The Shy Captain

by Michelle Sutton

  As if she'd felt his eyes gently probing her, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. She locked her gaze onto his. Rather than giving her his usual aloof cowboy nod, he glanced away. Yeah, it was a lame move, but the fact that she'd sensed him watching her had him freaking out. There was no time to come up with a rational response. Lord help him, but his mind would not obey what he knew was right.

  She resumed her quick pace, the blue boa resting on her chest. It bounced in sync with the feather in her hair. He scanned her from the tip of the feather on her head down to the heels of her granny boots. And like the effect candy had on a diabetic, he felt high — almost drunk — from the experience.

  A friend who actually used his real name for his character slid next to Jimmy and elbowed him hard. "Whoa! Take a gander there. Think I'd have a chance with that one?"

  Jimmy grunted at Chet and shrugged off the haze that his mind had pulled into. He glanced in the other direction.

  His friend grabbed his arm.

  "Enough already." Jimmy tried to shrug him off.

  Chet grabbed his other arm and turned Jimmy's body. He pointed at the same blonde woman Jimmy wished he could ignore. "Now don't cha think that gal looks more ornamental than useful?"

  He couldn't disagree. She was almost too pretty. Not a good thing when he was trying to keep his mind off women. He didn't even know her and already he struggled in his thought life.

  Chet released his arm and snickered. "What're you thinkin'?"

  Jimmy quirked a grin and rubbed his chin as if pondering the question. His crazy friend was actually a good guy most of the time. He even saved people's lives while working as a medic for the Fry Fire Department. Sure, Chet needed to improve his manners, but he'd always enjoyed making Jimmy laugh. That's one of the reasons Jimmy liked him. And Chet never missed an opportunity to openly drool over a pretty woman.

  He drawled each syllable. "About how sometimes you're as crazy as popcorn on a hot skillet. Why, I'd say you'd have as much of a chance with that beauty as a jackrabbit would have at a coyote convention."

  Snorting, Chet pointed at the side of his head. "Well you're just plum weak north of your ears if you think she'd take a dog-face like you. She displays enough splendor that it'd make a peacock go into discard."

  Jimmy slapped his friend's back and guffawed as he picked his brains for an even better comeback. "Wait, I've got a good one. Your comments are as useless as a dog barking at a knothole cause you're as slow acting as wet gunpowder."

  Chet roared with laughter, clutching his sides and hooting until it drew attention from people passing by. Wiping his eyes, Chet glanced at the clock and exhaled on a choking laugh. "Uh oh, gotta go. It's almost time for the show. Hey, that rhymes!"

  Jimmy rolled his eyes.

  Chet popped Jimmy's bicep. "You just remember, Jimmy, that this here quarrel ain't over yet. Don't get too comfy with yerself, now. You never know when ol' Chet will best you with a real good'n."

  "Ah, yer jestin' is lamer than an injured colt chasin' its momma with a freshly broke leg." He grinned at Chet. "Now get on out of here and go shoot some blanks."

  Chet raised his brows. "Yer crazier then me if you think—!"

  "That's not what I meant." Jimmy laughed.

  Chet grinned and winked at Jimmy. He must've figured out Jimmy was teasing. He headed toward the OK Corral with his hand resting on his hip. His larger-than-average palm covered his pistol, poised as if he planned to draw his gun out at any moment. The spurs on Chet's boots jangled while he lumbered toward the corral in his practiced cowboy strut. Jimmy shook his head and rolled his eyes a second time even though Chet couldn't see him. What a nut case!

  That man was definitely all male. Uncouth as could be, but Jimmy couldn't help liking him. He tried to get to know Chet better this past year. He wanted to show him his heart for God. Maybe someday Chet would be curious about Jimmy's faith and want to go to church with him. That would be great!

  Jimmy shifted his position as he continued leaning on the post. He usually made a conscious effort not to stare at people while playing the lonesome cowboy, but when he caught sight of the blonde in the sexy top and black skirt again, he broke his own rule and turned around, mouth slightly gaping.

