Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7)

by Shanna Hatfield

  The next day he returned with more soup and a batch of molasses cookies to find Millie much improved.

  She credited the healing properties of the chicken soup, bread, and cakes he brought. He brushed aside her praise, claiming her illness had probably run its course, and she would have been better regardless of anything he did. Secretly, though, it pleased him she’d enjoyed the food he brought, and his company.

  A few days later, she was back at the switchboard. Other than an occasional bout of coughing, she acted as though she’d never been sick.

  With no reason to stop by to see her, Gideon almost wished she’d fall ill with another malady then realized how terrible that seemed. Truly, he didn’t wish sickness upon her. He merely wanted a reason to spend more time with her.

  He glanced up from a business ledger when Drake and Archie Cook entered the Second Chance one evening, full of smiles.

  Gideon stood and shook their hands in greeting. “What can I do for you gents this evening?” he asked, surprised to see the two men together.

  Archie slapped him on the back with a broad grin. “From what I’ve heard, you’re doing a right smart job of distracting Miss Matlock along with half the single females in town.”

  “Only half? I’ll have to try harder.” Gideon tossed out the flippant remark as he glanced around to see if anyone was listening. He discovered a few interested heads turned their direction. Although he didn’t think anyone would say anything, he sure didn’t want word getting back to Millie that the only reason he pursued her was for the sake of keeping the saloons open.

  “Come on in the kitchen. I might be able to find a piece of pie for you fellas.” Gideon led the way with Drake and Archie close behind him.

  After they took seats at the table, Gideon poured cups of coffee and served them each a piece of cherry pie.

  “What have you heard?” Gideon asked, leaning back in his chair as Drake forked another bite and Archie shoveled in his pie as fast as he could chew.

  Archie finished his pie and took a long swig of coffee. “Only that you carted food over to Miss Matlock when she was sick and shared it with the hello girls. Apparently, you won them over because they’ve been telling everyone what a nice, caring man you are and how fortunate Miss Matlock is to hold your interest. Even if our head hello girl didn’t like you, she’s practically at the mercy of the other women in town now that you’ve won them over.”

  Gideon drummed his fingers on the table. “Well, it hasn’t stopped them from their temperance work. They made the rounds last night, just like usual.”

  Drake took a drink of his coffee. “True, but they sure don’t seem as enthusiastic about it. And there were only a handful of ladies last night. For a while, there were almost twenty or so of them marching around every Tuesday.”

  “You’re on the right track, Gideon. What else do you have planned to pursue the lovely temperance tempest?”

  Gideon didn’t like sharing his plans with Archie Cook. He sure wasn’t going to tell the man the reason he took the food to Millie was due to the genuine affection he felt for her, not because of the stupid saloon owners’ alliance.

  “I’ve sort of run out of ideas,” Gideon admitted. He’d toyed with the idea of offering to give Millie cooking lessons, but her tiny kitchen didn’t have even the most basic essentials for cooking. Millie would rather be tarred and feathered than spend time at the saloon, not that he’d ask her to join him there. Times like this made him wish he’d never sold his mother’s house in town.

  “Take her for a drive in a buggy or a picnic in the park. Have you thought about getting tickets to the performance coming to town at the end of the month?” Archie asked, looking at Drake. “Isn’t it supposed to be an opera singer?”

  “I did see something about that in the paper.” Drake took another swig of the coffee. “Miss Matlock might enjoy seeing your ranch. She seems to like the outdoors.”

  “Maybe I’ll take her out to see the horses,” Gideon said. He’d been thinking of inviting her to spend a Saturday afternoon with him, but hadn’t asked her. Although she claimed to be well, he’d noticed she seemed thoroughly exhausted by the time evening rolled around.

  “That’s a fine idea. What woman wouldn’t enjoy a ride out to your ranch on a beautiful spring day?” Archie slapped his back and rose to his feet. “I need to get back to my place, but I just wanted to let you know we all appreciate your efforts on behalf of the saloon owners.”

  “My pleasure, Archie.” Gideon stood and watched the man disappear down the hall to the back door. Once Archie left, he slumped in his seat.

