Mail Order Mystery: A Brides of Beckham Book (Chance City Series Book One)

by Robin Deeter

  Sly walked over to the stream and then looked back towards the ranch. “How deep do you want this trench?”

  “Well, it should start out about two feet below where the water surface is now to get a good flow going. I’d like to make a shoot-type gate so we can irrigate whenever we need to. It needs to be higher on the right side than the left to get it going in the right direction. I figure that we might even be able to make some offshoots to one of the other fields I’d like to use for a big garden. It’s a little late in the season for it, but we might get a few vegetables to grow yet,” Leigh said.

  Sly listened attentively until she’d finished. He gave a slight nod. “It’s a good plan. I’ll bring my mules and the slip scraper tomorrow and we’ll start digging. See you then.”

  He jumped back on his horse and rode away, leaving Daniel behind.

  “My brother is even more close mouthed than Cy,” Daniel said to Leigh.

  “Except for when he’s in a bar fight,” Cy said.

  Daniel said, “And who starts these fights?”

  “That’s beside the point. Just walk away once in a while,” Cy said.

  Daniel’s smile disappeared. “I liked you better when you weren’t working for Rob. Leigh, see you tomorrow. I have horses to train.”

  “Okay. See you then,” Leigh said.

  Daniel followed Sly and Cy shook his head.

  Leigh asked, “Do you fight with everyone?”

  “Seems like it,” Cy said. “My sister is mooning over someone she can never have. Johnny is almost worthless around home. Those two cause trouble wherever they go because they can’t back down from a fight, and I have to work with a guy who’d rather shoot me than talk to me. That’s why I like dogs so much. They’re easy to please. Not people, though. People are just too much of a pain in the backside to deal with some days.”

  “And you feel like you’re the only sane one in the world,” Leigh said.

  The censure in her voice surprised him. “Yeah. There are times when I do.”

  “Cy, I can tell that you’re a smart man, but I think you need to look at things a little differently,” Leigh said. “I don’t know who Daphne’s pining for, but telling her that she’s foolish for wanting him will only make her want him more.

  “Johnny’s not worthless, he just needs some direction. Your cousins can take care of themselves. Stop worrying about them. You can’t control the choices they make. And that Brock fella is just gonna have to deal with working with you. You can’t solve everything the way you do crimes.”

  Cy said, “You’re an insightful woman, Leigh. The problem is that Brock is the man Daphne wants. So you know that means that he’s never going to want anything to do with her. She’s part Comanche and my sister. Hell has a better chance of freezing over than she does of winning him. I’ll concede the other stuff you said, though.”

  Leigh said, “Well, that does present a problem.”

  “Yeah. Well, let’s get home. I have to go to work and I know you wanted to get started on some other stuff,” Cy said, mounting again.

  Leigh did the same, thinking about Cy’s predicament with his cousins. She could see where he was caught in the middle. Like it or not, he was now a part of law enforcement in Chance City, and it put him in a tough spot when his cousins created trouble. He was in the middle of many stressful situations and she decided that he needed an ally. She didn’t know what made her do it, but she moved closer to him and held out her hand to him.

  Cy looked at it and then into her eyes. She gave him a coaxing little smile and he took her hand. Although it was softer than his, it was still rougher than most women’s. His was still much larger, but there was no mistaking the strength in hers. Right then, though, her grip was gentle and he understood that she was offering him comfort.

  He smiled back at her, silently accepting her offer. A little of the weight lifted from his shoulders and he thought that maybe one of the smartest things he’d ever done was advertising for a bride. Her touch also had another effect on him and he remembered the bare flesh she’d unwittingly showed him earlier that morning.

  Cy wanted to kiss her in the worst way, but he didn’t want to go to work all hot and bothered, so he settled for riding a little closer and kissing the back of her hand.

  Leigh’s mouth parted in a tiny gasp as his lips grazed her skin. They were soft and warm and she suddenly wanted to feel them on hers. Those dark eyes of his told her that he was thinking the same thing. Slowly he released her hand, his fingers sliding along her sensitive palm, making her shiver slightly. He gave her a knowing smile before they rode on to the ranch.