  Something about her made him not want to be so lonesome anymore, and it wasn't just the temptation oozing out of her costume top. Something else about her drew him. He wasn't sure what that something was, but he couldn't make himself turn away.

  If Chet were still standing next to him he'd mock Jimmy's restraint. No doubt he'd tell Jimmy exactly what he needed to do with the babe strutting down the dirt road. But Jimmy had more tact than his friend and would certainly never admit his carnal thoughts out loud. As he fixed her with his gaze he scanned her from head to toe. Again.

  He knew his thoughts were wrong. The Scriptures said if a man even looked on a woman with lust he committed adultery with her in his heart. Jimmy was committing adultery all over the place today and groaned in frustration at his weakness.

  She headed in the direction of the Birdcage Theater, her pace now a bit slower as she glanced around. Maybe she was looking for someone. Or maybe she'd gotten turned around and was heading in the wrong direction.

  She tapped her lower lip, and after a few seconds took off at a brisk pace, making her barely restrained chest bounce. His thoughts strayed to places they shouldn't, so he forced himself to get better control of his mind. And just in case some drool had seeped out, he wiped his mouth.

  Even after some firm self-talk, did he stop? No. To his shame, he kept staring. The habit went beyond mere attraction. He could not get enough of her.

  Something about her fascinated him. Something beyond her beautiful hair and delicate face. Something beyond the alluring figure she attempted to hide as she tugged on her corset.

  He never understood how some men found ultra-skinny women appealing. As he continued to study her he realized that she looked a bit shy when she smiled at people who passed by. She also appeared more than a little bit nervous. Maybe that was what had intrigued him. Maybe his first impression of her had been wrong.

  Her demeanor made him think of a librarian, not a saloon girl. Her extreme attempt at modesty made her that much more attractive to him. So why did she dress like that?

  A chuckle escaped him as she adjusted her top again. She didn't have the part of a brazen woman figured out and even wore her boa wrong, as if trying to cover herself.

  It didn't make sense that she would she wear that type of outfit if she didn't want men checking her out. He couldn't recall a hotter saloon girl in the years he'd volunteered in Tombstone. A lot of times they were middle aged gals trying to look younger. Not nearly as tempting. In fact, he'd never once drooled over the other ladies.

  When he'd first noticed this gal sashaying down in the street in her black skirt and bloomers he figured she had to be a novice at the role playing, or she was at least new in town. Anyone who lived in Arizona for more than a few months quickly learned that black material attracted excessive heat because of the intensity of the sun's rays. If she were from that area she'd be more cautious and would walk under the boardwalk. At least the shade would take the edge off the unbearably high temperatures that day.

  As if she had read his mind, she stopped and glanced over at the boardwalk until her eyes once again found his. He turned his back to her, but peered over his shoulder. She glanced away and searched up and down the boardwalk. Was she playing coy with him? He doubted it. Maybe she just preferred checking out the clothing hanging on display in the store window to making new friends.

  Just when he convinced himself to stop staring at her, she clamped her lips over the collapsed fan and propped her boot on a bench on the boardwalk. She leaned forward to re-lace her boot. All of the air expelled from his lungs as he took in the incredibly beautiful sight that he — a Christian man — should not be appreciating right now. But instead of turning away, he found himself hoping she would tumble out of her d
ress.

  It was so wrong, but his mind toyed with the image anyway. He couldn't make his eyes obey what he knew in his head was the right thing to do. Her body was too tempting. His neck heated, and this time it wasn't from the Arizona sun.

  The Bible said to flee temptation, but he wasn't fleeing, he was gawking and enjoying it. Shame burned his face and he berated himself for his disrespect. Though his thoughts were private, God still knew everything that took place in his mind.

  Several young men who appeared to be about high school age saw her and erupted in a fit of wolf-whistles. She startled, nearly losing her balance as she righted herself and planted both feet on the ground. She adjusted her top again and turned away from them, clearly flustered.

  One of the guys shouted, "More, baby! Encore!" as they passed by, making Jimmy feel sorry for her. Her rose-tinted face suggested they had severely embarrassed her, and that made him want to grab each one by the scruff of their teen-aged necks and force them to apologize.

