Bartered Bride Romance Collection (34 page)

“What happened to that mangy-looking creature, anyway?” Jim asked.

Matty stuck her hands in her apron pockets and looked Jim in the eye. “Ellis tossed a garter snake at her. She leapt off the fence and landed in a bad patch of tares. Bertie couldn’t pull them all out, so she snipped out the worst ones.”

Jim didn’t say a word. He shook his head in sympathetic disgust of her story then turned and strode off. When he got a few yards away, Matty heard him mutter, “Plumb loco.”

Chapter 5

M
atty sat out on the porch steps and savored a cup of coffee. The supper dishes were done, and she wanted to get away from her sisters for a few minutes. Though they got along well enough, five days on a train counted as enough togetherness. A little breather, and she’d be happy to go sit with them in the parlor.

“Ever seen such a sky?” asked a voice as velvety and rich as the star-studded, purple-black heavens.

Matty shook her head—partly because she hadn’t ever seen anything as endless as the Western sky, but also because she felt unaccountably tongue-tied around Jim Collingswood.

He leaned against a post that held up part of the veranda and murmured, “Looks can be deceiving, Matty. It’s so pretty and peaceful. Problem is, this land is wild as can be.”

She took a sip of coffee and let silence swirl about them. “So you came from Chicago?”

He nodded. “Moved here in ‘62. Mama came because she loved Pa to distraction, but she rated the venture as pure folly. After one year, she sent my sister Annie back to a finishing school. Annie married within months. Pa, Luke, and I got the ranch started, but Pa fell off a hay wagon and got run over in ‘64.”

“Oh, Jim, I’m so sorry.”

“Accidents happen out here all of the time. It’s why you don’t belong. Women are too vulnerable.” He stared at her. “What about your mother?”

“Soon as Pa died, she went back to be with Annie. She couldn’t wait to ‘get back to civilization where a woman can be a lady.’ Luke and I decided we had a good start on things, so we’ve been here on our own for the past four years.”

Matty laughed briefly. “From what he said about your cooking, I suppose your survival is something akin to a miracle.”

“If you’re talking about marvels, explain to me why you’re not married yet.”

Matty gave him a weak smile. “Until I find a man who can hold me as dear as Papa held Mama, I don’t want to marry. I didn’t feel that special spark with any of the men in our church, but a handful of them turned out to be fine friends.”

“Come on, Matty—there wasn’t one special man?”

“No, but I played Cupid and matched a few of them up with my friends. I even introduced Corrie to her husband.”

Jim squatted down and tilted her chin upward. “Matty, why didn’t you marry one of those fellows? It was much safer than coming out here to a complete stranger.”

The concern in his voice and eyes made her breath hitch. “Ellis made our lives miserable. Bess and he got along about as well as Rhubarb and Ramon, and Corrie needed to get away from all of her memories.”

“Still, the man ought to be strung up for concocting the plan to send you here.”

She sighed. “It’s appalling. I’m not a husband-hunting kind of woman. I finally decided maybe it was a blessing in disguise—at least all four of us would still be together.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched. He stood and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll be sure you’re all settled together, wherever I send you. Now go on inside.”

Oomph!
Jim landed in the dust and nearly got the wind knocked out of him. Any man with the brains of a trout would know to keep his mind and eyes on the mustang, but Jim had gotten distracted. Amos and Keith had come from town and sat up on the patio, sipping cool drinks with Matty. He’d chased both of them off just two days ago. What were they doing back here again?

He stood, drew in a few steadying breaths, and decided to stomp over and demand the men leave and the woman stop acting like someone had hung a courting swing from his eaves.

“She’s about to do something foolish,” Lanky called to him.

Jim was ready to agree, but then he realized Lanky was talking about the horse—not Matty. Refusing to make a fool of himself in front of his hands and townsmen, Jim focused on the skittish mare. She danced sideways, pawed, and tossed her head.

“There now, darlin’, you got nothing to worry ’bout. I mean you no harm,” he singsonged.

“She don’t cotton much to being broke,” Lanky said from his perch on the corral’s split-rail fence.

Jim shot him a smile. “Not a female in the world who does.”

“You shore got yerself a nice passel of gals in the house. And I’m a-tellin’ you, the smells comin’ outta that kitchen are nuff to make me pea-green jealous over that dumb poodle dog for getting the scraps.”

“If I’m lucky, I’ll get them to take that stupid beast back home with them.” Jim murmured a few soft words to the mare and managed to stroke her.

“Pity you can’t find it in your heart to handle ’em with the same skill and kindness you show these here mustangs.” Lanky spat a wad of tobacco off to the side and sauntered away.

