But a woman couldn’t wait her entire life. Especially not one who’d fought so hard to get that life. Besides, she’d given Shane plenty of time and her kiss hadn’t left any doubt about her desires. If, as Mitch said, Shane was too dim-witted to move toward her, then why couldn’t she spend time with someone who made her feel pretty and special?
Raising her head Silver smiled at Mitch. “I’d enjoy another picnic.”
Shane McCall had no idea what the hell had just happened. He hadn’t seen any of his brothers in over ten years and suddenly Mitch was there, at the town picnic of all things, as though he came every year. With no warning, no telegram, not even a how-do-you-do. He’d just shown up with no regard for anyone but himself. It was so damn typical of Mitch.
“Did you know Mitch was in town?” Wade asked.
Wade and Shane had known each other for years, long before Mitch had left Marietta. It was no surprise Wade would have recognized him without Shane having to point him out.
“No. But he can’t have been here long. I’d have seen him or word would have gone out that he was here.” In a town the size of Marietta one couldn’t sneeze without everyone knowing within minutes.
“True enough,” Wade agreed.
They both watched Mitch and Silver disappear around the edge of the church.
“I thought you were going to outbid him.”
So had Shane. And he would have if someone hadn’t shouted at him, if he hadn’t finally heard the whispers and seen the looks on people’s faces. Until then, it had been as though it were only him, Mitch, and Silver in the yard and all he’d been able to think of was that no way in hell he wanted Mitch and Silver together. He knew his brother. He’d take what he wanted and leave with no thoughts to anyone but himself. Hell if he’d stand by and let his brother take advantage of her.
But then he’d realized everyone was looking at him, including Silver. Looking and waiting to see what he’d do. He’d known then he couldn’t win her basket. Hell, he shouldn’t have even bid on it. It was bound to send the wrong impression. The sheriff and the saloon owner? The town would gnaw on that bone for months. Years, probably. And while he’d be the first to defend Silver if anyone attacked her character, the truth was, a relationship with her would jeopardize what he’d spent his entire life building.
A reputation above reproach.
After years of being “one of the McCall boys” who everyone assumed would end up no better than their drunkard, abusing father, Shane wasn’t willing to once again be the subject of town fodder. He knew, just as he knew it wasn’t accurate, Silver’s reputation in Marietta. And as much as he wasn’t proud of it, he was certain he’d lose the respect he’d worked so hard for if he were ever to act on his feelings for her.
And so, despite what he wanted, he’d let his brother win her basket.
It didn’t mean he had to like it.
“I just wanted to give Mitch a run for his money,” he lied. “I already promised Melissa I’d win hers.” The last bit wasn’t an outright lie. He hadn’t promised Melissa anything of the sort but after three years of bidding on it, it had become habit.
Wade stared at him, hard. “You’re going to lose Silver if you wait too long.”
Shane bristled. “She’s not mine to lose.”
Wade shook his head. “She could be.” Then saying nothing else he moved closer to his family.
Shane had never told Wade or Scott his feelings for Silver. While they were often witnesses to Silver’s prickly mood when it came to Shane, he’d never let on how he felt. He suspected they might have gone on not knowing if he hadn’t made the mistake a few weeks ago of hinting at what had transpired between him and Silver in her saloon.
He hadn’t meant to say a word about it but he’d still been fired up from kissing Silver, from nearly laying her back onto one of her tables and making love to her. When Wade and Scott had poked at him about his sour mood and wondered if she was the cause, he’d snapped. He’d growled something about how she had no right to be angry, how it wasn’t as though he’d ravished her in the middle of the saloon. Though, hell if he hadn’t ached to do just that. Since then both Scott and Wade had teased him about it, tried to get him to confess what had happened in the saloon.
Shane intended to take that to his deathbed.
Though he could have simply told them he’d kissed Silver, the truth was, there was nothing simple about it. Years of desires had gone into that kiss and the power of it had shaken him. He’d pulled her hard against him, though she’d done her own pulling. They’d wrapped arms around each other and she’d knocked his hat off. Her mouth had been hot and wild and as hungry as his. If some drunkard hadn’t fired a shot in the middle of the street, Shane would have ravished her on one of her tables.
Hell if he hadn’t had many a sleepless night wishing he had.
But then he’d be no better than his father, no better than Mitch. He wasn’t only going to think of himself and what he wanted. He was a man of principles and unlike Scott, who’d married the woman he’d bedded when passion had taken over, Shane had no intention of marrying Silver. So he’d keep his hands to himself.
And his damn brother had better do the same.
“Our next basket is from Melissa Lake. Do I hear two dollars?”
Shane sighed. In some ways what he was about to do was no more fair to Melissa than bidding on Silver’s had been to her. It was clear Melissa was interested in him. Just as it was clear she was waiting for him to finally court her properly. What had begun as bringing him baked goods every other week had turned to once a week, sometimes more. She often happened to walk by when he was sitting outside his office, as he liked to do to better keep an eye on Main Street. As there wasn’t much past his office other than the post office and the saloons, it didn’t take much figuring to know what she was up to.