  Drake gave him a knowing look as he finished the last of his coffee.

  “What?” Gideon asked, annoyed by the amused grin on his friend’s face.

  “Nothing.” Drake continued to grin as he rose to his feet. “Just seems to me you’re not nearly as upset at spending time with Miss Matlock as I thought you’d be.”

  Gideon grinned. “She is a beautiful, smart, interesting woman, Drake. I’d be an idiot not to take advantage of that.”

  “And we both know you’re not stupid.” Drake slapped his shoulder with the flat of his hand as they walked into the front of the saloon. “Take her out to your ranch, Gid. She’ll love it.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Are you warm enough?” Gideon asked, studying Millie as he guided a horse down the road toward his ranch located a few miles out of town.

  “I’m well, Mr. McBride, but thank you for asking.” Millie smiled at him as she turned her face to the sun and breathed in the fresh spring air. Mid-March, the snow had all melted, the temperatures climbed, and the day was refreshingly pleasant.

  When Gideon asked Millie to accompany him out to his ranch, she swiftly agreed. She loved being outside, but the opportunity to spend more time with Gideon was one she couldn’t turn down.

  Now, as she sat beside him on a bright Saturday morning, she couldn’t imagine anything she’d rather be doing.

  Surreptitiously glancing at him from beneath her lashes, Millie didn’t think she’d ever seen Gideon look as ruggedly handsome as he did today. She’d sucked in a gulp when he’d called for her at the telephone office. Dressed in a pair of snug denims, a flannel shirt, a pair of scuffed boots, and a dusty brown Stetson, he looked so different than he did in his expensive tailored suits.

  The shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and chest while the Levi’s outlined the length and strength of his legs.

  It required a good deal of fortitude for her to keep from ogling his form. Finally, she turned her gaze to the passing countryside.

  Away from town, Gideon seemed much more at ease and relaxed than she’d ever seen him. The noticeable change was one she liked.

  A great deal.

  “Will I get to meet Carbonado today?” Millie asked, waving as they drove past Kade and Caterina Rawlings’ place on the outskirts of Pendleton. Brett and Ben wildly waved their hands from their positions on top of a fence rail as Kade stood next to his behemoth dog.

  “I planned to introduce you,” Gideon said, waving at the deputy as they continued down the road. “Unless you’d rather not.”

  “Oh, please?” Millie’s hands circled his bicep and she lightly tugged on his arm. “I’ve so been looking forward to meeting him.”

  “Then meet him you shall,” Gideon said, grinning at her as her hands lingered on his arm. When she started to pull away, he reached up with one hand and patted her fingers. “Did you hear the Thorsen family is hosting the ball at Dogwood Corners at the end of April?”

  “I did hear that. Ilsa and Marnie asked if I’d help with the decorations again this year.”

  “Did you assist last year?” Gideon asked. Although he hadn’t attended the ball the past two years, it had been the talk of the town long after the event.

  “I did. Bertie, Lacy, and I were in charge of the decorations in the ballroom.” Millie’s intelligent eyes took in every detail as Gid
eon guided the horse and buggy off the road and up the lane to a single level home with twin chimneys and a deep porch accented by gingerbread trim all across the front. Although no flowers bloomed around it, flowering bushes were planted in attractive groupings and a whitewashed picket fence surrounded the yard.

  “What a lovely place, Gideon,” Millie said. Barely able to suppress her urge to stand up in the buggy, she wanted to see everything at once. She took in a big barn, painted the same light gray hue with white trim as the house and assorted outbuildings.

  A pasture ran right up on one side of the barn while a corral sat on the other. One horse paraded around the corral while several others raced through the pasture.

  In a pasture behind the house, she could see fat red and white cattle grazing on the greening grass. Calves ran and kicked at each other, playing in the sunshine.

  Excited to explore his ranch, Millie made herself sit still while Gideon brought the buggy to a halt near the barn and hurried around to help her down. Prepared to take his hand, he instead reached out and circled her waist, swinging her to the ground.

