Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose before shifting in his seat. Dominic missed Sylvia—her bright smile, vibrant personality, ability to put everyone at ease. She built friendships without regard for social status or money. He couldn’t think of a single person who didn’t like her or wished her well, except perhaps their father.
It wasn’t because he didn’t love his daughter. The elder Lucero loved each of his three children more than many fathers. He wanted them to find happiness, as long as their definition of the word matched his.
Antonio Lucero expected his children to bow to his wishes and do whatever they could to build the ranch and grow the dynasty. Anything less would be unacceptable. Sylvia leaving dealt a tremendous blow to their father’s dreams.
His body jostled as the train went through a narrow pass, jolting him out of his thoughts. He pulled out his pocket watch, checking the time. They’d reach Philadelphia the following day. Lifting his hand, he patted the pocket holding the slip of paper where he’d scrawled Pettigrew’s address.
Dominic didn’t worry about obtaining Sylvia’s destination from the mail order bride company. Once he explained their relationship and all her family wanted was reassurance of Sylvia’s safety, he hoped they’d provide what he asked. If not, he’d smoothly switch to his alternate plan. Charm went a long way, but money went further. Dominic had both.
“We’ll be arriving at our next stop in a few minutes. You’ll have an hour for supper before the train leaves.” The conductor swayed a little as he walked along the aisle, looking at the passengers as he passed by each row. “One hour only, ladies and gentlemen.”
Dominic watched a young boy across the aisle jump up and down, excitement coursing through him. He suspected the long train ride had grown dull after a few hours for a boy of five or six. Chuckling, he admitted it had also become dull for him.
He’d never been a person who could sit still for long. Dominic would’ve preferred to ride his horse, stopping at small towns, playing cards over a few glasses of whiskey in the evenings. The thought had him pulling out the thin flask from an inside pocket. Opening it, he turned away from the other passengers to take a small sip.
Within forty-eight hours, he’d know Sylvia’s location, then he’d face a hard decision, one he didn’t welcome. Taking one more sip from the flask, he slipped it back into his pocket, glancing out the window as the next stop came into view. A surge of unease passed through him. Whatever decision he made, it would change the course of Sylvia’s life, and perhaps Dominic’s as well.
Splendor
Sylvia took one more look in the mirror, sliding both hands down the fabric of her favorite green dress. She didn’t know why her appearance mattered so much tonight. Within the hour, Mack would tell her all the reasons he wouldn’t be calling on her again.
She should be spending her time preparing her reaction instead of doing her best to make a good impression. Nothing she could do at this point would change his mind.
No matter what happened, the reasons he gave, she wouldn’t allow him to see the hurt his rejection caused, how much she’d miss his company. Instead, she’d hold her head high, keep her expression neutral, and accept his decision. After all, they hardly knew each other. Certainly not enough to feel much of a loss. Sylvia would keep telling herself the lie until she believed it.
Unable to stall any longer, she stepped into the hall, taking the stairs to the first floor. Her throat thickened when her gaze landed on Mack. He leaned a shoulder against the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His gorgeous face gave away nothing as he regarded her.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
Pushing away from the wall, he didn’t respond before sweeping his hand toward the dining room. “Suzanne has a table ready for us.”
Biting her lip, Sylvia lifted her chin, moving past him toward the table at the back where Suzanne stood. She forced a smile. “Good evening, Suzanne.”
“You look beautiful, Sylvia. Is that a new dress?”
“It’s one Allie Coulter designed. She had it hidden in a wardrobe and brought it out for me to see.” She glanced down, unaware Mack watched her every move. “I’m afraid it was an extravagance I should’ve ignored.”
“Honey, we all need to be extravagant every once in a while.” Suzanne turned her attention to Mack. “Good evening, Deputy.”
“Suzanne.” He pulled out the chair for Sylvia, then sat down beside her. “Thank you for keeping this table for us.”
