His Tempting Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 5) (4 page)

“And this is Cody,” Miriam went on with a casual wave, picking up her teacup. “You met him.”

Cody rolled his eyes, then smiled at Miles and offered his hand to shake. “Juan told me all about you and your band of players at the Silver Dollar yesterday.”

“He did?” Miles remained impassive as ever, letting Libby’s hand go to shake Cody’s. “Nice things, I hope.”

“Sure.” Cody grinned. “I hear you folks need to sing for your supper.”

Libby coughed—to cover a laugh, Miriam expected. Miles flushed and chuckled. Miriam could have bonked Cody over the head with the teapot
and
the plate of scones.

“We are in need of an audience, that much is true,” Miles said.

“Well, we don’t have a theater—” Cody shot a glance to Miriam. “—but we do have a church and this here hotel. We even have a schoolhouse with a big assembly room. Think you could mount a production in any of those spots?”

“Oh, yes,” Libby added. “It would be a wonderful thing for Haskell to have a theatrical performance. We don’t see anything of the sort most of the time.”

Miles turned a generous smile on Libby, darting a curious look at Miriam halfway through. “I’m afraid without a proper theater—or at least a stage with a curtain and certain lighting and staging features, it would be difficult to produce our show.”

“We could build something,” Cody suggested.

Miriam didn’t know if she wanted to kick him under the table or take his idea and run with it. Surely the elements of their standard scenic design wouldn’t be that complicated to reproduce, given the right materials.

“I wish it were possible,” Miles sighed, “but we simply don’t have the ready cash to pay for building supplies.”

Cody shrugged. “Howard’s got loads of cash. Rex Bonneville too, though he’d be a harder sell.”

Miles looked lost, and Miriam was just as flummoxed.

“Howard Haskell,” Libby said, face lighting up. “Why, I’m certain Howard would advance the money to build a proper set. It’s just the sort of scheme he loves, or so I’m told.”

“There’d be no harm in asking,” Cody said.

“Even so,” Miles said, a new light of possibility in his eyes. “It would take some time to build what we need before we could raise the curtain.”

“Which would mean you would be guests in our town for, oh, it could be weeks.” Libby positively glowed as she said it. Worse still, she glanced between Miriam and Cody as if more than one drama was about to be mounted.

“I don’t know,” Miriam began, tracing her finger around the rim of her teacup.

“It would be refreshing to be able to stay in one place for a spell.” Miles looked around the hotel restaurant, a wistful spark in his eyes. “If we could afford it.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” Libby said. “If you manage to get Howard to fund your production, I’m certain you could ask for the price of lodging at the same time.”

“Heck, yeah,” Cody added. “And I’m certain Howard would go for it too.”

“Where do I find his Howard Haskell person?” Miles asked.

“He’ll be at the town meeting tonight,” Cody said. “You could come along.” He asked Miles the question, but his glance drifted to Miriam.

There was something about Cody Montrose’s eyes that made Miriam feel as though she were being sized up and undressed at the same time. She took a sip of her tea, praying that Miles would give up on the idea, forget the idea…embrace the idea, pursue the idea.

No. No, the last thing she needed was to be stranded in the same town with the man she’d chickened out of marrying. Especially when he had such broad shoulders and strong legs and such a square jaw and handsome face.

“I think I will come with you to speak to Howard Haskell,” Miles said, crushing and raising Miriam’s hopes at once. “The worst he can say is no.”

Haskell’s town hall stood immediately next door to The Cattleman Hotel, but Miriam still felt as though the short walk down Elizabeth Street sucked years from her life. A bitter wind blew down off the mountains around them, biting at her cheeks and snapping through the seams of her clothes. It was so cold that she threw caution to the wind and huddled against Juan for warmth as they made the hundred-foot dash. Miles and Mr. Gunn hurried along behind them, the wind carrying away whatever it was they were discussing in animated voices. Madame Kopanari and the twins were smart enough to stay tucked away in their hotel rooms.

“Ah,” Miriam exclaimed in relief as soon as they ducked into the considerably warmer front lobby of the town hall. “That’s so much better. With wind like that, I’m surprised anyone would actually choose to live in this place.”

She meant the remark to be casual and directed at Juan, but as she finished and turned in the process of unwinding the scarf from her head, she saw Cody standing five feet away. His expression was downright hurt. That pain reflected right back into Miriam, leaving her gut in knots and her heart aching.

“But I suppose it has other things to recommend it?” She tried to save the situation.

Cody’s pitiful look morphed to something a little too close to resentment for Miriam’s liking. “Not everyone is cut out for living in a place as forward-thinking and industrious as Haskell.”

Ouch. But then, she probably deserved it.

As she unbuttoned her wool coat she said, “I suppose I could get used to the weather. I’m certain it’s lovely in summer.”

“Not that you’ll be here come summer,” Cody fired back. He didn’t give Miriam a chance to defend herself—or dig out of the hole she’d landed herself in—before raising his hand to catch the attention of someone behind her. “Howard. Here they are.”

