Shotgun Bride (11 page)

"Hmmm," he said, holding a chuckle. His foot bumped something, making him stumble. He caught his faltered steps and pulled his gaze from her cloudy trail to glance to the floor. "Sammy, move out of the way."

"No!" Dishes clattered into the sink before she rushed to the dog. "No, I promised he could lie there for being such a good dog today." She knelt to pat the wide, black head. Her nervous glance bounced between him and Sammy. "Didn't I boy?"

Sammy's tail thumped the floor. Kid frowned. She twisted, reaching for the dishes he held. "Here, I'll take those."

As she stood her skirt flared, showing the frayed hem was streaked with black soot. Kid took a second look. Several long brown scorch marks trailed up the front of the material.

"Jessie, did you have trouble starting a fire in the stove today?"

101

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

"Huh? Starting a fire? No, no, I didn't have any problems starting a fire today." She set the dishes down on the counter, shaking her head.

Kid stepped forward to get a closer look. His foot stumbled against the dog again. "Damn it, Sammy, move!" The dog yelped and jumped to scramble out of his way, leaving a large black spot on the floor. Thinking it was mud from the dog, Kid ran the toe of his boot over the area.

"Kid, uh, Mr. Quinter, I'm so terribly sorry. It really was an accident." Jessie's face became distorted. It made her look even more adorable. She lifted her hands, hiding the view from him.

"An accident?" he asked, taking a quick glance around the room.

She lowered her hands, wrung them together, and stared at the spot below his boot.

He slipped his foot aside, taking a closer look at the darkened area. Recognition followed closely by concern made his throat tighten. His gaze went to the scorch marks on her dress.

"Jesus! Did you catch yourself on fire? Are you burnt?" Heart pounding, he leaped forward, landing on his knees. Without thought to impropriety, he lifted her dress to check her legs for burns.

"Should I get the balm?" Flipping the material over his shoulder, his hands moved over the white, smooth skin, searching for red blisters or welts.

102

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

The back door flew open, hitting the wall with a smack.

"Hey boss, we gotta talk about this new fella you brought home."

Kid turned to the sound, one hand fought to push frayed material out of his eyes. Flour dust puffed from the fabric as he batted it aside. When it settled, draping his head and shoulders, he stared up at Joe.

"Oh, uh, sorry!" Joe turned beet red and shot back out the door.

Blood rushed to his cheeks, burning and tingling. Had he just been caught with his head under her skirt? Something under his fingers trembled, making him realize one hand was still wrapped around her leg. All of a sudden his fingers felt like they were on fire.

Blowing out a gust of air, Kid pulled his fingers from her shin and backed out from beneath her skirt. "You, um." He paused, cleared his throat. "You didn't get burnt?" It hadn't helped, he sounded like a croaking frog.

"No, no, I didn't."

Frozen—like a petrified rock—he stayed there, on his hands and knees, staring at the varnished wood floor. After the universe had tick-tocked what felt like an hour, but most likely was less than a minute, he stood and taking the chance his weather-beaten face wouldn't show his embarrassment, looked at her.

"What happened?"

"I accidentally set a towel on top of the stove and when I pushed it off, the air made it catch afire. My dress got scorched while I was stomping it out. I'm so sorry I burned 103

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

your floor. I scrubbed it, but I'm afraid the wood is scorched." Both hands were pressed against her chest and with eyes as sad as a hound dog, she faced him. Her whole body shivered like leaves in the wind.

He stepped forward, cradled the soft skin of her cheeks with his palms. Cheerless blue eyes tugged at his heart.

"Don't worry about the floor, sweetheart. All that matters is you weren't hurt."

"I wasn't." Her head gave a sad little shake. It was so easy to care about her, so easy to want to comfort her. He pulled her forward and slipped his arms around her trembling frame. With a mind of their own, his lips lowered to kiss the top of her head. A puff of flour almost made him sneeze. "You've had quite a day." Her head nodded against his chest.

He tightened his hold, wanting to absorb the quakes. Slowly her shivers eased and soft curves settled against him.

