Spoiled Evelyn (The Mail Order Brides of Boot Creek Book 4) (8 page)

M
ale laughter woke
me the next morning, as someone shouted in the courtyard. I rolled over in bed, pleased by how well I had slept. A mattress was far superior to a bedroll. Glancing at the ring on my finger, I marveled at Chuck’s thoughtfulness, but it remained certain he had given more than one woman a ring in his lifetime. I shouldn’t see too much in it, or him, but … I might be weakening on that score.

Sliding from the bed, I washed and dressed, leaving my hair down, because Tory was not with me. Perhaps, Mrs. Hernandez had a maid who could work it into something manageable. I emerged from the room a short while later, finding the hacienda quiet, with only the sound of the fountain in the courtyard and the buzz of humming birds to distract me. I followed the aroma of coffee, finding a rustic-looking kitchen at the back, with a sturdy wooden table in the center.

“Good morning.”

I turned to face Anna. “Good morning. Where is everyone?”

“They’ve gone to work. My father inspects his herd every day to make sure there aren’t any thieves about.”

“I see. Do you know where Mr. Brittle is?”

“He went with them.”

That was alarming, because I had hired him for protection. “Is anyone here to watch over us?”

“Oh, yes. We’re not alone, Miss Warner.”

“It’s just Evelyn.”

She indicated the table. “Do sit and have some food. There’s an egg casserole in the oven waiting for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Coffee?” She handed me a mug.

“Yes, please.”

“Sugar and milk?”

“Yes.” After she had doled out a heaping spoonful of casserole, I asked, “When will they be back?”

“I’m not certain.” She sat across from me, her long, dark hair hanging over her shoulders. “They’ve been out all morning, starting at daybreak. I’m sure they’ll want lunch. Cook makes it at twelve.”

“Your family is darling for taking us in. I just hope we haven’t brought trouble to your door.”

“But you have.” She smiled slightly. “It’s not the first time. We’re well fortified for any eventuality.”

“You speak perfect English.”

“I went to Oberlin College in Ohio.”

“Oh, I see.”

“They’ll send Ricardo off soon enough. He’s going to Boston.”

“It’s good your parents care about your education. I went to the Philadelphia School of Design myself, and it was marvelous.”

She eyed my ring. “That’s pretty.”

“Mr. Brittle gave it to me last night.”

“I helped him buy it.”

That astonished me. “You did?”

“A woman came by yesterday selling trinkets. Chuck wanted something pretty for you, and he asked my opinion.”

“You chose well. Thank you.”

“I’ve never known him to give jewelry to a woman before.”

I found that hard to believe. “Oh, I’m sure he has.”

“His tastes run more to … ahem … loose women. He rarely takes up with a lady.”

That statement bothered me, immensely. “Well, we’re not courting at all. I’ve hired him to protect me.” I held up my hand. “I’m already engaged.”

She frowned. “Oh. I didn’t know that. I knew some man was after you, but I didn’t know you were his fiancé.”

“I’m not. Joseph is mad to think I would ever connect myself with him. He’s insane, really. I’m engaged to Percy Vanguard, but I’m not certain I’ll marry him either.”

“You’re engaged to two men?” Her eyes had widened in astonishment. “And Chuck’s in love with you?
Oh, Dios mío
.”

“I seriously doubt that, Anna. As you’ve said, he prefers his women … um … with looser morals, and I can assure you I wasn’t brought up to behave like that.” The idea that she would think he was in love with me was preposterous. I added, “I’m only engaged to Percy for the time being.”

She stared at me. “You’re beautiful, to be sure, and smart and charming. It’s easy to see why these men have fallen at your feet. I fancied Chuck myself when I was younger, before I realized he would never give up women and drink. I might’ve kissed him … once too.” A wistful smile toyed around the edges of her mouth. “Maybe he’s finally ready to settle down. He’s a hard one to understand. Perhaps, all it took was the right woman to come along.”

“I’m not beautiful.” I demurred at the compliment. “But, thank you. I think you’re beautiful. You have the loveliest face I’ve ever seen. Is there someone special in your life?”

Her smile was coy. “Perhaps.”

“I wish you luck with your choice. I hope you find much happiness.”