Everything else was forgotten and Miriam’s spirits rose as she twisted to see if she could pick out the man who could help them. The town hall was not quite as large as the hotel, but it was still of considerable size, and at the moment, the lobby was crowded.

When she’d first come in, she’d noticed a large set of double-doors standing open opposite the entrance, which led to what looked like a council chamber. Other smaller doors lined the two walls on either side. Cody waved toward an open door on one side as a tall, broad, older man in a bespoke suit was just stepping out of what looked like an office.

“Cody!” He returned Cody’s wave with bombastic enthusiasm and started across the room. People stepped out of his way automatically, and though they smiled and nodded to the man, he didn’t interrupt their conversations. “Are these the delightful performers you were telling me about?” he asked once he was part of their circle.

“Howard, I’d like you to meet Miles Kopanari, Juan Bertran, and…Miriam Long.” Cody mumbled her name.

Howard Haskell brightened as if it was Christmas morning and he’d just unwrapped the gift of his dreams. Miriam didn’t know whether to laugh at him or with him.

“Miriam Long!” Howard’s exclamation—loud enough for the entire room to hear—sapped every bit of Miriam’s desire to laugh. Her smile tightened to the point of cracking as Howard said, “I know all about you. My charming daughter-in-law, Corva, tells me that you’re a treasure and a half. Weren’t you supposed to marry Cody here back in November?”

Miriam flushed, the heat of embarrassment banishing any hint of cold she had left. Cody squirmed on his spot, his expression flashing between annoyed and ashamed. Neither emotion looked right on him. Her own awkwardness didn’t feel right in her. There was nothing for it but to pretend everything was sunshine and roses.

“It seems that fate had other plans,” she told Howard with her grandest Daphne Diamond smile. She even went so far as to raise her hand.

Howard played along, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips and the bushy moustache over them with a chuckle that vibrated through the entire room. “Fate will just have to change its mind, then,” he said. “I’m a fantastic judge of character, if I do say so myself, and I like you.”

“I like you as well, Mr. Haskell,” Miriam replied, meaning every syllable.

“Psht! Howard. Call me Howard. My late, lamented father was Mr. Haskell.”

Miriam’s spirits fluttered even higher. “All right, then, Howard.” She sent a coy glance in Cody’s direction, curious what he thought of the introduction. “Cody told us you might be able to help our troupe, but he didn’t mention how jolly you are.”

Cody’s brow flew up as if she’d accused him of thievery. “I—”

“Cody has a knack for cutting straight to the heart of things.” Howard stopped Cody with a grin, thumping him on the shoulder so hard Cody sagged. “That’s what makes him such a valued employee.” Howard added a wink.

“Right,” Cody said, standing taller, but blinking as if trying to catch up to the conversation.

He was saved by Howard’s question, “So, what kind of help does your intrepid troupe require?”

This time, Miriam kept her mouth shut and deferred to Miles. Miles stepped smoothly forward, offering Howard his hand. “Miles Kopanari, sir.”

“Howard, Howard,” Howard insisted, shaking Miles’s hand vigorously. “You must be the leader of this merry band.”

“I am, sir.” Miles paused for a moment, then gestured to Juan. “And this is Señor Juan Bertran, one of our actors, and a brilliant practitioner of Spanish guitar.”

“I love Spanish guitar,” Howard boomed, shaking Juan’s hand with enough force to pull his arm out its socket. “I’d love to hear you play sometime.”

“That is precisely why we have come to you for help,” Miles said.

As concisely as he could, Miles spelled out the history and purpose of the Kopanari Company, discreetly laying out their financial woes and the need of a well-attended performance to see them through to the next part of their journey. Miles was far better at appealing to the business aspect of their troubles than Miriam ever could have been.

As Miles spoke, she inched closer to Cody. He wasn’t really still angry with her, was he? She peeked up at him, venturing a welcoming smile. Cody was paying attention to what Miles was saying, but when Miriam swayed close enough to bump him, his glance shifted to her. His lips twitched into a grin and for a moment he leaned toward her. Then he seemed to realize what he was doing and stood straighter, taking a step away.

Miriam sighed, uncertain if she wanted to apologize or smack Cody for being stubborn.

“Why, that sounds like an excellent idea,” Howard declared, letting Miriam—and half the room—know that Miles had finished his plea. “A theatrical event at this time of year would be just the thing to boost morale.”

Miriam breathed an inward sigh of relief. Performing meant payment. Payment meant she could put worry on hold for a few more weeks. And performing in Haskell meant the possibility of spending more time with Cody.

No, she hadn’t just thought that, had she?

“And I applaud Gunn’s suggestion of drawing from the population of Haskell for additional acts for the show. The children especially will be eager to participate,” Howard went on.

“Children? How lovely.” Miriam beamed from Miles to Mr. Gunn and on to Howard. She’d completely missed that part of Miles’s proposal, but what a good idea it was. She loved children, had once even imagined having dozens of her own. She flickered a glance up to Cody, then bit the inside of her lip and forced herself to focus.

“Come.” Howard threw out an arm toward the double-doors. “Let’s get this meeting started so you can have a chance to appeal to the citizens of my fair town.”