"Would you like me to help you clean up the kitchen?" he asked.

"No, I can do it."

A sharp pain made him pull his teeth off his bottom lip, which he'd unknowingly bit while trying to hold off the new urges taking over his body. The cool night air would do him some good.

"I'm going to go see what Joe needs, and then I'll carry those clothes in for you." The need was so strong he had to place one more kiss on her hair before he released her. 104

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

Jessie stepped back, lifting apologetic eyes. She ran both hands over her face, which caused the globs to smear further across her delicate skin. "Thank you," she murmured. Kid lifted a cloth off the counter and wiped the smudges from both of her cheeks. "You're welcome." He fought the need to kiss her again. A real, solid kiss like last night. He set the cloth down and turned for the door. His cheeks once again grew warm at the thought of facing Joe after the unusual position the man had caught him in.
Damn
. He hadn't been embarrassed for years. Now it had happened two days in a row.

"Kid?" Her voice stopped him as he grasped the door handle.

The way she said his name, soft and sweet sounding, made his knees weak. "Yes?" he croaked.

"Who's the new fellow Joe needs to talk to you about?" He took a deep breath. His cheeks puffed as he blew it out, not wanting to answer, but knowing he had to, he said, "Your brother."

A deep frown covered her face. "R-Russell's here?" He nodded. "I brought him home with me." One tiny hand stretched forward as she stepped toward him. Something close to fear filled her eyes. "Can, can I just say in advance, I'm sorry? For whatever he may do, I'm sorry. Please know I don't have control over what he does. II..." He took the out-stretched hand. Clammy and cold, the fingers shook beneath his.

105

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

"Jessie, I won't ever hold you accountable for someone else's actions." He ran his fingers over the thin digits.

"Anything Russell does, Russell will have to correct. Not you. I promise, you won't have to pay for his dealings ever again." He carried the fingers to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. "Trust me."

She gave a slight nod.

"Good, now do up the dishes. I'll be back with the trunks in a few minutes."

"Trunks?"

Happy to see the shine come back into her eyes, he nodded. "Yes, Stephanie sent two trunks full of clothes for you to go through."

"Two trunks full?" A wide smile covered her face. His heart skipped a beat. "Yes, sweetheart, two trunks full." He gave her hand a final squeeze before he released it and walked out the door.

As the door clicked shut, Jessie's shoulders slumped. A solid lump formed in the pit of her stomach. Russell was here. Today had been the best day of her life, mostly because not once had she worried about what Russell was up to, and how it would cause havoc.

Sammy brushed against her leg and lifted his head, big brown eyes asking what was wrong.

"It's not that I don't love my brother, I do. I just don't like how he refuses to work, to do anything constructive and long term. All he ever focuses on are ways to make money so he can live the good life. It's all he talks about." She ran a hand 106

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

over his wide head, happy she had someone to talk to. The dog had become her friend, the best one she'd ever had.

"Oh, Sammy, he's bound to mess things up again." Frustrated, Jessie slapped at her thighs. A puff of flour rose to float around her legs. "Goodness!" The washroom off the kitchen stood before her. A room she had yet to venture into. For some reason it seemed too intimate of an area.

"Would Kid mind if I used it?" she asked the dog. Sammy padded across the floor, stopped near the door and barked. Her feet moved toward the room, and her fingers plucked at the front of the dress. A new white cloud puffed with each flick. She must look a mess.

The door swung open, and she made her way into the small room. A reflection in the mirror instantly caught her attention. A gasp escaped her lips. Not only was her dress full of flour, but her hair looked gray from the white stuff. She turned to Sammy.

"Why didn't you tell me I'm covered in flour?" Her eyes fluttered shut as she recalled carrying the heavy bag from the pantry to the table. It weighed a ton, and an explosion of white had filled the room when she hefted it onto the table. Sammy barked again. She peeked at him through her fingers. One paw sat on the rim of the large tub. How long had it been since she'd taken a bath in a tub? Not since she was fourteen or so and they'd stayed a winter with a widow near Topeka. She'd been a kind woman, but after she caught Russell stealing from her jewelry box, they had to leave. A shiver ran up her spine—it had been a cold and rainy night. 107

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

One that made her think they'd freeze to death before the light of morning came.