“Father won’t like him, but I have a habit of choosing men my parents disapprove of.”

“So do I.” A commotion in the courtyard caught our attention, as male voices rang out. “They must’ve returned.” I got to my feet. “Thank you for breakfast, Anna. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome.”

A shadow fell in the doorway, as Chuck appeared. He wore denim trousers and a shirt and vest. “Howdy,” he said, grinning. “Mornin’.”

Something thudded in my chest, the feeling similar to how I felt as a child at Christmas. “Hello.”

“Been out riding the line. No sign of Joseph or the law.”

“That’s good news, isn’t it?”

“I suppose, but I wouldn’t let my guard down just yet. I want to take you shooting. I’ve got it all set up.”

“Shooting?”

“Yeah. You can ride like a man just fine. Let’s get you weapon trained.”

I giggled, because this sounded absurd. My mother would have a conniption, if she knew about all the things I had done. “Oh, goodness. What will that entail?”

“I’ll show you.”

We did not go far, only around the back of the hacienda, where the canyon dipped, hidden from view. Chuck had arranged a grouping of cans, setting them upon several rocks. We stood amongst the shade of cottonwoods, while brittle Russian knapweed brushed against my skirts.

Chuck wore two sets of holsters, removing a gun from one. “All right. This here is a Colt Single Action Army revolver. It’s my gun of choice at the moment. I’ll show you how to load it, how to aim it, and how to shoot.”

“Is this really necessary? I don’t plan on wearing a holster.”

“If you want to protect yourself, it’s necessary. If you plan to live on a ranch, it’s advisable. We’re not outta the woods yet with this Joseph fella. I have a bad feeling about this. I think he’s waiting somewhere, watching us.”

“I thought you said there was no trace of him?”

“He went to Albuquerque or thereabouts, but that doesn’t mean he won’t turn right back around. I doubt he’d give up that easily.”

“Fine. I’ll learn to shoot.”

He grinned. “I thought you might.”

“Just don’t yell at me, if I accidentally shoot you. I don’t have a clue what to do, and I’m liable to kill the wrong person.” I stared at him. “Like you.”

“I don’t think so, honey. From what I’ve seen, you’re awfully smart. Always point the weapon away from your person. Never put your finger on the trigger, unless you mean to shoot. This here weapon’s got a long trigger pull. You’ll want to pull the hammer back, but be careful. It’ll be ready to fire then. We’ll try it both ways, all right?”

I had gathered my hair in a messy ponytail, which kept the locks out of my face. Anna had given me one of her bonnets that shaded my eyes. “I’m ready.”

“I want to teach you how to load the bullets. It’s pretty easy.” He held the gun. “This will hold six bullets. You load them like so.” One-by-one, the bullets slid into the chambers. “Then you close the cylinder. Now you’re fully loaded.” He pointed to the revolver. “This is the muzzle. This is the business end of a weapon. Always keep it pointed in a safe direction.”

“All right.”

“I’m gonna push on the ejector rod, and the bullets will come out in one go.” They fell into the palm of his hand. “Now you try.”

The gun felt surprisingly heavy. “The pointed ends of the bullets go in?”

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Loading the weapon was easy enough. “Now what?”

“Close the cylinder.”

It snapped into place. “Now what?”

“I’ve done it butt backwards.” He held out his hand. “Give me the gun.”

I handed it over awkwardly, wondering what he planned to do now. “All right.”

“Let’s go over how to aim and adjust sight alignment first, without it loaded. Then you can load the bullets again, and we’ll practice firing. I need to show you how to look through the sights before we do anything else.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“Never taught a gun lesson before, especially not to a woman.”

“I’ll try my best to learn.”

“You need to learn how to grip the gun as well and how to pull the trigger. Let’s stand here and work on those first. I got ahead of myself there. One thing at a time.”

“There’s no wrong way to learn.”

“Er … with weapons, it’s best to be mindful.” He demonstrated holding the gun, aiming, and pulling the trigger. I followed his directions, standing with the revolver in my outreached hands. “That’s good,” he said. “You see the first can?”

I closed my left eye, staring through the sights. “Yes.”

