His Prairie Princess (Prairie Brides 1) (9 page)

“You could be r
ight.  As soon as me and the boys have a rest, we’ll set out again.  The sooner we round up the rest of those no good outlaws the better.  Your daddy’s gonna be mighty proud of you, Miss Jones.”

Sadie slumped slightly at the mention of her father.

“I sent word to him.  He oughta be here within a week if not sooner. All depends on where he is now.  I’m sure he’s already set out to look for you”

Sadie had to sit.  She certainly wouldn’t have to worry about Harrison escorting her across the prairie now.  Instead all she had to do was avoid the Englishman until her father arrived. And in Clear Creek, that was easier said than done.

* * *

Mr. Mulligan poured two shots of whiskey.  “Looks like your little brother’s a hero.”

Jack and Sam Cooke grabbed their shots and slugged them back.  Sam spit into a nearby spittoon and slammed his glass on the counter. “Worthless whelp.  Now we know why he’s been coming into town so much.”

“Sneaky cuss. Wait until Pa finds out.” Jack added.

“Pa ain’t gonna find out!” Sam snapped. “Last thing we need is fer Pa to ease up on him. Then we might have to do some of the work. And that don’t sit with me.”

Mr. Mulligan laughed and poured them each another shot.  He then moved down the counter to serve his other customers. Jack leaned into the bar, head low, his voice lower. “Jeb’s gonna kill us.”

Sam glanced around before he spoke in the same low tone. “We ain’t done
nothing wrong.”

“But was Harrison took her from us!  What if she recognizes Cain and tells the Sheriff?  You know that’s what’s going on across the street right now!”

“Shut up.  I can't think when you’re babbling.”

“And what happens if’n she sees one or both of us?”

Sam grabbed him by the collar. “I said shut up. We’ll just have to make sure she doesn’t see us, you got that?”

  Jack slapped Sam’s hand away.  “If Jeb finds out she’s here he might cut us out of our deal.”

“He won’t cut us out of our deal.”

“If’n he gets mad enough he will.”

Sam slapped Jack upside the head.  “He gets mad it ain’t our deal he’ll be cutting. He’ll cut ou
r
hearts ou
t
before cutting us out of any deal.”

Jack cringed, grabbed his shot and slugged it back.

Sam stared at his own drink and watched the amber liquid swirl about as he moved the glass this way and that. “Unless we carve the lady’s heart out first.” 

Jack began to laugh as Sam swallowed his drink. Finished, he set the glass on the counter.  “Best we figure out a way to get her off by herself.”

Jack glanced around.  Mr. Mulligan was still at the other end of the bar talking and laughing with several men from the posse.  “What about Harrison?  He’s always in town now.  Probably been seeing her the whole time!”

“We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t get in the way.  I’m sure there’s all kinds of work Pa wants that boy to do over the next few days.”

“He’s already done all the work there is to do.”

“Not if we make sure he has to do it again.” Sam said as he signaled to Mr. Mulligan to pour them another round.

Jack and Sam both laughed as Mr. Mulligan headed down the bar, whiskey bottle in hand.

“What do you mean keep an eye out?”
Sadie exclaimed.  “Surely the rest of the outlaws wouldn’t come into town, would they?”

“They might wish to free their comrade, in which case now that he’s see
n
yo
u
, could well put you in danger.”  Harrison explained.

“I wouldn’t want to risk it
,” the Sheriff added.  “It’s best we have someone look after you until your daddy gets here.  He’d probably try to hang the whole lot of us if something ever happened to his only daughter.”

“But I’m already staying with the
Waller's.  I’m never alone.”

“We all love Doc and Grandma, make no mistake.  But they’re both get’n on in years and neither would be much protection during a shootout. No, I’ll have one of my men watch the house.”

“I’d like to volunteer Sheriff.  I can see to it Miss Jones is kept safe.”

Sadie’s eyes widened.