She ran a hand along the rim. Since then she'd bathed in streams and rivers, even at the soddy all she had were small buckets. This tub's basin was deep, and the brass smooth to the touch. It would be easy to wash her hair with all this room. She pushed a long lock of the mass behind one ear. Kid had said Stephanie sent two trunks of clothes. If only there would be a night gown amongst the woman's castaways. It had been years since she'd had sleeping clothes. A wide smile covered her face, and she reached down to hug Sammy before flipping around to scurry from the room to clean up the kitchen and heat water. The thought of feeling fresh and clean and slipping into new clothes filled her with a sense of joy she hadn't experienced in a very long time. All day, thoughts and activities had filled her with excitement and delight. Feelings she'd forgotten existed. She squeezed the water from the rag in the dish pan and moved to the table to wipe away a few bread crumbs. Her hand stilled midway across the table. Russell was here now. He'd find a way to shatter those feelings. Always did. The rag began to move again with new determination.
No,
not this time!
Kid had said people always had a choice, and that meant her too. She could choose not to let Russell's actions thwart her life. It was time for her to start making her own choices and living her own life.

After a final swipe, she tossed the rag at the dish tub and walked to the stove. Setting the largest pot atop the burner, she stoked the fire then filled the kettle with water. With a 108

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

bucket in hand, she moved to the back door. It would take a lot of water to fill the bathing tub, and she was going to enjoy each and every drop. Jessie patted her leg, encouraging Sammy to rise and follow her out the door.

* * * *

Jessie carried bucket after bucket of water into the house. Kid's first reaction had been to look at the widows to see if flames licked at the glass panes. Concluding she must be filling the large, brass tub in the washroom, he tried to hurry the conversation with Joe, but the man was fit to be tied over Russell Johnson. The arrogant little ass had attempted to claim Joe's single room on the far side of the bunk house. Declaring the ranch owner's wife's brother deserved the privacy instead of sharing one of the bunk beds with the other hands.

Kid refused to step in. Instead, he told Joe it was up to him to set the rules for Russell just as he did with all the new hands. Russell was no exception, and he wasn't going to let the man believe he was by stepping in to settle this first dispute.

"But Kid, I don't want Jessie thinking I'm a bad guy," Joe said as they leaned against the hitching post outside the bunkhouse.

"A bad guy?" When Jessie entered the back door, he turned to look at the man.

"Yeah, a bad guy. She's a sweet little thing." Kid frowned. "You just met her." 109

Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]

by Lauri Robinson

"Yeah, well I just met her brother too. I have a hard time believing they're kin. My first impressions are always right."

"Really?" Kid shuffled his feet. It felt like there was a little worm wiggling around in his stomach.

"Yeah, like that hand you wanted to hire in Dodge last year. I told you no, he wouldn't work out, but you hired him anyway, and sure enough, he didn't work out."

"What about the several you've hired over the years? The ones that haven't worked out?" Kid straightened his stance, glancing back to the sound of a door opening. She walked back out of the house, carrying two buckets. He needed to go help her. Pretty soon she'd be too worn out to enjoy her bath.

"Would you just tell him he stays where I put him?" Joe said.

Tired of the conversation, he said, "Nope. You're the foreman. You handle the men, I handle the business. But before you go in, come help me carry those trunks, I had the boys unload, up to her room." Kid started walking toward the house, knowing the man would follow. Just as he knew Joe could handle Russell Johnson. Besides, his mind was too busy hoping the clothes Stephanie sent would fit Jessie. She was so excited about the garments, he really didn't want to see her disappointed.

They lugged the trunk through the back door. Every kettle he owned sat on the stove, steam rose from a couple of them and water sloshed into the brass tub in the washroom. He pulled on the handle of the trunk, making Joe walk faster as he carried the other end. He forced the man to hurry through the kitchen and up the stairs.