Second Chance Brides (Texas Boardinghouse Brides 2)

by Vickie McDonough

  She stepped farther into the livery, and when Dan’s gaze landed on her, he stopped suddenly without acknowledging her. He stared for a moment, then turned and dropped the bag he’d been carrying. He strode across the livery to a bucket and tossed water on his face, arms, and hands, then dried off on a towel. He ran his hand through his brown hair and turned to face her as he rolled down one sleeve.

  “What can I help you with, ma’am?” His gaze ran down her length, then back up, not in a leering way like Mr. Abernathy’s but as if she was someone he cherished. She swallowed hard.

  “I…uh…Mrs. Hamil—I mean Mrs. Davis sent over some soup and other things for you and your ma’s dinner. I noticed her curtains were closed and wondered if I should knock on the door or just leave the food out on the porch. Of course, I’d hate for a stray dog to get into it, so I came over here to see if you thought your ma would be awake.” Leah clamped her mouth shut. She was rambling more than the ivy running up the side of the town’s only bank.

  “It’s near lunchtime. Give me a few minutes to tally up with Stephen, and I can walk over to the house with you.”

  Leah nodded. She wasn’t sure if she wanted his company, but she’d best get used to the idea. At least she’d have a chance to get to know him better. But was that what she really wanted?

  Yes, he’d been kind to her, but, no, he didn’t fit her idea of the perfect husband. At least Dan should be a good protector, built like he was. She waited several minutes until he paid the man who’d brought the sacks, and then Dan Howard walked toward her, his near-black eyes capturing hers as he moved lithe and steady in her direction. “I’ll carry that for you, ma’am.”

  She handed over the basket and tried to swallow, but it felt as if she had a biscuit stuck in her throat. Goodness.

  She peeked at him as they fell into step together, walking toward his house. She liked how it felt to walk next to a man and could almost pretend he belonged to her. He stood a solid eight inches taller that she, and with his hat back on, even more. His long, brown hair was pulled back and tied with a leather strand. Though only near noontime, his beard had already started growing back in. She guessed his age to be somewhere around the midtwenties.

  She stumbled on a rock, taking several quick steps to keep from falling, and his hand shot out, gently clutching her arm and stabilizing her. Heat stormed to her face. If she hadn’t been gawking at him, she wouldn’t have missed a step. “I, uh, thank you for assisting me.”

  His lips turned up on one side. “My pleasure.”

  At the porch steps, he handed her up, then followed. With him on the covered entryway with her, the area seemed to shrink in size. Dan opened the door, and stood back, allowing her to enter first. His steady gaze made her squirm, and she broke eye contact and stepped into the dim parlor. Heat slapped her in the face, and she wondered if a fire was burning in the stove.

  Dan entered behind her leaving the door open. He went straight to the front window and lifted it open. The lacy curtains fluttered on the light breeze. “Sorry about it being so hot in here. When Ma has one of her spells, she keeps things closed up.” He shook his head, walked through the dining room and into the kitchen, and opened the back door.

  Dan set the basket on the kitchen worktable. “I’ll check on Ma and be right back. Have a seat if you’d like.”

  “Don’t make her get up on my account,” Leah called as he disappeared around a corner. She looked around the Howard home. In the parlor, a sofa and two wingback chairs faced the fireplace. Though the furniture looked old, the room was tidy. Against one wall was a table covered in harnesses, bridles, and tools she didn’t recognize. A dining table and hutch resided in the next room, which sported faded floral wallpaper. The house smelled musty, with the lingering scent of leather polish. Leah tugged at her collar as sweat trickled down her chest. How could Mrs. Howard stand this heat? And if she was so ill, how did she manage to keep her house clean?

  A rustling sounded just before Mrs. Howard shuffled into the room with Dan close on her heels. A wide smile graced the woman’s wrinkled cheeks. “Welcome, my dear. I’m so glad you could visit.”

  Leah pulled out a chair at the table, and Dan helped his mother to sit. “I’m happy to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Howard.”

