The shop’s back door opened and voices drifted out to the front before Caterina appeared accompanied by Tony carrying a sack of ice while Garrett packed a large jar of lemonade.
Ilsa draped a cloth over the biggest display case and Garrett set down the lemonade. Tony dropped in pieces of ice while Caterina placed a basket of cookies on the counter along with several tin cups. It would have been easier to serve the lemonade at her restaurant, but they had a better view of the parade at Ilsa’s store.
Lars bid them all farewell and jogged down the street to where the entries lined up, waiting for the parade to start.
Ten minutes later, a thunderous blast signaled the beginning of the parade. Laila and Sophie screamed, frightened by the loud noise.
Tony and Marnie picked up the girls and assured them all was well before carrying them outside. Bertie followed Aundy outside and looked around the crowd, hoping Bobby would want to stand by her during the parade. She’d told him the previous evening where he could find her, but she hadn’t seen him among the many faces in the crowd.
She stood on her tiptoes and strained to see over those standing in front of her. A familiar, masculine scent filled her nose as he glanced over to find Riley smiling at her.
“Happy Fourth of July, Roberta Elizabeth.”
Bertie wasn’t sure her knees would hold her at the husky, intimate way he said her name. Rather than crumple to the sidewalk, she cleared her throat and turned toward him. “Happy Fourth of July to you. I’m so glad you decided to come today.”
Riley shrugged his shoulders. “Between you and Aundy insisting it would be the best celebration I’ve ever experienced, how could I stay home? You’ve got me so curious to see if you’re right, I had to come.”
Bertie smiled and slipped her arm around his, drawing him closer into their rowdy group. Together, they watched the parade. The sheriff served as the grand marshal, flanked by Lars and Kade. They made such a striking duo as they rode their horses down the street, waving to the crowds. Three other deputies rode behind them.
“There’s my daddy! There’s my daddy!” Brett and Ben yelled, joined in their cheers by all of Lars and Marnie’s children.
Bertie giggled when Sophie nearly lurched out of Marnie’s arms, begging to go with her father. “Please, Mama, ride with Daddy. I wanna ride with Daddy!”
“No, Sophie. Not today. You just stay right here with me and watch the parade. Look, see the little pony cart coming? Isn’t he pretty?” Marnie tried to distract her daughter, but the child fussed and squirmed.
Bertie’s mouth fell open when Riley stepped over to Marnie and held out his arms to the child. “Mind if I hold this little sweetheart for a while?”
“Not at all, Riley. Maybe she’ll settle down for you.” Marnie handed over Sophie with an indulgent smile.
Sophie stared up at the man she’d only seen a few times. She leaned back in his arms and studied him. A tiny finger traced down his straight nose, across his cheeks and over his bottom lip. She grinned and sighed, wrapping her little arms around his neck, knocking his hat askew. “I like you.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Miss Sophie. I like you, too.” Riley reached up and straightened his hat, then turned so he once again stood beside Bertie with Sophie perched on his arm. He kept the little girl entertained and engaged during the parade.
Bertie marveled at his ease interacting with the child. He seemed confident, as if he had experience in handling fussy little ones. From past conversations, she knew Riley was an only child. Curious, she wondered where he’d gained his knowledge of keeping a little one content.
Perhaps he was one of those people who just naturally took to children. If so, it made her like him even more.
The “burrrrrooom boom boom boom” sound that Bertie recognized as Nik’s motorcycle rumbled down the street. He appeared riding his bike, followed by a group of bicyclers including several young women wearing bicycle bloomers.
“Looks like Nik finally got his harem,” Tony joked, nudging Garrett with his elbow.
“Sure appears like it.” Garrett grinned and waved with the rest of them as Nik rode past their group.
Not far behind him, a float caught Bertie’s attention. Bobby waved to her from his seat as he drove a wagon in the parade. White bunting festooned the bed of the wagon and several attractive young women rode in the back of it, waving from among a variety of potted plants and flowers surrounding a lovely fountain. A sign on the side advertised his plumbing business.