“That’s mighty kind of you Harrison.  Can you spare the time away from your farm?”

“I’ll make the time. I have no doubt if the outlaws find Miss Jones is here and has identified their man, they’ll either make a run for it or come after him.  In which case they’re sure to come after her.”  He looked down at Sadie who still sat after identifying the man in the other room.  “I can’t have that.  I’ll not see you put in harm’s way.”

Did he have to look so handsome when he said it?  Did he?  And his voice dropped in pitch, his eyes looking like hot dark cocoa.  A pure luxury out in these parts
.
He
was becoming a pure luxury.  His insistence to protect her didn't help.

Harrison pulled her up from the chair and turned to the Sheriff.  “We must be going. Doc and Grandma have prepared supper for us and are waiting.”

“Sure, you go on.  I’ll finish up here and drop by later this evening if that’s all right, Miss Jones?”

Sadie could only nod.  Harrison had already wrapped her arm around one of his and was heading for the door.  How did she manage to go fro
m
Surely I can avoid the man for the next week or s
o
to Harrison being her self-appointed protector?  Albeit he volunteered for the job, the Sheriff certainly didn’t put up any fuss over it.  The man didn’t even blink an eye. Wasn’t it improper for Harrison to be glued to her side?  She was sure Mrs. Dunnigan would have something to say about it.

Harrison pulled her along as they went back to the house. “I’ll find out who is to take the first watch and how often they plan to change.”

“Change?”

“The Sheriff won’t allow just one man to do the job.  They’ve been out looking for the outlaws for days.  They’re tired and hungry.  These men are only good to stand watch a few hours at a time. I’ll take a watch myself to ensure you’re safe for tonight. At some point I’ll head back to the farm and take care of a few things.  Tomorrow we’ll come up with a definite plan for the rest of the week.”

Sadie gave him a half smile before she looked away. He looked exceedingly pleased about something.  She couldn’t say what it was.  An hour ago he couldn’t wait to get rid of her.  Now he couldn’t stand the thought of letting her out of his sight.  Maybe protecting her from the outlaws made it easier for him to protect her from himself.

They reached the house and went inside.  Sadie was delighted to find her mother sitting at the kitchen table with Doc and Grandma. “You’re up!  Do you feel strong enough to eat with us?”

Teresa took in the sight of Sadie still on Harrison’s arm and smiled. “It’s why I came down.  I’m stronger every day thanks to you. I only needed a little rest before supper.”

Sadie detached herself from Harrison and gave her mother a hug.  “I’m glad you’re feeling strong enough to join us.”

Teresa smiled, took one of Sadie’s hands and gave it a light squeeze.  Grandma got up and began to pull linens from a sideboard.  “I’ll just go set the table then. We’ll eat in the dining room.  This is a special occasion! Sadie, you’d best take those pies of yours out of the oven.”

“Allow me to help you, Grandma.”  Harrison offered and followed her into the dining room. 

Sadie watched him go.  The Waller’s house was small.  A simple dining room and parlor separated by the center hallway and stairs with the kitchen in the back, the only two bedrooms upstairs.  Even though it was so much smaller than her father’s ranch house, she loved the little home and wondered what it would be like to have one of her own some day.  Not to mention if it came with a husband, a family.
 
Harriso
n
...

Sadie shook herself, dislodging the thoughts, and set about taking her pies out of the oven. She placed them to one side to cool before checking the stew.  While Grandma and Harrison finished setting the table she sliced the bread. 

Soon the table was ready and the meal laid upon it.  Doc and Grandma beamed as they looked at each of their guests.  “We’ve not used this table in a long while.  Kitchen table has been good enough for us.  But this is much nicer.” Doc said.  “Harrison, you say the blessing.”

Harrison sat at one end of the table, Doc at the other.  Sadie and her mother sat side by side, Grandma opposite them.  When Harrison held both his hands out Sadie stiffened.  She was going to have to
hold his hand for the blessing.

