“Don’t be like that, I just want to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?”
“Yes, because I want to go home. I’m tired from a long day and want to sleep,” she said, looking into the distance at the turn in the road that would lead her back to her house.
“How about later? I could come to your house once you’re in bed,” he persisted, still squeezing her hand, hard.
“Not interested.”
He did not like her answer. “You became too proud while working at that store, taking advances from all the men,” he said insultingly. “I am the only one that cares about you.”
Clementine recognized when she heard a load of bull crap. “I said let go.”
“Don’t you know how much I want you?” he spoke in an almost pleading voice, yet Clementine wasn’t swayed. His words only made her feel sick to her stomach.
She turned to face him, so he could see the truth of what she was saying.
“Herbert, so help me God, you better let go of me right this instant, or else...”
“Or else what?” he interrupted her, taunting.
She had no weapons to protect her, nothing but her words. But she had to stay strong. Thinking quickly, she was about to threaten him with a ban from the store. Herbert couldn’t afford the town’s saloon; the store was the only way he maintained his habit. Without it, he’d be desperate. Maybe that threat would be enough to get him to leave her alone.
“I would do what the nice lady said if I were you. Or else, you’ll have to deal with me.”
Herbert and Clementine both turned to the sound of the stranger’s voice. The man who spoke was one of the newcomers she wasn’t acquainted with.
Chapter Three
Clementine could not believe the stranger just uttered those words. They sounded so old-fashioned in some regard. Apparently, Herbert thought the same thing since he started laughing. Clementine couldn’t care less about Herbert at the moment; she was too transfixed on the stranger.
She was not pleased with herself since she missed the moment he stepped into the store. He was handsome and rather charming looking. His coat was dusty, clearly from riding too long, however, he was clean-shaven and somehow neat; his clothes were a bit worn and yet looked as though they were cared for. The same could be said for his boots. Clementine considered that a good trait. She did not get a chance to see a lot of men that took care of their appearance in this place. Garry and Osmond did not count.
Clementine completely ignored Herbert as she assessed the newcomer, likewise he forgot about her as well, releasing her arm. She knew she would find a red mark on her skin later because of his roughness.
At the same time, Herbert strode toward the stranger and placed his fists on his hips in a menacing pose.
“Do you have something to say to me?” Herbert tried to sound intimidating while saying those words, which was a hard thing to do since he was drunk and overall not so scary looking. The stranger, on the other hand, fit the bill perfectly.
The mystery man who defended Clementine’s honor didn’t even turn his head to look at the other man. “I thought I just did,” he replied in a calm voice.
Clementine couldn’t help chuckling. “Nice one,” she murmured to herself.
Herbert looked at her, clearly hearing her comment, and that made her grin even more. His eyes became a few shades darker. Apparently, he did not like being ridiculed.
On the other hand, who did? There is a quick remedy to that, though, quit acting ridiculous!
Herbert refocused on the stranger. “I think you should mind your own business.” He got even closer, puffing his chest, as he started to put one hand on his revolver, in an obvious gesture to intimidate.
Clementine forgot her fury for the moment. Herbert was beyond absurd. They were all armed here.
Nevertheless, he resumed his posturing as though preparing for a fight, encouraged by the stranger’s lack of reaction. “Courtfield ain’t no place for cowards,” Herbert jibed.
The mystery man finally put his flask away inside his pocket. In one swift move, he was out of his chair and he punched Herbert so hard in the face, Clementine heard something crack.
That was not the end of things.
While Herbert flew backward, carried by the force of the stranger’s punch, the other man moved with agility behind Herbert, preventing him from falling. Then, he grabbed both of Herbert’s hands, keeping them behind his back. Afterward, the stranger flipped Herbert and pushed him to the ground, face first, using his whole body to keep him there. The whole endeavor lasted less than sixty seconds. It would be an understatement to say Clementine was deeply impressed by the sheer skill of it all.
She wished this man would teach her this neat trick. Picturing herself playing with Herbert the next time he tried to mistreat her in any way put a smile on her face. She was so wrapped up inside her head that she almost missed the fact that the stranger started to speak again.
“You were saying?” the mystery man asked, while his head was very close to Herbert’s right ear. All the while, Herbert was flopping about like a fish on dry land. His face turned all red and puffy from exertion. Even his eyes became big and bulgy. Just like a fish.
“Let me go,” Herbert screamed like the petulant child Clementine knew he was.
The stranger didn’t even look winded after all that manhandling. “I think you owe this nice lady an apology,” the stranger said.
