McKenna, (Sweet Western Historical Romance) (Nevada Brides Series Book 1) (14 page)

Warren Burke stood in Winters Mercantile. “I see you’re off to a good start here in Silver.” His bushy brows jumped as he spoke. “I’m sorry Chastity has been such a problem, but I blame myself for that. Her mother died when she was quite young and I’ve spoiled her, but that’s no excuse for her preventing shipments from coming into Silver. I’m in the business to make sure folks in the mining towns get what they need.” He motioned McKenna and Cole to join him outside. “As you can see, I brought you the original stock you ordered. I also have a team of men who will bring it in, too. I can see your opening week about cleaned you out.”

“It certainly did,” McKenna agreed. “I was shocked, really.”

“Well, don’t be. There’s plenty of money to be made by all.”

Chastity strutted across the street, her hands slipping to her hips. “Did you bring the supplies for them?”

“Yes, daughter, and don’t even start complaining about it. You’re an embarrassment to me. You’re lucky Sheriff Milford overlooked your hand in having those men set fire to Winters Mercantile.”

“But, Daddy, I didn’t have anything to do with that. I just merely suggested that I wished I could do something about them opening their store.”

Warren’s brow arched. “What do you take me for, a fool?”

Chastity looked at the ground. “No. I promise I won’t do anything like that again.”

“You certainly won’t. You will no longer have a hand in the orders. You’ve cost me quite a sum and in the future, each wagon driver will be collecting the orders and filling them in Reno.”

Chastity raised her brow. “But you can’t do that.  How else will I ever keep in business?”

“Miners aren’t ordering mining equipment; they order food supplies.” He turned to Cole. “I’m also donating food for the kitchen tent. We can’t have these men and women starve.”

“I’ll never stay in business with them charging less than I do,” she whined.

“Then you’ll have to figure out how to compete with them. I have faith in you, Chastity.”

Warren strode across the street and disappeared in his daughter’s store, Chastity hot on his heels. She gave McKenna a parting look of venom, but it was to be expected, and she knew Chastity would continue to be a thorn in their side.

Two wagons rolled forward and four men began to unload them, carrying the boxes and crates into Winters Mercantile. McKenna went inside, telling the men where to put the items while Cole and Bret helped unload.

They had gotten there right on time since they barely had any supplies left to sell. More miners had rolled into town just that morning, too.

McKenna was setting brightly colored material on a table and Grace was chatting nonstop about a dress her sister Joslyn was making for McKenna.

“That is kind of her, but I can make do with what I own already.”

“Who do you think asked her to make the dress?” Cole asked with a wink.

She threw her arms around her husband. “I’m not sorry I married you.”

“That’s good, because I’m not planning to let you out of my sight.”

“Since Grace and her sisters now work for us, who is working the tent kitchen?” McKenna inquired.

“Don’t worry about that,” Grace said. “There are plenty of other women in need of a job. It’s not so bad to work in the kitchen.”

“I’m glad you think that. The cookies you made last week were our best sellers.”

“Thanks. That reminds me; I better take a look and see how the roast is doing.”

When Grace went up the stairs and Bret wasn’t lurking close by, McKenna pulled her husband’s face down to hers, giving him a kiss, a promise of what was to come later that night.

As Cole stepped back, he said, “Don’t forget to write to your sisters today. They need to know you’re okay, that
we
are.”

“I did that last night when you were sleeping. I’ll give it to Bret to take back with him when he goes back to Ohio.”

Cole smiled and McKenna’s heart swelled more than she thought possible. When Uncle Abner had taken her parents’ store from them, she thought all was lost, with no real prospects, but along came Cole to save the day. She left Ohio for an uncertain future, married to a stranger, but McKenna lost her heart to Cole under the hot Nevada sun in this dry and dusty mining town they called home.

Clara Kincaid was a voracious reader of historical romances in her teenage years, but it wasn’t until now that she dipped her feet into the publishing water.

Animal-lover Clara hails from Michigan where she raises two teenagers single-handedly with a slew of pets from dogs to lizards. It’s even commonplace to see an escapee cricket on occasion. It’s all in a day of the life of a full-time writer who didn’t shy away from making her dreams a reality.

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Check out book two in the Nevada Brides Serie
s
Cadence