She
slowly took her mother’s in one of her own and stared at the one Harrison offered.  He waited, that same warm smile on his face.  Sadie’s mouth went suddenly dry as heat seeped into her bones from some unseen source.  It seemed to start in the pit of her stomach and spread out to the end of her fingers and toes.  She gritted her teeth and took his hand.

The heat positively exploded.

“Dear Lord, we thank you for this day and those in it.  We also thank you for helping our Sheriff apprehend one of the outlaws and pray the others will be taken into custody soon. And I thank you for the safety of everyone here.  For what we are about to receive may we be truly thankful.” He gave her hand a squeeze then looked her right in the eye.  Sadie thought she was going to slide from her chair and land in a puddle.  His eyes had a look she’d never seen before.  A determined look. A strong look.  One that said he would not be letting her out of his sight any time soon.

Sadie was a dead woman. Oh, not in a literal sens
e. But she was in danger just the same.  Harrison’s look, in that instant, spoke something even someone as inexperienced as shecould recognize.  It was so profoundly primal and masculine.  A look that said one thing loud and clear.
 
You’re mine.

“Sadie!  For Heaven’s sake child, pass the bread will you?” Grandma ordered.

Sadie pulled herself out of her stupor and reached for the plate of bread next to her. Doc chuckled as he began to dish up stew while her mother patted her leg reassuringly and took a sip of milk. 

Apparently Sadie wasn’t the only one who recognized the look on Harrison’s face.  And nobody was saying or doing anything to dispute it.

Traitors.

* * *

After the meal they took their pie and coffee in the parlor and chatted about the recent happenings concerning the Sheriff and his hunt for the outlaws.  Harrison said nothing of a guard being posted to watch the house and Sadie figured he didn’t want to worry her mother or Grandma.  But even if her mother was blissfully ignorant of what needed to be done, Grandma wasn’t.  Sadie watched as she peeked out the lace curtains to the street for at least the sixth time.

“Just what in tarnation are you looking at?”  Doc finally asked.

“I was just wondering why Henry Fig is sitting across the street a twirling his gun.  Boy’s been there for the past hour.  He should be home having supper with his wife.” She turned from the window to Sadie.  “Henry’s one of the few menfolk around here that has one.  You’d think he’d rush home to her after being gone for more than a week.”

“I think perhaps he’s waiting to get instructions from the Sheriff.” Harrison offered. “I heard him ask several of his men to stay behind in town to await further instructions.”

“Further instructions?”  Grandma began irritated.  “The only instruction any of those boys wants to hear after all they’ve been through is “eat up!”  I’d best fix him something.  He’s looking awful hungry sitting over there.”

“I’ll help you Grandma,” Sadie said as she stood and began to gather up the dessert plates.  Teresa stood also, slowly.  “No mama, you stay here unless you’d like to go upstairs.”

She smiled and sat.  “I think I’ll sit a while longer, then go up.  This has been the nicest day I can remember.” 

Everyone looked at her, realizing it was true.  How many evenings, over how many years had this woman never enjoyed such a simple thing as pie and coffee in a cozy parlor with folks who cared about her? Sadie smiled.  “I’m glad you enjoyed it because you’re going to have this every day!”

Teresa’s bottom lip quivered as her tears began to fall.

“Oh now don’t go starting none of that!” Grandma choked out.  “I gotta fix something for Henry then take it across the street!  Boy will be wondering who died over here if I hand him a dinner plate all teary eyed.”

Everyone laughed as Grandma stormed off into the kitchen, wiping her eyes as she went.  Sadie went to a table and picked up a small book.  “Here, this will entertain you.  It’s Grandmas.”

“What is it?”

“It’s called a penny dreadful.  They belonged to Harrison’s mother. She brought them from England when she came to America.  He gave some to Grandma. She loves them and they are quite exciting.”

Teresa took the little pamphlet-like book from her and smiled. “Thank you. Thank you again for everything.”