  Jimmy shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted his feet. Who was he kidding? His body had responded to her, too. Worse, he'd wolf-whistled in his mind. His thoughts had been far from respectful. They were wrong, pure and simple.

  So who was worse? He'd just lusted inside his heart rather than outwardly like those immature boys. God knew all about those places where dark things happened in secret. Nothing got past his Heavenly Father. Nothing.

  Guilt clogged his throat when he realized he was worse than the guys who openly leered at her because he knew better. They were just acting out of their base instincts. He had the ability to resist temptation and had God to help him overcome anything if he called on His name. He shot up a quick prayer, asking for forgiveness.

  One day he wanted to be married to a woman he could love and cherish. A woman he could trust with his heart. But he had to be deserving of the kind of woman he wanted. That didn't include behavior like mentally whistling at women, regardless of how sexy they were dressed.

  Jimmy glanced up at the sky. Maybe if he acted better, like he knew he should, God would send him a wife who would be a perfect fit for him. Somehow he doubted someone who played the role of a saloon girl in a house of ill-repute would be her. Having genuine faith was at the top of his list of non-negotiable qualities.

  Maybe she had chosen to act the part because she had no morals, or worse, loose ones. No doubt her reason would be something he wouldn't want to know. Not if she had anything in common with his mother. He shuddered when he thought about how bad it would be if he followed in his father's footsteps.

  He refused to marry anyone who would cheat on him and then leave him for someone else like his mother had left his father. If marrying someone plain, someone who wouldn't attract the attention of other men, was required to prevent that kind of heartache, he'd do it. But oh, how he wished she'd at least have a pretty face and inviting pink lips like that saloon girl.

  Closing his eyes for a moment, he shook the wayward thoughts from his mind. His father had warned him against hooking up with a beautiful woman. He'd told Jimmy from the time he was old enough to date that you couldn't trust them. Ever.

  His dad must've known what he was talking about, because from what he could tell his father had rightly suspected his mother of cheating on him long before she came clean and finally admitted it. He'd never seen his father cry before that day. And he hadn't seen his father cry since. Now that he knew his father was in God's eternal presence, there would be no more tears.

  Fear propelled him away from the young woman. After he'd walked about a block, he glanced over his shoulder. He just wanted to make sure she was okay, which was ironic considering he was trying to get away from her at the same time.

  He saw her staggering on her feet like she'd had too much to drink. She fanned her flushed cheeks with rapid flicks of her delicate wrist. The motion reminded him of a hummingbird's wings mid-flight. Her ankles wobbled as she stepped onto the boardwalk and her arms shot out like she walked on a tight rope. Her fan flew through the air and landed in the dirt.

  He considered retrieving it for her when he saw her stop and move in that direction. He strode toward her and away from the crowd at the other end of the street and watched to see what she'd do. She started swaying a bit and rested her hand on the wooden beam on the edge of the boardwalk. Not a good sign.

  Picking up his pace, he jogged a few feet and then slowed as he passed a group of tourists waiting for the stagecoach. Something in his gut told him she was in trouble. He was almost there. Hesitating at first, he quickly realized his mistake.

  Loud popping noises rang through the air and the acrid scent of gunpowder tickled his nostrils. Now the gunfight at the corral was underway. Wasting no more time on proper decorum, he ran. She bent down to retrieve her fan. Instead of straightening, she crumpled to the floor.

  With the exception of a few merchants standing nearby, the majority of visitors hovered around the gunfight down by the OK Corral. Glancing to the left, Jimmy waved and caught the attention of a shop owner. He motioned for a cup of water. Just as he reached the woman the man arrived holding a cool bottle and handed it to Jimmy.

  "Thanks. "He tipped his hat and knelt beside her. He tapped on her cheek. Her skin felt a bit warm to the touch, suggesting possible heat stroke. Just like he'd feared.

  "Ma'am, can you hear me?" he whispered near her ear, "Ma'am?" The light scent of sunscreen intermingled with her feminine floral shampoo teased his senses. At least she had thought to protect her delicate skin from the sun's harmful rays.

