California Romance (14 page)

His belligerence took Matt by surprise, but he nodded. “All right. It won’t be the last time she will see trail dust.” He followed Seth to the horses Emilio held and vaulted into the saddle. “Make tracks,” he told his mount, and they headed for Madera.

The ten miles to town felt more like a hundred. Only Seth’s excited chatter and the anticipation of meeting Sarah in person kept Matt from goading his horse into a dead run. Would Sarah live up to her picture? Had her troubles taken a harsh toll on her spirit? More importantly could she ever feel the way about Matthew Sterling that he already felt about her?

At last they reached town. They permitted their horses to drink sparingly from the water trough then tethered them to the hitching post nearby. A moment later Evan Moore burst from the store/post office. “Where in blue blazes have you two been?” he yelled.

“Keep your shirt on,” Matt snapped. “Where’s S–Miss Anderson?”

“Workin’ at the Yosemite Hotel. The captain told her she could stay until you came.” He rubbed his glistening bald head. “She agreed only if she could work. She’s been—”

Matt’s and Seth’s boot heels drummed on the wooden sidewalk and drowned him out. “Thank God she’s safe,” Seth muttered when they reached the hotel.

“Yeah. Now beat some of the dust off your jeans and wipe off your boots,” Matt told him. “The captain runs a tight ship, and we look like a couple of scarecrows from a cornfield.” Seth obeyed, then—heart thudding out of all proportion—Matt led the way into the hotel dining room.

He didn’t need Seth’s joyous cry, “Sarah!” to identify the girl whose picture he carried. Her red-gold hair lay braided across her head. Her lake-blue eyes matched the sleeves of the sprigged calico gown peeping from beneath a white apron that enveloped her from the base of her neck to the top of her shoes.

Her heavily laden tray tipped and would have crashed to the floor if Seth hadn’t sprung forward and caught it. “Seth. Oh Seth!” The heartfelt cry and expression on her face told the story of what Sarah Joy Anderson had been through.

Seth laid the tray on a nearby table and wordlessly caught Sarah in his arms, but Matt hung back. Not for all the gold in California would he intrude on the long-delayed reunion. Instead, as skittish as a colt under his first saddle, he riveted his gaze on Sarah. Even the second photograph had not done her justice. She was the most beautiful young woman Matt had ever seen, with nothing but purity and honesty in her eyes. How different from Lydia’s coquetry! Thank God, Sarah was nothing like the haughty girl who turned him down.

“Boss, this is Sarah,” Seth said after what felt like an hour but was only a few minutes.

She extended a small, shapely hand and curtsied. “Mr. Sterling, I thank you for what you’ve done for my brother. I can never tell you what it means to me.”

He smiled. “Call me Matthew. Or Matt. We’re not much for ‘Mistering’ folks out here. Anyway, Seth carries his weight. You’ll see how much when we get to the ranch.”

“I’m sure I will when I come to visit.” Her eyes sparkled. “And please call me Sarah.”

“What do you mean, visit?” Seth sounded outraged “You’re going home with us today. ”

“No. I’ve accepted a full-time position waiting tables for Captain Mace. The road to Yosemite has opened; the tourist season is in full swing. I can’t impose further on your kindness, Mr….uh…Matthew. You’ve done enough for the Andersons, and I’m perfectly capable of making my own way.”

Matt was shocked speechless. Not take Sarah to the Diamond S? His plans to have her close by and try to win her love hit the floor with a thud. He started to protest. Instead the question that had burned in his soul ever since Gus Stoddard’s telegram arrived came out. “Sarah, are you promised in marriage?”

The next instant he felt like kicking himself to Fresno and back. But relief filled him when Sarah’s eyes shot sparks and she said, “Promised? God forbid! Gus sold me to Tice Edwards to pay back six thousand dollars in gambling debts, but I never agreed to marry the scoundrel.” Fear crept into her eyes. “I’m just afraid they will follow me. I dropped one of your letters, Seth.”

