Anthology - BIG SKY GROOMS

by DAVIDSON, Carolyn. MALLERY, Susan. WILLIAMS, Bronwyn (in) Montana Mavericks

  Kate frowned at the loaf, then followed his instructions. “My mother would have a fit,” she murmured, gazing at the ragged specimen she held.

  “She’ll never know,” James said with a chuckle, then bent forward to sink his teeth into the thick chunk.

  “This is what is known as breaking bread, I believe,” he told her solemnly. “It’s approved of in the good book, you know.”

  “What do you know of the Bible?” she asked, tearing off a bite carefully, then dipping it into the peach juice.

  “I went to church, once in a while, growing up,” he admitted. “My father looked in a bottle for answers after my mother left us, and when that didn’t solve his problems, he started in going to hear the visiting ministers who included our town on their route.”

  “Where is he now?” she asked, offering him the loaf.

  “Gone. He followed her back east once I was grown. Gave up the family ranch and walked away.”

  “Did he find her?”

  James shook his head. “I don’t know. Haven’t heard from him in years.”

  “What a waste,” Kate said briskly. “Life is too short to throw it away. I made up my mind I’d never shed tears over a man, or let anyone break my heart. I think your father would have profited from the same determination. There isn’t a woman alive worth wasting a man’s life over.”

  James took the peach jar from her and speared a slice of fruit. “You may be right. I sure wouldn’t argue the fact.” He sucked the slice into his mouth, savoring the smooth feel against his tongue. “Funny, both of us coming from families so much alike,” he said after a moment. “Makes us two of a kind, don’t you think?”

  “I’ll tell you what I think,” she said abruptly, rising and shaking crumbs from her lap. “I think if we don’t get into that buggy and move out, we’ll be getting back to town after dark, and my name will be dragged in the dirt.”

  She was probably right, he thought. The jar lid was screwed into place and the box packed up within minutes. The sun was further to the west than he’d realized and he looked at it, where it touched the topmost peaks of the mountains as it prepared to slide beyond the white snowcaps. “Maybe we’ll start out earlier another time. We’re almost in the foothills now.” Regret tinged his words and he heard Kate’s sigh.

  “The story of my life,” she whispered. “Too late, again.”

  “I’ll bring you back,” he said impetuously. “I promise, Kate. We’ll go to where the road for a buggy ends, and walk up aways. Or maybe we can ride horse-back, and take some of the lower trails, where the trees meet the rocks and there are caves and ledges and places where you can see for miles.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Probably not, James, but it’s something to think about. I’ve gotten this close anyway.” She turned to face the majestic peaks and her shoulders squared. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

  He clasped her upper arms, drawing her against his chest. She leaned back against him, acquiescent, as if they shared some mystical union—here where the birds sang and the wind blew from the west and they stood alone in the wilderness, two infinitesimal creatures beneath the Montana sky.

  He could not resist. She was, in that moment, representative of all the needs he’d ever acknowledged in his life—warm, alive and filled with the same yearning as he for this wide open country.

  He turned her in his embrace, and she moved willingly, responding as he lowered his head to touch her lips with his. Her arms slid upward, clasping his shoulders. Her face tilted beneath his and her mouth welcomed the touch of lips and teeth and tongue against her own. She was eager, and unknowing, and he sensed the innocence of her response, careful to withhold the full force of desire that claimed his body. And yet he could not withhold the passion he felt for her, and his mouth sought and found the tender flesh of her throat and temple.

  His lips visited the curve of her ear and the line of her jaw, until he had learned the width of her forehead and the gentle slope of her nose. Until he had tasted and tested each particle of skin available to him without loosening the buttons of her dress. And his good sense told him that she would not allow such a thing to take place.

  “I’ve never been kissed by any other man,” she whispered after she’d caught her breath and lifted her hands to smooth back the hair he’d managed to put into a state of disarray. “But I’ve wondered. I didn’t know so much was involved,” she said, finally meeting his gaze. “I mean, I thought you just rubbed your lips together, and smacked a little.” Her smile was shy suddenly as she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “Does everyone kiss this way? Or is it only you?”

  “I never kissed my mama this way, I’ll tell you that, sweetheart.” And then he set her from him. “Of course, that was a long time ago, now that I think about it. I’ve learned a few things since then.”

