Courting Kate (10 page)

“Then he’d just gather you close—like this.”

He jerked her against his chest.

She pushed at him. “Let me go,” she said between gritted teeth.
 

His arms tightened, so that she was unable to move. “Then, he’d do this.” Like a hawk after a dove, he bent his head and captured her mouth. “And this—” When she gasped, he kissed her again, slowly, thoroughly, then his breath grew ragged, his mouth more intense, plundering hers. He kissed her as if he couldn’t seem to stop.
 

More frightened than she’d ever been in her whole life, Kate began to fight in earnest. To no avail. He was heavier, stronger, and seemed intent on kissing the life out of her. His lips were cool and warm, fierce, then tender. He kissed her hair, her nose, her eyes, making her dizzy with his presence. He smelled like pine trees and wood smoke. And his hands made her feel things she had never felt before. This was no innocent kiss like she had experienced behind the gazebo at sixteen. This was... She didn’t know what it was. She only knew it opened doors to her imagination that she never knew existed.
 

A band of heat coiled in her middle, making her dizzy, confused. She wanted to shove him away, but she couldn’t. It was as if some outside force had taken control of her body. She was only aware of Tanner. Tanner... Even her heartbeat seemed to echo his name.
 

She wasn’t sure when her arms went around his neck, or when she began kissing him back. She sighed and closed her eyes. Breathing heavily, he stopped, removed his mouth from hers. Dazed, she opened her eyes and saw him observing her.
 

“Convinced yet?” he asked huskily.

“That-that wouldn’t happen,” she somehow managed to say.
 

“Then he might get right down to this—” Tanner bent, slid an arm under her legs and lifted her off her feet. His expression hot and hungry, he took two steps and placed her on the bed. The next thing she knew, he was beside her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress.
 

Now really frightened, she tried to twist away from him. It was no use. “No. No, please...” Despite her best intention, a sob made its way past her throat. The sound seemed to bring him back to sanity. His assault stopped as abruptly as it had begun. But he didn’t let go of her.

“Kate, I didn’t mean to scare you. Kate?”

She couldn’t answer.
 

Heaving a great sigh, he moved to the edge of the bed and sat up. He smoothed her hair back from her face, his calloused palm gentle against her cheek. “Are you all right?”

She stared at him, then turned her head away to hide her tears.
 

“Doggone, honey, don’t cry.” He carefully raised her to an upright position, then awkwardly patted her back. “I only wanted to show you what could happen.”

He’d done more than that. She drew in a breath. “I’m not crying, and I’m not your honey.” She slapped at his hand. “Don’t touch me.” She scooted away and got to her feet. Furious now, she whirled to face him. “And as for showing me what could happen... I think I got the idea, Mr. Blaine.”

“I was trying to teach you a lesson,” he said, as if such a lame excuse would explain his outlandish behavior.
 

“I don’t need any lessons. And I certainly don’t need you.” She pointed toward the door. “Get out!”

He gave her a feeble smile. “I’ll come back a little later, then maybe we can talk, after you’ve calmed down and all.”

“Talk? Is that what you call it?” Her eyes narrowed. “You come anywhere near me, and I’ll sic the dog on you.”

“What dog?” He peered around the room.
 

“The one Mark’s walking. He should be back any minute.”

“Mark? What’s Mark doing in town?”

“He’s
your
brother. Why don’t you ask him?” She shoved him through the door, then clicked the lock.

More shaken than he cared to admit, Tanner stared at the closed door. He didn’t blame her for being upset. He didn’t know what had gotten into him. If anyone else had tried such a thing, he would have shot him on the spot.

The ease with which he’d relieved her of the hammer gave him cause for alarm. And what followed... Another man wouldn’t have stopped.

Worry gnawed at him, making his brows knot in consternation. Maybe he ought to get her a gun.

On second thought, he’d better not. He’d probably be the one she shot.

She said she had a dog.
It had better be a mean son-of-a—”

“—Tanner, what are you doing here?”

Tanner whirled, primed for a fight, then blinked. “I might ask you the same question.” He stared at Mark, then at the ungainly critter beside him.

The thing was of an indeterminate color, a splotch of this, a streak of that, almost as if God had a lot of colors left over and dumped them, letting them fall where they may. The rest of him wasn’t any better. Big as a pony and shaggy as a yearling spring bear. The critter also looked like it had about as many teeth, all ready to fasten onto him. “That is about the ugliest varmint I’ve ever seen.”

At that, the beast dropped to its haunches, ready to spring. A growl rumbled in its throat, low and menacing.
 

Mark took another half hitch on the already straining rope. “He don’t appear to think much of you, either.” He reached out and patted the stiffly bristled hair on the dog’s back. “Easy, Fluffy.”

“
Fluffy
?” Tanner stared at the dog, who snarled back. “His name is Fluffy? That’s plumb ridiculous.”

“Kate named him, I didn’t.”

“No wonder he bites.”

“Mark, is that you?” Kate appeared in her doorway. “There’s my sweetiekins.” She knelt and held out her arms. “Come here, Fluffy.”

The big dog yanked the rope free of Mark’s hand and galloped forward, slathered Kate with wet kisses, then threw himself at her feet.

“Good baby,” she crooned.

Tongue lolling, tale wagging, the beast looked like a giant puppy—until Tanner took a step toward Kate. Then the dog had all the affability of an outraged lion.

“Call him off, Kate,” Tanner warned.

“Maybe he thinks
you
need to be taught a lesson,” she suggested, her eyes narrowing.
 

Lips curled, teeth bared, the dog trembled in anticipation. “You’ve made your point,” Tanner said with a calmness he certainly didn’t feel.
 

“Good.” She stood up and dusted her hands together. “And I didn’t even have to manhandle you.”

