The Shy Captain

by Michelle Sutton

  Before her one-sided conversation ended, Sammie was interrupted by someone yelling, "Hey, you."

  She glanced up as her young neighbor started heading her way. They'd not met in person before that day. She'd only met the young woman's grandmother.

  "Who? Me?" Sammie asked with her eyebrows raised as she pointed her finger toward her chest.

  "Yes, of course you, silly. When are you coming over like you promised my gram?" The dark-haired neighbor was close to Sammie's age, and from what she gathered from her grandma, she was single, too.

  Every other weekend Trinity's grandmother set up a yard sale on the front lawn of their ranch-style home, attracting people of all sorts as they shopped for bargains. Oftentimes Trinity had to work, so her grandmother was alone. Sometimes Sammie kept her company.

  "I don't know. Soon, though. I'm pretty busy…"

  "Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say. From what Gramma says you'd rather hang out with her than me, anyway." Trinity rolled her eyes and grinned.

  "Well, your gram is kind of sweet." Sammie chuckled. "Honestly, it's nothing personal. You're usually gone when I'm home. So where do you work?"

  "I'm a massage therapist. I work most Saturdays in Bisbee at a bed and breakfast."

  "Oooh, that sounds fun."

  "Yeah, I suppose it is. Most of the time anyway." Trinity patted her horse's flank. "So, you like my horse?"

  "Like? I love your horse," Sammie crooned as she rubbed Lady's nose. "Since I kept forgetting to ask your gram about her name I've been calling her Lady. She's a fine horse. A beautiful animal."

  Trinity scratched Lady's muzzle. "That she is."

  "We talk sometimes, Lady and I." Sammie looked at Trinity out of the corner of her eye to gage her reaction.

  "I've seen you around in the mornings during the week, but you leave before I come by."

  "I don't mean to be rude. Just shy, I guess."

  "You're not shy with my gramma."

  Sammie laughed. "That's because she brings me ice cold tea. That's hard to resist when I'm doing yard work and sweating bullets."

  "Yeah. Well, my horse's real name is Buttercup. I know it sounds silly, but when I bought her she'd been called that for years, so I didn't want to change it. If you want to keep calling her Lady and she responds, then I don't see why you can't keep doing that." Trinity grinned, displaying perfectly symmetrical dimples, one on each cheek.

  "Thanks." A spark of warmth ignited in Sammie's chest. She'd found a friend. She really liked her neighbor and wished she'd met her sooner.

  "I'll bet you'd never guess that Buttercup is quite the competitor." Trinity stated with pride as she stroked the horse's neck.

  "It doesn't surprise me, as beautiful as she is."

  "We enter the Sierra Stampede competition every year. You should come check it out. Maybe with you rooting for us, this year we'll win."

  "Maybe." Sammie smiled at Lady, whose big, brown eyes seemed to plead 'Yes, dear friend, do come'.

  Trinity paused, then flushed when she asked, "Can you come over today and hang out for a little while?"

  "Maybe later." Sammie tipped her head. "But, not right now. I need to head back home so I can get some house cleaning done before the weekend is over."

  "Another time then?"

  "Sure."

  Trinity turned and walked into her grandmother's house.

  Sammie stared after her. A little emotion percolated in her heart. She'd just made a friend close to her own age, and one who wasn't enlisted! But then she remembered she wouldn't be in town long. With a sigh, she plodded down the dirt road toward her little house with her head down.

  The sound of a vehicle coming up the lane too fast made Sammie glance up. A large, blue truck raced down the dirt road, kicking dust in her face as it sped by. She hunched over, coughing and waving away the dirt. She despised rude drivers.

  The truck slowed and a man popped his head out the window. "Sorry, lady. I didn't mean to… Hey, well if it ain't Lonesome Lilly. My, don't you look a might different with all yer clothes on."

  Heat filled her cheeks at the insult. She turned her face away. Jerk!

  "Ouch!" The man cursed at someone. "Fine, be that way and you can find your own way home, you butthead."

  "Not a problem." Now that voice sounded familiar. Jimmy? She raised her head and the same familiar voice called out, "Lilly, wait!"