  “I think so.” Kate pressed her palms against her cheeks. “I’m all flushed,” she said, and her eyes reflected the desire he’d called forth from her depths.

  James placed one hand on the side of her throat, feeling the pulse pounding beneath his fingers. “You haven’t the least idea how hard it is to keep my hands from you,” he told her. His gaze swept downward to where her breasts filled the front of her bodice. “I want to kiss you there,” he said, recognizing the guttural harshness in his voice.

  Kate looked down at herself, then swiftly crossed her arms across the swollen crests that pushed against her clothing, begging for his notice. Her breathing was harsh, her nostrils flaring as she inhaled sharply. “I’ve never…”

  She paused and he nodded, feeling the flesh draw taut over his jaw as he smiled, torturing himself by vivid imaginings that would no doubt keep him awake long hours into the night.

  “I know that, Kate. But you will. One day, you will.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  LIZZY’S CHEEKS were pink with indignation, her eyes wide as she glanced over her shoulder, lest her words be overheard. “I heard you spent most of yesterday with James. The man at the livery stable told Will that James left his horse there and took a buggy for the whole day.” She bent closer to Kate and her whisper held doomsday in its depths. “If the men hear about it, you could lose your position, Kate.”

  And wouldn’t that be a fine state of affairs, Kate thought glumly, and then squared her shoulders bravely. “They don’t have anyone else to teach, Lizzy. I doubt they’re going to kick me out of the schoolhouse.” She shot a glance at a passing matron, then smiled cordially as the woman nodded her head. “Apparently the word hasn’t spread yet. Besides, I didn’t do anything wrong. I went for a buggy ride with the sheriff. And he would certainly be considered a respectable man.”

  Lizzy’s mouth turned down at the corners. “Not to hear Will speak, he isn’t. He’s proud of James for truly staying sober, but everyone knows he has a reputation with women.” Her forehead wrinkled as she whispered her fears. “I don’t want you to be the subject of gossip, Kate. You’re a fine person, and you’ve been so nice to me. You’re actually the first lady in town to…” She bit at her lip.

  “You’re the wife of the banker, Lizzy. That automatically gives you a certain amount of prestige, I would think.”

  Lizzy looked uncomfortable and her lips trembled. “I just know that I don’t want anything to go wrong for you, Kate. It’s hard enough to be a woman on her own, without having folks point their fingers your way.”

  Kate shrugged. “I don’t like the idea of people talking about me, either. Especially when I’ve done nothing wrong.” She sighed, considering the problem. “I suppose the worst that could happen would be for the council to find a man to fill my position.”

  Lizzy gasped. “Do you think they would?”

  “Maybe. But at the same time, they did send me a letter that says I’ve been hired for the school year.”

  “Men don’t always keep their word, you know,” Lizzy said quietly, and then her scowl disappeared and her lips curved into a determined smile. “Shall we go
out to my place and sit on my porch? I’ve got hours until Will comes home for supper.”

  “Are you ladies in need of an escort?” James appeared in the doorway of the Mercantile, one hand tilting his hat rakishly over his forehead. “How do you do, Cousin?” he asked politely, flashing a grin at Lizzy.

  She blushed predictably and cast wide eyes in Kate’s direction. “We were just leaving to have a cup of tea,” she told James. “Are you working, Sheriff?”

  “Just let Cleve Brownlee out of jail,” James said. “He’s all sobered up and ready for another night at the saloon.” His grin vanished as he spoke, and Kate thought a trace of pain dwelt in the depths of his blue eyes.

  “Is that the extent of your work for today?” she asked quietly. “No fights to break up or cattle rustling to worry about?”

  “I told you things are pretty quiet these days in Whitehorn, Kate. There’s a fella out beyond Caleb’s place I have to see. He’s a new ranch hand and Cam, over at the bar, said the man’s the spittin’ image of a wanted poster in my office.”

  Kate felt a quick thrust of fear as James spoke. “Be careful.” Her whisper was low and he nodded, his glance all encompassing as he smiled at her.

  “If you’re not in need of company, I’ll be on my way,” he said with a final flashing smile. “You ladies keep things in order while I’m gone.”