  “Sit down, dear. Dan doesn’t mind fixing the food, do you, sweetie.”

  Leah glanced up at Dan. She hadn’t planned on staying to eat and preferred to leave the food and go, but she didn’t want to disappoint this kind woman. Dan shook his head and turned to go in the kitchen. She leaned toward Mrs. Howard. “Excuse me for a moment, if you would.”

  Leah followed Dan into the large kitchen, and he turned around, surprised to see her. “Let me do this, and you go sit down.”

  His thick brows lifted. “That wouldn’t be proper. You’re our guest.”

  Leah shook her head. “Nonsense. I came to help. Show me where the bowls are and then go visit with your ma.”

  He opened a cabinet and pointed at the bowls, as if she hadn’t seen them. He rubbed the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable with her serving him. She strode past him and reached for the bowls at the same time he did. His hand landed over hers. She lifted her gaze to his, and her heart stampeded. For a moment neither moved. His calloused hand warmed hers, and ever so slowly, he drew back, trailing his fingers over hers. All breath left her lungs until he stepped back. Her hand trembled as she took the bowls off the shelf.

  Dan leaned back against the cabinet, his gaze watching her every move. What had just happened? She’d only ever been attracted to one other man—and Sam Braddock had been just a boy compared to Dan. Sam. How long had it been since she’d thought of her first love?

  She busied herself so she could forget both Sam and Dan. “Do you have a ladle?”

  Leah removed the jar of stew from the basket and unscrewed the lid, sending a savory fragrance into the air. Footsteps sounded behind her, and a ladle appeared over her shoulder. All she had to do was turn around, and she’d be in Dan’s arms. She kept her feet from moving a speck and snared the ladle. “Thank you.”

  “Smells good,” Dan’s voice rumbled behind her, and her hand shook a little more.

  “Do you…uh…have something to drink? For dinner, I mean?”

  He stepped up next to her and grabbed a pitcher from the corner. “I’ll fetch some water.”

  Leah finally caught a decent breath once he left the room. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl. She was acting like her twin sisters did over a cute boy.

  Forcing her mind back on business, she ladled the stew into two bowls and carried them into the dining room. Mrs. Howard smiled again, and her faded eyes twinkled.

  “Dan’s a good son. He takes better care of me than most men would for their old mother.”

  Leah set a bowl in front of the woman and placed the second bowl on her right. “It’s good that you have him then.”

  Mrs. Howard nodded. “Don’t know what I’d do without him.”

  Leah returned to the kitchen and rummaged around until she found the silverware and some napkins. She folded the fabric and laid the silverware on top.

  “But there’s only two place settings. Where’s yours, dear?” Mrs. Howard looked up with such a hopeful gaze that Leah hated hurting her feelings.

  “Mrs. Davis is expecting me for dinner at the boardinghouse, but thank you for asking.” She hurried back into the kitchen and placed the biscuits on a plate and then sliced some of the cheese that Rachel had sent.

  Dan stepped back through the open door, his face and hair dripping wet, just like the tin pitcher. He held it up. “Got the water, and it’s fairly cool.”

  Leah smiled at his exuberance. She couldn’t imagine her own pa doing something so menial as fetching water. “That should taste good on a warm day like today.”

  He nodded and placed his fingertips in the top of three glasses and carried them into the dining room. In a half second, he stormed back to the kitch
en. “Where’s your bowl?”

  Leah opened her mouth, prepared to explain again, but stopped. Rachel would probably figure out that she’d stayed and eaten with the Howards if she didn’t return for the noon meal. Why not stay and learn more about the Howards and maybe even brighten an old woman’s day? “I didn’t get one, but I will now. Thank you for inviting me.”

  A few minutes later, they all settled down to eat. Mrs. Howard’s eyes watched Leah and continued to sparkle as she nibbled her stew. Was the woman always so friendly?

  “Tell us about yourself, dear.”

  Leah winced. She dreaded talking of her family. She dabbed her lips with the napkin and sipped some water before answering. “I lived on a farm in Missouri with my parents and brothers and sisters before coming here.”

