by Cyndi Raye
Sophie noticed Salem didn’t join the men’s conversation. She peeked over at him to find him chewing his food, staring at the pattern on the tablecloth. It gave her some time to take a closer look at him. He was a handsome man with strong features, easy to look at, that was for sure. Just as she was about to look away, he caught her staring. Warmth spread throughout her face realizing she got caught watching him.
Salem’s eyes were filled with something wild. She didn’t know what to make of it. He was looking at her as if he wanted to devour her instead of the roast and potatoes on his plate. It was hard to look away until she got scared at the intensity on his face.
Sophie jumped strait up out of her chair. She scurried to the iron cook stove and leaned over to take the desert from the oven. Her face was flushed but it wasn’t from the stove. Salem woke up something deep inside of her she didn’t understand.
Was he doing this on purpose? She busied herself placing the cookies on a plate. She had found the recipe in an old cookbook on the shelf of the pantry. The concoction was made from beaten egg whites, sugar and essence of lemon. They were going to be a big hit, she knew so because they smelled so scrumptious.
She offered the sweets to each guest. When she got to Salem, he seemed back to his old self, no crazy look in the eyes. Relieved, Sophie smiled. “Would you like to try one, Mr. Nightingale?”
He helped himself and placed one of the sweets in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he muttered, “Ah, Sophie, this is delicious. What do you call this special treat.”
“Lemon Kisses,” she offered. “It is a new recipe for me as well. I’m glad you like them.”
He opened his eyes to stare at her once again with the look that she dreaded and wanted at the same time. “I’ll take another one of those kisses, if I may?”
“Of course.” She held out the platter as he picked up another, reassuring herself they were the kisses he had asked for. She moved quickly, offering the rest to the other guests until they were all gone. Sophie didn’t want Salem to see how her hands shook. He was teasing her, wasn’t he? Why did he have to look at her that way? Sighing, she peeked to see him back to his normal self. It was so confusing.
Was she imagining this? There was a current of something going on between the two of them. Sophie had never, ever felt anything like this before in her life. Certain things he would do, the way her looked at her would make her belly tighten and her insides shake.
Her eyes once again moved to his mouth as an idea formed. Perhaps she could let him kiss her. Then maybe she would be rid of this desire to do so. But then she would be like one of the harlots John Abbott had been trying to make out of her. She didn’t kiss a man out of the blue.
In all honesty, she had never kissed a man before.
Miss Addie was working on finding her a suitable groom. How would Sophie be able to marry someone when all these feelings surrounded her whenever Salem was near? Knowing he would never marry, she had to get these disturbing feelings out of the way before her upcoming marriage.
She was going to ask Salem for a kiss in hopes these strange feelings would take to the wind and she could move on.
Satisfied, a smile curved her mouth. Her step lightened knowing this would be the end of this silly desire for a man who would never marry.
Elizabeth and Rose helped to finish the dishes while the three men retired to the sitting room to sip on glasses of root beer. Earlier, the women had uncovered a small piano sitting under a dirty brown cover. They had dusted it off and Rose offered to play for the others.
Determined to do this, Sophie tapped Salem on the shoulder the moment Rose began to play. He was tapping a boot to the cheery song when he turned in surprise.
“May I see you on the porch, please, Mr. Nightingale? I wish to speak to you.”
“Certainly.” He rose to escort her through the front door.
She stood before him with only the sounds of the lively music coming through the slightly opened window. Sophie began to get nervous.
Had she thought this through? What was to say this man wouldn’t try to take advantage of her in her weakness? She stared at Salem, realizing he would never hurt a woman. He was kind, gentle and not like those outlaws at all. He was the perfect man to ask for a favor.
“I have a problem,” she started.
“Perhaps I may help?”
“I hope so. Kiss me.”
“As you wish.”
What? It was this simple?
Sophie closed her eyes and puckered her lips. He hadn’t asked why so the need to tell him was on the top of her mind. Then his soft mouth covered hers before she could speak a word, surprising her even more. Until the heat began to creep up from her belly. Her hands, now at her sides, slid up his chest, around his neck. As if her body had a mind of its own, she pushed herself even closer to his frame. His arms wrapped around her. The kiss deepened. It went on for sometime causing her ankles to become a mass of jelly. Sophie thought she’d pass out from the pleasure until he let her go.
“How was that?”
For a moment, Sophie didn’t speak. She could not say a word. This wouldn’t do. “I’m afraid it didn’t work.”
He tilted his head. “What didn’t work? You asked to be kissed. I don’t normally oblige but you seemed so sincere.”
She stared at Salem. “Are you laughing at me, Salem?”
He grinned. “Of course not. Now, tell me what you are trying to prove?”
She shrugged. “Well, I, you see, Miss Addie is going to send me away as a mail order bride as soon as we can agree on a suitable groom. I told her that I wanted to pick him out and be assured I wouldn’t wind up like before.”
Salem frowned. “Why can’t you stay here, run this boarding house? Sooner or later there will be a man that takes an interest to you. Why go away? Don’t you like it here?”
Sophie nodded. “I do. But this is temporary. I want a family. It was the reason I came here in the first place.”
