“I wasn’t aware of our impending marriage.”
What an exasperating woman! After the night they’d spent, of course they’d have to get married. Even he wasn’t that dishonorable. He sighed. “Daisy, surely you understand that we’ll need to tie the knot.”
“Yes, I do. What I don’t understand is why you’d assume we’d be married when you haven’t even asked me.”
He nodded, finally understanding that a woman of Daisy’s character would want a formal proposal. Well, hell, if she wanted a proposal, she’d get one, but he wished she’d at least look at him. Damn and damnation, maybe it was better if she didn’t. He licked the alkalai dust off his lips. “Daisy...”
Naw, this wouldn’t do. She’d want something more than the question put to her on horseback. He swung off his gelding and caught the reins of her mare. He licked his lips again—he couldn’t remember them ever being so dry—and looked up at her. “Miss Daisy Gardner, uh…”
She gazed down at him, her features softening. “Yes?”
His knees nearly buckled, whether from fright or joy, he didn’t know. “Would, uh, would you consider being my wife?” There, he’d said it—not too pretty, but he’d said it.
With a beautiful, heart-melting smile, she said, “Yes.”
That’s all she said, but it was the one word that counted. He was absolutely determined to make a good life for her, away from the mess he’d stirred up for the last few years. He hauled her off her horse and kissed her, claiming her for forever. Never would he have thought he’d feel so strongly about that, but he did. The urge to protect her, provide for her, and give her lots of babies seemed more important than anything else in the world, and that’s just what he’d do.
He lifted her back to her sidesaddle. “All right, then. I’ll talk to your daddy.” He remounted. “Let’s get on our way.”
As for the making babies part, he especially looked forward to many years of that.
Oreana seemed like a peaceful little town, just the sort of place Sidney Adler had wanted to settle down, find a wife, and start a family. The ride from Winnemucca had been a hard one, much worse than the tough, long road from San Francisco to northern Nevada.
He patted his mule on the neck as he neared the town’s only livery. Tired, hungry, and his leg aching, he was damned glad for the trip to be over. It had been four weeks since he’d been shot and left for dead, he still hadn’t fully recovered.
“Katie, in a few minutes you’ll be bedded down in a clean stall munching on sweet hay. Me, a hot bath, a decent meal, and a soft bed sounds just the thing.” He couldn’t meet Miss Daisy Gardner looking like some sort of a saddle tramp and expect her to think he was a respectable lawman. He just hoped she didn’t mind that he was a foot shorter than what he’d said. Lying about his height had bothered him, but no one wanted a short marshal, even a former Pinkerton Agent, so there’d been no choice.
Dismounting, he led his mule into the livery. The blacksmith, probably the livery owner, looked up and nodded, then continued talking to another man. Sidney walked over to them, leading Katie. “Howdy, gents.”
At that moment, he caught sight of the star on the other man’s chest—deputy marshal, it said. He’d rather pick his own deputy, but he decided to reserve judgement until he talked to the man a bit.
“I’ll git the men ready,” the deputy said. “If they ain’t here by noon, we’ll meet here and go looking.”
“Someone missing?” Sidney asked.
“Yup,” replied the deputy. “Miss Daisy and the marshal. We ain’t seen her since yesterday noon—could be the marshal found her, we don’t know, but he’s looking for a couple of bad hombres—been out since last night when we found the boy and the dog.”
Marshal? Oreana had a marshal, besides a deputy? Hell, he was the marshal! “So how long has the marshal been here?”
“Oh, ‘bout a month,” the blacksmith answered. “Good man, Marshal Adler is. Daisy hired him from San Francisco—he brought Bosco here with him.”
Marshal Adler? San Francisco? “Adler, you say. I knew some Adlers from down that way.”
“Sidney Adler. You know him?”
“No.” Sidney wanted to know who and why a man was impersonating him. Now, though, was no time to tip his hand. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”
The blacksmith took Katie’s reins. “Nice looking mule you got here. So how long you staying?”