  As he checked her pulse and respiration, he admired her flawless skin. He tapped her face again, but she didn't rouse. However, she still breathed on her own and had a strong, steady heartbeat. She would be fine. So why didn't she move? Was she toying with him?

  In a last-ditch effort to perk her up, he dumped water in one of his hands and sprinkled droplets of the cool liquid on her face.

  She gasped and sputtered. "What the…"

  He bit back a grin when she heaved startled breaths. He straightened his back to observe her and at the same time back away in case she decided to slap him. If she did, he wouldn't blame her. Nobody liked cold water in the face.

  When her eyes snapped open and she saw him staring at her, the golden hue of her irises glinted with irritation. They held him captive for a heart-pounding moment until she looked away.

  He remembered a girl with similar eyes, but they were always hidden behind her glasses. She'd also had an overbite and had been rail-thin. That was so long ago he didn't remember much else. When he'd met her it had been during the worst trial of his life, a time he desperately wanted to forget.

  As he examined her further, his mouth went dry. Not only her eyes, but there was also something about her face that looked familiar. Yet, he could swear he'd never met her before. If he had, surely he would remember someone as stunning as this woman.

  "You feeling okay?"

  Her gaze flitted around until she latched onto his eyes again and squinted.

  "Who do you think you are?" she hissed.

  His mouth curved into a wry grin. My goodness, but she was beautiful despite her obvious anger toward him. He couldn't help smiling as he rubbed the rough whiskers on his chin.

  "Your savior?" Ooh, that sounded bad. Too sacrilegious.

  She snorted. "Hardly."

  "Seriously, I'm Big Jim—Jimmy. My friends call me Jimmy."

  She gave him a blank stare. "What?"

  "It's a nickname. I drive a GMC. You know, a Jimmy?"

  Ignoring his comment, she tilted her head. She glanced around while trying to push herself up from the ground. "Did I just… faint?"

  "Yeah… you passed out for about a minute, maybe less."

  Her brow wrinkled and she seemed confused. Her cheeks turned deep red. "Wow. That's embarrassing. Now I wish I hadn't skipped breakfast."

  "Yes, ma'am. I agree. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

  She nodded. "I'll try
and remember that."

  "You gave this here cowboy a real scare, too." He offered his hand to help her up. "Here, grab hold of me."

  She placed her hand on his palm. Tiny in comparison, his hand seemed to swallow hers up.

  "Since I told you my name, I think it's only fair you tell me yours."

  She cracked a grin as she eased into a sitting position. "Oh, it is, hmm? Says who?"

  "Says me." He chuckled.

  They stared at each other for several long seconds and he grew increasingly uncomfortable. So he slid back into his cowboy role and said the first thing that came to mind. "Glad you're feeling better. I'm mighty relieved, I am."

  "You… are? Why?" Cringing, she clutched her forehead and leaned back.

  Jimmy cupped the back of her head and lowered his mouth to her ear. He inhaled the scent of vanilla in her hair and whispered, "I'm afraid I almost had to do CPR on you."

  Forcing himself to pull back before he nuzzled her delicious-smelling neck, Jimmy watched for her reaction to see if he'd gone too far. The classic surprised look in her wide eyes made him chuckle. His gaze slid toward her chest. Bad idea.

  Shifting his hips, he closed his eyes. He needed to get his mind out of the privy. So he'd stretched the truth about CPR, but teasing people was on of his favorite past times. He supposed it was more of a guy thing, but no one was immune to his jesting if they knew him for long.

  Opening his eyes, he focused on her smile. But his eyes slid to her chest again. Drat, he could see just about everything. Heat prickled his skin.

  "Oh! Sorry. I didn't mean for you to see that…" She flushed and covered her cleavage with her hand.

  Her sharp intake of breath surprised him. She'd obviously noticed his gawking and was embarrassed. He cringed. That was not how he wanted to act around her, but give a guy a break! That kind of dress was intended to get a guy's attention. Well, it worked because it drew him like a strong eye-magnet. He just needed to get a grip on himself and force his attention somewhere else.