“Why did you want a kiss if you already have your future plans mapped out?” he asked with a trace of anger.
“Well, I, I never kissed a man before.”
“I was your first?”
Sophie nodded.
Salem grinned.
“What’s so funny now?”
He chuckled. Raised the palm of his hand to cover her cheek. Slowly his hand slid to the back of her neck and he pulled her towards him. “I’m afraid I may have to kiss you again.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“So you are ruined for any other man,” he told her right before claiming her lips again.
Chapter 4
It had been a week since the kiss. Sophie still wasn’t over it. Salem had kissed her so long that night that she had been afraid she’d faint dead away on the porch of the boarding house. When he had let her go, she held on to the railing until her knuckles turned white. She had watched him stroll across the street, unlock the door to the saloon and turn on the lights. After an hour went by, he hadn’t left the saloon. It was as if he was determined to stay there all night.
Slowly, she had made her way inside, making an excuse that she wasn’t feeling well so she could turn in early. Under the covers, Sophie had replayed the kiss over and over again.
Kissing Salem had made things worse.
Then his last words, “So you are ruined for any other man.”
She had tried to close her eyes to no avail. His sweet, daring kiss had left an impression on her lips she couldn’t shake. Dear Lord, she had prayed, what is happening to me? Have I sinned against you? Am I now a harlot?
Sophie had thought kissing him would help her to move on. To be prepared for a husband was all she had tried to get out of this. But it hadn’t worked.
Here she was today, sitting on the rocker on the front porch, sipping afternoon tea while Elizabeth and Rose chatted away. Salem was no longer outside, now he was upstairs trying to work on what he called a mess. Was Salem all she could think about?
More and more of the residents of Mill’s Ridge had come back to town after the outlaws were forced out. The ones who hadn’t sold their homes to the dirty land agent took up where they left off. A few shops opened up now, so the town was getting busier. Talk of extending the railroad from Wichita Falls to Mill’s Ridge would help the town to prosper even more.
The boarding house was filled. A charming couple from Chicago rented a room until the deed to their new home was secured. Max Ward had hired a land agent to take over but he hadn’t arrived yet. He was going to stay at the boarding house for now until Mr. Ward made sure he was not going to be like the one before. Since the train stopped in Wichita Falls, the land agent would have to hire a horse or wagon to bring him to Mill’s Ridge. Sophie expected him in a few hours.
The afternoons were usually the time when the ladies could sit on the porch and relax with a glass of tea. Tomorrow, she would have to take a trip to Wichita Falls. It was time to get the weekly mail and begin to work on the task of matching her girls up as a mail order bride. She had become quite close to Elizabeth and Rose. In one way she’d be sad to see them go, but this was no life for someone so young. These two ladies deserved a good life with a wonderful husband. Sophie would make sure of it, too. It was the purpose of her being here. She could pick through the men’s letters, one at a time and weed out the ones who were not suitable for her girls.
Miss Addie would replace Elizabeth and Rose with two more girls until all of them were married off. Most of the other girls were in Ben’s hotel or staying at Miss Addie’s boarding house.
And then it would be her turn. The boarding house was doing well, the town was beginning to bloom. Was it time for Sophie to find a groom sooner than later?
Was it time to move on from wanting Salem Nightingale? A man she wanted so badly but had ignored her since their kiss?
The saloon had opened up a few days ago. Sophie had watched some of the townsfolk enter the establishment from where she sat on the porch each afternoon. Salem had stayed inside his saloon now, coming in late at night to sleep. He had missed supper all week. She wondered where he was eating? Or if he had eaten. A few times she had wanted to take him a plate of dinner but held off. She didn’t dare walk in to a saloon filled with men of all types to bring him food.
He was an adult. Sophie wondered if he went to the café that opened up next to the mercantile. It was a small area with about ten tables. The aroma that floated across the street were unbelievable. Sophie would make it a point to have lunch there soon.
Reverend Pope closed the front door, the bell making a small noise, grabbing her attention. “Good afternoon, Reverend. I see you have some of Rose’s lemonade.”
He sat down beside her on a wooden chair, holding the cup close to his chest. “Oh, it’s mighty delicious. Miss Rose sure can cook and make some fine recipes.”
Sophie looked closer. She swore the man blushed. Was he attracted to Rose? A small smile formed on her face as she turned to check on the saloon across the street. That’s when she noticed Salem had stood outside the saloon doors, hands low on his hips, staring directly at her establishment.
She waved.
He lifted a hand and waved back.
He stuck his tongue out, turned and went back inside.
Sophie laughed out loud.
“What’s so amusing, Miss Sophie?”
“Reverend, it’s hard to explain.” Why did Salem ignore her all these past days and the moment she is on the porch with another man, there he is, in the flesh, trying to divert her attention. It was almost as if he were looking out the saloon window watching her every move.
She tried to change the subject so she didn’t have to explain her reaction to Salem’s antics. “I’m thinking of stopping by the newly opened café today. Have you eaten there yet?”
“The croissants melt in your mouth. You must go, Miss Sophie. You don’t know what you are missing.”