Being the cobbler’s daughter, she had the respectability that was important to him. Tall and willowy with delicate features that contrasted her black hair and nearly black eyes, it was actually surprising she wasn’t yet married. She worked hard, helping her father and working a few hours each morning cleaning rooms at the boardinghouse. There’d never been a bad word spoken about her. Truly, she should have been perfect for him.
But when he was with her, it was like being with a sister or an aunt. She was enjoyable company, pretty, intelligent, and kind, but there wasn’t a spark. Nothing like what he felt when he was near Silver. He shook his head, knowing he was an idiot. And idiot that he was, he raised his hand and shouted, “Two dollars!”
There was something about Mitch that put Silver at ease. It could be his resemblance to Shane. Perhaps it was the humor that never seemed to leave his grey eyes, or the fact that when he asked her a question he was genuinely interested in her answer. His gaze didn’t fall to her bosom the way most men’s did when they attempted to talk to her. He was intelligent and thoughtful and she found herself enjoying the afternoon far more than she’d anticipated.
Unlike his brother who took everything seriously, Mitch appeared to be the opposite. Despite knowing his clothes cost more than hers, once they’d finished eating he tossed his jacket onto the grass next to his hat. Now he settled back onto his hands, stretched his long legs across the blanket. He appeared to be a man without a care in the world. And while he portrayed that well, there was no masking his intelligence either.
“That was a terrific meal. I almost feel bad having taken it away from the reverend.” His grin was impish. “Almost.”
“I have leftovers in the saloon. I’ll take him some later.”
Mitch arched a brow.
Silver shook her head. “It’s only friendship. The reverend has been very kind to me since I moved to Marietta. He won’t step foot in my saloon but he doesn’t hold my owning one against me.”
“I imagine not everyone is a gracious.”
“Definitely not. But those who matter to me are, and that’s what’s important.”
“And Shane? I
s he among those who matter to you?”
She weighed her words carefully. While she was at ease with Mitch, she nevertheless wasn’t willing to spill her heart to a stranger, and especially one who happened to be Shane’s brother.
“Shane is a good friend, has been since I first arrived. He comes into the saloon regularly.”
Mitch couldn’t have looked more surprised. “Regularly? To drink?”
Silver tucked her legs to her side. “He only ever has one. But he comes in with Wade and Scott.” She peered at him. “Do you know them?”
“Wade Parker? Yeah, his family’s spread wasn’t too far from ours. I don’t know anyone named Scott.”
“Scott was Wade’s ranch hand; now he’s his partner. They’re adding horse breeding and training to the Triple P.”
“Good for Wade. I always liked him.”
“You’ll like Scott. He’s a lot like Wade. And now they’re brothers-in-law as well as partners and friends.” At Mitch’s confusion she added, “They married sisters.”
Mitch frowned. “That can’t be. Amy didn’t have any sisters.”
“How long have you been gone?” Silver asked.
“Over ten years. Long before Marietta was even a town.”
“Ah,” Silver nodded. “That explains it. Wade’s first wife was killed when she fell off a horse. He’s married to the vet now. He and Jillian recently had a baby girl. And Scott met Jillian’s sister Katie when she came to visit. They were married soon after.”
Silver didn’t get into the details of Scott and Katie’s relationship. She wasn’t going to gossip about how they’d made love within hours of meeting each other and married the same day. Everyone assumed of course, as why else would Scott, the steadfast bachelor, suddenly marry a stranger? While others saw it as scandalous, to Silver’s mind it was romantic. She could only dream of a man who was so swept away by his feelings for her he lost his head and took her to bed within hours. Who then acted honorably and did the right thing. Who then fell hopelessly in love with her.
Unfortunately Silver had learned the hard way that wasn’t in her future. Just as she knew had the drunkard not fired his weapon in the middle of Main Street that day, she would have gladly given herself to Shane. Just as she also knew even if she had, he’d never, ever, have married her afterward.
Refusing to dwell on something she couldn’t change, Silver focused on Mitch. It really wasn’t a hardship. He was handsome and attentive and was helping to keep her mind off the fact that at this exact moment Shane was surely with Melissa.
“What brings you to Marietta now?” she asked.
His gaze flickered to his discarded jacket. “I haven’t seen my brother in years, was in Bozeman and thought I’d stop by.”
“Were you working in Bozeman?”
Mitch’s smile came easy. “You could say that.”
“You’re a gambler,” Silver stated, remembering now.
And now that she remembered, realized he wasn’t what she’d imagined. Not only because of his expensive clothes but also the sharpness in his gaze, his easy charm.
“And you’re not surprised. Shane told you?”