She lifted a hand. “My pleasure. We have venison stew, roast beef, or chicken tonight. Oh, and I made both apple pie and berry pie.”
Mack looked at Sylvia, a brow raising, an indication for her to make a selection. She looked at Suzanne.
“I’ll have the chicken, please.”
“I’ll have the stew, Suzanne. And save me a piece of berry pie.” Mack grinned, although the gesture didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Coffee for both of us, please.”
Sylvia kept her gaze averted when Suzanne walked away. She had no appetite, didn’t know why Mack wasted his money on supper when he could’ve given her his decision without spending a cent.
Neither of them spoke, the tension increasing with each breath. She could feel Mack watching her, but he kept silent. Sylvia’s heart pounded so painfully, she felt certain he could hear it. Pushing aside the ache in her chest, her gaze locked on Suzanne as she approached their table holding two plates laden with food.
“Here you are. I’ll get your coffee.”
Mack still said nothing after Suzanne filled two cups and left. He stabbed a piece of venison, chewing slowly, washing it down with coffee. All the while, he never took his gaze off Sylvia, studying her as if she were some kind of foreign creature. Unable to take the close scrutiny any longer, she squirmed in the seat, setting down her fork.
“You’re staring at me.”
He didn’t flinch or change his staid expression. “Yes, I am.”
Annoyed, she glared at him. “Why?” Sylvia hissed.
Unperturbed, he finished the last of his stew, then settled back in his chair. “You’re a confusing woman, Sylvia Lucero.”
One corner of her mouth scrunched as her gaze narrowed on him. “I’m certainly no more confusing than you, Adam Mackey.”
A brow quirked upward, his mouth sliding into a grin. Crossing his arms, he let his gaze wander from the top of her head to her waist, then back up, resting on her confused expression.
She clenched her hands in her lap, teeth grinding together at his open perusal. “If you have something to say, please, just say it.” She wanted to scream when a flash of amusement crossed his face.
“All right. You obviously know I’ve spent time at Ruby’s, the Dixie, and Wild Rose. I’ve never made a secret of my activities or tried to hide what I do with my nights.”
Sylvia swallowed, not sure she wanted to hear any more.
“I also don’t discuss it outside the doors of the saloons. My actions are private and nobody’s business but mine.”
She wanted to cover her ears, shrink away, and run upstairs. “I—”
He held up a hand, stopping whatever she’d planned to say. “I’ve been with many of the women who work at the saloons in Splendor. I’ll not apologize for it or say anything more about those meetings.”
Sylvia felt her face heat, her stomach clench. She couldn’t handle hearing any more. Pushing the chair back, she started to stand, stopping when his hand clamped onto her arm.
“You don’t need to say any more. I’m sorry about the other night. If I could take back the words, I would.” The misery in her voice almost stopped him from continuing. Almost…
“Sit back down, Sylvia.”
Ignoring the pain in her chest, she did as he asked, staring at the clenched fists in her lap.
“I don’t want your apology.” He kept his hand wrapped around her arm.
Raising her gaze, she tilted her head to one side. “Then why are you telling me all this?
”
Mack took a deep breath, exhaling it slowly, keeping his voice low. “While I’m courting you, I won’t be visiting any of my women, as you call them.”
“I—”
He held up a hand, moving a finger back and forth for her to stop. “As I was saying, while I’m courting you, Sylvia, you’ll be the only woman I’ll spend time with. Just you, no one else.”
Her eyes widened, breath catching. “You, um…you still want to see me?”
Mack leaned closer, his face softening. “See, this is why I find you so confusing. Didn’t I just say I wanted to continue courting you?”
Sylvia couldn’t clear her head enough to know for certain what he’d told her. “Well, I think that’s what you said.”
Closing his eyes for an instant, he shook his head. “Let me be real clear. If you agree, I would like the honor of courting you, Sylvia Lucero. While I’m courting you, there will be no other women or long nights in the saloons. Is that agreeable to you?”
