The Bachelor Tax

by Carolyn Davidson

  He heard an indrawn breath, and it scraped at his resolve. Looking over his shoulder, he allowed his gaze to swallow her whole, taking in the uncertainty in her eyes, the pale cast of her skin and the uptilted chin that spoke of a courage she drew from her depths.

  Her eyes dropped from his and she shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll talk to you later.”

  His nod unseen by the woman at the table, he turned back to the door.

  “Goodbye, Tanner,” Anna called cheerfully, oblivious to the mood he’d set.

  He waved a hand in reply, unable to totally ignore the child, then stomped down the steps to the yard, a deep sense of guilt his companion.

  “Child, that is one ornery man,” Mama Pearl said with judicious force. The oatmeal kettle bore the brunt of her ire as she scrubbed at it in the sink, and her mutters of aggravation filled the air.

  “Are we really gonna make cookies?” Anna asked.

  Rosemary was forced to oblige. She’d made the offer impetuously, grasping at a task she was certain the child would enjoy, unwilling to allow her to be caught up in the disaster that had developed overnight.

  No, it had been coming on for several days, she realized, now that she thought about it. Tanner had been cast into the midst of family life, when all he’d bargained for was a new bride.

  She’d sensed his mood last night, when she’d awakened to Anna’s cry, and even as she’d rolled from bed, realized that sleep had come upon her with the weight of a shroud. She’d hoped for a quick resolution to Anna’s fears, but the child had clung to her, and it was not in Rosemary’s heart to put her aside.

  The sound of Tanner’s boots on the stairs this morning had sounded as an alarm in her head, and she’d hurried to the kitchen, barely put together, still buttoning her dress as she followed him down moments later. It was too late to catch him. He’d headed for the barn, and she was left to make the biscuits while Mama Pearl cast long looks in her direction.

  Now, with a weariness she could barely suppress, she set to measuring baking powder into the flour, then mixing it with sugar and eggs in the bread pan. She cut a chunk of butter and scooped it into the mixture. A splash of vanilla, some nutmeg and a dash of milk were the final touches, and she set to working the blend with a large spoon.

  “You don’t want to forget the salt,” Mama Pearl said mildly. “Here, Anna, come get her a dab.”

  The little girl hurried to obey and walked carefully back to Rosemary with her hand curved to hold the white grains. She lifted her hand, emptying it in the bowl, then climbed back on her chair to watch. “I never made cookies before,” she told Rosemary softly. “But once Scat brung me one from the store.”

  Rosemary halted the movement of her spoon. “Your pa didn’t ever get you any cookies?” Such a thing could hardly be believed.

  A snort from Mama Pearl and a renewed attack on the dishes in the sink was enough to bring a smile to Rosemary’s lips. “That’s prob’ly the least of what that child’s been missin’ all her life.”

  “Well, today you can eat all the cookies you want,” Rosemary promised, feeling renewed strength as she thought of the hateful man who had neglected his children for so long. “You just watch while I work this dough a little, and then you can help me roll it out and we’ll cut out some to put in the oven.”

  The glow in Anna’s blue eyes was enough to make the whole project worthwhile, Rosemary decided a half hour later, when the first pan came out of the oven door. With a towel around her waist and a glass of milk at hand, the child watched with anticipation as Rosemary placed two lopsided specimens on a plate.

  “Are they both for me?” Anna’s eyes widened at the sight of such abundance, and Rosemary nodded. If Tanner wanted to pout, he could just go ahead and step on his lower lip, for all she cared. Tending to a needy child, whether it meant spending the night away from her husband, or baking cookies when she was bone weary, was more important than catering to an ornery man.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m the one…”

  As one voice, their words blended in the dark, and Rosemary turned to be enveloped in Tanner’s arms. She’d ignored him all day, and then felt guilt at her actions. He was being childish, but then, perhaps he had a point.

  At any rate, she determined to make it up to him, no matter what bad dreams roused Anna tonight. She’d sat beside the child for fifteen minutes, then tucked her in with a firm admonition to think only good thoughts. The old doll she’d found in her trunk had been a balm to the child’s fears, and within moments her eyes had closed, even as her arms clutched the well-worn relic from Rosemary’s childhood.