“Goodness gracious! I wonder when Bobby had time to organize a float,” Bertie mused. Excitedly, she waved to her brother, proud of him and his business success.
Riley chuckled and bounced Sophie in his arms. “I doubt your brother is ever short of volunteers when it comes to pretty girls.”
Bertie grinned. “No, he isn’t. In fact, he gets more attention than he likes sometimes.”
“That must be a real hardship.”
Bertie glanced over at Riley, noting his solemn expression then caught the twitch of his lips as he fought back a smile.
Sophie clapped and laughed at the antics of people dressed in clown costumes then covered her ears at the loud music from the brass bands.
Before the parade ended, Lars reappeared and took Sophie from Riley. For a moment, Bertie saw longing mingle with regret in his eyes. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. He turned back to watching the parade.
When it ended, their group enjoyed the lemonade and cookies Caterina prepared before sauntering over to the park to hear the speakers.
Bertie strolled beside Riley at the back of the group. “It’s only fair to warn you, listening to the speakers is not the most exciting part of the day.”
“What’s the most exciting part?” Riley asked as they waited to cross the street.
“The sporting events and the bronc riding, although, to be honest, I’m always afraid someone will get hurt.”
Riley glanced down at her. “In the bronc riding or the sporting events?”
“Both. These men take their sports seriously and their horse riding even more so.” Bertie accepted his arm as they crossed the street and continued to the park.
Riley glanced down at her. “Are there any activities in which you ladies participate?”
“Oh, sure.” Bertie waved her hand toward the park. Tables were set up to hold the food for the community picnic and people already started to gather to hear the speeches. “There are prizes for best pie and that sort of thing. My favorite part, though, is all the wonderful booths. There’s a candy booth, and one for hats, although Ilsa’s are far superior, and fried doughnuts, and ice cream.” She turned her cheerful gaze up to meet his. “They have the best ice cream. Nik promised to buy me all I wanted to eat today.”
Distracted by the colorful vendor booths and her friends waving in greeting, Bertie failed to notice Riley’s stiffened posture and the loss of his smile at the mention of Nik.
Previously making Grant Hill’s acquaintance, Bertie introduced him to Grant’s wife, Lacy, as well as some of the other girls from the telephone office and classmates from her school days.
As Riley watched her interact with her friends, he suddenly felt old and weathered compared to Bertie’s refreshing innocence and sweet personality.
For a multitude of reasons, he had no business being around her, showing any interest in her. None at all.
He’d politely muddle through the day, but after that, he promised to leave Bertie alone, even if it meant quitting his job at Nash’s Folly.
Before the speeches commenced, Nik and Bobby joined their group. Nik fit right in with Bertie’s school chums. Bobby arrived with two young women who both seemed determined to win his attention and affections, even though he didn’t appear interested in either of them.
Amused by the competition between the girls, Riley thought he might find some enjoyment in the day after all. At least until Nik grabbed Bertie’s hand and tugged her over to one of the booths selling patriotic t
rinkets.
Riley wandered around and ran into Marvin and Evelyn Tooley. They invited him to join them for lunch. Grateful for the invitation, he assured the couple he planned to sit with the Nash family.
As he listened to the speeches, his gaze remained on Bertie. She started out listening with Nik and their friends, but somehow worked her way around the group until she stopped next to him.
“Are you having a good time, Riley?” she whispered.
He tipped his head sideways. She could interpret the motion any way she liked.
She glanced at him with a pucker in her brow. “Is everything okay? I so want you to have a happy day today.”
Touched by her concern that he find pleasure in the day, he smiled. “I’m having a good time, Roberta Elizabeth.” At least he was when she stayed by his side.
She grinned and nodded her head then turned her attention back to the long-winded speaker.
The sun beat down with ruthless intensity. Sweat trickled down Riley’s back and along his chest. Bertie fanned a gloved hand in front of her face, trying to stir up a breeze.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin paper-wrapped parcel then handed it to her.