  “Welcome to the Second Chance Ranch.” He watched as she turned in a circle, taking in everything. “What would you like to see first?”

  Millie looked at him with an endearing grin and a sparkle in her eyes. “Everything.”

  Gideon laughed and held out his arm. “Let’s get to it.”

  They’d only taken a few steps toward the barn when a middle-aged man appeared with a broad smile. His white teeth stood out in contrast against the dark skin of his face. “Howdy, Gideon.”

  “Good morning, Ezra,” Gideon greeted his ranch foreman. “I’d like you to meet Miss Millie Matlock.”

  “Ma’am.” Ezra tipped his hat to her and offered a friendly grin. “Gideon said he was bringing a friend out today. Hope you enjoy visiting the ranch.”

  “I’m sure I will, Mr…”

  “Oh, it’s just Ezra, ma’am. No mister required.” Ezra walked over to the horse and buggy. “I’ll put Bonnie up.”

  “Thanks, Ezra.” Gideon nodded in the man’s direction then took Millie’s elbow in his hand, directing her over to the corral fence.

  She climbed upward until she could lean her elbows on the top rail. She was glad Lacy had insisted she wear a split skirt on her outing. The freedom it afforded allowed her much greater movement than the fashionable gown she’d originally considered wearing.

  “Wait here.” Gideon disappeared inside the barn.

  He exited through a side door that brought him into the corral. It didn’t take him long to catch the big, black horse and fasten a lead rope to his halter. The horse pranced and tossed his head as Gideon led him over to the fence.

  Taken aback by the sheer size of the horse, Millie hesitated to touch the beast.

  “Go on, Millie. He won’t bite.” Gideon rubbed a gentle hand along the animal’s neck as the horse warily eyed her.

  Cautiously, she reached out and touched his neck, amazed by the velvety feel of his coat. “He’s gorgeous, Gideon. Simply gorgeous.”

  Gideon grinned, thinking more than the horse was gorgeous. Millie wore a dark blue riding skirt with boots, but the lacy shirtwaist showed off her enchanting figure. Her hair fell in a long braid down her back and dangled almost to her waist, tied with a blue ribbon on the end. Wisps and tendrils already worked to escape their confines. It had been all he could do on the way to the ranch not to tug out the ribbon and bury his hands in the fragrant tresses.

  Mindful of his thoughts, he continued rubbing his hand on Carbonado’s neck. “Carbo likes to think he’s a favorite with the ladies.”

  “I can see why,” Millie said, leaning farther over the fence and giving the horse her full attention. “What’s his story?”

  “His father is a former racehorse. In fact, he was undefeated. Some even called him the greatest colt ever foaled. The next year, his breathing problems led to a sudden retirement. They say he was a roarer.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A roarer is a term given to horses with a reduced tolerance of exercise and heat, and an elevated risk of aspiration pneumonia. In certain cases, the nerves and muscles that control the cartilages in the larynx cease to function properly. El Rio Rey’s career ended as quickly as it started. But it didn’t keep him from siring some noteworthy horses. Carbo’s mother is a thoroughbred, too. I expect this handsome boy to produce offspring with racing in their blood.”

  “If they look anything like him, they’ll be quite striking, I’m sure.” Millie laughed when the horse rubbed his face against her arm.

  “It looks like he’s taken to you, Millie.”

  She laughed again. “Obviously, he has very discerning taste.”

  Gideon chuckled and removed the lead rope from the horse then climbed over the fence. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place. If you decide you want to go for a ride later, we can do that, too.”

  He showed her the pasture where a dozen other horses grazed and she wandered through the barn, petting a new foal.

  After they walked to the crest of a hill and surveyed the cattle, Gideon took her hand in his and led her to a pond. A small rowboat bobbed in the water, tied to a sturdy dock.

  Millie glanced at Gideon in question.

  “You aren’t afraid of the water, are you?” he asked, standing at the edge of the dock, ready to help her into the boat.

  “I’ve never been in the water, so I don’t know enough to be afraid.” Millie smiled at him. “If I fall in, surely you won’t let me drown.”