  Now she turned without hesitation to Tanner’s embrace, aware that her own words had been spoken in tandem with his apology. His mouth sought hers and she tilted her head back, welcoming him gladly.

  “Cotton told me to set things right with you, honey. He told me I was…Well, you don’t want to hear what he said.”

  “Worse than a bear with a toothache?” she asked with a giggle.

  “Yeah, worse’n that,” Tanner agreed. “I wasn’t fit for man or beast to be around, all the livelong day.” He held her tightly, as if he must ensure that she could not escape his touch.

  “I wish…” Rosemary kissed him with the luxury of knowing that her kisses were welcome, that her every advance was met wholeheartedly.

  “You wish what?”

  “I wish we could own the pair of them,” Rosemary said quietly. “I wish Nate had no claim.”

  Tanner was silent for a moment, and then he shrugged. “I reckon when the judge finds out that Nate put bruises on you the other day, he’ll change his mind.”

  “And how will that go over with you?” She held her breath, closing her eyes as she awaited his reply.

  “I guess it’ll be fine. It’s just takin’ some gettin’ used to. I told you, honey, this is a new field for me to be workin’ in. I’m not sure I know the right things to do, and I sure as hell don’t like it when you’re so worn-out tendin’ a couple of young’uns, while their pa runs the countryside.”

  “I hardly even see Scat,” she said, smiling at his words.

  His grunt was either accord or a sound of disagreement, and right now she didn’t care which. She lifted to one elbow, then scooted until her forearms were crossed on his chest. His face was in shadow, but she caught the white gleam of his teeth for a moment, and decided he had grinned at her.

  “Do we have to talk about them now?” she asked, one finger moving to blaze a trail through the thick mat of hair on his chest.

  He shifted, his arms circling her and tugging her into place on top of his big body. She laughed quietly at his maneuvers, finally coming to rest with her knees on either side of his hips. Her gown had ridden up and she felt the warmth of his skin on her legs. She wiggled as a bulge of fabric prevented her from comfort.

  “Let’s just get rid of this thing,” Tanner murmured, his hands whisking the gown over her head, then tugging it from between their bodies.

  Rosemary was open to him, and more than vulnerable to the prodding length of his arousal. She savored the feeling of power her position provided, and with a determined movement, she lifted her lower body and captured that firm object, holding it between her legs. Then she eased downward until their flesh rubbed together in a slow rhythm.

  “You wanta do that again?” he asked her, his voice a deep rumble in his chest.

  “Do this?” she asked innocently, repeating the movement.

  The rumble became a groan and his head tilted back. “Yeah. One more time, Rosie.”

  She obeyed, enormously aware of the twitching captive between her thighs. A pleasurable warmth enveloped her female parts, and an answering quiver within her depths sent a message she could not ignore.

  Tanner had wooed her well over the past nights. Readying itself for his taking, her entire being became softer, more malleable against his firm strength, her soft hidden depths heating and swelling in anticipation of his loving.
She rose again, lifting herself until that firm member she held captive came close to reluctant freedom. Then, with a soft, shivering chuckle, she parted her legs, tilting her lower body carefully, until she contained the prize she’d handled with such delicate, teasing solicitude.

  Tanner’s groan was audible, and Rosemary hushed it with her fingers, shivering as his tongue traced the edges of each one. His hands slid down to cup her bottom, lifting her until she was well and truly pierced with his full length. He held her thus, as if he must gain his breath before allowing her to move.

  She was full, her flesh twitching as she accepted him, her eyes closing as she absorbed the part of him that claimed her so thoroughly.

  And then his hands moved to clutch her hips, lifting her in small increments, until she feared to lose the prize she had claimed. It was not to be, for he lowered her again, his words guttural and broken.

  “Rosie…ah, Rosie. Sweet…merciful…heaven…above,” he whispered, the words spaced as if he must draw breath between each syllable.

  She brushed her face against his shoulder, her mouth seeking the lobe of his ear. “I love you, Gabriel.” Her whisper breathed his name, and she gloried in the right she had claimed to call him thus.