  Chapter 7

  Cy arrived home that evening in a black mood. He’d been arguing with Brock for most of the day and he’d finally left to avoid punching the deputy. The big dogs trotted beside his horse and Pudge sat regally in front of Cy on the saddle.

  He knew that supper would be over with by then, and that suited him just fine since he didn’t want to argue with Daphne. Walking over to the house from the barn, he saw Leigh sitting on one of the rocking chairs. She’d changed into a green-and-white cotton dress and sat close enough to the railing to prop her bare feet up on it.

  As he approached her, she smiled at him.

  “Hi, Detective Decker,” she said. “How was your day?”

  He grunted and took the seat next to her.

  “That good, huh?” she said. “Would you like some of this?”

  He raised an eyebrow at the cup she held out to him.

  “Lemonade,” she answered.

  Silently taking the cup from her, he drank it down in one gulp.

  “You really did have a bad day,” she said. “Brock?”

  Another grunt.

  “You sound like a caveman.”

  A smile curved his mouth.

  “How was my day, you ask?” Leigh said. “Well, it was busy. Johnny and I reorganized the tack room because it was a disaster. Then I put him to work cleaning tack while I wrote out a purchase order for some hay and oats. After that, Johnny and I cleaned the rest of the barn, fixed a few things, and then did the night milking. Daphne’s fried chicken was delicious. After supper we did the dishes and now here I am.”

  Yes, you are. His eyes traveled over her pretty feet and up over her exposed, shapely calves. By the time his eyes met hers, hunger had set in and he couldn’t think about anything but kissing her. He didn’t want to think about anything but kissing her.

  “Sounds like you had a full day. I’m glad Johnny was a good help to you.”

  “He speaks!”

  He chuckled. “Sorry. It’s just that after days like today, I don’t feel much like talking. I just need to be still. I know that sounds strange.”

  “No, it doesn’t. I always felt the same way whenever I argued with Pete, my father-in-law. After you’ve yelled yourself hoarse, you just don’t want to keep talking.”

  “I take it you fought a lot.”

  Leigh nodded. “We sure did. That’s the biggest reason I came here. To get away from him and because I would finally get a chance to do what I love. Run a farm. Well, a ranch, but they’re not that much different.”

  “Sounds like Pete’s a jackass.”

  “He is.”

  Her tone of voice said that she didn’t want to say more on the subject so Cy changed it. “Where’s Johnny?”

  “Over at your cousins’. Daphne went with him.”

  “How come you didn’t go?”

  Leigh said, “I was content to just sit here and do this.”

  “You look good just sitting there doing that.”

  His compliment made her blush, but it also pleased her. “I’m glad you think so. Since you like the way I look here and you drank all my lemonade, you get to go fetch me more.”

  Cy smiled, rose, and went into the house. He liked how uncomplicated Leigh was, a rare trait in a lot of women. She was a straight shooter, and she made him smile. Good things to have in a wife. He also wanted her intense
ly, which was something he hadn’t been expecting.

  He refilled Leigh’s cup and poured one for himself. He took them out to the porch, retrieved the plate of food that someone had put in the warmer, and returned to the porch. Sitting down, he mimicked her pose, propping his long legs up on the porch railing and crossing them at the ankles. He wasted no time in tucking into his food.

  Leigh smiled as she watched him. She’d always enjoyed watching Walt eat, and it was the same with Cy.

  He noticed her perusal. “What?”

  “Nothing. I like a man who has a good appetite. I was waiting for you to lick the plate clean.”

  Her pulse went a little erratic when his gaze trapped hers. “If I did, if I was a good boy, would I get a reward?”

  His sensual charisma almost made her answer in the affirmative. Strangely, she very much wanted to watch him lick his plate clean. A giggle took her by surprise at her silliness.

  “I think I’m overtired. I almost said yes.”

  His grin made her blood run hotter. “And I would have done it, too.”