With a questioning look, she accepted it from him, untied the string, and carefully folded back the paper. She sucked in her breath as she picked up the beautiful fan she’d seen the previous day in the mercantile.
Her eyes shone brightly as she turned to Riley and mouthed, “thank you,” before handing him the paper and string. He shoved it into his pocket, entranced as Bertie snapped open the fan and waved it in front of her.
The breeze she created lifted springy tendrils around her face in an alluring flutter while simultaneously filling the air with her captivating fragrance. When she closed her eyes, savoring the slight breeze, Riley gazed his fill of her lovable face. The temptation to kiss her right then and there, regardless of how many hundreds of people might watch, almost overpowered his good sense.
No doubt existed in his mind — he had it bad for Miss Roberta Elizabeth Hawkins. And that was simply not acceptable.
Chapter Eleven
Bertie grasped Bobby’s hand with such force, he winced and yanked it out of her grasp.
He rubbed the fingers his sister had nearly broken in her anxious state. “You’re not worried about Riley, are you?”
“Of course I’m worried about Riley.” She tossed her brother an annoyed glare. “Why wouldn’t anyone with sense be worried about Riley and the rest of those crazy, foolish men out there.”
Bertie fluttered her hand toward an arena where several men competed in a bronc busting competition. A sizeable cash prize had drawn cowboys from all around the region.
Riley joined Garrett and two of the Nash’s Folly ranch hands along with more than two dozen other men in waving their hats at the crowd before the event started.
After the picnic feast, many of the men and children participated in a variety of sporting events. Lars had purchased Sadie the baseball mitt she so badly wanted. She proudly wore it during the children’s ball game as her team beat the players Harley John Hobbs led by several points.
By far, everyone’s favorite event was the men’s baseball game. Kade and Nik played on the opposite team of Garrett, Grant and Tony. The men spent the entire game heckling each other to the delight of the crowd.
Riley sat with Bertie, watching the game. Bobby played on the same team as Nik and Kade. Bertie cheered with gusto whenever one of them came up to bat. When Garrett hit the ball so hard it sailed out of the park, his team won the game.
As soon as it ended, Nik escorted Bertie to a booth selling ice cream. She encouraged Riley to join them, but he wandered off, seeming upset. Uncertain what caused his sullen mood, she hadn’t seen him again until an announcer declared it was time for the bronc riding to begin.
Even though she knew Riley and Garrett planned to compete, it did nothing to alleviate her fears that one of them might be injured.
Memories of the way Riley looked when he’d been tossed off the horse and stomped on at Garrett’s made her reach for Bobby’s hand again.
Bobby jerked it away before she could unknowingly inflict more damage. “Look, Bert, I’m sure it isn’t the first time any of them have ridden a wild horse and it most likely won’t be their last. If Riley thinks he has a chance at winning, he must have some idea of what he’s doing. Hasn’t he ridden any horses for Garrett?”
“Yes, he has. As a matter of fact, I watched him get tossed off one and thrown across the corral like a rag doll.” Bertie sat ramrod straight and twisted her reticule without restraint or mercy since Bobby wouldn’t let her hold his hand.
“And why is it you’re so concerned about him, sis? Do you have feelings for him?” Bobby’s face held a look of concern and his voice a hint of warning.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have the same feelings for him I have for any other human being.”
Bobby snorted derisively. “I’m not buying that, Bert. Not for a minute. You’re interested in him, aren’t you?”
Bertie forced her gaze away from the men in the arena to her brother. “What I am is peeved with you, Bobby. My feelings, or lack of them, are none of your concern.”
If she could have flounced away, Bertie would have. She settled for an emphatic, “humph!” and returned to watching the men ride.
Bobby grasped her chin in his hand and turned her back to face him. “Listen, Bert, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. You’re so young, and despite what’s happened, entirely innocent when it comes to men. Riley’s older than you and there’s something about him that just seems so… so…”
“Wounded?”
