To Wed a Wanton Woman (12 page)

Marion
rolled her eyes as if to say she wouldn’t be a distraction, but they both knew
the truth. “I don’t know what to do with myself. I told Train I’d stay out of
the shack, but I need some company.” She looked at the clock. “What time does
TJ come home for lunch?”

Allison glanced over her shoulder. “Where’d
the morning go?” She vaulted out of the chair and quickly sliced some of the
bread Marion had eaten last night with Train. Allison moved around the kitchen
assembling some type of meat into a sandwich. With a knife as long as a
machete, Allison sliced a watermelon in half. “I’ll give you an excuse to go to
the shack.” Allison winked as she quartered the halves. “We won’t eat all of
this. I grew it in the garden,” she said with pride. “We had a big fire here
early in the summer. I thought I’d lost everything I’d planted, but wouldn’t
you know it, two watermelon plants, a couple of carrots, and lots of weeds
still managed to grow.” She took a wide strip of burlap and put the watermelon
in the center. After gathering up the sides, she handed it to Marion. “Do you
remember who Cake is?”

Marion
’s
mouth twitched. “I don’t think I made a good first impression.”

“You didn’t.” Allison shrugged. “Who cares?
He didn’t like me either in the beginning, now we’re friends.”

Marion
’s
eyebrows shot up. “You’re married to the boss.” She took the burlap from
Allison. “However, I do need something to make me feel useful.”

Marion
passed TJ on the path leading from the house to the shack. “I can take that,”
he said, reaching for the burlap.

“Don’t you dare!” She laughed and spun out
of his reach. “This is the first useful thing I’ve done all day and I’ll not
let you take it from me.” She lifted her chin a little higher and continued
down the path.

“Marion--” He started to say something, but
changed his mind.

“Allison has your lunch ready. You shouldn’t
keep her waiting,” she hollered, then lumbered on with the heavy watermelon.

The shack was a bustle of activity. Tables
ran down the center of the room. In the rear of the building, rows of bunk beds
offered places to rest with absolutely no privacy. Along one wall, Cake had the
set up of a restaurant with a large stove, two deep sinks with water pumps, and
shelves of pots, pans, and mixing bowls. Too numerable to count, metal plates, soup
bowls, and cups filled another.

“Allison wanted you to have this.” She
handed the burlap bundle to Cake. His round belly, round face, and pink cheeks
from standing too long in the heat of a kitchen, reminded her of Santa Claus. “Smells
good,” she said, sniffing deeply of the delicious aromas.

Evidently, the way to win Cake’s friendship
was to compliment his cooking. “Get a bowl.” He had a large wooden spoon in a
pot of simmering chowder. “Here you go, little lady.” He filled her bowl.

Marion
froze as she let his words wash over her. Glancing down at her dress, she
supposed she did look like a lady today. “Thank you.” She took the bowl and
held it to her nose. “Mmm.” She grabbed a biscuit and sat at the table closest
to Cake. She might want to be in a room full of people, but Train’s words still
rang in her ears. The last thing she wanted was for him to be uncomfortable
with the people he worked with.

A moment later, Cake ambled over and set a
piece of the watermelon next to her. “Dessert.” He patted her shoulder and
waddled back behind the stove.

“Hello, Miss Marion.” A man she remembered
playing poker with stopped in front of the table. “You’ve come for another
visit.” He set his bowl down and sat across from her.

It was natural for her to tilt her head in a
playful manner. Life in the whorehouse had conditioned her to respond to men
one way. “Cake’s delicious cooking called me back.” She lifted her spoon and
sipped the hot, corn chowder.

After the first man sat down, her table
quickly became crowded. Without trying, she had the attention of every man in
the shack. When she stood to get a cup of water, one was immediately placed in
front of her.

Nervously, she watched the door for Train.
At first, it seemed like a good idea, if he found her now it didn’t take a
genius to know how angry he’d be. “I enjoyed my lunch, but I really should be
getting back to the house.” She stood.