“Shoot.”

Pulling back the hammer, I pressed the trigger, which produced a snapping sound. “I did it.”

“Great. You do that a few more times, and we’ll do it for real.”

Pulling the hammer back, I heard another snap. I repeated this over and over, with the same result. “I think I’m ready.”

He chuckled, “I doubt it, but we’ll give it a try.” He handed the bullets to me. “Go ahead. Load.”

“Yes, sir.” I made quick work of sliding the bullets into the chambers. Then I snapped the cylinder closed. “I’m ready.”

“Get your finger off the trigger!”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Always hold the gun like so.” He took the weapon from my hands, holding it in such a manner that his right finger remained away from the trigger. “I’ve seen lots of accidental discharges in my time, some fatal. Always be mindful of the trigger, especially after you pull the hammer back. It won’t take much to go off.”

“I’ll be more careful.”

“Now, stand this way.” He shifted his feet, so the right foot was slightly behind him. “You’ll get a kick from this, and you want it to run through you, down the back leg for support. This is especially important with a shotgun. Lock your arms, aim, and shoot. Keep a good grip, so the gun doesn’t fall out of your hand. Don’t be afraid of it. It’s gonna be loud as heck too, so prepare yourself. I used to shove cotton in my ears when I practiced. I don’t have any. I’m sorry, honey.”

“I’ve got this.” Holding the weapon, I did as he instructed, gripping the gun firmly and placing my right foot behind me. Then I stared through the sights, seeing a black metal can on a rock. Pulling the hammer back with my left thumb, I pressed the trigger, which produced an enormous bang. I hadn’t been prepared for the kick of the discharge, nearly dropping the gun. “Oh, drat. That was terrible, wasn’t it?” My ears rang from the noise. “Shall we try again?”

Removing his hat, he scratched his head. “Yeah. I’ve no clue where that bullet went. Looks like it’s gonna be a long mornin’.”

“I’ll do better next time, I swear.”

“Watch how you’re holding your gun. Keep that finger off the trigger. It’s still loaded.”

“Oh, goodness. I’m sorry.”

“Try again.”

I smiled contritely. “You’re a brave soul for taking me on.”

“Nah. I’m a fool. I’ve just lost my dang mind, is all.”

“You have?”

He stared at me, as something warm and pleasant flared between us. “Just aim and shoot. You’ll do fine with practice.”

“Thank you, Chuck.”

“It’s my pleasure, Evie.”

A
lthough the hacienda
was lovely and the company pleasant, after four days of gun practice and reading, I had begun to feel restless. I longed to go to town and church, but Chuck remained adamant about hiding here. Yesterday, he had ventured into Albuquerque, and I had waited nervously, wondering at what news he might bring regarding my ex-fiancé. I was the first to reach him when he returned.

“Hear anything?” I stared at him hopefully, noting he had dust all over his clothing.

“It looks like they’ve moved on. I asked around plenty, and heard nothin’.”

“Then it’s safe to leave?”

“It’s never safe, Evie.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake. We can’t hide out here forever.” My hands went to my hips. “I’ve got to get back to Boot Creek. I’ve my maid waiting for me. I need to talk to Percy. I have to decide what I’m going to do.”

The aroma of grilled chicken lingered. Cook had made steak and chicken fajitas, grilling them with fresh vegetables. The table had already been set. Lanterns cast a seductive glow, as the sun hung low over the horizon, throwing shadows into the courtyard.

“I gotta get washed up before supper. We’ll talk more about it later.” He brushed past me, but stopped briefly, his gaze roaming over my face. “I’m sorry I was gone so long.”

“I didn’t miss you. You needn’t worry about that.” I had just lied, and I could not resist smiling at his frown. “I had plenty to do without you.” Another lie. I had been utterly bored, having read all day, and it had not been entertaining in the least.

“Uh-huh.”

“You look a fright.”

“Been riding for hours.”

I wrinkled my nose. “You stink.”

“How kind of you to notice.”

“I think I’ll sit next to Ricardo at supper. You’re far too stinky for me.”

“Yeah?” An eyebrow lifted. “We’ll just see about that, honey.” He stalked off, his boots clicking on the tiles.