  “Gabriel…”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Miss Rosemary?” The calling of her name broke the spell she’d managed to weave as she worked the butter churn, her eyes closed, her mind dwelling on things her father might have called carnal.

  “Rosemary?” Those male tones were nearer, and Rosemary’s eyes opened wide, blinking at the sunlight that streamed through the kitchen door. She scooted her chair back, allowing her dress to fall in place.

  “Yes? I’m coming,” she answered, hastening to the door. There, hat in hand, golden hair gleaming in the sunshine, Dex Sawyer awaited her. His horse tied to the hitching rail, he’d only come as far as the porch steps.

  The man doubted his welcome, that much was obvious. And well he might, since she’d failed to acknowledge his apology in any concrete fashion. Her conscience nudged her and she opened the door wide.

  “Come in, Mr. Sawyer. I was churning and had my mind on other things.”

  He accepted her invitation, his smile indicating relief. “You’re sure Tanner won’t mind if I come in the house?” he asked, standing before her just inside the kitchen.

  Rosemary shrugged. “Why should he? Mama Pearl is here, and Anna,” she added as the child scampered into the kitchen. “Sit down, Mr. Sawyer.”

  Dex accepted a chair, sitting at attention, and held his hat against his knee. “This isn’t a social visit, ma’am. There’s bound to be trouble, and I thought you and Tanner should know of it.”

  The warmth of Anna’s small body against her thigh was a reminder of the child’s presence, and Rosemary’s intuition was put on alert. “Why don’t you go on upstairs with Mama Pearl?” she suggested, leaning to speak quietly to the girl.

  Anna hesitated, plainly taken with the handsome stranger, her head tipped to one side as she surveyed his dapper appearance. And Dex was truly decked out, Rosemary decided. New trousers, sharply creased, shiny boots and the obviously new Stetson headgear proclaimed him a gentleman, a fact even Anna was not oblivious to.

  “Do I hafta?” she asked, smiling at the visitor.

  Rosemary shot Dex a look of amusement. “I fear you’ve made a conquest, Mr. Sawyer.” She turned Anna with one hand on her shoulder and headed her to the doorway. “Upstairs, Anna. You may come back down before Mr. Sawyer leaves.”

  Her fingers wiggled a farewell as the child headed through the doorway, and Rosemary turned back to Dex. “Is there a problem with Nate Pender? I’d hoped he was long gone.”

  “He was at the back door of the saloon last night, looking for the empties from the bar, so he could drain them out. When that didn’t work, he said he’d come haul away trash and sweep the place out. Laura Lee told him to leave, and he was giving her some guff when I happened into the kitchen.

  “The man’s a danger, Miss Rosemary. I don’t like the way he’s talking, blaming you and Tanner for his troubles. Everyone in town knows those kids are better off where they are, here with you, but old Nate’s got a short nose, thinking that he’s lost his rights.”

  “He doesn’t give two hoots about Scat and Anna,” Rosemary said harshly. She sat down in her chair, moving the churn from its place. “Is he making threats?”

  Dex leaned closer. “He got to rambling, feeling sorry for himself, once I got him out to the alley. What he said made me think he might come after them, saying that there were folks who’d pay good money for a couple of young’uns.

  “That little girl’s a beauty, Rosemary, and Scat’s of an age when a man could almost get a good day’s work out of him. There are those who would deal in children’s lives that way. We both know that.”

  Rosemary felt bile rise in her throat. “No, I didn’t, Mr. Sawyer. I suppose I’ve been sheltered all my life, but such a thing has never occurred to me.”

  Dex rose from his chair. “I come from a big city, ma’am, and there are things that go on in this world that make me sick. Grown men and women can ruin their lives if they please, but when it comes to a helpless child, my anger comes to the forefront.”

  “Do you think…” She hesitated to speak the words, dreading to voice aloud her fears for the children she’d chosen to shelter.

  Dex nodded, answering her unspoken question. “Yeah, I think, all right. You need to watch every minute, Miss Rosemary. I don’t know if his whiskey supply is down to nothing, or what, but from the looks of him last night, he’s in tough shape. He had the tremors pretty bad, and his eyes were wild. Scared the bejabbers out of Laura Lee. And she doesn’t scare easy.”