“Yeah, that’s a good way to describe it.” Bobby placed a hand on Bertie’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not saying he isn’t a good man, Bertie. From all appearances, he seems to be, but there is something broken about him. I just don’t want to see that brokenness affect you.”
“I’m fine, Bobby. Besides, he has no interest in me except as a friend. Between him and Nik, I have all the friends a girl could possibly need this summer.”
“Did I hear my name?” Nik asked as he sat down on Bertie’s other side and handed her a dish of ice cream.
A giggle burst out of her throat as she accepted the cold strawberry confection. “Nik Nash! How much ice cream do you think I can hold?”
“I’m trying to find out.” Nik winked at her, grabbed the spoon from her hand, and snitched a bite of the ice cream. “We tried cherry vanilla right after lunch, chocolate this afternoon and now strawberry. If you stay for the night parade, maybe we can work in a few bites of the peach ice cream.”
Bertie rolled her eyes and took the spoon from Nik, lifting a bite of the treat to her mouth and savoring the cold sweetness as it slid down her throat.
She took another bite as Bobby leaned around her and looked at Nik.
“How come you’re not down there willing to break your neck with the rest of them?”
Nik laughed. “I never was that interested in breaking horses. I much preferred the sheep and machinery to riding a wild mustang.”
“And now you’re riding that wild motorcycle. Is it as fast as you thought it would be?”
Nik’s eyes sparkled as he rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “It sure is. It’s got…”
Bertie tuned out their conversation as one of Garrett’s ranch hands entered the arena. The horse he rode jumped so high in the air, that she marveled the beast didn’t break a leg upon touching the ground.
Fred did well for the first few bucks, but lost his balance and rolled over the back of the horse, narrowly missing a kick to the head.
Bertie clapped and cheered, took two more bites of her ice cream then handed the dish to Nik. He finished eating it as he and Bobby continued to discuss the wonders of modern transportation and the amazing things he’d seen in New York.
When it was Garrett’s turn to ride, Nik moved down a few rows and squeez
ed in beside Aundy. Bertie smiled as he settled an arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring hug.
Garrett rode the bronc with ease. The crowd surged to their feet, erupting in a chorus of cheers. Nik glanced back at Bertie with a proud grin and she waved at him, happy Garrett had done so well.
“You claim you aren’t interested in Riley, but what about Nik?” Bobby asked as a man from Walla Walla rode into the arena. “He seems to hold some sort of affection for you.”
“Are you crazy?” Bertie scowled at her brother. “Nik is a friend. He was a few years ahead of me in school and I remember him always being so full of fun. That hasn’t changed. He’s only being kind to me because I work for his parents. And we enjoy talking. That’s all.”
Bobby didn’t appear convinced. “What do you two talk about?”
“Everything. Nothing.” Bertie sighed. “We enjoy discussing articles we’ve read in the newspaper, news from around town, books we’ve read. Nik has seen and experienced so many fascinating things since he went away to college. He’s easy to talk to and pleasant to be around.”
Bobby’s perceptive look and raised eyebrow made her defensive. She smacked his leg and frowned. “We’re just friends, Bobby. That’s all. Just friends.”
“You could do a lot worse than Nik Nash.” Bobby observed. “He’s good-looking, if you like that sort of thing, smart, funny, kind, and on track to have a successful career. He’d be a good provider and a good husband, Bert.”
Bertie jabbed an elbow into her brother’s side and he grunted around his grin. “How many times must I tell you that I’m not interested in Nik that way. We’re just friends, like I’m friends with Riley.”
“No, you aren’t. You might be friends with Nik. What you are with Riley is something entirely different, whether either of you are willing to admit it. Come on, Bert. Give Nik a chance. He’s only two years older than you, not four, and he’s the most tenderhearted person I’ve ever met. You’d be safe with Nik.”
Bertie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 6) Page 14