“Go on and get. You and that wench, too.”
The wench in question was probably Clementine, she realized. At that, the stranger twisted Herbert’s left arm ever so slightly, making the other man scream.
And I thought Osmond had a high-pitched voice.
“Let’s try that again,” the stranger advised calmly, clearly releasing his grip which stopped causing Herbert pain.
Herbert’s eyes were filled with hate as he looked at Clementine and something long forgotten awoke inside of her. She knew that look very well. She’d been at the receiving end of it many times in the past. This time she did not let it hurt her, reminding herself she was worthy, deserving of love.
“You witch,” Herbert spat as she stared back at him in defiance.
The stranger repeated his teaching process. “You are a slow learner,” the stranger said, matching Clementine’s thoughts perfectly. “Those were not the words I wanted to hear from you.”
Herbert screamed some more. “Well?” The mystery man prompted once Herbert had a heartbeat of recovery.
“I am sorry,” Herbert choked out, much to Clementine’s amazement.
The stranger patted Herbert on the back. “That was not so hard, was it?” he asked rhetorically, almost cheerfully. As though teaching this scoundrel some manners made his day.
With that, the stranger jumped back up on his feet, picking Herbert up as well. Clementine was glad, since she did not believe the other man could manage to stand up on his own, and she certainly wouldn’t volunteer to pick him up. Apology or not, he did not deserve any help from her.
“What do you want me to do with him, ma’am?” the stranger asked her, giving Herbert a little shake as though she needed additional explanation to understand his words. Truth be told, Clementine was a bit shocked by this whole affair. She gestured vaguely behind them, letting the stranger know she wanted Herbert far away from her.
“You heard the lady,” the mystery man barked. “Go on your way, and don’t bother her again,” he said, shoving Herbert back toward the bend in the road off of Main Street.
“And I do not want to see you again,” she added with utmost finality.
Herbert stumbled his way up the road, but he stopped at the turn and faced them.
Clementine had known Herbert for a while now; nonetheless, he never looked this enraged. Perhaps she was wrong. He could be terrifying when properly motivated. And being publicly bested, humiliated, was the push he needed to enter the League of Mad, as it seemed, Clementine thought.
He pointed a finger at her. �
��You will pay for this,” he shouted at her. “You will both pay for this, so help me God.”
Clementine refused to be intimidated. As far as she was concerned, she was fed up with these theatrics. He was bested. He should simply move on.
“You can always find me here,” the stranger replied calmly.
That seemed to only enrage Herbert further. “You shouldn't cross me; I have a bad temper.”
The stranger actually brought his hand to his mouth and pretended to yawn. That was the moment when Clementine noticed he had a nasty scar across his right arm. His fingers were badly deformed and marred as well.
Clementine was impressed he did that to Herbert despite his hand. It only showed that people could overcome anything if they put their mind to it. Clementine lived her life following that same principle.
Seeing he did not entice a proper response with his threat, Herbert huffed and continued up the road and out of sight.
“You alright, darlin’?” Johnny yelled across the bar to her.
Clementine nodded. “Marvelous.”
Nothing had happened thanks to the stranger, but now that the incident was over, Clementine was feeling the fear she hadn’t let overwhelm her earlier.
The store could be a dangerous place, surrounded by drunken men who grew too familiar with her. Things like this were bound to happen. She was aware of that from the first day she’d started working there.
And Herbert was no exception. They’d had scenes like this in the past; however, they were not this drastic. Until today he had been annoying, always trying to make her give in to him, or steal a kiss, but he was never this aggressive. This was new, and something she did not like. His parting words really impacted her. He’d never said such things to her before and certainly not while having that expression on his face; there had resolve and rage behind those eyes that made her shudder.
Clementine could not believe he threatened her. That right there showed her how truly naive she really was. But she knew well that there was nothing more dangerous than a man whose ego was damaged.
Turning back to the mystery man, Clementine put on her best smile. “Thank you,” she said with feeling.
“My pleasure,” he said, tipping his hat to her and wandering off the same way as Herbert. Clementine watched him depart, wondering who this strange savior was, and why she had never seen him before.
Alexander could not believe he just did that. Not subduing some lowlife. Even though he hadn’t been in active duty for a while now, he was still agile. But the meddling. For a long time, he’d minded his business, rarely interacting with other people. And when he did it was strictly business.
This behavior today made no sense. That was something he would do back in the days, during his past life; however, those days were long gone.