  The sound of gravel kicking up under tires when the truck sped off made her turn around. Sammie waved her hand in front of her to clear the air. When the cloud of dust lifted she stood face to face with that handsome cowboy from Tombstone that she couldn't stop thinking about. Only this time he resembled an Abercrombie model with his smooth-shaven face and tight tee shirt, and ironically, he looked even more familiar.

  Wearing a boyish grin, he chuckled, his face pink. "Sorry for my friend's rudeness. Chet's momma never taught him any manners."

  She lifted one brow and smirked. "Are all of your friends that annoying and crass?"

  "Nah, just him. We're not that close, but I'm trying to influence him in a good way." He shrugged and kicked the dirt with his boot. "Guess I'm not doing so good, am I?"

  In spite of her initial desire to shun him, Sammie giggled at his admission. She covered her mouth. "That's so funny that you'll admit it."

  He shrugged. "I guess. But it's true."

  "So what did you do to get him so upset that he kicked you out of his truck?"

  "I punched him in the arm and insisted he apologize. Of course, he refused."

  She grinned and put her hand over her mouth again.

  "Hey, don't cover your pretty lips." He winked. "I like your smile."

  Deciding to test her ability flirt a little sans costume, she teased him, her eyelashes batting. "Your Billy Bob smile is lookin' mighty fine there, too, Mr. Big Jim."

  "Hey, I paid a lot of money for this here smile." He laughed.

  The deep, rumbling sound of his mirth made her heart flutter. "You wore braces? So did I. Ever worry about getting struck by lightening during thunderstorms?"

  Jimmy's eyebrows shot up and wiggled a few times. "You had the same fear? What do they call that? Strike-o-phobia of the mouth?"

  "Beats me…" This was the dumbest conversation she'd ever had, bar none. Sammie chuckled, and then stared at him because she wasn't sure what to say next.

  He didn't say anything either. Maybe he stunk at communication with the opposite sex as much as she did. That was a comforting thought.

  "How do you expect to get home now that your friend dumped you?'

  Jimmy shrugged. "Don't know. My car was in the shop so Chet offered to take me around to some yard sales. He was bored anyway and I thought it would be good to hang out together. Next time I'll get a ride with Sam."

  With her? Impossible. She'd never told him her name. Must be someone else.

  "Sam who?"

  "My boss. He's cool."

  "You didn't answer my question about how you think you're getting home today."

  His neck turned bright red as Jimmy mumbled, "I was hoping a purty gal like you might offer me a ride home. I'm as harmless as a bee in the butter, I swear it."

  With a skeptical gaze, she teased him. "Hmmm… I don't know… You look like you could be a bit dangerous to me."

  He grinned. "But if you don't help me, darlin', I'll be slower than a snail on crutches getting home. That wouldn't be nice, now would it?"

  Holding her stomach, Sammie laughed until tears trickled down her cheeks. "Stop… no more. My sides… are hurting…"

  For some reason, Jimmy didn't feel quite so threatening today.

  "All right then. If you give me a ride I promise I'll be as quiet as a thief in a hen coop." He lifted his hand and made the Scout's Honor sign. Of course, that explained the chivalry, if nothing else.

  She laughed again, but not as hard this time. "Are you hard of hearing, too? I said no more funny stuff. My ribs are hurting enough as it is."

  His face grew
serious. "Does that mean you don't laugh much? Then your sides would be used to it, I'd think."

  Sad commentary on her life. So she rarely laughed. No need to rub it in.

  Sammie rolled her eyes. "I take it you didn't find anything you wanted to buy?"

  Holding up his palms, he grinned. "Not a thing so far. Guess my saddle is slipping."

  Sammie ignored his cheeky comment and tried to stay sober. This chuckling and giggling was more foreign to her than she'd realized. Until today she hadn't noticed how rarely she laughed. "Where do you live, anyway?"

  "On Toughnut Street in Tombstone, right near where we met."

  "Toughnut, huh? Cute name for a street." That was the same street she'd parked on her first day in Tombstone.

  "It was the name a prospector had given one of the silver mines back in the day. It was worth forty million, at least."