  “Most certainly not. I’ll do my best to keep you dry, but just in case, I didn’t want you worrying the whole time we’re in the boat.”

  “This is all new to me. What should I do?” Millie asked, excitedly squeezing Gideon’s hand.

  “Take a seat right there,” Gideon said, steadying her as she stepped into the boat and settled onto one of the seats. Quickly untying the rope holding the boat to the dock, he stepped into the boat and sat down, picking up the oars.

  With slow, easy movements, he rowed them away from the dock. A few of his cattle came up to the edge of the pond on one side, getting a drink where trees provided shade.

  “Why in the world do you stay in town when you could be here all the time?” Millie asked, leaning back on her elbows, staring up at the blue sky overhead and the lovely setting around them. “I’d never leave.”

  Gideon shrugged, doing his best to focus on rowing the boat instead of admiring Millie’s enticing form as the shirtwaist outlined every decadent curve. “I have responsibilities in town and it’s easier to stay there to take care of them than ride out here every day. Ezra knows more about managing the ranch than I do and I trust him completely.”

  “He seems like a very nice man,” Millie said, sitting upright. Gideon’s muscles bunched and flexed through the fabric of his shirt as he rowed the boat to the middle of the pond. Scrutinizing each move, her mind conjured a picture of him without his shirt, without the dark green fabric that so perfectly matched his eyes, obstructing her view.

  She forced her eyes to drop to her lap and swallowed hard.

  Suddenly, Gideon stopped rowing and lifted two fishing poles from the bottom of the boat, holding one out to her. “Do you like to fish?”

  “I did the one time my father took me when I was a child.” She accepted the pole from him and stared from the hook on the end to an old can he held in his hand. “What’s in there?”

  “Our bait.” Gideon dug out a worm and affixed it on her hook before baiting his. “Drop your line in, like this.” He cast his line into the water and slowly started reeling it in.

  Millie mimicked his movements and managed to hold back a cheer of elation when the hook plopped into the water. Anxious to catch a fish, she stared at the surface of the pond.

  The second time they cast out their lines, hers had barely settled in the water when she felt a tug on the line.

  “You’ve got one, Millie!” Gideon gr
inned and set his pole in the boat, using the toe of his boot to brace it against the side while he reached out a hand to help her. “Keep reeling it in, smooth and steady, and hold tight to the pole.”

  Millie followed his instruction, aware his hands hovered close to hers, ready to help if she needed, but giving her the opportunity to do it on her own.

  Gideon continued to encourage her. “You’ve almost got it, Millie. On the count of three, pull your pole up and back while you continue reeling in the line. One… two… three!”

  Millie leaned back, astonished when a fat fish broke through the surface of the water and swung through the air toward her. She flinched and squealed then opened her eyes to see Gideon had the fish in his hands. Expertly removing the hook, he dropped the fish inside a mesh wire basket. After fastening the lid, he set it in the water, letting it drop down until the fish was submerged.

  “That keeps our catch fresh until we’re ready to go in,” he said, adjusting the chain anchoring the basket to the boat through a metal hook on the side. He retrieved another worm from the can and held it up in his fingers. “Do you want to try baiting your hook?”

  “As much fun as it looks, I believe I’ll allow you to do the honors.” Millie looked away as Gideon set the worm on the hook. Once the deed was done, she tossed her line back in the water. She nearly dropped her pole when Gideon reeled in a fish even bigger than hers.

  “What are we catching?” she asked, unfamiliar with most fish. Other than the few times she’d eaten it at a restaurant, that was the extent of her knowledge.

  “Bass. I had the pond stocked with bass. They seem to do well here and they’re tasty, too.” Gideon pointed to her line. “It looks like you’ve got another bite, Miss Tootsie Wootsie. You better be careful, or I’ll make a fisherman of you.”

  Surprised and inordinately pleased by his playful term of endearment, Millie offered him a saucy grin then turned back to the matter of fishing.

  An hour later, with the weight of their catches pulling the basket into the water, Gideon declared they’d caught enough fish for lunch.