Long enough to find out what the hell’s going on here, Sidney vowed, and to get his job back. “She’s a good old girl, all right. Racing mule—comes from thoroughbred stock.” He patted her on the nose. “Give her a good stall. I’ll be here a while. Might even settle here.”
“Welcome to Oreana, then.” The blacksmith smiled and held out his hand for a shake. “I’m Jonas Howard, and this is Bosco Kunkle.”
Sidney shook both men’s hands, taking careful note of the deputy. He had an honest face and seemed like a jolly fellow. “Si—uh, Sam Jones.”
He’d get to the bottom of this duplicity, but he’d have to be careful. The question that niggled at him the most was “why?” Maybe the man was a swindler—or worse. Whatever the so-called marshal was really after, Sidney was certain that the town would be worse for it.
“Will you be needing a place to stay?” Jonas asked.
“Reckon so. Got any recommendations?”
“Sure do. My wife runs a boarding house—quality feather beds and the best food you ever ate.”
The deputy smiled, showing a missing front tooth. “Yup, this here town boasts some mighty good food all right.” He patted his paunch. “I’m headed past there if you want me to show you where it is.”
Sidney nodded. “Much obliged.”
“I’ll take your mule to the stall.” Jonas tugged on the rein, but Katie didn’t move a muscle. And wouldn’t.
Sidney had trained her to stay by him no matter what, and, after the bandits had attacked him, she had saved his life. “I’ll do it. Just tell me which one you want her in.”
After he had removed the saddle and brushed her down, his stomach reminded him that it had been nearly a week since he’d had a decent sit-down meal. But things sure hadn’t turned out the way he’d planned.
In his quest to settle down and simplify his life, it had only taken five minutes to complicate things worse than ever. He was determined to find out the story on this low-life who was pretending to be an officer of the law, and worse, had stolen his job and his name.
Sidney patted Katie on the butt. “Rest up, little lady. We might be chasing hard cases quicker than we thought.”
Within a few minutes, Katie was content and he left the stall to join the deputy, who, if appointed by the imposter, was also acting under false pretenses. He reserved judgment, though. Kunkle didn’t strike him as a man who had enough brains to pull a scam for long.
As Sidney walked to the main entrance of the livery, Kunkle patted the blacksmith on the back. “See you later, Jonas,” he said, then turned to Sidney and asked, “Ready to get yourself settled?” He took one of Sidney’s bags, and Sidney followed him down the street.
Two horses with two riders approached. “There they are! Whoo-wee, I knew the marshal would find her. He can do dang neart anything he sets his mind to.”
Sidney took a good study of the man in question. He was good-sized and probably popular with the ladies. Dark hair—looked black but was really dark brown. He had two-day whiskers but probably preferred to shave every day. His face wasn’t that of a crook, but his eyes looked guilty as hell. Still, his strong, callused hands showed he was a working man, and crooks had an aversion to labor.
“Glad to see your sorry hide!” Bosco hollered to him. “You all right?”
“Yup. Right as rain.”
“Miss Daisy?”
“She’s fine, too.”
Bosco gave Sidney a friendly slap on the back. “This here’s Sam Jones. Might settle here.”
The so-called marshal tipped his hat. “Jones.” He tilted his head
toward Daisy. “This is Miss Daisy Gardner.”
Sidney turned his attention to the woman. She didn’t look like an easy mark. This man must be good—maybe one of the best. He’d have to be careful not to tip his hand. “Good morning, marshal, Miss Gardner.”
Nudging his gelding on, he said, “Excuse me, boys, but I’ve got to get Miss Daisy back to her parents.”
Bosco backed away from the acting marshal’s horse and patted Sidney on the shoulder. “We best get you to the boarding house. You look plumb tuckered, and I’m telling you—they got some real fine food in this here town. You hungry?”
“That, I am.” And without a job until he solved his first case.
Chapter 14
As she and the marshal rode to the mercantile, Daisy couldn’t keep her triumphant smile in check as she waved to the neighbors who greeted her. There was Mrs. Mueller, her portly bosoms bouncing as she waved, and Mr. Roth even stuck his head out of the bank and smiled. Jonas had run to the boarding house, so she supposed Sarah and her mother would be visiting shortly.