  "Really? That's cool. I didn't think people really lived in Tombstone. I though they were all snow birds and tourists that rented places in town.

  "Nope. I'm a bona-fide resident. I love living here just as much as the other residents. Wouldn't live anywhere else."

  "I can see why. It's… quaint."

  "Are you participating this weekend in any of the special events?"

  Sammie shrugged. "I suppose. I hadn't planned on showing up until tomorrow. Maybe I'll just window shop today and do it in my costume."

  With his eyebrows wiggling, he asked, "Are you sure you want to come dressed to the gills to see me hanged?"

  "And cause a stir amongst the locals? I don't think so." A wry grin spread across her face. In the past week she'd picked up some pretty bold moves while acting her part.

  He was watching her as if waiting for her to do something.

  Wondering if she could pull it off sans her Tombstone costume, she winked and touched his arm. Not as hard as she'd thought. "Then again…"

  Jimmy responded with a twinkle in his eyes as expected. Maybe hanging around with this handsome man would be fun, even if their relationship couldn't last. She was willing to try it and see where it led. What did she have to lose if she acquired a new friend? And he sure was easy on the eyes. Too easy…

  He stared at Sammie as if he wanted to say something more, but refrained. He shoved his hands in his back pockets and rocked on his heels. The gracious, yet somewhat shy smile on his face made her want to shout yes. So why fight it?

  "Listen, cowboy. If you give me a minute to clean up from all of the dust that was kicked in my face, I'll give you a ride home. I wouldn't want you to be late for your own hanging just ‘cause I smell like a horse and look like I've rolled with the pigs."

  He puffed his chest out and nodded. "Oh, yes, ma'am. I'll do that. I'm looking forward to my rare chance to study the sky."

  Sammie laughed. "You sure have a way with words, cowboy."

  He dipped low. "And I await your company, dear woman, with baited breath."

  Though she hated to admit it, Sammie felt a little breathless herself as she gazed back at him with her lips parted. She could almost feel him closing the gap between them. Those invisible strings were also pulling her to him.

  And oh my, was it a heady feeling.

  Chapter Six

  While Lonesome Lilly went in the house to clean up, Jimmy reviewed their conversation in his head. Could he have sounded any stupider? Probably not.

  Rather than pick their conversation apart while he waited, he decided to occupy himself by browsing around at her neighbor's yard sale. He hadn't had a chance to look around yet.

  A short brunette with a broad smile and large eyes came out of the house and stood behind an elderly woman. She watched him for several minutes. When he acknowledged her with a slight nod, she scooted around the table and introduced herself.

  "Hey there. I'm Trinity. My friends call me Tee. I'll let you know when it's okay to use that kind of familiarity with me." She elbowed him winked. He stared, not sure what to say in response.

  She grabbed onto his hand. "My, don't you have large hands. And look at these thick fingers. We all know what that means now, don't we?"

  That girl didn't just imply what he thought she did. Or did she? He cleared his throat. "Looks like you've got some strong hands yourself."

  She grinned and examined his fingers more closely. "You wouldn't believe what I can do with my hands."

  Her grandmother scolded, "Trinity, stop flirting with the young man." She looked at him and said, "My granddaughter is a massage therapist."

  He smiled. So that was what she meant. "You any good?"

  She gave him a sly smile. "Wanna try me and find out?"

  While the girl's forward sense of humor irritated him, at the same time her open admiration of him was kind of endearing, even if a bit tacky. However, now that he was finally on civil terms with Miss Lonesome Lilly, he didn't want her to get the wrong impression of him and think he was flirting with this girl, either. And holding hands with her neighbor would certainly give her mixed messages.

  "No thanks. I'll pass." He gently extracted his hand from hers.

  "You don't know what you're missing…" She grinned and leaned closer.

  He glanced away. There was another reason he had to steer clear of even the appearance of evil… erof liking her neighbor. Deep inside he wanted to make sure Lilly never felt lonesome again, and the notion scared him senseless, yet it made him smile like an idiot at the same time. What was it about her that made him feel so crazy inside?

  Trinity reached for his arm and patted his bicep. When that failed to garner his full attention she gave the sleeve of his tee shirt a gentle tug. "Would you like to come see my prize horse? She's beautiful."

