McKenna, (Sweet Western Historical Romance) (Nevada Brides Series Book 1) (7 page)

She heard him laugh for a moment and that was enough to make McKenna cringe. She didn’t want him to think she was interested in him that way. She was just looking to see how comfortable he might be on the floor. She just wouldn’t admit that she liked him at least a little. It was nice to hear about his family, and she wondered just how young he had been when his parents died. He had to have at least been young enough to not be able to bodily remove his parents from their plantation, not that it mattered. She imagined they wouldn’t have gone quietly even if that were the case.

Since she wasn’t able to sleep all she could think about was her sisters. Would they get on okay without her being there? Yes, they’d be fine; Abigail would make sure of that.

Soon, Cole’s breathing was even enough for her to know he was sleeping, and she nodded off not long afterward.

McKenna was bone-weary by the time they finally neared their destination many days later. Luckily, they had no further trouble on the way. When the driver called out that they were headed into Silver, McKenna practically stuck her head out of the window. Even Ethel and Bella scrambled over to get a look-see.

She was overwhelmed, not at what the town was, but what it wasn’t. Silver wasn’t what she’d expected at all. It was dirty and dusty, not to mention insufferably hot. Sweat was working into places she’d rather not mention.

They passed row after row of tents with grimy-faced men huddled over campfires, tin cups in their hands. There were some women, too, but they were just as dirty and appeared worn-out to the bone.

“I didn’t know there’d be women here, too,” McKenna said.

“They most likely work in the kitchen tent where the prospectors eat, some of them wives of the miners,” Ethel explained.

It was then that the stagecoach passed a much larger tent. Smoke escaped through a pipe peeking through the top of the makeshift kitchen facility, the fragrance of bacon and eggs wafting over to them.

When they finally made it to where there were building structures, there was only a bank, jail, saloon, and an empty building that had a ‘sold’ sign hanging in the window next to that. When McKenna glanced across the street, more buildings were being built and there was a restaurant, but she was shocked to see a store, which was already in place and quite open for business!
How will they ever be able to make a go of opening another store in this town if there already is one?

The stagecoach came to a halt and Cole jumped down and opened the door, helping McKenna down first before moving to assist the other ladies.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Bella said with a cockeyed smile.

The bags and suitcases were handed down. Cole took McKenna’s bag, but they hadn’t made it all that far when a man approached who wore a sheriff’s badge.

“I heard you had a little trouble on the way, Richard,” the sheriff said.

“What happened to the last sheriff?” Richard asked.

“You know how it is; the undertaker can’t make coffins fast enough for sheriffs in this town.” He laughed.

“Nice you can laugh about that, but it’s going to be weird calling you Sheriff Milford.”

“You can call me Hank, like always.”

“We were robbed by the Bart gang. They made off with the strongbox, but that’s all.”

“I know. I have the strongbox locked up at the bank. They caught up with them, or the strongbox at least. Seems like the gang wanted to escape more than they wanted the contents,” Hank explained.

“Blast it. I was hoping they’d be caught this time for sure. They shot Sam.”

“Just winged him, actually. He’ll recover nicely the men who brought the strongbox here said,” Hank informed him.

“If I’d have known we could have been robbed, I would have carried my money on my person,” Ethel said.

“Aren’t you William Braxton’s wife?” the sheriff asked. “You look just like the woman in the picture he carries around with him. He’s working his claim now.”

“Good, that means I have time to freshen up before I see him.”

“You can all check into the boarding house. It’s the best place in town to stay.”

“Not me,” Bella said. “I’m heading over to the saloon.” She strutted right over there, too, smiling wickedly at the men who passed her by.

“I’m sorry you had to be in the company of a woman like that, Miss,” Sheriff Milford said.

“I didn’t mind it. She’s a nice gal, but I can’t say the same for some others.”

Ethel slapped McKenna on the back with a laugh. “I like you, McKenna. You’re my type of woman.”

Charles glared at McKenna. “The sooner I part company with you, the better,” he said.