They rode directly to the store, and it was all Daisy could do to wait for the marshal to help her off the horse. When her feet hit the ground, she grasped the marshal’s hand and hopped onto the boardwalk. It might have looked as if she skipped into the store, dragging the marshal behind her, but she’d like to think she was more proper than that. She could hardly wait to tell them the news! She couldn’t, though, not until the marshal had talked to her father.
Her mother stood behind the counter, wiping the same spot over and over again, until she glanced up and saw Daisy. She threw the cloth into the air and squealed, then ran to her daughter. Daisy grunted as her mother squeezed the stuffing out of her.
“I’m so glad you’re home!” Then she frowned and grabbed Daisy’s shoulders, giving her a little shake. “Where have you been, young lady?”
Daisy really didn’t want to tell anyone about her secret cave, which was no longer a secret since the marshal had found it. “I was just fine—just got stuck a ways out of town. I went for a ride, but then I saw the two men that the marshal’s been after—you remember, the man who stole some boots from the store and his brother? And so I slipped into a cave so they wouldn’t see me, but then it got dark, and then the marshal found me, so here I am!”
And oh, how I wouldn’t like to tell you the real news!
Her mother gave her another hug. “Well you’re home now, and for that I’m happy.”
A woman sniffed, and Daisy noticed Mrs. Proctor for the first time. “So you spent the night—alone? With a man?”
Daisy felt heat flush her face and flood her body. Definitely a man.
Aunt Grace stepped between them—Daisy hadn’t seen her, either. “Now, Cordelia, you really oughtn’t jump to conclusions.”
Although Mrs. Proctor’s conclusions were closer to right than anyone thought. And he was so very good.
“Yes,” agreed Rayburn, Oreana’s telegrapher. “We ought to be counting our blessings, not worrying about propriety.” He turned to Daisy. “Welcome back, Miss Gardner.”
Someone cleared his throat at the back of the store. Heavens, there must have been a dozen people there! The room erupted in cheers and greetings as people crowded around her. She hugged them all, then she searched out the marshal, who stood by her mother.
“Ma’am, I need to talk to Mr. Gardner.”
The crowd quieted and all stared at him expectantly. He didn’t say a word, but waited for her mother to answer.
“He went looking for our daughter, but he said he’d be back for dinner.”
The marshal nodded. “I’ll catch him later, then.” He walked to the door and opened it.
“Marshal,” her mother called, “be at our house at noon for dinner.”
He smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his hat to Daisy, then left.
Daisy felt like part of her left with him, the store seemed so empty. But she didn’t have much time to think about it, because no sooner had her fiancé left, Sarah ran in.
“Daisy!” Her eyes were bright as she hugged Daisy. “I’m so relieved! Let’s get you to the house so you can get cleaned up.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Besides, I have a surprise for you.” She smiled, conspiratorily.
Daisy’s mother nodded. “You best run a bath—there’s hot water in the reservoir. I’ll be home as soon as Grace and I get things straightened up here—she’s minding the store during dinner.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She kissed her mother on the cheek on the way out.
“I’m so thankful to be out of there!” She said to Sarah. And that wasn’t the half of it. A dozen sets of prying eyes had made her uneasy, especially since the accusations in them were right on the mark.
“You look like you needed a little rescuing.” Sarah giggled. “Again.”
They hurried to the house. Somehow, it looked different now, and Daisy realized it was because she wouldn’t be living here anymore. Her place would be with Marshal Adler—or maybe she should call him Sidney. She smiled. The marshal just didn’t look like a Sidney, and she didn’t think she’d ever get used to calling him that.
Sarah unhooked the laundry tub from the back porch and brought it in. “Get your clothes off—I’ll fill your bath for you.” She picked up a bucket. “And hurry. I want to know everything!”
A few minutes later, Daisy sat in the tub. The warm water slid over her skin in the most wonderful way, and reminded her of the marshal’s kisses. Heat tingled in embarrassing places, and she was glad Sarah had run to her house to fetch the surprise she’d whispered about earlier.
