Lips that he’d kissed quite thoroughly just last week.
As his thoughts rolled back around to Posey and how much he’d enjoyed kissing her, how much he wanted to do it every day for the rest of his life, he forced his mind to think of something else. Anything else.
Quickly crossing the street, he was absorbed in working on a new saddle pattern in his head as he walked past the hotel dining room’s windows.
His jaw dropped open and his feet rooted to the boardwalk as he stared at Posey eating lunch with Tully Barrett.
The sheriff said something that made her laugh. She leaned forward and playfully tapped his arm with a fan she held in one hand.
Tad might not know a lot about women, but he recognized blatant flirtation when he observed it.
Incensed, he clenched his fists at his sides, battling the desire to march inside and bust Tully square in his nose.
Rather than surrender to the urge, Tad gave the couple one last look and stalked down the street. With no direction in mind, he’d reached Ian’s lumberyard before he realized how far he’d gone.
When Ian lifted a hand in friendly greeting, Tad waved and turned around, walking back into town and heading straight to the livery where he kept his horses.
He stepped inside the cool shadows of the livery and tipped his head in greeting to the owner. “Milt, I need Licorice.”
The livery owner grinned and pointed toward the door. “Head right on down to the mercantile. Frank Miller always has a nice assortment of sweets.”
Tad glared at him. “I knew I shouldn’t have named that horse after a piece of candy.”
Milt laughed. “It does make for some funny jokes.”
Tad lifted the horse’s halter from a peg on the wall and opened the stall door. “Hey, boy. Want to go for a run?”
The horse tossed his head, eager for fresh air and a chance to run.
“What brings you out in the middle of the day? It’s usually evening when you come by to give this fellow an opportunity to stretch his legs.” The livery owner settled a blanket over the back of the horse and smoothed it out.
“I just needed a break, that’s all.” Tad lifted his saddle onto the back of the horse. With easy, practiced movements, he tightened the cinch and was soon leading Licorice outside. The big gelding’s black coat glistened in the afternoon sunlight.
“Well, enjoy your ride. A few more weeks, it’ll start getting too hot to do much of anything in the middle of the day besides sweat and complain.”
“That’s for sure,” Tad agreed. He swung into the saddle in a smooth motion. “I’m not sure what time I’ll be back, but I’ll see to putting him away.”
“If I’m already gone for the evening, you know where to find the key.” Milt waved a hand as Tad turned the horse and started down the street.
He kept Licorice to a walk until they hit the outskirts of Baker City. Rather than ride out of town, Tad made his way to the cemetery. He left Licorice tied to the fence and somberly walked between the headstones until he stood at John Jacobs’ grave.
After a hard swallow, he dropped down to his knees and pulled a few straggly weeds trying to sprout around the heavy stone.
“I know I haven’t been by to visit for a while, John,” Tad said, speaking aloud. He was the only one in the cemetery, otherwise he would have remained silent. “Posey and Nate are both doing well. She’s been busy working on her quilts and Nate is growing like a weed. He’s such a clever little rascal. You’d be so proud of them both.”
Tad gathered the weeds into a little pile then stared at the headstone. “I feel like I should confess to you, John, that I’m in love with your wife. I have been for a while. I mean, I wasn’t when you were alive, but sometime between helping her over her grief and watching her smile again I fell in love with her. I didn’t mean to. Didn’t plan on it. But don’t worry, I don’t plan to do anything about it. You know my mother and Arabella cured me of ever contemplating marriage, even to a woman as fine as Posey.”
He rose to his feet and picked up the weeds. “I sure miss you, John. We all do.”
Abruptly, he turned and made his way back to Licorice. He found Pastor Eagan standing there, petting the horse.
Tad tossed aside the weeds, brushed his hands on his trousers, and then shook hands with the pastor. “What are you doing out here, Pastor?”
“Oh, I was just out for a stroll and happened to notice Licorice waiting here at the gate.” The pastor gave the horse a final pat then studied Tad. “Are you doing okay, son? You look like you have heavy thoughts weighing on your mind.”