Cole took a step in Charles’s direction. “I’d watch how I spoke to my wife or about her.”

Albert grabbed his brother’s arm. “Let’s head to the saloon. I think we both need a drink.”

McKenna sighed. “Thanks, Cole. Will we be going to the boarding house now?”

“We need to head to the bank first. I’ve been in contact with a Mr. Smith,” he responded.

“Oh, yes. Mr. Smith handles all business transactions in town besides banking. He even weighs the gold prospectors bring in,” Hank explained.

“He sounds like a busy man,” McKenna said.

“Sure is. He should be in now if you need to see him,” the sheriff said.

Cole carried McKenna’s bag and handed it off to his brother, who’d just pulled up in the wagon. He then made his way into the bank with her by his side.

Inside, there were two windows with bars in front of it, presumably for the safety of whoever worked back there.

Cole went up to one of them and said, “I’m here to see Mr. Smith. I just came to town on the stagecoach.”

“And your name is?”

“Cole Winters, from Halston, Ohio.”

The woman didn’t move; a small, balding man with glasses walked out of an office that had the door open. “Come on in, Cole. I was hoping you’d show up soon.”

McKenna proceeded her husband into the room.

“Oh, Mrs. Winters. You can wait in the other room while us men do our business.”

“I certainly will not! Whatever business he is doing affects me, too.”

“Of course it does. I only meant that, well … you’re a woman.”

“A very strong-minded one,” Cole said. “And she’s right. We handle our business together since she’ll own half of whatever I buy.”

“Do you have the thousand dollars we agreed by telegram?”

“Before the money is handed out, I’d like to know what we’re buying,” McKenna stated.

“Why, the empty building next to the saloon. It’s a very sturdy building with rooms on the second floor for your living accommodations,” Mr. Smith said. “If you hadn’t gotten here today, I might have had to sell it to someone else. One never knows for sure if a buyer will actually show up.”

“I saw there was already a store in town,” McKenna commented.

“Yes. It’s owned by Miss Chastity Burke. Her father owns a shipping business in Reno, where most supplies are ordered from.”

That certainly didn’t make McKenna feel good at all. Would this Chastity’s father also deliver supplies to them when he found out they would be the competition?

“So, if you can give me the money for the building, I can sign the deed over to you,” Mr. Smith said, adjusting his glasses.

Cole took out his money and said, “I have the full thousand here.”

McKenna was speechless. “But I-I thought—”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Cole whispered.

McKenna didn’t know what was going on, but she’d certainly get to the bottom of it when they were alone.
He better not be trying to keep my name off that deed.

“Very well then,” Mr. Smith responded. He opened a drawer and pulled out a form. “Fill this out so the appropriate names are put on the deed.”

Cole put both their names on the form, handing it back to him.

“We’d like a receipt of payment,” McKenna insisted.

“I expected as much.” He moved over to his typewriter and put their names on the deed, handing it back to Cole with a set of keys from his desk. “It was nice doing business with you, Cole, Mrs. Winters.” He nodded in her direction.

Cole motioned for McKenna to leave before him.

Before they left, Mr. Smith said, “I wish you both good luck on your new business venture. Silver can certainly handle more than one store with the way prospectors keep coming to town.”

McKenna nodded at the man. “Thanks, Mr. Smith.”

They left the bank and Cole took her arm, leading her to the boarding house. Bret was waiting in the wagon and took the keys from Cole, handing McKenna’s bag to him and another suitcase, which she assumed belonged to Cole.

Inside the boarding house, it smelled like cigars and whiskey. Since there wasn’t a bar inside, it came from the men who walked past. They were dressed simply in trousers and button-up shirts—not stylish at all, but clean. McKenna didn’t know what to expect.

Cole rang a bell at the counter and a woman scurried over.

“Hello, Mister. Would you be needing a room for the night, or longer?”

“Name is Cole Winters. I believe I reserved a room for my wife and me. We’re from Ohio.”