“Manhandle?” Like a feisty banty rooster, Mark stepped between them. “Tanner, what’s she talking about?”

“Don’t push it, boy. You’ve got some explaining of your own to do.”

Uncertainty showed in Mark’s eyes, but he didn’t back down.

“Don’t pay him any attention, Mark. You come on inside and have a piece of pie. You, too, Fluffy. Jeanne brought Fluffykins a great big bone.” She ushered Mark and her pet inside. She glared at Tanner, then shut the door.
 

Tanner didn’t care that he wasn’t invited in. He figured he’d had enough temptation for one day. He was also grateful to have escaped in one piece.

He’d thought Kate might need a gun; now he knew better. She had
Fluffy
. And Mark. And probably the rest of his brothers, and Madame Jeanne, and no telling who all else. He pitied any interloper who dared come near her. He’d be lucky to escape with his life.
 

Still, Tanner couldn’t help but wish that she was bigger. He almost wished she had buck teeth or some sort of deformity. A woman alone, especially one who looked like Kate, even in a halfway civilized town like Jacksonville, was a walking invitation to trouble. Still, there wasn’t much he could do about it. She had made that clear. After the way he’d behaved today, he’d be lucky to get within shouting distance.
 

He had thought to teach her a lesson, but it had backfired on him. He stared at the shack. He could still feel the heat, the warmth of her breasts pressed against his chest. Her hair, like fine silk, tangled in his fingers. And the way she’d smelled... She’d set his head reeling. He hadn’t intended to take her to bed, but that’s exactly what would have happened if he hadn’t come to his senses.

He closed his eyes, his body throbbing with frustrated lust. Maybe he should have. From the way she kissed him back, maybe that’s what she needed, too.

And afterward... He sighed, envisioning himself and Kate all warm with loving and cozy in the narrow bed.

Someone else appeared in the picture, and his eyes sprang open.
 

The sheriff, peering at him over the barrel of a shotgun.

And behind the sheriff, Mark glowered and hefted a chunk of stove wood.
 

And the preacher, license in hand, and the rest of the town, waiting just outside the door.

Along with Fluffy—and a whole pack of snarling dogs.
 

Sweat popped out on his forehead. It had been close. A few minutes longer and it would have been all over but the singing. A few more minutes and he would have been either lynched or hitched.
 

A feeling of relief shook him right down to his boots. Then, remembering how warm and soft she was and how perfectly she fit in his arms, he decided it would almost be worth it.

Worth it? He swallowed. Amazed that he could even think such a thing, he turned on his heel and hurried toward his horse. “Tanner? Hey, Tanner, wait up,” a gruff voice demanded.

Expecting to see the sheriff, he turned and was almost relieved to see the owner of the Lucky Strike mine striding toward him. “Howdy, Tom.”

“I’m surprised to see you in town, on a prime sunny workday and all. Have you finished cutting my timber yet?”

“No, but in another couple of days, I should have the first load ready for you.”
 

“I have to have water to operate my hydraulic hoses. I need those logs, Tanner. That flume has to be in place by snow melt in the spring.” Thomas Fuller’s scowl deepened. “If you don’t think you can get the job done, Sim Williams up on Stewart Creek has enough trees cut right now to pert’ near build the flume.”

“You have a contract with me,” Tanner reminded him. “I’ll meet the deadline. If I don’t, according to that contract, I’ll forfeit everything I’ve cut.”

“I’m glad to see you remember. I won’t abide any excuses, Tanner. I’ve got to have those trees.” With that, the miner crossed the street and went into the bank.
 

With Tom’s warning ringing in his ears, Tanner shot one more look toward the pie shop, then he mounted his horse and rode out of town. She’d said she didn’t need his help. He hoped she was right. Until he had that timber contract finished, Kate would have to fend for herself.
 

“Here’s the list. With the scarcity of pretty, single women, we sure don’t lack for takers. I told the fellers we would look them over and give our approval. I also threatened them with Tanner and the dog if they didn’t follow the rules.” Mark placed the paper on the tabletop, and pointed to a long line of names.
 

“What if we don’t like them?” Matt asked.

“Then we cross them off.” Luke wet the end of the pencil and drew a line through one name.

“What’d you do that for?” Mark asked, grabbing up the paper. “He’s as rich as Cornelius Beekman.”

“Nobody’s got that much money,” Matt said, snatching it back. “Besides, Luke’s right, he’s too old. We’re trying to find Kate a husband, not a grandpa.” He ran a finger down the list. “Here’s another one. He don’t even have any teeth.”

“But he seemed nice,” Luke said. “I think we ought to let Kate decide.”

“Decide what?” Tanner asked, coming through the doorway.
 

“Nothing.” Matt yanked up a piece of paper from the table and stuffed it in his pocket.

Tanner looked from one guilty face to the next. “You aren’t sending for any more brides, are you?”

“No, sir,” Matt assured him, instantly joining a stampede for the door.

“I think I’ll fill that wood box.”

“I’ve got to milk the cow.”

“I’m gonna check on the eggs.”

Something is going on.
Tanner blocked their exit. He put his hands on his hips and stared at them through narrowed eyes. “What are you all up to? And what was that about Kate deciding?”

“We wanted to give her some flower seeds,” Mark said, giving him a sickly smile. “Luke thought we ought to let her decide what kind she’d like.”
 

“Uh-huh.”
And I’m a blue-eyed yeller dog.
Tanner glanced at John who was staring at Mark in open-mouthed admiration. That look alone told him it was a flat-out lie. “You boys getting pretty cozy with Kate?”

“She’s nice. And be-oottiful,” John declared.

“That’s quite a mouthful for such a little boy,” Tanner teased, ruffling the youngster’s hair.

“I’m not so little.” The child stiffened with indignation. “I’ll be old enough to get married before you know it.”