Tad shrugged. “I’m fine, sir, but thank you for asking.”
“Well, if you ever want to talk, my door is always open.”
With a non-committal nod, Tad took Licorice’s reins in his hands and fell into step beside Pastor Eagan as the man made his way back toward town.
“You know, I had a few conversations with John over the years, when things were bothering him.” The pastor gave Tad another studying glance. “The one thing that never changed with him was that he always valued and treasured the gifts he’d been given.”
At Tad’s interested, yet confused look, the pastor smiled and continued. “John once told me that he didn’t care if his mine never produced an ounce of gold or if it produced millions of dollars worth, he had all the treasure he needed in his wife and son. I always thought John was a particularly smart man, one who knew how to be grateful for the unexpected gifts sent his way.”
Tad narrowed his gaze as he stared at the pastor. “If there’s something you think I need to know or hear, Pastor, please just spit it out.”
Pastor Eagan chuckled and thumped a hand on Tad’s shoulder. “Oh, son, some things you have to figure out for yourself. But it wouldn’t hurt for you to consider what I said about your friend. He’d want both you and Posey to be happy.”
The pastor shoved his hands in his pockets and strode off, whistling a rousing rendition of “Rock of Ages.” He glanced back once, grinning at Tad with a knowing look on his face.
Tad watched him go then mounted Licorice and reined the horse around, heading away from town. Although he’d hoped a visit to the cemetery would somehow give him a measure of peace, he felt even more upset and confused.
In no hurry to return to his shop and the thoughts that plagued him, he rode past the last of the buildings near Baker City then gave the horse his head and let him gallop down the road.
Puffs of dust kicked up from the horse’s hooves and floated in the air behind them while the pounding gait echoed in the air and Tad’s ears.
No matter how fast or far he rode, he still couldn’t get thoughts of Posey out of his head. He kept seeing her sitting across from Tully, fully wrapped up in whatever it was the sheriff said to her. When had she started seeing him? Had it been before or after Easter? Why hadn’t she mentioned anything? Why had she so fully participated in his kisses the other day if she was seeing the sheriff? If she was playing some sort of game, it wouldn’t end well. Of that much, he was certain.
Angry and annoyed, Tad knew he had no right to be. He had no claim on Posey. None at all. If she wanted to date every eligible man in Baker City, he had no reason to complain.
However, thoughts of anyone else even thinking about kissing her made him so irate he bit his lip until he tasted blood.
Tumultuous thoughts coupled with outlandish visions of men pursuing Posey left him so unreasonable and distraught, he missed seeing the coiled snake in the road until he was practically on top of it.
Frightened, Licorice veered around it and bucked a few times. Unprepared for the horse’s sudden actions, Tad flew through the air and landed with a thud in the powdery dust a few feet from the snake.
Convinced it would strike before he could reach for his pistol, Tad suddenly remembered he hadn’t taken time to strap on his gun belt before he stormed out of town.
With slow movements, he moved backward while the snake’s rattles filled the air with an
eerie, unpleasant sound. Its head bobbed slightly, forked tongue flickering as it focused a beady gaze on him.
The horse whinnied and danced behind Tad. “It’s okay, boy. Just calm down.” He spoke in a low, soothing tone, hoping the horse didn’t decide to bolt and leave him on foot miles from nowhere.
Tad painstakingly inched away from the reptile until he was out of striking distance. The snake continued rattling his tail, but no longer appeared volatile. Expelling the breath he’d been holding, Tad took Licorice’s reins in his hands and led the horse several feet down the road before he mounted and continued on his way.
Although he left town without a destination in mind, he decided since he was nearly there to ride out to Thane Jordan’s ranch.
He topped a hill then followed the lane that led down to the ranch yard where Thane lived in a small cabin and his crew shared a large bunkhouse. Various outbuildings gave the place a prosperous feeling, even if it lacked a proper home.