  Glancing down at the young woman, he bit back a grin. She was obviously still trying to capture his attention with that adorable pout and all the not-so-subtle charm. Her dark, almost black hair and high cheekbones made him think she had Native American blood in her. Except for her tiny dimples and green eyes, she reminded him of Pocahontas. "Actually, I'll pass this time. I'm waiting to talk to someone."

  The young woman releases his arm and sighed. "You don't mean Sammie, do you?"

  His brow furrowed. "Sammie?"

  "Yeah, you know… my blonde neighbor." Trinity pointed with a jerk of her thumb at the home next door just as Lonesome Lilly stepped off the porch and headed in their direction. Her hips swaying as she sashayed toward him in long runway-model strides. As she approached, her gaze fixed solely on his, like she wondered what he was thinking.

  He tried to stay focused on her face, but failed because she wore the same impressive saloon girl outfit she'd had on when he first met her. The sight of her wearing the dress made his pulse thunder as blood rushed through his veins.

  He heard the girl mutter, "I'm not good enough to hang with, but she is?"

  "Yeah." He swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Sammie.

  "Hey!" Trinity slapped his arm and exhaled an exasperated sigh. "Listen. You aren't the first man to come to our yard sales hoping for a date with her. Don't bother. She'll never fall for you."

  That got Jimmy's attention. His gaze slid over to Trinity's to assess her honesty.

  Trinity flicked her wrist toward Sammie. "She turns everyone down. She'll be nice to you, but nothing more. She's too shy. You'll be no exception, believe me."

  Jimmy reached for his hat, but then remembered he hadn't worn one. He scratched his head. "You serious? Guys come by and hang around to try and get a date with her?"

  "Yep. Every other weekend some poor lout is loping around here and looking her way every chance they get. I don't know what everyone sees in her. So, she's a curvy blonde, so what?"

  Shrugging, he muttered. "Maybe they like her personality."

  Trinity snorted. "Yeah, right. Sure."

  He frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "You don't see it? Then you'll be the first. She's an ice princess." Trinity rolled her eyes. "She may talk to you and even smile a little, but she has no intere
st in dating anyone. Ask her yourself. I'm not kidding."

  "How do you know? Does she confide in you?"

  Shifting on her feet, Trinity cast her gaze lower and bit her lip. "Not exactly. We barely talk. That's mostly hearsay, I guess. It's what the guys tell me."

  "They actually tell you what she says to them?"

  She glanced up and shrugged. "Yeah, crazy, huh? Those guys must think I'm stupid or something, like I won't tell her what they say. Then again, maybe they want me to."

  "Have you told her?"

  "Not yet." She grinned wickedly.

  He felt the heat of Sammie's gaze on his back. Before he knew what happened, Sammie had entwined her arm into his. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she gazed up at him with her pretty brown eyes and purred low in her throat. "Ready, Cowboy?"

  The air expelled from his lungs at the possessive look in her gaze. When he took another breath, the intoxicating scent of her feminine shampoo made him dizzy. He glanced quickly over at Trinity and found her mouth gaping, as if she'd never seen Sammie talk to a man before the way she'd spoken to him.

  Pride filled his chest, making him tingle all over. Maybe she'd made an exception in his case. The thought that he was the first guy she had warmed up to made him smile.

  He couldn't resist teasing her and patted her arm. "Why, sweetheart, ain't you just as prim as a preacher's wife at a prayer meetin'."

  Sammie's smile faltered and her cheeks flushed.

  He wondered if she took his comment as and insult and not the compliment he'd intended. Leaning close, he closed his eyes and whispered in her ear. "That's cowboy-speak for ‘My, don't you look pretty'." Straightening, he watched for a reaction.

  Sammie flushed and moved away from him. Flipping her boa over her shoulder as she turned, the fluffy feathers hit him right in the face, making him sputter when some stuck on his lips.

  As she headed toward her truck, he looked at Trinity and raised his brows. She looked just as stumped as he felt. If that girl didn't know what he'd done wrong, how was he supposed to figure it out? Maybe she was a tease. Oh, Lord, he hoped not.