She scrubbed the alkali dirt from her hair, then hurried her bath, since without Sarah, there was no one to ward off intruders. Just as she had dried and put on her robe, Sarah came in, carrying a large bag in one hand, and her sewing kit in the other.
“I spent all day yesterday working on your wedding dress and I fully expect you’ll be needing it soon.” She giggled. “You did get the marshal to propose, didn’t you?”
“Sure did.”
“Oh, Daisy!” Sarah dropped her bags and hugged Daisy. “Congratulations!” She cocked her head. “So tell me, did you have to, uh…”
Daisy sighed at the best memory of her entire life. “And he’s the right man for me, too. I mean, not just because he’s the marshal, although that was a requirement, but he’s just so—so—”
“Handsome?”
“Well, he is that, but what he does…Oh, Sarah, you just can’t imagine how he makes me feel.” She sighed again.
“Here, see what I’ve done so far.” Sarah rummaged around in the large bag and lifted out a white silk dress. “It’s only basted together for the fitting.”
Daisy couldn’t believe the beauty in Sarah’s creation. “It’s beautiful!”
“It’ll be ready for the fitting in a few days. All I want to know is, are you absolutely certain this man’s the one?”
Smiling, she took the dress and held it up to herself. “Every night of my life will be brighter than the Fourth of July fireworks.”
Sarah took the dress and folded it. “You certainly know your mind, Daisy Gardner. You set out to marry the marshal, and you’re almost there. Now you can forget about all that detective stuff you talk about all the time and concentrate on making a nice home and family for your husband.”
Daisy didn’t answer, only shrugged. She didn’t plan on spending her days slaving over a hot stove or painting stupid little flowers on pillowcases. No, she could be a real detective now!
Cole was nervous as a pup in a grizzly’s den as he knocked on the Gardners’ door. He’d have a lot of explaining to do to her father, and eventually he’d have a whole lot more explaining to do to her. On the other hand, he couldn’t quite quell the happiness inside, either. After all, the finest woman in the country had just agreed to marry him.
Meantime, he had to get her hitched to him soon so they could leave. The hell with the miners, and to hell with the Sinker Cr
eek ranch. Thomas would have to deal with the miners and the water problems himself.
Aw, damn, that was bullshit and he knew it. He could no more abandon his brother than he could leave Daisy—or stop breathing. He’d made commitments, and he had to live up to them or die trying—which was entirely possible.
But he didn’t want to die. For the first time in years, life was worth living.
Meantime, he’d have to keep an eye on the odd-looking little man he’d just met—a short skinny fellow with a head too big for his body. He wore a derby, not common around these parts, and walked with a limp. He must be new in town—Daisy hadn’t known of him. Cole hadn’t liked the way the man studied them, and wondered just what the hell he was up to.
Daisy opened the door, the very sight of her smiling face making his heart thump. She had on that silly hat with the garden planted on it, and a plain, blue calico dress that only emphasized her beauty. He wanted to hold her and kiss her right there at the front door. Instead, he removed his hat and smiled.
“Come in, marshal,” she backed up and opened the door wider. “Dinner’s on the table. Have you washed up?”
He nodded. He’d even gone to the barbershop and bought a shave and a dose of bay rum.
“They’re all in the dining room.” She shut the door and gave him a peck on the cheek, nearly undoing him right then and there. Last night hadn’t been nearly enough for him. He gazed into her eyes—a lifetime of loving her wasn’t enough. “We better go in.”
He followed her, hanging his hat on the coat rack as he passed it. A lump formed in his throat. He’d never dishonored a woman before, and, even though he loved her, facing her daddy wouldn’t exactly be easy. After all, Gardner was a man, and he’d know exactly what Cole had done. Men didn’t much like their daughters being messed with.
Gardner greeted him with a handshake. “Thanks for bringing my girl back, marshal.”
Cole felt like a heel, but he only nodded. “I’m glad I found her, although she’s a resourceful woman—she’d have been fine on her own.”
“Let’s sit down and eat. We’ll talk over a cigar after dinner.”
Much Ado About Marshals (Hearts of Owyhee) (2011) Page 19