Seth glanced at Matt and reluctantly admitted, “He sent word you had run away and—”

Sarah’s face turned paper white. “He said he and Tice were coming, didn’t he?”

Matt couldn’t stand the agony in her sweet face. “Don’t worry about it. Folks out here have a way of getting rid of varmints. If Gus and Tice come, Sheriff Meade and the Diamond S boys will kindly advise them this part of the country isn’t healthy for St. Louis gamblers and their toadies.”

Red flags flew in her cheeks. “Thank you. That makes me feel better. You can’t know how hard it is to be alone with no one to help you.”

“Come back to the ranch with us then,” Seth insisted.

Sarah held her ground. No matter how hard Seth and Matt tried to talk her into staying at the Diamond S, she stubbornly refused.

Late that evening, after returning to the ranch empty-handed, Matt headed for the rise overlooking his spread. The full moon hung over the range. Stars dusted the vast expanse. Cattle lowed in the distance, and the soft cries of night birds filled the still air. “Lord, Sarah is everything Seth said and more. I feel like I’ve been run over by a stagecoach.” He threw his head back and laughed. “Just think. I once thought I was in love with Lydia Hensley!”

After Sarah saw Matt Sterling in person, she had more reason than ever to keep her job at the Yosemite Hotel. Her feelings of attraction had multiplied until she was secretly afraid to be near Matt on the Diamond S. Sarah knew she was falling deeper in love with the young rancher, but she didn’t fully trust her feelings. Her experiences with Gus and Tice kept her wary of giving herself to someone she hardly knew, even in the unlikely event Matt could someday care for her. It was best for her to stay far, far away from him.

She did, however, accept enough money from Seth to buy some decent clothes. The capacious aprons covered a multitude of deficiencies, but Sarah felt self-conscious wearing gowns with frayed collars and cuffs. One of the general stores carried ready-made dresses, so she selected two lightweight work gowns and a white muslin for church. Her mother’s dark blue was just too hot.

Sarah continued to make friends with her co-workers at the Yosemite, especially Abby Sheridan, who was a well of information about dark-haired, blue-eyed Matthew Sterling.

“He’s truly the most eligible bachelor in the entire county, maybe in the entire valley,” Sarah’s new best friend said during a break between customers. “His character and principles are above reproach.”

Sarah’s heartbeat quickened. “It’s sure good to know there are still honest men in the world,” she replied. But when she heard Matt’s praises sung over and over, against her will and common sense, Sarah began to daydream about the popular rancher once more.

One of the best things about working at the hotel was the opportunity for Sarah to live her Christian faith, planting seeds in the hearts and minds of her co-workers—especially Abby. Sarah’s quiet but fun-filled personality soon made her a favorite with both regular customers and her fellow workers. At times she even forgot Gus and Tice.

Her idyllic world shattered whenever Red Fallon swaggered into the dining room. Matt had fired him after the spring roundup, tired of trying to keep him and Seth apart. In spite of being a top hand, Red was more trouble than he was worth.

Rumor had it that Red held a grudge against both Matt and Seth. It made Sarah shiver. From the first time Red saw Sarah, he dogged her steps. His bold gaze followed her every minute he was in the hotel dining room. He tried to walk with her on the street, paid her numerous compliments, and did all he could to get her to notice him.

Sarah actively disliked the obnoxious cowhand. She knew her rebuffs to Red’s advances stung his pride, and she avoided waiting on him whenever she could. His biding-my-time look frightened her.

One Saturday after supper Sarah looked around the dining room and gave a contented sigh. The room was deserted. A medicine show had set up across the street from the hotel, and folks of all ages had hearkened to the
boom
,
boom
of the big brass drum.

She glanced out the window and smiled. The crowd looked tantalized by whatever entertainment the hawker was offering—probably an elixir that would cure everything from warts to summer complaint.

No matter
, she thought.
The medicine show will allow me to finish my work earlier than usual
. Seth had promised to come see her, and she was looking forward to spending precious time with her brother.

