’s what you should do…”

  As they sauntered back through town to the jail, Thane gave him step-by-step directions, all of which he planned to ignore.

  “Why are you here, Thane?” Tully asked as he opened the door to his office and they moved inside.

  “I came in to place a lumber order with Ian. We’re making improvements out at the Double D Mine. I’d finished my business with him and thought I’d swing by the store and pick up a little something for Jemma and the kids when I happened to notice you slinking around town like a lovesick peeping Tom.”

  Tully growled. “I wasn’t slinking, I’m not lovesick, and I’m absolutely not a peeping Tom.”

  Thane laughed and stepped back outside. “Whatever you say. If you get tired of mooning for your ladylove, come out to the ranch for supper some evening. We’d enjoy having you.”

  “I might just take you up on that.” Tully held out a hand to Thane.

  Thane took it and gave him a hearty handshake then turned back toward the mercantile where he’d left his horse before he started following Tully. “Just think about what I said, Tully. The worst she can do is say no or slap your face. If memory serves me correctly, she’s already done that, so what have you got to lose?”

  With a dismissive wave, Tully returned inside the office and sat at his desk. He managed to do a little paperwork before he started wondering if Thane’s words might hold some merit. In need of some fresh air to clear his head, he went to make a round through town and happened to see Brianna and Sammy enter the drugstore. The two of them sat in front of a window, enjoying a dish of ice cream.

  The child seemed at ease with the woman. Tully wondered again about the boy’s home life. As soon as things settled down with Brianna, he’d get to the bottom of the strange thefts and the boy’s possible involvement.