Tad waved as two dogs barked and a lone figure stepped out of the barn. The man raised a hand in greeting. Thane Jordan smiled as Tad drew Licorice to a halt and swung out of the saddle. He took the man’s outstretched hand and shook it.
“What brings you all the way out here?” Thane asked, opening the corral gate for Tad to lead the horse inside. Licorice could nibble on feed or drink from the water trough there while Tad spoke with Thane.
“I just needed some fresh air and time to think,” Tad admitted as he followed Thane inside the barn. The man appeared to be repairing a stall, so Tad held one end of a board while Thane tapped nails into the other end.
“You rode all the way out here just to think and breathe in fresh air?” Thane gave him a curious glance then tapped in another nail.
“Something like that.” Tad knew Thane was best friends with Tully Barrett. Part of him wanted to question the man about Tully’s intentions toward Posey. He must have intentions, or else he wouldn’t have been eating lunch with her at the hotel’s dining room. From what he glimpsed in the window, the two of them certainly seemed cozy and friendly.
Undeniably upset at seeing Posey with another man, Tad hadn’t even given a thought to what the woman had done with Nate? Had she left him at Maggie’s again? Had she found someone new to watch the boy?
He missed the days when she’d bring him to his shop. Despite the messes and inevitable trouble Nate got into, Tad liked having him around, underfoot. Inquisitive and bright, Nate filled the quiet in the shop with his happy chatter. Tad enjoyed seeing the world from the youngster’s perspective or listening to the boy’s explanations of how he thought things worked.
For an hour, Tad helped Thane until the stall looked like new. When they finished, Thane wiped off his tools and stored them in a large case, then turned to Tad. “Do you want to tell me why you’re really here? If all you wanted was fresh air, there’s an abundance of it most anywhere around here.” The teasing grin the rancher tossed at him made Tad smile in return.
“I reckon I rode out here because I wanted to see if the sheriff had mentioned anything to you about his interest in Posey Jacobs.”
Thane’s brow wrinkled and he glared at Tad. “Posey Jacobs? No, not at all. What makes you ask that?”
“Oh, I’ve just noticed they’ve been particularly friendly of late and wanted to make sure Tully has honorable intentions where she’s concerned. You know how some men are, thinking things about widows that aren’t proper in the least.”
Thane snorted. “The last person you have to worry about messing with Posey is Tully. If they seem chummy, there must be a reason for it, but I can assure you, Palmer, Tully wouldn’t ever hurt her. It’s not in his nature to do anything like that. If you step back and look at things objectively, I think you know what I say is true.”
Tad nodded. What Thane said wasn’t anything he didn’t already know, but it didn’t change the fact that he still didn’t like the idea of any man spending time with Posey. Any man except him.
Aware that he couldn’t push her away and simultaneously hold her close, Tad realized he needed to make up his mind.
Did he love Posey enough to let go of his doubts and fears? Did she love him enough to open her heart to loving again?
Assaulted with questions for which he had no answers, Tad helped Thane put away his tools and followed the man outside into the bright spring sunshine.
“We’ve sure had some nice weather recently. We’re probably due for some rain, but for now, I’m not complaining about all these sunny days. It’s sure made it easy to get all our spring work done.” Thane looked over at Tad. “You think you might like to join us for supper? Sam will be ready to dish it up soon. We’d be happy to have you pull up a seat at the table.”
Tad nodded. “Thank you, Thane. I skipped lunch and appreciate the offer. Sam always puts out a good spread.”
“That he does. Come on, let’s get washed up.” Thane motioned for Tad to accompany him to the washstand located outside the bunkhouse where they washed their hands and faces before going inside the bunkhouse.
An older man glanced at them with a grin as he stirred something on the stove. “Well, Palmer. What brings you all the way out to the ranch?”
“Nothing in particular. Just needed some fresh air and sunshine today,” Tad said, taking a stack of plates and moving to set them on the table without being asked. He’d eaten at the bunkhouse enough to know how things were done.