  It was impossible not to watch as he strode across the street, a certain arrogance in his bearing, one the Kincaid men seemed to have in common, if James and Will were anything to go by, Kate thought. They were a pair, with handsome features and an elegance that ran bone deep. A pair, yet so different. James with his devil-may-care grin and Will, whose smile lit with tenderness when Lizzy was its recipient.

  “You’re a lucky woman, Lizzy,” Kate said impetuously. “Will dotes on you, doesn’t he?”

  “He’s a wonderful man, and yes, he loves me. I wonder sometimes that he became a banker, with so much fire and—” She halted, one hand lifting to cover her mouth. “I didn’t mean to say that,” she whispered through her fingers.

  Kate bent closer. “I’m pleased that he has fire. Maybe he’s more like James than you realize.”

  “James?” Lizzy’s hand fell and her mouth pursed. “James is a rascal, Kate. The women in town all give him the eye, you know, even though they don’t approve of him. There’s just something about him…” Her gaze focused on Kate’s cheeks, and the rosy glow Kate knew was well in place.

  “Why, you’re smitten with him, aren’t you?” Lizzy asked softly. “And I’ll just bet that your ride in the country was more than just an innocent afternoon of small talk.”

  Kate grasped Lizzy’s elbow and hustled her down the sidewalk. “I don’t know how I feel about James Kincaid,” she muttered. “He’s the only man I’ve ever allowed such liberties, and maybe if I had a little more experience with gentlemen I’d know better how to—”

  “Liberties?” Lizzy squealed the word, and spun to face Kate. Her own cheeks were flushed as she peered into Kate’s dark eyes. “He took liberties?”

  Kate smiled at Amos Carlton who stood in the doorway of the hotel, nodding with a genteel gesture, then hustled Lizzy down the walk. “Hush. Don’t let anyone hear you say that word. Besides, I’m not sure if that’s what you call what he did.”

  Towing an amused Kate by the arm, Lizzy’s stride lengthened as she led the way to Will’s buggy. “He can wait till I come back to get him,” she muttered as they set out for the big house outside of town. It didn’t look like Lizzy, Kate decided as they climbed the steps to the big porch, but once inside she changed her mind.

  “Come on into the kitchen,” Lizzy instructed her. “We need some tea and a lot of privacy for this conversation.”

  The tea was made, cups and saucers chosen and a tin of cookies opened as Kate looked around the tidy kitchen. “It’s lovely,” she said wistfully. “You have wonderful taste, Lizzy.”

  “I tried to make it look like the kitchen in our home when I was growing up,” Lizzy said, pouring the steaming brew. “Will says it’s comfortable.” The tea cozy in place, Lizzy settled into her chair.

  “Now tell me what James did to you.”

  Kate chose a cookie with care, uneasy with divulging the details of their moments of privacy. “He kissed me,” she said finally. “And I didn’t know that kissing was like that.”

  “Like what?” Lizzy’s eyes were wide. “Like married kissing?”

  “Is there a difference?”

  Lizzy considered the thought for a moment. “It’s almost like making love sometimes, I think. And before I made love with Will, I didn’t know that kissing could make me feel so ready for his loving.” She sobered and reached for Kate’s hand. “He didn’t do more than that, did he?”

  “No, not really.” I want to kiss you there, he’d said, and her breasts tingled as she recalled the scalding heat his gaze had evoked.

  Lizzy sighed, relief alive in her features. “He’s not the marrying kind, you know,” she warned.

  “He told me.”

  “You are.” Lizzy’s pronouncement was firm.

  Kate nodded her agreement.

  FOR THE SECOND TIME, Kate was invited to eat supper with the Teal family. Clovis Teal’s three children escorted her proudly to the outskirts of town after school, Beth on one side, Alice the other, while their brother, Clovis Jr., ran on ahead.

  “Clo says it’s sissy stuff to walk home with the teacher,” Beth said earnestly, peering up at Kate. “Me and Alice don’t,” she announced. “Our mama says it’s a privilege to have you over for supper. She’s fixin’ something special, since Pa bought a side of pork.”

