On the Mountain (20 page)

“I’ll give you a list of items I need for the party tomorrow night.”

“I can pick them up myself.”  He shoved the fork into his mouth and swallowed the contents.

“Thank you, Wade, however I prefer a female’s choice in some of the matters and I really need to be here to organize the decorations.”

“I wasn’t planning on coming back till late.”  He reminded her.

“That’s all right.  I won’t need these items until tomorrow.”  Wade still didn’t look pleased, causing his sister to ask, “Is there another problem?”

“Of course not,” Wade mumbled knowing she’d only thwart any he offered.  The door to the kitchen opened and the subject of their conversation came in to remove their dirty dishes.  “Anna, be ready to go into town in an hour’s time.”

She looked surprised and he turned his attention away from her.

“I have a list of supplies I need picked up in Lantern.  If you could give Wade a hand?”  Kathleen explained and Anna nodded vaguely before slipping out of the room.  He had a feeling she was not looking forward to the trip either.

Wade finished his meal, then took his coffee into the great room and sat next to the huge fireplace.  Looking around, he hardly recognized the place, it was already beginning to look entirely different.  The crew Kathleen hired to come in and set up the house for the Christmas ball had basically removed every stick of furniture in the room and replaced it with tables and chairs that looked like they belonged in a church’s community center rather than his living room.

Less than an hour later, he was outside hitching Sty to a wagon when Anna came running toward him.  A look of slight panic creased the otherwise flawless skin above her brows, causing him to wonder if she feared his anger if she were late.  Sighing heavily at this thought, he reached in the back of the utility box and produced a blanket for the long drive.  Anna had come around and perched herself on the back of the wagon.  He frowned and felt slightly irritated.  She may still want to disguise herself as a boy, but he knew differently.

“Sit up front.”

She looked surprised and hesitated before climbing back down and heading for the front of the wagon.  Wade waited for her and with a hoist lifted her up onto the two seated bench.  He went around the horse and climbed up alongside her then draped the warm wool blanket over them both.  With a click of his tongue he drove the horse off the homestead and toward the path that led to town.

* * *

The ride was not long into Lantern.  Just over an hour later, Wade pulled Sty and the wagon into the livery then climbed down and headed around to Anna’s side.  She didn’t wait for him and quickly jumped to the ground.

“Prescott says that Elizabeth has asked about your health,” he stated.  “It would probably be courteous of you to go over and say hello.  I’ve got some business to do in the bank and then plan on getting a shampoo and cut.”

Her eyes didn’t stray from his face while he talked.

“Do you have Kathleen’s list?”

She nodded.

“Good, I’ll meet you at the mercantile in about forty-five minutes and help you pick out the items.”  He walked off toward a building nearest to them while Anna turned toward the restaurant.

Elizabeth had been kind and she did look forward to seeing her again.  The woman’s plain but friendly face looked up from a table she was serving, upon Anna’s entrance.  She smiled fondly and came over to take her arms in her hands.

“How good to see you, Peter.  I’ve hoped you’ve been well.”

Anna nodded and looked around the establishment.  There were several full tables and she felt suddenly like an intruder and a nuisance.  However, Elizabeth drew her over to an empty table and sat her down.

“I’ll get you a plate of food and a cup of coffee.  Your cheeks are cherry red from that long drive.”

Instinctively, Anna raised her hand to touch her cheek, however since she was still wearing her leather gloves, felt nothing.

“Take off your coat and stay awhile.”  She glanced toward the entrance of the restaurant.  “Did you come with Wade or Prescott?”

Elizabeth glanced back at her silence and gave her an apologetic smile.

“Wade?”

Anna nodded.

“Is he planning on returning shortly?”

Anna shook her head.

The woman gave her a knowing smile and hurried off to fetch Anna’s food.  She returned presently with two mugs of warm coffee.  Taking the seat opposite her, Elizabeth told her that she had worried about her since her last visit.  She had asked Prescott many times how the ranch boy was doing and how she hoped he would make a return visit, but this time in better health.  She then inquired as to how she found the Haddock’s sister on which Anna nodded her head and smiled.