  “We lived on a farm—before my Owen died. I’d always hoped for a big family, but Dan is my only child to survive. Do you have many siblings?” Mrs. Howard broke off a piece of biscuit and stuck it in her mouth.

  Leah peeked at Dan. He shoveled his food in as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He caught her watching and winked. Leah yanked her gaze back to Mrs. Howard and realized the woman had seen their exchange. “I come from a big family—eleven children at last count.”

  Dan dropped his spoon, but his mother’s smile widened. “How wonderful. And where do you fit in that lineage?”

  “I’m the oldest.”

  “Ahh…no wonder you came here.”

  Leah hastened eating her stew and stuffed the last bite into her mouth. She needed to leave before this woman had her married off to her son. Leah stood, and Dan hopped up. “Please, keep your seat. I’ll just refill your bowl and then wash the dishes.”

  “Nonsense, Dan can do those.”

  Leah waved her hand at Mrs. Howard. “I don’t mind. In fact, I’d like to help you, and that’s the best thing I know to do.”

  Mrs. Howard leaned toward her son and mumbled something that Leah was certain sounded like, “She’s a keeper, son.”

  Grabbing the bucket sitting by the back door, Leah charged outside. She pumped water as fast as she could. She couldn’t help thinking about Dan. She liked him—a lot. He had a nice home, a healthy business—or so it seemed—and he was fine to look at. Yes, sir, she definitely needed to reconsider him as husband material.

  CHAPTER 6

  Mark slammed his book shut and muttered a frustrated sigh. Reading while riding in the wagon on a good day was difficult, but trying to hold the book steady with one hand just didn’t work. His shoulder banged into his brother’s as the creaking wagon dipped into a deep rut and then careened back out.

  “Is that another one of those law books you’re always reading?” Garrett glanced sideways. “Sure sounds like boring stuff to me.”

  “Yes, it’s a law book, and no, I’m not reading. Can’t hold it steady enough.”

  “What do you find in there that’s so fascinating? I picked up one of those fat books and read a few paragraphs and found it more boring than looking at a wood wall all day.” Garrett shook his head.

  “It’s just interesting to me. I can’t explain it.” Mark studied the rolling hills dotted with wildflowers. The tornado may have torn up the town some, but the heavy rains it brought had caused the grass to green up and wildflowers to bloom again. The sky was a brilliant blue with a few white, puffy clouds drifting by.

  What would Garrett say if Mark told him that he was thinking about quitting the freight business and hanging out his shingle as a lawyer? He’d probably starve to death in Lookout. No, if he were to become a lawyer, he’d need to move to a bigger town like Dallas.

  Mark rubbed his jaw. He’d left Lookout once before, and the situation couldn’t have ended any worse. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  Mark’s gaze shot back toward his brother. The hair on his nape stood up. A surprise from Garrett could mean anything from sand burrs in your underwear to oiled front-porch steps. He nearly broke his neck the day he stepped on those and his foot flew out from under him. Then there was the time when they were still boys and Garrett hitched the wagon and handed the reins to Mark. When he slapped the reins on the horses’ backs, instead of the wagon moving forward, Mark was yanked to the ground and dragged halfway across the county because Garrett hadn’t hitched the harnesses up right. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced sideways at his brother. “What kind of surprise?”

  Garrett grinned wide. “Guess you’ll just have to wait till we get back home to find out.”

  His curiosity rising, he nudged his brother’s arm with his elbow. “Go on, tell me what it is.”

  “Nope. Not gonna do it.”

  Great. Mark scowled. Now his imagination would run faster than a stampeding herd of cattle in a thunderstorm. What if his brother ordered him a bride, but no, he wouldn’t do that again. Mark peeked sideways. Would he?

  He adjusted the brim of his hat to keep the sun’s glare from reaching his eyes. No, Garrett wouldn’t order more brides when they were already supporting two. “You know, it’s costing us a pretty penny to pay room and board for those two brides.”