“I suspect you are. Not too many people from here anymore. ‘Course, wouldn’t be a town at all if it wasn’t for the gold rush. It’s good for business at least.” She slid the check-in book over to him. “Sign here, Mr. Winters.”

After Cole signed, he paid the woman, and it gave McKenna another reason for pause. Who exactly was her husband?

“Your room is clean and there are fresh towels. Outhouse is in the back and so is the water pump if you need more water. You’ll find water in your room, too, for washing. Baths are a quarter each, but we’re all booked up until next week. A hot bath is a high commodity in Silver.”

“Thanks,” McKenna said.

“Go straight up the stairs and it’s the last room on the left. It has a nice view if you discount seeing the tent city and the back of the jail, but if you look on the horizon the mountains are a sight to see.”

McKenna nodded at the woman and Cole escorted her upstairs, holding her tightly to his side. She welcomed it since there were men milling around who made her nervous. She didn’t so much regret that she had a husband at that moment.

Once the door to their room was opened, McKenna went directly to the window. She snapped the curtains shut when men were behind the jail relieving themselves. “The view behind the jail is a sight I could do without.”

Cole smiled as he set the suitcases on the bed. “We won’t be staying here long, just until we’re able to clean the building that will house our mercantile store. We’ll be living upstairs. It’s quite sizable from what Mr. Smith said in the telegram.”

McKenna sat on the bed with a bounce. “I thought you wanted me to pay half of the business?”

“I changed my mind. A man can’t very well allow his wife to pay for half of a business. It’s just as much mine as yours.”

“Is that a way to trick me if I decide to no longer be your wife?”

“You should reserve your need to get away from me. Once you get to know me, you might not feel the same way.”

Cole pulled out his clothes and hung them in the closet while McKenna fumed. He couldn’t mean that he’d expect her to stay married to him! That wasn’t part of the arrangement.

McKenna stared over at the only bed in the room then at the floor. It certainly wouldn’t be comfortable for Cole to sleep there. “I suppose we’ll have to share the bed since I wouldn’t want you to sleep on the floor.”

“I hadn’t intended to sleep on the floor again, but don’t worry. I’d never force myself on a woman, even if she is my wife.”

“I-I—” McKenna bit her lower lip until it hurt. “That’s good to know.” She quickly turned her back since her heart beat so hard that her chest throbbed. She wanted to say that she never thought he’d ever force himself on her, but the words just wouldn’t come out. After all, she really had no idea what he would or wouldn’t do, but she certainly didn’t feel nervous being near him, unless he looked her in the eye.

“We’ll go over to the restaurant after you’ve put your things away.”

McKenna nodded and hung her dresses that were a little less fancy than what she had on. She was almost embarrassed when she put her underthings in the drawers, but Cole didn’t appear to be watching her. At least he must have understood that he would make her feel uncomfortable if he stared at her intently then.

After they were done unpacking, they went across the street and into the restaurant. McKenna could smell the fragrance of fresh bread when they walked in. Bret was in the far corner and waved them over. Cole pulled out her chair and they sat, looking over the handwritten menu.

“Nothing too fancy, but it’s the only restaurant in Silver,” Bret said.

An older woman came over, turned over their cups and filled them with coffee. “Hello, folks. You must be new in town.”

“I thought everyone was,” McKenna said with a smile.

“You have that right, but you don’t look like the type to be getting your hands dirty mining for gold.”

“Oh, I have no problem getting dirty if need be, but we’re opening a business here in town, a mercantile store.”

“That certainly won’t make Chastity Burke too happy. She already owns a store here in Silver, but there certainly is room for another one. She has her prices so high, most miners can’t even afford to buy a blanket.”

“I knew that mercantile store prices were high, but too high to afford a blanket?” McKenna questioned incredulously.

“A blanket isn’t a necessity, not when you need mining supplies like picks and shovels, but enough talk about that. We just had a delivery today, and pork chops and mashed potatoes are the special. I’m afraid we didn’t get any vegetables this time, but hopefully in a few days.”

McKenna was shocked, but it was understandable. “That sounds great to me.”