Once we had been seated for dinner, Chuck appeared, having cleaned up. He had donned a fresh set of clothing as well. He pulled out the chair next to me. I eyed him through my eyelashes, noting his chagrinned expression. I detected hints of citrus, which Patricia had laced her soaps with. His hands rested on the brightly colored tablecloth, revealing clean fingernails. He had certainly made the effort to be as presentable as possible.

“That’s quite an improvement,” I murmured.

He leaned my way. “You think so?”

“Yes.”

We had been practicing shooting every day, and my aim had gradually improved, along with a growing sense of confidence, but what I adored the most about the lessons were Chuck’s company.

“Did you enjoy yourself in town today?”

“How do you mean?”

“Saloons.”

“Nope. I haven’t had a drop to drink today.”

“Let’s say grace,” said Pedro, bowing his head and pressing his palms together. “Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior. Please bless the food we’re about to eat and those who helped prepare it. We are always grateful for the abundance you’ve given us and your guidance in our lives.”

I had lowered my head, as had Chuck.

“Watch over us in these uncertain times, and keep us safe from harm. Guide and protect us in all we do. Amen.”

“Amen,” I murmured.

Several men in Pedro’s employ had joined us for supper. His ranch managers had returned from a sale in Santa Fe. Anna and Patricia sat across the table, while Chuck was to my right. I could feel his attention, his gaze roaming over me. One of the maids, Silvia, had done my hair, twisting it into a lovely bun on top of my head. Although I wore Anna’s clothing, the dark skirt and white, frilly top, I felt impeccably dressed and entirely comfortable, without a constricting corset. The day I had to don another, I would cry.

“I think we might be able to take a trip soon,” said Chuck.

“We will?”

“Yeah.”

“Where will we go?”

“Albuquerque.”

“I’d love that. I’ve been dying to get out.”

“It’s risky.”

“We can’t stay here forever.”

“No, but we shouldn’t go back to Boot Creek just yet.”

“I’ve been thinking about this. Heaven knows I’ve almost nothing to do but think. I might have to explain things to the sheriff. He needs to know I’m not a criminal. False charges have been laid upon me.”

“That’s one of your concerns.”

“I hate being treated in this manner. I haven’t done anything. It’s my right to change my mind. I’m a woman. If I don’t want to marry someone, I shouldn’t be forced.”

“Yeah, but money talks out here. This Joseph person has enough money to make things happen, and most folks are poor enough to believe it. They don’t need proof. It they’ve got silver lining their pockets, that’s all they care about.”

“But you said the lawmen haven’t been seen. They’ve gone.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Who’s to say for sure?”

“If I come to town dressed like this, no one will know I’m Evelyn Warner. They’ll think I’m from one of the ranches around here. I look like a señorita.”

“I suppose.” He took a bite of his fajita.

“But you’re still worried.”

“My gut tells me this ain’t over.”

“And I’ve kept you long enough from your work. You want to get back, don’t you?”

“My first priority is seein’ to your safety. My house is being built just fine. I trust the people I hired. They’re folks I’ve known from working at The Kelly Ranch. They are honest and dependable.”

I needed to speak to Percy and inform him that our relationship had ended. I could not marry him, although he was a fine man. Should I return to Boot Creek and face the sheriff or would I flee west and begin again in California? All my worldly possessions remained in Boot Creek with the money I had left at the hotel. I could hardly flee without money…

“There’s a lot of worry in those eyes,” murmured Chuck.

“Pardon?”

“You’ve got a lot goin’ on in that head. What’s wrong?”

“I have to make some decisions.”

“You don’t have to do them tonight. You can sit back and enjoy dinner and my charming company.” A lopsided grin remained in place.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should have some wine.”

“All right.”

Once the dinner dishes had been taken away, one of Pedro’s men brought out a guitar, sitting on the edge of the fountain to play. We listened to him for a while, until Ricardo, in his youthful enthusiasm, asked one of the maids to dance. He took Alejandra into his arms, spinning her around, as we watched from a distance. The Hernandez’s enjoyed music, having some sort of instrument playing during and after dinner every evening. These lazy, romantic evenings had grown on me, the laughter and dancing being freeing and joyous. I could forget my concerns for a few hours, although I knew they would return by morning.