Jim concentrated on the mare, singing to her softly under his breath as he let her get accustomed to his touch again. He didn’t need to respond to Lanky’s comment, but it rankled.

He’d tried to be considerate of the women. Why, he’d worn his buckskins out here to break the mustangs so he wouldn’t cause more laundry and mending. Each day for the past week, he made sure he washed up properlike and put on a fresh shirt before he went to the supper table. Not only had he given up his bed, he’d made every effort to make life easy on Matty and her sisters.

Having women around was a mix of heaven and hardship. Their soft voices, laughter, and good cooking surely did make for pleasant evenings. Though he’d never confess it, he looked forward to those last-thing-in-the-evening chats with Matty out on the porch. Fact was, little Matty managed to put her hand to work out in the stable without anyone mentioning what needed to be done. When something came up that she didn’t know about, she was downright eager to learn. Jim hated to admit it to himself, but he’d actually started looking around for her.

Then, there were times he wished she and her sisters had never stepped off that train. He’d died about ten deaths when a stallion tried to kick down a corral fence, and a splintered board went sailing toward Matty. How in the world was he supposed to keep her and her sisters safe? He’d gotten a nasty telegram from Ellis Stack, demanding money for these women. On top of all of that, playing the role of guard dog and chasing away all of the randy bachelors of Lickwind wore thin on his nerves.

No, the women shouldn’t stay. He needed to send them off. Regardless of how sweet Matty smelled or how interesting her conversations were, she didn’t belong out here.

The whole time he reasoned through the need to send Matty away, Jim kept pampering the horse and shooting wary gazes at the guys on the porch with her. To his everlasting relief, she stood and the men took their leave. It wasn’t until Jim headed toward the gate that he realized what he’d been singing. “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen….”

Bertie stepped on the lowest rung of the fence. The toe of her scuffed boot caught in the hem, and she impatiently yanked the skirts to the side. Her battered brown felt hat tumbled into the dust, revealing that her strawberry blond bun sat askew on her head. As usual, she looked like she’d slept in her rumpled clothes. From the expression on her face, Jim expected her to shout out her thoughts. Instead, she extended her hand toward the horse and spoke in a low tone. “Mr. James, have you seen Rhubarb?”

To his amazement, the edgy mare walked over and nosed Bertie’s hand. “Careful,” he warned. “She’s feral. I’ve been working to break her.”

“You’re a beauty, aren’t you?” Bertie caressed her muzzle and forelock, and the mare stood still for it. The girl then flashed him a smile that faded just as quickly. “Looks like you’re doing a fine job with her. Have you seen Rhubarb?”

“Can’t say as I have. Better keep her away from Ramon.”

Bertie nodded, got off the fence, and continued her search. As she left, he thought about what her sister had said. Poor kid—she truly loved that creature. He hoped it hadn’t gone missing. He worked a bit more with the mare, but his heart wasn’t in it. After a few more minutes, he turned her over to a hand so she would be groomed and watered, then he went in search of the cat.

A short while later, he stared in disbelief at the sight before him. Rhubarb lay in the corner of his stall with three mewling still-wet kittens … on top of his favorite wool bedroll.

“Matilda, get Bertie.”

Matty looked up from the shirt she’d been mending and gave Jim a startled look. “Is something wrong?”

Bertie peeked around the kitchen door. “Did I hear my name?”

“Yup. You two come along with me.”

Matty exchanged a nervous look with her youngest sister and followed Jim out the door. He headed across the yard, straight toward the stable. Both of them had to pick up their skirts and half run to keep up with him.

“Where’re you all headed to in such an all-fired hurry?” Buckwheat called.

“Leave the women be and go chop logs for the stove,” Jim growled as he charged ahead.

Shafts of sunlight filtered into the stable. Silvery motes danced on them, and the smell of horses and hay filled the air. To one side, a mare nickered to her newborn foal. Matty jumped when Jim curled his hand around her arm and started leading her along the wide center aisle. He’d taken hold of Bertie’s arm, too.

They went clear to the end, and he stopped. Pulling them both in front of himself, he settled a hand on Matty’s shoulder and leaned forward so his breath brushed her cheek. “Look in the corner.”

“Rhubarb!” Bertie cried with delight.

“Whoa now.” Jim wouldn’t let them go. “She’s a new mama. She might not want anyone to bother her right now.”

Matty spun around and tilted her head back to see his face. “Oh, Jim. On your blankets?”

He sighed and the left side of his mouth crooked upward in a rakish smile. “Never can predict the behavior of a female.”

Unable to help herself, Matty started to laugh. He did as well, and the rich, deep sound of his chuckle warmed her as nothing ever had.