Lips That Touch Mine (50 page)

“All right,” she said, heaving a defeated
sigh. “I suppose we have no other choice. But you four must promise
to be on your best behavior.”

“Fine,” Iris said, “but don’t you forget your
part of our bargain. You promised to use your pretty face to get a
marriage proposal from a man who can protect us from Judge
Stone.”

“Surely you don’t expect me to marry one of
those men who proposed to me?” Faith shuddered, remembering the
rangy, leather-faced man who’d caught her in the yard while they
were first moving plants into the greenhouse. He had kindly carried
in several flats of herbs, but he was twice her age and dense as a
brick. A young store owner had offered her credit if she would
allow him to court her, but his intense interest in the bodice of
her dress sent her from the store empty-handed.

“Dahlin’, I wouldn’t let you cross the street
with either of those men,” Tansy said, “but I’d push you straight
into the marriage bed with that handsome sheriff.”

“Are you insane? The last person I want
snooping around here is a lawman.”

“But who better to have defending our lives
than the sheriff?” Iris gave her a bold wink. “Can you imagine
having a man like him in your bed?”

Yes, she could. In one short visit she’d
noticed too much about the handsome sheriff. He was a take-charge
man, a man in control of himself, a sharp-eyed investigator aware
of everything around him. His dark eyes had sized her up within
seconds of their introduction. His smile said he liked what he saw,
but she sensed a fierce resolve in him that scared her to
death.

END

For more of Duke Grayson's story read
KISSING IN THE DARK
by Wendy Lindstrom

Electronic Books by Wendy Lindstrom

Historical Romances:

Shades of Honor

The Longing

Lips That Touch Mine

Kissing in the Dark

Fredonia,
New York is the site of the first Women's Christian Temperance
Union, formed December 22, 1873. The women of Fredonia are credited
with being one of the first women's groups to visit saloons to
protest the dangers of alcohol.

Much of my research on the temperance
movement in Fredonia came from the
Fredonia Censor
newspaper; however, I was unable to determine a definitive outcome
of the marches. The temperance marches began on December 14, 1873
with great fervor. By August 1874, the
Censor
writes that
"...enthusiasm has abated somewhat of its zeal." An article in the
Evening Observer
(March 30, 1891) references a visit by
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) to Fredonia in August 1874, wherein Mr.
Twain was purported irritated by his "...inability to find a drink
in temperance-happy Fredonia."

For the sake of historical accuracy, please
note that the sheriff of Fredonia in 1873-1874 was Sheriff
Hitchcock, the Pemberton Inn was not a saloon, Wreinsler Saloon did
not exist, and there was no mention of a boycott taking place in
Fredonia. Most importantly, my sources did not mention any
incidents of violence taking place during the marches in
Fredonia.

The small liberties I've taken with the
setting and history of Fredonia are meant to heighten the
excitement and fun of this story. I hope you enjoy Claire and
Boyd's story.

—W.L.