  The scent of sauerkraut announced the menu as Kate turned up the walk to the Teal home, and Marjorie Teal came out onto the porch to greet her. “We’re so pleased to have you here. I hope you don’t mind that we eat early. Clovis has a meeting tonight with some men in town, and he asked if we could get supper out of the way.”

  “I don’t mind,” Kate said easily. “I have papers to grade later on, and I’d like to walk home while it’s still daylight anyway.”

  “Maybe there’ll be someone around to escort you,” Marjorie said archly.

  Kate stared at her blankly, and then smiled. “Perhaps young Clovis will walk with me.”

  Marjorie laughed knowingly. “I’ll warrant there’s more chance of…” She grimaced, pressing her lips together. “Come on in,” she invited, turning to open the door. “The girls can help set the table and we’ll be ready to eat. Mr. Teal should be here right shortly.”

  Mr. Teal appeared before the food was dished up, and ate quickly, casting more than one long look in Kate’s direction. Beth and Alice chattered about their day at school, Beth proud of having won the weekly spelling bee, and Alice pleased by her promotion to the next level of reading.

  “Miss Elliott has lots of books on her shelf,” Alice said. “And she promised I can read them all before long.” Her head held high, she lorded it over her brother, who didn’t share her love for the written word. “Clo will probably never get to read one of Miss Elliott’s books. He’s still working on his first primer.”

  “Well, maybe your next teacher will work a little harder to teach Clovis to read,” her father said bluntly. “Miss Elliott seems to have a lot of spare time on her hands these days, gallivanting around the countryside.”

  Kate’s heart clutched in her chest, and she cast a questioning look at the man. “The school was let out yesterday for threshing. I considered it a holiday,” she said quietly.

  “Seems to me the town students could have been in school anyway,” he retorted.

  “Our three went out to help at your brother’s place,” his wife reminded him gently. She smiled at Kate. “When threshing time comes, every man, woman and child is called into service. We all pitch in to help our families.”

  An undercurrent of disdain lined Clovis Teal’s words as he stood abruptly. “I’ve got to get to the bank, Marjorie. We’
re to meet at six-thirty. Amos Carlton says there’s a couple of new items we need to discuss.”

  “You didn’t have any pie,” Marjorie said anxiously.

  “Later,” he said dismissing her with a glance, then turning his attention to his children he issued plain and simple instructions. “You young’uns behave now.”

  “Yes, Pa,” Beth and Alice chorused, and young Clovis nodded glumly.

  “He’s not usually so short-spoken,” Marjorie apologized as the screened door slammed shut behind her husband. “Tell you what. I’ll fix us all a piece of pie anyway.” She rose and the girls turned to Kate, chattering incessantly as they vied for attention.

  She answered their questions, viewed their treasures as they left the table and returned with boxes of small items they cherished, and ate Marjorie’s pie with appropriate words of praise.

  Yet, the niggling thoughts in the back of her head urged her to set off for the schoolhouse. Something was gone awry. Clovis Teal had been a man bent on skullduggery, if she was any judge. And something told her that her name would be spoken at the meeting he was attending.

  EVEN A BOOK was not enough to hold her interest tonight, and Kate placed her copy of a familiar classic aside. Usually the words soothed her, comforted her aching loneliness. Tonight she was all at sixes and sevens. She couldn’t think of a single thing that would cheer her heart or put a genuine smile on her lips. And wasn’t that the biggest lie she’d ever told herself, she thought glumly.

  James Kincaid was smack-dab in the forefront of her mind, and no amount of reading or grading papers was going to displace him. She rose from the table and walked to the open door, looking out upon the darkness that enveloped the schoolyard. Lights from houses in town glowed softly, the flickering lanterns outside the hotel and saloon calling attention to those places of business. A row of dark windows lined the sidewalk, and Kate saw no trace of a tall figure pacing the wooden boards.

  James was probably at home at Mrs. Harroun’s boardinghouse, all tucked up in his bed for the night. Either that or he’d found someone to spend the evening with. And that vision did nothing for Kate’s peace of mind. That James might be in the company of another woman made her chest ache, bringing quick tears to her eyes. He’d paid her enough attention over the past weeks, that she was dead certain he enjoyed her companionship. He’d kissed her, for heaven’s sake, and that alone was right next door to a commitment in any man’s language.