“Could we interest you in a game of cards
tonight?” Jack persisted no matter how hard Marion tried to ignore him.

She shook her head. “Perhaps another time.”
She turned toward Cake. “Tasted better than it smelled,” she said, licking her
lips.

“Any time you’re hungry, sunshine, you come
find me. You could use a little fattening up.”

She put her hands on her belly. “Be careful
or you’ll be seeing me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

Marion
left the shack and lifted her face to the cool breeze coming through the
canyon. Now that she had a full stomach, she realized how tired she was.
Covering her mouth, she stifled a yawn.

Allison hung clean sheets on the line. “This
is a perfect day for laundry. If there isn’t any wind, the clothes feel stiff
after they dry.”

Marion
shielded her eyes from the bright sun with her hand. “Do you care if I take a
nap?”

“Do you want me to wake you up in an hour?”

Marion
shook her head. What was the point in staying awake when she had nothing to do?
Train had made it clear he wouldn’t be sleeping with her tonight so she didn’t
care if she slept until morning.

“Marion…” Allison touched her arm before she
could walk away. “I know it doesn’t feel like home. Neither did the Dusty Rose
when I first arrived in Copper City. You showed me kindness when I had nowhere
else to go. It’s my turn to pay you back. I know you feel trapped, but if you
treat this place like home, you’ll see, it will be.”

Marion
pulled her arm back until Allison’s fingers slipped from hers. “I’m fine, just
bored.”

“I want to see you happy because I love
you.”

“I know. But remember I’m only going to be
here for a week.” Her hair whipped around her shoulders as she made her way
across the front porch. Climbing the stairs, her feet felt like dead weight. When
she entered her bedroom and saw the bed she shared with Train, she fell onto
the blanket and buried her face in the pillows. Sitting up long enough to remove
her shoes and clothes, she slid beneath the covers, inhaling the clean scent of
the pillows.

She vowed one thing as her eyelids became
heavy. With the window open and the cool breeze caressing her cheek, she swore
she’d never sleep in a dirty bed again.

Chapter Seven

The following day, Train surveyed the amount
of land he’d turned for the house he intended to build for Marion. In the beginning,
it would be one large room. When the horse business became prosperous, he’d
planned to add on. With that in mind, he and TJ decided to build the walls in
sections. When ready, it would be easier to create entrances into the additions.
Stacks of lumber arrived at first light. TJ knew whom to talk with to get
things done quickly.

“Seems dauntless, doesn’t it?” TJ slapped
him on the back. Train had helped build countless homes, now several friends turned
up to repay the favor.

The sun blazing high in the midday sky,
Train began to see the skeleton of his home. Unlike TJ’s log cabin, Train
wanted a simple dwelling. Knowing Marion had an aversion to cooking and
cleaning, he wanted to keep it simple. He didn’t particularly like the tasks
either. The only part of the house that the years would never alter was the
front door and porch. Train meticulously chose the spot where he wanted to
spend his evenings watching the lake with Marion.

“We’re heading back to the shack for lunch.”
Charlie moved his tongue around the chaw in his lip, then spit on the ground.

Train considered going with them, but
decided it would be better not to see Marion. He wasn’t sure if she’d be angry
that he hadn’t been around at all yesterday. He hadn’t spent the night with her
last night. He needed to keep his wits about him and remember the bet. He wanted
forever and after sleeping with her, knowing how she affected him, he’d lose
the bet if he didn’t stay away from her. But staying away wasn’t easy either.
Now he was tired and bad-tempered because he couldn’t sleep with her soft
breathing lying next to him and he couldn’t sleep knowing she was so close and
he didn’t have the strength to resist her. “I’m going to stay and continue
working on the fireplace.”

During the cold months, the snow came down
heavy enough to keep a man locked up tight for several days. Imagining Marion snuggled next to him while a blizzard raged, made him wish for winter.