“Let’s dance,” said Chuck. He had gotten to his feet, pulling back my chair.

“Fine.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez joined us, smiling at their son, who spun the maid in tight circles. An arm went around my back, drawing me near. We moved to the music, our steps in perfect sync, hip to hip and thigh to thigh. Chuck drew me towards the other side of the fountain, holding me even tighter. I wound my arms around his neck, closing the distance between us. He hadn’t expected this, because he sucked in a sharp breath on contact. It felt comforting being this close to him, feeling the heat of his chest through the shirt and vest he wore. He had forgone the waistcoat, preferring cowboy garb, like what the other men wore. There was no need to be formal in this relaxed and magical place.

“I’ve been thinking about your predicament.”

My face pressed to his neck. “You have?”

“My old boss, Mr. Kelly, might be able to help you. If we returned to Boot Creek, you could stay with him. He’s a man of means. He has plenty of security. You’d be safe there.”

“I would?”

“Yes.”

“Then we should do it. We’ve waited long enough.”

“Not just yet. I was going to take you to Albuquerque tomorrow. You said you wanted to go to church.”

“I could also go in Boot Creek.”

“No. If we went to The Kelly Ranch, you’d have to stay there until this mess gets sorted out. Sheriff Ballew will need to see for himself that you’re not wanted anywhere and that those charges were made up. Once he knows that, you can come and go as you please.”

“What if Joseph continues to be a nuisance?”

“Mr. Kelly’s got some persuasive tactics he could employ. It’s how he’s kept Lola Kelly’s stepfather at bay.”

“I see.”

“You have choices. You’re not stuck, honey.”

“Thank you for that suggestion. I’ll mull it over. I just don’t see why we can’t leave tomorrow.”

“I want to give it another day or so, just to be sure. This trip to town should be a nice diversion for you. I know you’re tired of this place.”

“I yearn to move forward and get on with my life. I came here to start over, not run like a criminal. I’m not a criminal.”

“I know that.” He rubbed my back. “You should marry me.”

Now it was my turn to draw in a sharp breath. “What?”

“You heard me.”

I gazed at his face, seeing his smile. “You’re the town’s Lothario. I can’t marry a Lothario.”

He shrugged. “So, I might have a past. Who doesn’t?”

“I already have two fiancés. I really don’t have room for a third.” I teased him, but my heart had skipped a few beats.

“And you say I’m a Lothario? I’m not engaged to anyone at the moment, let alone two people.”

“I have a past too.”

“Seems to be.”

“I have to speak to Percy. I need to settle my affairs. Everything’s a mess right now. I’ll think about marrying you. I just … ” I stared at him.

“What?”

“I don’t want to share you with other women. Your reputation is rather … um … robust.”

He chuckled, the edges of his eyes creasing. “Robust?”

“Notorious would’ve been the better word, I suppose.”

“That’s all a part of my sordid past.”

“You truly wish to settle down?”

“I wouldn’t have asked, if I wasn’t certain. I’ve been waiting for someone to come along and save me. I know trying to seduce Lola Kelly wasn’t gentlemanly. I never should’ve agreed to that scheme when Jack proposed it, but it taught me something valuable.”

“What’s that?”

“I failed to sway her, and it did sting a bit, but that’s not the lesson. The thing I learned was that I would’ve loved to settle down right then and there with that pretty lady. I never entertained that notion before Lola Kelly. When she spurned me, I realized I needed to find a woman like that. I just didn’t know how to do it, and the pickings were slim. Then I encountered you in a stairwell, and the rest is history.”

“I suppose I might have to forgive your past then, if you can forgive mine. I can tell you for certain that I never loved any of my fiancés. My parents forced Joseph on me, and Percy was my way out of Philadelphia.” I stared at him, feeling as if someone had unscrewed the lid of a large jar of butterflies. “The third time around might be a different matter.”

An eyebrow lifted. “It might, huh?”

“Yes,” I giggled. “You do have a way with women. I’m not entirely green around the ears where men are concerned, but I might finally have to admit defeat.”

His grin grew enormous. “Excellent.”