As usual, Elizabeth’s cooking was delicious.  She served her mouth-watering fried chicken and sliced potatoes, and before Anna knew it, it was time she headed over to the mercantile.  The woman was such nice company, she almost hated to leave.

“I’ve been invited to Kathleen’s Christmas ball, so I’m sure I’ll see you there tomorrow.”

Anna felt her smile waver.  She would be a servant at the event, not a guest.  It would be considered inappropriate for her to talk to the guests.  Exchanging their farewells on the boardwalk outside Elizabeth’s restaurant, she turned and headed for the store.

Across the road, she noticed the constable as he walked leisurely along the opposite boardwalk watching her closely.  His steely gaze not wavering in the least.  She found herself hurrying faster and nearly knocked over an older lady exiting the mercantile.

The woman mumbled something about careless teenage boys, but Anna ignored her and headed straight for Wade who was already in the shop.  He looked up from the item he was pursuing, then down into her face.

“You all right?”

She nodded, but stayed close to him nevertheless.

Wade had other ideas.  “Where’s the list?  If I read it to you, do you think you can remember?”

She gave a short nod.

“Perfect.  Take your time.” He paused to study her briefly before quickly looking away.  “I’m going to head over to the saloon.”

The mention of the saloon left her gut feeling raw, however, it was the unexpected and overwhelming need to stay near him that took precedence.  Alarm lit her eyes and she tried desperately to calm herself, realizing how ridiculous this unwarranted anxiety was.  She ran a shaky hand along the back of her neck.  Wade frowned.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She drew in her bottom lip and suddenly felt very nervous.  Lord, she had to get control of herself.

“Right then.”  He stepped away from her and left the shop.

Anna tried to remain put as long as she could, but this sudden panic attack was having the best of her.  She turned and quickly left the shop.  Outside on the boardwalk, she saw Wade heading back up town toward the saloon.  Her mind raced trying desperately to think of a reason to call him back.  The practical portion of her brain told her how foolish she was behaving and to go back inside the store, but it was the other half that was watching as his form grew further and further away.  Without hesitation, she ran after him.

Wade spun around, startled at her unexpected appearance.  “What is it Anna?”

As soon as her name slipped past his tongue, he realized his mistake and quickly looked around to make sure no one overheard.  “What are you doing?”

She had no words to offer.

His eyes bore into her face, making her feel even more foolish.  Cursing, he snatched her arm in a tight grip and marched her up toward the saloon.  “This is your own bloody fault.”

Inside, he deposited her on a stool before taking the one next to hers.  “If Kathleen got wind I took you to a saloon, I’d never hear the end of it.  Not a bloody word of this to her, understood?”

She nodded and he studied her with angry eyes before running a frustrated hand through his hair.  “Two bourbons, Vern.”

Anna shuffled in her stool uncomfortably, shaking her head.  She didn’t care for the drink and certainly didn’t want it.

“Don’t worry.”  He seemed to read her mind.  “They’re for me.  Wouldn’t do to bring you back drunk.”

He nodded at the bartender who placed the two glasses in front of him.  In one swift gulp, he polished off the first glass, smacked his lips, and then downed the second one.  “Listen, kid, I don’t want any repeats of last time.  Keep your scrawny ass planted on that there stool until I return.  And just to be sure, I’ll be locking the door.”

Anna looked up the flight of stairs and knew exactly what Wade was referring to, and she felt an anger heat the pit of her stomach.

He heaved a large sigh and pushed himself off his stool.  “Don’t go all righteous on me now, after all, I was to have you wait at the mercantile.”

Her eyes flashed angrily at him before she could stop herself.  Thankfully, however, his attention was not on her, but the second floor instead.

“Stay put, kid.”