Sylvia felt tears well in her eyes and worked to control them so Mack wouldn’t notice. The tightness in her chest began to ease. Lifting her chin, she nodded.
“Yes. I would be agreeable to that, Adam.”
Letting go of her arm, he sat back, taking a sip of coffee. Looking around, he spotted Suzanne, lifting a hand to get her attention.
“Yes, Mack?”
“We’ll have our pie now, please.”
Chapter Nine
Sylvia stared at the remaining pie, unable to take another bite. Her appetite hadn’t returned, not even after Mack admitted he still intended to court her. She’d prepared herself for him to give excuses about not seeing her again. Instead, he’d stunned her, saying the opposite.
Mack’s easy acceptance of her answer and nonchalant way he’d gotten Suzanne’s attention and ordered pie left her speechless. The tension between them lessened, even if the confusion she felt remained. He had said she confused him. Sylvia would argue she felt the same about him.
“Are you finished?” Mack’s question brought her back to their surroundings.
“Yes.” A tentative smile crossed her face. “I can’t eat anything more.”
“Good.” Standing, he pulled out her chair, cupping Sylvia’s elbow as he led her toward the stairs. “Are you ready to go to your room, or would you like to take a stroll with me?”
“Being outside for a while would be wonderful.”
Stepping into the cool air, he offered his arm. Mack guided her toward the schoolhouse. Before stepping off the boardwalk, he glanced down at her shoes.
“Do you mind walking on the street?”
She shook her head, and Sylvia realized she’d forge a river if it meant being with Mack. It was the strangest and most frightening acknowledgment she’d ever made.
“Good, because if we stay on the boardwalk, our time together will be much too short.”
They took a footpath toward the school, then veered behind it to the creek running at the back of the buildings on the east side of town. He stopped at a spot where the creek widened, creating eddies on both sides.
Mack stared at the whirling water. “Someday, I’m going to pay Noah to build a bench and place it right here.”
Sylvia saw the wistful look on Mack’s face, wondering what he saw in the depths of the rolling creek. Following his gaze, she understood his desire to have a place to retreat from anything weighing on his mind.
“Mr. Brandt would do an excellent job creating a bench. Will you place it right here at this spot?”
A grin curled his lips. “This exact place.” He looked up. “See how the moon shines through the branches?”
Once again, she followed his gaze, following the path of the moon’s light to see it sparkle on the water. “It’s quite beautiful.”
Mack’s attention shifted to her face. “Yes, it is.”
They stood there several more minutes in silence before he tugged on her arm to continue along the creek.
“Do you fish?”
Her question surprised him. Most times, when he came to this spot to clear his head and find some peace, he’d thought about bringing a pole. He had yet to do it.
“I do, but haven’t since moving to Splendor. Caleb and I talk about it, but there never seems to be time. The town is growing. Along with the law-abiding people, there’s a certain percentage who have few morals about stealing or killing.”
“Isn’t that why the sheriff sent you to Big Pine?”
Mack stopped, turning to face her. “How did you know?”
Her chin tilted upward. “After our, well…our disagreement, I sought you out. He told me where you had gone and the reason. Nothing nefarious, I assure you.”
He chuckled. Thinking of Sylvia and nefarious together made him smile. He didn’t know anyone less wicked or disreputable than the beautiful woman standing next to him. She might be opinionated and frustrating at times, but she was also guileless, her emotions obvious for all to see.
“You were checking on me?”
She let out a breath, glancing away. “Looking for you. I wanted to apologize—”
He placed a finger against her mouth, silencing her. “We’ll not speak of that night again.” When she nodded, he dropped his hand, continuing their walk. “We rode to Big Pine to see if we could find a couple decent men to follow us here. Splendor needs more than five deputies.”
“Was your trip successful?”
His mouth twisted. “Time will tell. We brought back three men. I doubt one of them will last a week before riding away. The other two…” He shrugged. “They have potential.”