“Let’s go,” one of Charlie’s friends called.
Train had seen him around the ranch for a few months, but he had never gotten
to know him. “Told Cake she’d be havin’ lunch again today.” He sounded excited.

“Charlie.” Train approached after
overhearing the conversation.

“Change your mind?” He spit again.

“Who?” The sick feeling in the pit of his
stomach already told him.

“Sugar’s friend musta changed her mind ‘bout
leavin’. Found out there’s plenny work for her here.” The dirty little man’s loud,
raucous laughter knifed through Train.

“Jack thinks he’s got her where he wants
her,” Charlie added. “On her back.”

“I’d say’s he was right by the way they was
lookin’ at each other yesterday.”

Train clenched his fists. “Jack wishes.”

“Ohh.” Charlie’s friend whistled. “Maybe you
got some iders of your own?” He puckered his lips and pretended to kiss the
air. “I hear we all get a turn.”

Moving by reflex, Train grabbed the man by
his collar, cocked his arm back, and landed a punch squarely in his jaw.

“What the hell?” Charlie grabbed Train,
knocking off his cowboy hat as he pulled him back. “What in the hell is the
matter with you?” By this time, a group had gathered around the man lying on
the ground holding his face.

TJ pushed his way through the crowd as Train
shook Charlie off. “What the hell happened?”

Train pulled his lips into a thin line. He
pointed his finger in Charlie’s face. “Don’t ever speak of her again.” His tone
reflected the ferocity of his anger.

“Calm down, Train. You’re worked up over a
whore.”

TJ stepped between Train and Charlie. He put
a restraining hand against Train’s chest.

“She’s going to be my wife!” Train hollered,
the veins in his neck bulging and feeling as if they could explode.

A hush fell over the crowd. TJ backed off
when Train’s muscles relaxed. “Go home,” he said. “We’ve done enough for
today.”

Train picked his hat up off the ground,
slapped off the dust, and put it on. He nodded at TJ, not trusting himself to
speak.

“We didn’t know,” Charlie said. “Jack said
he recognized her from the brothel in town. We assumed--”

“You assumed wrong. Each of you should
remember the rules around here. Work hard and you got no problem with me. What
happened here is horseshit!” TJ slammed his hands into his pockets. “Jack
doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“When you get married, Train?” someone
asked.

Train took a breath ready to tell him it was
none of his damn business, when TJ spoke.

“None of your concern. Now, go eat and get
back to work.” TJ headed for the house while everyone else went in the
direction of the shack.

“Sorry, Train,” Charlie said.

“Tell Jack to watch his back.” Train walked
with a heavy step to his horse and mounted. “If I catch him with Marion, he’s a dead man.”

* * *

Allison and Marion were in the kitchen with the
children. “Where is he?” TJ asked when Train wasn’t with them.

“We haven’t seen him all day,” Allison said.
She glanced up from looking at the letters Sissy wrote on a slate. “There’s fresh
coffee.”

He shook his head. “Marion, can I speak with
you?”

Sitting next to Michael, she watched him
scribble on his slate. “Sure, is something wrong?” He nodded and she stood. The
blood drained from her head as she immediately thought the worse. Not only had
she not seen Train today, but he had avoided her yesterday as well. Maybe he
had changed his mind about wanting her at the ranch. Had he sent TJ as the
bearer of bad news? “What is it?” she asked after they were in the living room.

“Train got in a fight today with a couple of
hands.”

She covered her mouth. “Is he hurt?” she
whispered.

“No, but he’s livid. Seems you had a nice
lunch yesterday with a few of the men. One of them recognized you. Christ
Marion, I don’t know, maybe you saw him professionally. The long and the short
is word spread you’re here for business.”

She closed her eyes and imagined what Train
must have thought. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Until he met you, Train never had a temper.
Not that he would do it, but this morning he threatened to kill Jack.”