  Garrett nodded. “Don’t I know it. I guess we should be grateful things turned out like they did, and that third bride ended up going to jail.”

  He remembered how Carly Payton, a member of an outlaw gang, had pretended to be Ellie Blackstone, the third bride who came to Lookout to marry Luke. Carly was a pretty thing with her black hair and deep blue eyes, but she had a roughness to her. She was in prison now, and the real Ellie Blackstone had returned home with her brother. “I heard Rachel say she was writing to that outlaw bride.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Luke said. If anyone can help her change her ways, it’s Rachel.”

  “Yeah.” Mark swatted at a mosquito on his hand. “Luke sure seems happy these days.”

  “Marriage agrees with him.”

  “You ever think of marrying up?”

  Garrett grimaced but kept his gaze on the road ahead. “Yeah, sure. But I’ve never met a gal that interested me enough that I wanted to make a lifetime commitment to her. What about you?”

  Mark thoughts raced straight to Annabelle. At one time he thought he’d die if she didn’t become his wife. But he wasn’t the one who had died. He gritted his teeth. What a disaster that whole situation had been. Since then, he hadn’t trusted himself around women and had kept his distance. “No, I don’t reckon I’ll ever marry.”

  Garrett fired a surprised look in his direction. “Why not? Don’t you want kids of your own? We’ve got a solid business, and you could support a family now—at least if we don’t have to pay for those brides much longer.”

  Mark didn’t answer. He couldn’t tell his brother what had happened back in Abilene. All his life he’d wanted Garrett’s approval, just like he’d want his father’s, before their pa lost his business and became a drunk. But Mark never seemed to measure up to his pa’s expectations. He liked to read, and his ma had encouraged it while she was alive, but Pa wanted him to work more, like a man, rather than spend his time with book learning. His pa couldn’t read and didn’t understand how a book could take you to a time and place you could never travel to yourself. In a book, Mark had explored the Alaskan wilderness, traveled on a ship to Europe, and fought pirates and rescued royalty and—damsels in distress. His thoughts returned to Miss Bennett and Miss O’Neil. Both were more or less stranded in Texas thanks to him and his brother. Who would rescue them?

  “We’ve got to do something about those brides.” Garrett successfully yanked Mark right out of his musings.

  “Such as?” Mark asked.

  “We need to find them work or else someone to marry.”

  Mark held up his good hand. “Just hold on. You aren’t concocting another one of your schemes, are you?”

  Garrett held a hand to his chest. “You wound me.”

  “No, I just know you.”

  “I’ve been thinking on the situation, and what would it hurt to talk to some of our customers and see i
f any of them are looking to marry?”

  “It could hurt a lot. We might lose all our customers.”

  “Stop being so cynical. We’ll just ask around, and if we find someone wanting to marry, we can tell them about Miss Bennett and Miss O’Neil.”

  Mark leaned back in his seat and tugged his hat down farther. “No thanks. I’m not stepping in that pile of manure.”

  “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. I’ll do the asking if you’re not at ease doing it.”

  “Fine. You do that.” Mark tried to get comfortable. He wasn’t even sure why he’d come along since he couldn’t load or unload anything unless it was something small. It wasn’t likely they would get robbed since they were just hauling wood and building supplies for the new store and a few smaller crates for local ranchers, but you never knew when someone with a gun would show up. Even if he couldn’t shoot, having two men together might steer away some thieves.

  Mark listened to the jingle of the harnesses and the peaceful plodding of the horses’ hooves. A light breeze stirred the hot air, cooling him a bit. He thought about the book he’d been reading. For years, he’d consumed law books. He felt ready to set up shop as an attorney, but somehow he had to find a way to tell his brother. And he had to consider leaving Lookout again. He could only hope and pray this time would turn out far better than the last.

  A buzzing intruded into Mark’s dreams, and he jumped, swatting a fly away from his ear. His blurry gaze sharpened, and he saw Garrett standing on Flip Anderson’s porch.

  “It’s like I said, both those women thought they’d marry the marshal, but we all know that didn’t happen.”