A part of him was glad he was not completely jaded. He had not had this much fun in a long time, and he was surprised to discover he missed it. Not the violence per se, or the threat of it, since he did that to this day, but simply doing what was right, for the right reasons.
Maybe he was not so dead inside after all.
Before returning to his seat, he glanced toward the waitress who started this all. She was gorgeous, there was no doubt about it. Alexander stopped noticing things like that ever since Honey died. It caused him great pain to remember yet he did, every single day. Because of what happened he decided it would be for the better if he kept to himself, avoid other people or develop any kind of attachments.
Women never piqued his interest and that became even truer after his sister died. He was terrified that what happened to her might happen again to the women he loved. His job was a dangerous one, so it was for the better if he was alone.
Anyway, he was certainly noticing her now. This woman was perfect as far as he was concerned. The perfect height, weight, that made her look almost ethereal even in the plain dress she was wearing; she had curly blond hair, and vivid green eyes that looked flecked with gold in the waning light of day.
Seeing her on the road, spotting her for the first time, Alexander had to remind himself to breathe. Seeing her felt like a gut punch and at first, he did not care for the sensation one bit. Things quickly changed for him and now, he was intrigued.
Unexpectedly, while he was completely immersed in his thoughts, the waitress he was so profusely thinking about returned to his table. She placed a drink on the table and then sat down.
I guess I will get the opportunity to answer all my questions, he thought with utmost amusement.
Alexander was beyond glad he had walked that road tonight.
Chapter Four
Clementine did a quick check to see if she was looking alright, her skirt not too wrinkled, stained, before taking the last few steps toward the stranger’s table. She wished she’d worn her blue skirt with the embroidered flowers; it was faded, but it was far nicer than the plain grey skirt she had on now. Something about this man made her want to look her best.
When he walked into the store that morning she could barely hold back her shock. She had begun to thought she dreamt him up, for she couldn’t believe that someone had come to her aid at the moment she needed it the other night. But here he was a day later.
She slid a bottle of beer to him across the counter.
He looked at the bottle as though its presence confused him. “I did not order this,” he told her. Despite his words, his tone was light, almost amused.
“I know,” Clementine replied with a crooked smile. “It’s on the house, as a way of saying thank you.”
He nodded then took the beer. Most customers took their alcohol and left, but he hesitated, watching her out of the corner of his eye.
“Thank you,” he replied.
There was just one thing she needed to explain to him before anything else happened. “Although I am grateful for your help the other night,” she started carefully, “I hope you do realize it was not necessary.”
Clementine was not some damsel in distress who needed rescuing. She could take care of herself, as she always did.
And I prefer it that way, thank you very much. “I would have handled the situation on my own,” she added. God was her witness that it wouldn’t be the first time.
“I know you would have,” he replied instantly, with a smile, taking her by surprise, again.
He had a really nice smile. Clementine observed he had all his teeth and that they were healthy and white. “Really?” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
Clementine could not figure out if he was making fun of her or if he was being serious. She was leaning toward the latter, although she did not know him that well to make that assumption.
He nodded sternly. “Really.”
She was about to ask him why he felt the need to do anything at all then, when he continued speaking, as though guessing what she was thinking about.
“The only reason I intervened was because I got bored,” he explained with a small shrug.
Clementine could only stare at him. From all the explanations he could choose from, that was the one he decided to go with? Clementine laughed. “So starting brawls in the middle of a road with a stranger is your type of entertainment?” She couldn’t help it, she had to tease him a little.
The look he gave her was all fake remorse. “Nobody’s perfect.”
Clementine realized he was teasing her back. And she liked it. Do not get ahead of yourself.
“My name is Clementine Talley, by the way,” she informed him, offering him her hand.
“Alexander Carson,” he replied, accepting it, and they shook hands.
Clementine leaned against her seat. “So, you are a newcomer,” she said conversationally.
He raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
She gave him the look, which he pretended not to understand. That moment, she realized he really wanted an answer. Clementine could not believe he was making her state the obvious.
“You stand out,” she said simp
ly.
Instantly, he put his scarred hand under the counter separating them. Oh, no. It appeared she inadvertently offended him. Clementine wanted to slap herself for her stupidity since this clearly was a poor choice of words.
That was not what she meant at all. He completely misunderstood her. “I meant,” she was quick to reassure him. “With skills like yours, the ones you just demonstrated, it would be hard not to stand out.”
He shrugged noncommittally yet a small smile danced across his lips. Clementine was relieved. “Just a useful skill, acquired in another lifetime.”
A Courageous Bride to Bring Him Hope: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 4