  She giggled again, and he chuckled.

  “I just remembered something,” he said.

  “What’s that?”

  “You already owe me a reward from this morning,” he said.

  “Do I? I don’t remember that,” she replied, draining her cup and standing up. “It was a long trip and a long day. Time for me to go to bed.”

  Quick as a rattlesnake, he laid his plate on the chair she’d just vacated, grabbed her wrist and pulled her down onto his lap. Her weight landed on him with satisfying suddenness and the surprised gasp she let out fanned the flames of his desire.

  Cupping the back of her head with one hand and supporting her back with the other, Cy brought his lips in contact with hers, settling his mouth firmly over hers. Her lips were so soft and tasted of lemonade. He coaxed her mouth open with the tip of his tongue and slipped it quickly inside when she parted for him. Growling his pleasure, he deepened the kiss.

  Leigh recovered from her shock, her own passion coming to life. His kiss was insistent and she answered his demand, twining her tongue with his. She moved her hands over his shoulders, enjoying the powerful muscles under her palms. Playing with the soft hair at the back of his head, she pressed closer to him, sighing when he kissed her even harder.

  Cy squeezed her calf and ran his hand up under her dress, enjoying the silkiness of her skin. His hand continued over her knee and along her thigh, teasing and exciting as it went. Leigh’s eyes popped open and she clamped a hand over his, halting his progress. She broke the kiss and drew back, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

  “Not before we’re married,” she whispered.

  Cy smiled understandingly even though he ached uncomfortably in certain places. “All right. I respect you, Leigh, and I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to. But, I hope you’re don’t want a long engagement. Keeping my hands off you is gonna be really hard to do.”

  The proof of that rubbed against her rear end as he shifted slightly in the chair. It both pleased and scared her that she excited him. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, carefully standing up. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight,” Cy said.

  Once she was inside, he blew out a huge breath. Looking at his lap, he said, “Down, boy.” Picking up his lemonade, he gulped the cool beverage down, hoping that it would distract him from the heat flowing through his body.

  * * *

  Up in her room, Leigh lay awake, wrestling with guilt. She hadn’t even so much as kissed a man since Walt had died, but Cy had easily stirred her passion. Toying with her wedding ring, she knew that she should take it off, but doing so would mean that she was ready to put another man’s ring on her finger. She’d come to marry Cy and she would follow through on that promise, but she couldn’t help feeling as though she was cheating on Walt.

  She knew that wasn’t uncommon for people who had lost their spouse and then found someone else, but Cy was the first man who’d touched her since Walt. Walt had been the first and only man she’d ever kissed or made love to. Their lovemaking had been satisfying and had brought them as close as two people could be.

  Would she find that kind of happiness with Cy? He was so different than Walt, who had been much more outgoing. Walt had always teased people or cracked jokes. Cy had a cynical streak and tended to hold things inside. Of course, Walt had never had to deal with discrimination and adversity at every turn, either.

  Leigh didn’t know much about her future husband and decided that she needed to get to know him before they married. But would he talk to her? Would he tell her what had hurt him so deeply and had made him so closed off? Why did she want to protect Cy when he was a big, strong man, who could take care of himself?

  Maybe it was that she sensed that inside his chest beat a secretly tender heart, one that had endured great pain. That was why she felt so strongly. Their hearts were kindred spirits in that respect, but for different reasons. She wanted to know his story, but she knew that she’d have to make him feel safe enough to tell her about his past. As she grew drowsy, she decided that she would start working on that right away.

  * * *

  The next morning, Cy was barely downstairs before Johnny came through the kitchen door.

  Cy’s eyebrows shot up. “What are you doing up? I didn’t figure that you’d be out of bed before at least ten o’clock.”

  Johnny went over to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Good morning, Daphne.”

  “Good morning,” Daphne said, cracking eggs into a pan.

  Johnny smiled at Cy. “We’re gonna be busy today diggin’ that trench. I got the wagon ready with the equipment. We just have to hitch up the horse, and we’re ready to go.”