Anna was fuming.  She had an overwhelming urge to hit him, to lash out and hurt him as he was hurting her.  Turning away from his departing figure, she bit her bottom lip hard and fought the urge to cry.  She would not let his lewd act bring her to tears.  Squeezing her lids shut, she attempted to erase the image that came to mind.  Hard as she tried she could not forget that horrific scene she had barged into when they were last at the saloon. 

Distant voices drifted over to her still form and an unexpected dark chill ran down her spine.  Her eyes flew open and she spun around on the stool.  There were a few patrons in the back of the bar, but it was far too dim to see any faces.  A door that served as a back entrance opened and a man wearing a leather coat with fur trim and white cowboy hat stepped inside the dimly lit room.  However, Anna didn’t need any light to recognize the constable.

* * *

Wade moaned with pleasure.  This was going to be good.  He plunged his hands into Marion’s voluptuous red hair as she slowly make her way down his chest.  His body stirred as he felt her long painted nails run across the front of his shirt and slip inside to his bare skin.  Hell, he was eager today.  He grasped the back of her head and drew her closer.  She chuckled into his shirt.

“Slow down, lover, you don’t pay me for a quickie.”

She lifted her chin and looked up at him beneath long fake lashes.  Wade looked down at her upturned face and recalled a certain set of chocolate brown eyes.  Eyes which had the uncanny ability to speak volumes of words.  He thrust the image aside with an angry growl and pushed Marion’s head further down his body.

“What’s got into you, tiger?”  She bit into his skin and Wade felt himself grow large once again.  “You acting like ya ain’t seen a girl for months.”

Unfortunately, Marion was wrong on that account.  One girl in particular forced her way into his head.  A girl with skin as pale and soft as the morning dew and a smile so sweet he couldn’t recall ever seeing one so pretty.  He groaned, frustrated and felt himself lose his momentum once again.  Marion looked up, oblivious to his state and gave him a seductive grin.  Wade took the opportunity to undo his belt.

She chuckled again and the vibrations tickled his belly button.  “My, aren’t we acting like a horny teenage boy.”

Christ that was the last thing she should have said.  He was only reminded of a boy who no longer existed.  Instead, a young woman took his place.  A woman who was waiting downstairs.  Wade growled and pushed Marion away.

“What the hell!”  She gasped, her tousled hair falling in unruly cascades down her half naked torso.

“I’ve got to go.” He quickly buttoned his shirt and pulled up his suspenders.

“For Christ’s sake, Wade.”  She glared at him.  “What the hell is going on with you?”

“Some other time, Marion.”  He retrieved his wool coat and hat off the dresser, unbolted the door and swung it open.

“You ain’t got yourself another girl, have ya?”  Marion followed him out of the room.  “Cause you know there ain’t any better than me for miles around.  You brush me off and you’re going to have to come crawling back when you discover I’m right.”

Wade ignored her and headed for the landing.  Automatically, he looked over the railing to the stool he left Anna sitting on.  It was empty.  He swore and moved swiftly down the steps, certain she would show up on another stool or taken a table.  However, as he reached the bottom floor she was nowhere to be seen.  He stepped up to the bar.

“Vern, where did the boy go who was with me?”

He shrugged as he wiped a glass clean.  “Don’t know.  Flew out of here pretty damn quick.  Wouldn’t even stop when Stanford called him back.”

Wade felt a finger of apprehension creep down his spine.  Then anger.  He thanked the bartender then ran out of the swinging doors of the saloon and looked up the main street.  There was no sign of Anna.  He cursed, thinking, not again.

Taking two long strides, he leaped off the boardwalk and started off across the road to where he had parked the wagon.  There was a sound of shuffling behind him and he spun around to see her crawl out from under the boardwalk.  A flood of relief filled him and without thinking he went to her and grabbed her close by the shoulders.  Those remarkable eyes of hers were dark with fear.  He cursed his own stupidity for leaving her alone.