“Do they have experience as lawmen?”
“No. The two brothers fought together in the Confederate Army during the war. Afterward, they had nothing keeping them from leaving the South. The same as Cash, the two worked as bounty hunters for a few months before deciding to ride farther west. They happened to be passing through Big Pine with plans to ride south into Wyoming.” He guided her past the schoolhouse, across a broad patch of open area, then behind the lumber mill.
She looked up at him, her eyes bright. “You persuaded them otherwise.”
“Cash having fought for the South helped. They’re more skeptical of me.”
“As they should be, Deputy Mackey.” Her lips twisted into a smirk.
Halting, he pulled her in front of him, moving his hands to rest on her waist. “Are you skeptical of me, Miss Lucero?”
She licked her lips, lifting her gaze to meet his. “If you’re asking if I trust you, yes, I do. If you want to know if I understand you, I’m afraid not. You’re a puzzle.”
His mouth twitched. “One you mean to solve?”
Shrugging, Sylvia continued to study his face and gray eyes, which had darkened to almost black. “I haven’t decided yet.”
He threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, rich sound she’d missed while he’d been gone. Before she knew his intentions, Mack lowered his head, his mouth meeting hers. At first, she stiffened, surprised at the quick move. As his soft, warm lips brushed across hers, she raised her hands to clutch his shoulders, unaware she tugged him closer when he deepened the kiss.
Long moments passed, both lost in the feel of each other before Mack raised his head. “I’ve not decided about you either, Sylvia. All I know is I can’t stay away from you.”
Her glassy, languid eyes locked with his, a hint of amusement in her features. “Isn’t that what courting is about? To learn about each other and make determinations about a future?”
“Or lack of one,” he murmured, sorry he’d said the words the moment they left his lips.
The soft amusement on her face vanished, replaced with a resigned expression. With a jolt, Mack realized Sylvia expected him to find fault, any excuse to walk away when he became bored. He wondered what caused her to doubt herself or her ability to hold a man’s attention. She certainly held his.
Placing a kiss on her forehead, he slipped her arm through his, continuing on
the footpath to emerge in front of the saddlery.
“Tell me about your family, Sylvia.” He noticed her jaw clench and the way she caught her lower lip between her teeth. Mack wondered if she meant to lie or would trust him with the truth.
“There isn’t much to tell. My parents and two brothers live on our small ranch, raising horses and cattle.”
“Your brothers aren’t married?”
She shook her head. “Not that I’ve heard.”
A door closed near them, a large, broad figure stepping into the street. “Is that you, Mack?”
Mack recognized the deep voice. “Working late again, Noah?”
“I need to find someone to help at the saddlery before Abby throws me out of the house.”
Sylvia chuckled at the image his words created. “I believe that would be physically impossible, Mr. Brandt.”
A smile curved the corners of the big man’s lips. “Don’t underestimate my wife’s abilities, Miss Lucero. She can be quite formidable.”
“And scary,” Mack added.
Noah laughed. “That’s true. I’d better get home before she tosses out my supper. Have a good evening.”
“You, too, Noah.” Mack pulled Sylvia closer as they watched him swing into the saddle, taking the trail home.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen two people more in love than Mr. and Mrs. Brandt.”
He couldn’t miss the longing in her voice. “I’ve never been in a town with so many devoted couples. Dax and Rachel, Luke and Ginny, Gabe and Lena. The number grows almost weekly.” Mack shuddered. “It’s a little unnerving.”
A shot of laughter broke through her lips. He looked at Sylvia, his brows drawing together. “What?”
“You, Mack. Are you so adverse to marriage?”
His features stilled. “I’ve no issue with marriage. It’s just I’ve never been in a place where there are so many couples who are completely in love and devoted to each other. Each town has a few, of course, but Splendor seems to have more than its share.”
Rogue Rapids Page 8