Howard’s announcement was heard by the entire lobby. It was all the signal people needed to cut short their conversations and head into the other room. Howard marched ahead of Miriam’s group, but the rest of the citizens of Haskell who were in attendance were welcoming as everyone shuffled into the main hall.

The council chamber of Haskell’s town hall bore a startling resemblance to illustrations Miriam had seen of the House and Senate Chambers of the Capitol Building in Washington DC, only in miniature.

“Howard has always had a flare for the dramatic,” she overheard Mr. Gunn tell Miles as he showed them to a bench where they could sit for the meeting. “He wanted to replicate the façade of the Capitol Building as well, but fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.”

Miriam giggled at the explanation and took a seat between Miles and Juan. No sooner had their backsides hit the bench when Juan rose to his feet again and shifted to the side. Before she could ask what he was doing, Cody plopped down into the seat Juan had vacated.

“Figured you might need someone to explain things to you,” Cody told her, keeping his eyes on the front of the room.

“That’s very considerate of you, Mr. Montrose,” Miriam said. Considerate, yes. So was the warmth of his large body beside hers. Not that her body needed much help heating up at the moment. Her heart raced with expectation.

“Let’s bring this meeting to order.” Howard marched up to the rather throne-like seat at the front center of the room. He picked up a gavel and banged it on something hidden past the edge of the desk in front of his seat, but he didn’t sit. “Gentlemen…and ladies…please take your seats.”

Another minute or so was spent getting everyone organized. Miriam recognized Athos Strong, the stationmaster, from the day before as he took one of the chairs at the front of the room beside Howard’s grand desk. Another man in an expensive suit sat on his other side, and—to Miriam’s surprise—an older woman beside him. Miriam’s brow rose further at the sight of a distinguished man of color sitting on Howard’s opposite side. The man who sat next to him was dressed in an odd combination of normal clothes and Indian buckskins. The last man on that side was dressed as expensively as Howard, and was the only one who wore a peevish expression instead of a smile. Four young ladies in overly fancy dresses sat on the last observer’s bench on that side, three of them whispering furiously to him, the other looking pale and sickly.

“That’s Rex Bonneville.” Cody leaned closer to her as he whispered. “He owns the ranch that competes with Paradise Ranch. Those are his daughters, probably causing trouble as usual.”

“I see.” Miriam scooted closer to him.

“The man in the buckskin is Aiden Murphy. He’s the Indian Agent for the area. Next to him is Solomon Templesmith, our town banker. On Howard’s other side is Athos Strong from the train station, Charlie Garrett, who owns The Cattleman Hotel and half the other businesses in town, and on the end is Virginia Piedmont, half owner of Paradise Ranch and Howard’s sister.”

“Ah.” Miriam nodded in understanding. “Is she—”

She didn’t have a chance to finish her question.

“Tonight’s business involves discussion about improving the baseball field by installing more bleachers, hiring two new teachers to accommodate the growth of Haskell’s school, and constructing a new road to allow for more residential properties,” Howard began. “But first.”

He paused and sought their party out, then gestured to Miles.

“First, I’d like to start by introducing a few guests in town. Miles, come up here.”

Miles rose and edged his way along the row of benches to the aisle. As he did, Miriam was jostled against Cody. Cody caught her, looping a supportive arm around her back. By the time Miles made it to the aisle and headed to the front of the room, Cody’s arm was still braced against Miriam. A ghost of a smile flittered across Miriam’s lips. She waited, tense, hoping Cody wouldn’t notice how close they now were. She liked sitting close to him. She liked his rugged, ranch-y smell, the softness of his jacket, the firmness of the muscle underneath. Why, he was close enough that if he turned his head just a little, and if she tilted her lips up…

“…and his troupe of brilliant performers would like to put on a show here in town.” Howard’s bombastic speech yanked Miriam’s thoughts away from avenues they had best not travel. “But in order to do it, they need capital to build sets and stages.”

“Yes.” Miles picked up where Howard left off, turning on every bit of his gypsy charm. “We are used to borrowing whatever sets and properties the theaters we are booked to perform in have available, but Haskell doesn’t have a theater.”

“Yet!” Howard interrupted.

Miles nodded to him with a grin. “Mr. Haskell here…”

“
Howard
,” Howard insisted.

“Howard is of the opinion that the town would be willing to participate—financially and practically—in the mounting of a production.”

“Financially?” Rex Bonneville spoke up from the far end of the front benches. He’d shifted so far to the side that it almost looked as though his daughters were in a cabal with him. “What do you mean by that? How much of my money are you planning on spending?”

“Well,” Miles began with a self-deprecating smile. “We are a small outfit. Most of our acts can be achieved with minimal—”

“Where is your sense of scope, Bonneville?” Howard rode over him. “Where is your sense of scale? It is irrelevant what price mounting this production brings with it, as it will entertain and involve our entire town.”

“I have no interest in throwing away my money on a frivolity,” Bonneville growled.

“What do you mean by involving the entire town?” Mr. Murphy, the Indian Agent, asked, surprising Miriam with his Irish brogue.