“Go ahead,” Sarah told Abby, who was helping her tidy up. “I’ll finish here. I saw plenty of medicine shows in St. Louis and don’t care about going.”

“Are you sure?” Abby whispered with a pointed glance at Red, who was lounging in the doorway.

“Don’t be silly,” Sarah whispered back. “Bullies like Red waylay girls in alleys, not in hotel dining rooms. Besides—”

“Besides,” Abby mimicked, “just maybe a certain Diamond S rancher will drop by like he often does on Saturday nights.”

Sarah felt herself blush, but she laughed and retorted, “And just maybe you think my brother might be in town and at the show.”

Her pretty, dark-haired friend grinned impishly. “Tit for tat. Thanks. I’ll freshen up first.” She disappeared through a side door into the hall, where a stairway led to the second-story rooms.

Before Abby’s footsteps died away, Red strode into the dining room and started in with his usual effusive compliments.

Sarah ignored him. She took a deep breath and concentrated on a final tidying of her assigned tables. But she couldn’t still her shaking hands.

“You and me oughta get hitched,” Red insisted, coming up behind her. “No sense for a purty little gal like you to slave away here when you could be takin’ care of me.” He reached out and touched her shoulder.

Sarah whirled at his touch. She slapped Red’s hand away and fixed him with a haughty gaze. “Keep your hands away from me, Mr. Fallon. I like my job here and intend to keep it. Now, get out.”

Red’s face turned a dusky red. “I’ll teach you!” he raged. “Just like I’da taught your brother if Matt Sterling woulda kept his nose out of my business.” He grabbed Sarah’s shoulders and tried to pull her to him.

Biting pain and Red’s reference to Seth and Matt freed Sarah from the horror of the moment. Horror she’d too often felt when Gus jerked her around. Fury gushed through her veins like water from a broken dam. Never again would Sarah allow any man to lay rude hands on her.

She jerked one arm free and swung at him with all the strength gained from hard work.

Crack!

The open-handed slap staggered Red and etched her fingerprints on his dangerously red face.

S
arah’s ringing slap was not meant for Red alone. The rage behind it was payback for the mistreatment she had received from Gus Stoddard. Naked hatred sprang into Red’s steel-gray eyes. A curse made Sarah want to clap her hands over her ears. He lunged for her, arms extended and fingers curled into fists.

Sarah was too quick for him. She scurried around the table she’d just finished tidying. Regardless of the white cloth, shining cutlery, plates, bowls, and glasses set up for breakfast, she shoved the heavy table with all her might. It crashed into Red, hitting him in the stomach. He groaned and doubled over. His clawlike hands flew to his belly.

“How does it feel to be bested by a girl?” Sarah taunted. “You’re a yellow coward and a bully, Red Fallon. No wonder Matthew Sterling fired you. After folks hear about this, you won’t be able to get a job on any ranch in the valley.” She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Why hadn’t she controlled her unruly tongue and kept still? The anger in Red’s eyes showed he was not only obnoxious but downright dangerous as well.

“You wildcat!” He sprang around the overturned table but groped thin air.

Always quick stepping, Sarah knew her fury lent wings to her feet.
Why doesn’t someone come? I need help
. Her heart sank. With all the commotion in the street, there was little likelihood anyone would hear the noise in the dining room. Sarah skipped behind another table and sent it flying.

Red stepped out of the way. Before she could barricade herself again, his long legs strode toward her. His face darkened into an ugly scowl. He let loose a string of oaths reminiscent of Gus Stoddard at his worst. Then he backed Sarah against the wall. When she tried to scream, Red put a huge paw over her mouth and gloated at her futile attempts to free herself. Triumph shone in his contorted features. “I’ve got you now!”

Never had Sarah known such terror, not even when she faced down the saloon owner in Denver with Seth’s wooden pistol. Her slender frame was no match for the hulking cowhand.