Thane set out cutlery then filled glasses with water. Tad helped place them on the table.
“Reckon by the time we ring the bell and the boys troop in, the grub’ll be ready to eat,” Sam said as he dropped hot biscuits into a basket.
Thane stepped outside and clanged a metal bar against an iron triangle. The sound carried out over his vast acres, alerting his hired men that it was time to eat.
Tad helped Sam set bowls and platters on the table. By the time the first cowboy moseyed in the door, the meal was ready and waiting.
As the men took seats at the table, they all greeted Tad with a warm word of welcome. After Thane asked a blessing on the meal, friendly conversation and lighthearted banter flowed around the table.
One cheeky young cowboy named Ben told a funny story of watching Joe Lambery get run out of a saloon in town.
“And just what were you doing at the saloon?” Thane asked the young man. Tad thought the cowboy barely looked old enough to shave but he knew he was a hard worker, and a good man.
“Now, boss, I wasn’t at the saloon. I was walking by on my way to drop off that beef you sent to Tully and Maggie.” Ben grinned at Thane. “You’ve already threatened death and destruction if you ever catch me at one again. I don’t need to test your patience more than necessary.”
“Again?” Tad asked with a teasing smile.
“Well, I might have gone once, just to see what all the fuss was about.” Ben smirked at his employer. “Thane found out and about skinned me alive.”
“I did no such thing,” Thane said, pointing his fork at Ben.
“Nah, you didn’t, but you sure reamed my ears about the evils of saloons and the folks who frequent them.”
“Every word I said is true and you’d best not forget it.” Thane gave the cowboy a knowing look then turned back to Tad. “Tully told me about his new saddle. Think you’ll have time to work on a new set of reins for me?”
“Sure, Thane. Just stop by the shop next time you’re in town and I can write up your order.”
Two hours later, Tad swung into the saddle to head home, feeling marginally better. It had done him good to get away from town and his work, to spend time with friends.
Thane gave him an observant look and a cocky smile. “Next time you need some sunshine and fresh air, you might try riding over to Posey Jacobs’ place. I’ve got a feeling you’d go home with a much bigger smile on your face after visiting her and Nate.”
Tad ignored his teasing. “Thanks for supper, Thane. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Palme
r. Don’t be a stranger.”
Tad rode back to town, mulling over his options, thinking about what the pastor shared, what Thane hinted at. Dare he admit his feelings to Posey? Could he accept the gift of her love, if she was willing to offer it? Would confessing his love destroy the friendship they’d shared for years?
No closer to knowing the answers, Tad went home and spent a long, restless night of indecision. One thing was certain, though. He couldn’t keep on like this. He either needed to tell Posey the truth or renew his resolve to spend his life alone.
Chapter Eleven
“Palmer, you here?”
Tad set aside the tools in his hands and wiped his hands on a rag. Due to the warm day, he’d left the door open. While it allowed air to circulate in his store, it also left him without a bell to alert him to a customer.
“Coming!” he called as he hurried to the front of the store. Frank Miller, owner of the mercantile stood in the doorway, holding a small trunk in his hands.
“What have you got there, Miller?” Tad asked as he strode to the front of the store, offering the man a friendly smile.
“I was picking up an order at the depot and this came in for you. I figured it was just as easy for me to drop this off since I was passing right by your shop.”
Tad took the trunk from him and set it on the counter then gave the man’s hand a grateful shake. “Thank you for doing that. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. How’s business going?” Mr. Miller asked, looking around Tad’s store.
“Good. It seems like business is steady, so I can’t complain.” Tad grinned. “How about you?”
“We stay busy and that’s the way I like it,” Mr. Miller smiled. “It helps that some of the farm women are starting to bring in early produce to sell. Just yesterday, we got several baskets of fresh strawberries.”
“You don’t say.” Tad’s mouth watered, thinking about the ruby-toned summer fruit. “You have any berries left?”
“There are a few baskets of them.”
Tad's Treasure (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 12) Page 9