She began to rock back and forth, the old wooden chair creaking against the floor boards of the wooden porch. Nodding, she made the decision to let Elizabeth and Rose deal with supper for the guests and she would spend a night out on her own. As long as she were indoors by dark, she would be okay to go by herself. After all, it was time to get away from the boarding house and see what the rest of the town entailed.
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Salem wasn’t sure if his young apprentice was ready to take over the bar but he had to let him on his own to find out. “I’ll tell you what, Wesley, I’m going to take off this evening and let you behind the bar on your own. I think you’re ready. I should be back before sundown.”
The young man behind the bar scooted closer. “Salem, thanks for the opportunity. I’ll do the best job ever but can you please not call me Wesley in front of anyone?”
Salem grinned. “Well, then, son, what do you want me to call you?”
“Wes. It sounds more, uh, grown up. The men will respect me if I have a tougher name than Wesley.”
“Wes, it is then.” As Salem made his way across the street to the boarding house, he grinned at the young man’s thought process. Wesley, er, Wes, was right. The men would take him more serious with an adult name. The young man had begged Salem to teach him how to run a saloon because he needed a job and slinging pig muck was not his first choice. He had lost both his parents awhile back and lived with an uncle who told him to find a job or get out. It didn’t take long for Salem to hire him on. Wes was the reason the upstairs of the saloon got cleaned up faster than if he had done it himself. He could move in upstairs any time but was hesitant to leave the boarding house. Not that he wanted to keep paying the fee, he just wanted to be close to Sophie. Sooner or later, he’d have to move out.
Who knows, Salem thought, perhaps the boy would turn out to be a fine barkeep and Salem could go back to Wichita Falls to his own life.
When he pushed open the door of the boarding house, the bells jingled as they had done every single time before. The smell of roasting chicken permeated the air. Salem went right for the back door to clean up. It had been awhile since he had eaten at Sophie’s table.
For some reason when he had looked out the window earlier to see the reverend sitting alongside Sophie on the porch, it disturbed him more than he realized. He had found himself outside wanting her to know he was there, so when she waved, he did the only thing he could think of, stick out his tongue to make her laugh. He loved how her cheeks pinkened and her mouth curved up. When her eyes sparkled with laughter, it got him somewhere deep in his belly.
And she did laugh.
That’s when he swung around and went back inside. It was all he needed.
Before he reached the back door, Elizabeth spoke up. “Hello, Mr. Nightingale. How nice to see you. Are your plans to stay for dinner?”
He looked around the room but didn’t see Sophie. The couple who were staying in one of the rooms were already seated at the table. He didn’t see the reverend either. “Where is everyone?” he asked, purposely not answering Elizabeth’s question yet.
Elizabeth continued to carry platters to the table, with Rose in tow. “Well, Reverend Pope escorted Miss Sophie across the street to the new café.”
“What? Why would he do that when there’s good food here?” Was Sophie falling for the reverend? He had to put a stop to that nonsense. He had the impression the reverend was sweet on Rose, since he always bragged up her food and lemonade every time he was in the same room with the older gentleman.
“Oh, he’s not staying. When he heard she was going out on the town this evening, he insisted she not go alone. Even though she refused, he asked if he could at least escort her across the street. Oh, here he comes now.”
Salem swung his head towards the front door. He didn’t want to feel angry at a preacher but he did. On one hand escorting her across the street was gentlemanly and at the same time leaving her there with the type of ill-bred men in this town was unheard of. She’d have to walk back home on her own, perhaps even after dark.
; Salem wasn’t sure he could keep his emotions in check. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I’ll be going out myself.”
No sooner than those words were out, Salem found himself on the front porch, taking in a deep breath of evening air. There were men out here that would try to woo a beautiful woman like Sophie. Or worse. Didn’t she realize this? Hadn’t she learned her lesson the first time around. No place was safe for a women as beautiful as Sophie. Even though they had gotten rid of the riff-raff, there could still be someone lurking in the shadows. Someone waiting to catch a lady not paying attention. Someone wanting to hurt the woman he, oh, wait, he had to get his head on straight.
His boots hit the street as he angrily crossed over to the new café. There was a short line waiting to get inside. He could see the entire perimeter of the café from where he stood in line. The place was fairly crowded as most people either ate at home or came to the newly opened café. It had been where Salem had sent Wes a few nights to bring them dinner when they were working hard cleaning up the saloon. Salem waited behind three men as a man he recognized from Witchita Falls was being seated.
As the tall, well-dressed man passed the table where Sophie sat by herself, he stopped, tipped his hat and introduced himself. Sophie smiled up at the man, held out her hand for him to shake. Except the stranger held it for so long, Salem almost burst threw the line.
The man needed to let her hand go!
When he saw her pull her hand back, he released a large breath of air. What was wrong with him? She surely was entitled to shake hands with other men. Why, she was planning on becoming a mail order bride so why did he care?
The next man in line did the same thing. What was wrong with these townsfolk? They were all clasping her hand, introducing themselves and tipping their hats. By the time it was his turn to be seated, Salem was so frustrated, he stomped right by her to a table in the back of the café. When he took off his hat and was seated, his anger under control, he happened to look up to see Sophie’s cheeks flushed.