  Daphne and Cy exchanged a surprised look.

  Daphne said, “It’s very nice of you to be so helpful to Leigh.”

  “Well, I’m almost done with my project, so I won’t be sleeping in like that much more.”

  “Still not gonna tell us what it’s all about, huh?” Cy asked, getting a cup of coffee and sitting down.

  “Nope. Not yet.” Johnny gave him a secretive smile.

  All four dogs came scampering down the stairs, followed by Leigh. They’d kept her company while she’d dressed. Cy made them quiet down, and they laid down in various places around the kitchen. Queenie didn’t like being still, but she followed the big dogs’ example.

  “’Morning, everyone,” Leigh said.

  “Morning,” Johnny said. “I got the wagon loaded so we’ll be ready whenever Sly gets here with the digger thing.”

  “Slip scraper,” Leigh said.

  “Yeah, that,” Johnny responded.

  Leigh chuckled. “Can I help you with anything, Daphne?”

  Daphne shook her head. “No, thank you. I have everything under control. Have a seat.”

  “All right.”

  She sat down, just as they heard a horse coming up the lane.

  Daphne said, “It’s Rob.”

  Cy groaned. “I haven’t even eaten yet.”

  Daphne sat a steaming plate of scrambled eggs and sausage in front of him. “Better get to it then.”

  He smiled at her. “Thanks, sis.”

  Daphne put a hand on his shoulder, letting him know that he was forgiven for their argument. “You’re welcome.”

  The dogs barked, going to the kitchen door. Daphne shooed them away and shouted for Rob to come in.

  The sheriff entered, taking off his hat. “Howdy, everyone.”

  Cy said, “Rob, this is Leigh Hawthorne. Leigh, my boss and pain in the neck, Rob Anderson.”

  They shook hands.

  “How did a sorry fella like Cy get a looker like you?” Rob asked.

  Leigh said, “He wrote a letter and I answered it.”

  Rob smiled and then sighed. “I wish this was a social call, but it’s business.”

  Cy leaned back and took a sip of coffee. “Is someone dead?”


  “No, but it’s just about as bad,” Rob said. “Someone broke into the Branson mansion. They knocked out the guards and got away with a lot of money and other valuables.”

  Everyone but Cy gasped and made remarks of surprise. Leigh noticed that Cy seemed unflappable, irritated even. He also kept eating as though nothing unusual was happening. Rob didn’t seem concerned about Cy’s behavior, though, Leigh noted.

  Cy put the last bite of sausage in his mouth and washed it down with the rest of his coffee. He took his dishes over to the sink, kissed Daphne’s cheek, and ruffled Johnny’s hair. Looking at Leigh’s mouth, he wanted to kiss her silly, but since he couldn’t, he settled for giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  “Don’t wait up for me, everyone. Who knows when I’ll be back,” he said.

  He whistled for the dogs, but made Queenie stay since she wasn’t trained well enough to go along yet. The other three followed Cy out the door. Rob said his farewells and left as well.

  * * *

  Carly Branson stood in the foyer, an annoyed look on her pretty face when Cy stepped through the door followed by three dogs.

  “Morning, Carly,” he said.

  Her blue eyes were filled with anger. “Hello, Cyrus. I see you brought your best investigators.”

  Cy nodded, ignoring her sarcasm. “Yeah. Don’t worry. They won’t pee on the furniture or anything. Where are the guards who were knocked out? I need to interview them.”

  Carly said, “Follow me. They’re in the drawing room.”

  Cy didn’t take offense to her curt tone, knowing that it was the break-in that had her on edge and not him personally. He gazed around at the beautiful mansion as she led him from the foyer, down a long hall. Paintings of Chance City’s first family adorned the walls along with other expensive works of art.

  Burt cut in front of Cy, something he only did when he saw something of interest. Cy stopped and let him investigate. The dog pawed at something on the floor and Cy stooped to see what it was. He picked up the brass button and examined it. It looked like it belonged on a suit jacket.