  Rosemary looked out the door. If only Tanner were in sight. And yet, would he only be upset that once more their lives were to be in a state of chaos because of her actions? She rose from her chair, considering her choices. “I’ll tell Tanner as soon as I can when he comes in,” she said.

  “You want me to go hunt him up?” Dex asked.

  “No, I’ll take care of it.” She walked to the door and he followed, stepping onto the porch.

  “Tell Anna I’ll see her another time.”

  Rosemary touched his coat sleeve, brushing the superfine fabric with her fingers. “Thank you for coming. I’ll give Anna your message. She was quite taken with you, you know.”

  His smile erased the grim lines from his face as Dex covered her hand with his own. “I still wish you’d have come to cook for me, Miss Rosemary. I might have had a bride of my own by now.”

  “You need to look elsewhere, Mr. Sawyer. There’s a fine young lady in town who’d be perfect for you.” Her cheeks flushed as Rosemary spoke, and she bit at her tongue. Pip would kill her if she knew what she’d suggested.

  “Pip?” Dex asked, eyebrow uplifted. “She’s got a sharp tongue on her, and not the time of day for me.” He donned his hat, straightening it with an expert twitch, then patted her hand once more. “I must head back to town, ma’am. I just wanted you to be aware that Nate Pender is still around, and he’s not done yet.”

  Rosemary claimed her hand, plunging it into her apron pocket, and nodded. “Thank you. I’ll tend to it.”

  She watched as the sleek mare broke into a quick trot, and was treated to a flashing smile as Dex tipped his hat. The man did have a way about him, she had to admit.

  The sun seemed immobile, held in the western sky for an infinite moment before it slid over the horizon. Shades of pink and blue, and all the various hues in between cast their glow, radiating from the spot where that red ball had disappeared. Tanner’s breath escaped in a deep sigh as his arm settled across Rosemary’s shoulder.

  “Thought we’d never get done today,” he murmured. “Poor Tipper was wantin’ to head for town tonight, and now he’s dead tired. I suspect his new girlfriend will have to wait till Saturday to see him.”

  “Who is she?” Rosemary tilted her head to
peer upward. “I didn’t know he had a sweetheart.”

  “I’m not sure she knows it yet,” Tanner said with a chuckle. “He saw her over at the train station last week when I sent him to pick up an order I had shipped in from Shreveport. She was all alone and tryin’ to tote a couple of heavy pieces of baggage, and Tipper took pity on her.

  “She was headin’ for the hotel, so he stuck her up on the wagon seat and dropped her off. Seems she’s got work there, waitin’ tables and cleanin’ rooms.”

  “They sure weren’t giving away positions when I needed one,” Rosemary said, her irritation visible in the words she spoke. “In fact, Samuel Westcott made it very clear that I was wasting my time even making inquiries.”

  “And aren’t you glad?” Tanner asked smugly. “If he’d taken you on at the hotel, you’d have missed all this.” His other arm enclosed her in an embrace, tugging her tightly to his side. Bending over her, he nudged her face into position, his mouth taking possession of her lips in a kiss that smacked of satisfaction.

  “You are so arrogant sometimes,” she grumbled, and then her brow arched as she moved from his touch. “I might have done very well at the hotel. Just think of all the nice gentlemen I’d have met.”

  “You’ve got all the nice gentlemen you need, right here,” Tanner quipped. “There’s me, and Cotton, and Tipper, and—”

  Her fist found his midriff, the blow fettered by her position. “Didn’t know you were a mean woman, Miz Tanner,” he said with a wink.

  The word mean spurred her memory of Nate Pender, and Rosemary shrank within herself, drawing from the embrace she’d reveled in only moments before. “I fear I have no concept of that word. Not the least notion of what sort of mean things exist in this world.” How could she have let Dex Sawyer’s visit slip from her mind, when she’d waited all afternoon to tell Tanner, hurrying through the supper chores, seeking him out when his own were done?

  Tanner let her go, his eyes losing the glint of humor they’d possessed. “What happened? What are you talkin’ about?”