“I don’t know much about your family but I do know there are three of you. Logan’s the US Marshal.”
Mitch’s grin was that of a man comfortable in his skin. “And I’m not.”
Silver smiled. “I’d say it doesn’t matter, as what you are appears to suit you.”
He arched a brow. “Are you saying I look like a rake?”
Laughing, Silver answered, “Yes, but in the best sense of the word. You’re very perceptive and focused, yet you don’t appear to take things too seriously.”
His grey eyes danced. “Let me assure you I take winning quite seriously.”
“Well, you’ll have to come to Silver’s one night and we’ll play a game.”
“You gamble?”
She shrugged. “Not a lot but...” She grinned. “But I when I do, I take winning seriously.”
Mitch tossed his head and laughed. “Silver, you’re a delight. I look forward to the challenge.”
Her pride swelled at his praise, at his undivided attention, at the fact he saw enough in her to bid on her basket. Everything about this day had been an unexpected surprise and she couldn’t have been more pleased.
Well, one thing would have made it better but Shane McCall had made his choice.
Shane couldn’t keep his mind from drifting to Mitch and Silver. What were they talking about? Would Silver fall for his charm? Of all the McCall brothers, Mitch was the charmer. Just the thought of it set Shane’s teeth on edge. Their father had been the same. It was how he’d been able to swindle so many people, friends included, out of money. Of course instead of taking the money home to his family, instead of ensuring they had food and the basic necessities, he’d drank or gambled it away.
Shane wondered if the fancy clothes Mitch was wearing had been bought with ill-gotten money as well.
“I lost you again, didn’t I?” Melissa asked.
Pulling himself from his troubled thoughts, Shane sheepishly answered, “Sorry, I was thinking of something else.”
Hurt filled her dark eyes. “Something or someone? You’ve never shown interest in Silver’s basket before.” She looked down, smoothed her skirt. “Were you wishing you’d have kept bidding?”
“No. I was more wondering what the man who won it is up to.”
She tilted her head up. “Why would he be up to anything?”
“Because that’s the way he is.” He drew a troubled breath. “That man who won Silver’s basket is my brother, Mitch.” As Melissa and her family had moved to Marietta about the same time as Silver, she wouldn’t have known Mitch either.
“Your brother?” She gaped. Then, as she put the pieces together she sighed in relief. “That’s why you bid on Silver’s basket.”
“It is.”
“But if you were worried about his intentions why did you stop bidding?”
“I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong impression.”
The smile on her face made him feel lower than the dirt dusting his boots because he knew by trying not to give one impression he’d made another. Damn.
“I’m sure he can’t be that bad,” she said as she offered him a plate of molasses cookies. “He is your brother, after all.”
With all the sweets delivered to his office he should be sick of cookies but molasses were his favorite and he helped himself to three.
“We may be brothers but, trust me, we are nothing alike. Mitch is a wanderer and a gambler. He doesn’t take anything seriously. Far as I know since he left here he’s never settled in any one place. Nothing sticks to him.”
Her smile withered and sadness shadowed her eyes. Damn it, he just couldn’t do anything right today. While it wasn’t a topic he ever broached with Melissa or her parents, her brother was cut from a similar cloth as Mitch. Joshua Lake was also a gambler, though the stories ran that he wasn’t a very good one. Still, it hurt Melissa and her parents that Joshua had gone, that despite their many efforts, he couldn’t be pulled from the drinking and gambling life he preferred.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t say that to make you sad. I wasn’t thinking—”
Her lips curved slightly. “I know. But I think you’re lucky he’s back. And he didn’t appear to be drunk.”
No, he hadn’t. In fact, Mitch had looked damn good. Shane scowled. Good enough to turn Silver’s head.
Melissa nibbled on her own cookie, watching Shane closely. “As a saloon owner, Silver must have experience with such men. I’m sure she can take care of herself,” she said as though reading Shane’s troublesome thoughts.
It was clear what she was implying. It was the same thing the town assumed. Yet he’d never seen or heard of Silver taking a man up into her rooms and, knowing her as he did, he knew she wouldn’t. If she were that kind of woman she’d have opened a brothel.
“Silver isn’t what most folks believe her to be,
” Shane said, leaving little doubt he’d included Melissa in those “folks”. “And while I know she can take care of herself I’d feel better if I knew Mitch’s intentions.”
“Isn’t it possible he just thought her pretty and wanted to have lunch with her?”
Maybe. But Shane doubted it and the sooner he finished with Melissa the sooner he could confront his brother.
“So, what was it you said that I missed earlier?”
Melissa folded her hands together. “It’s my birthday next week. I was hoping you would join us for supper and cake.”
Shane drew a deep breath. It wasn’t the first time he’d been invited over for a meal, though he’d managed thus far to avoid such things as birthdays and Christmas. He didn’t always say yes because, while he enjoyed a home-cooked meal he didn’t have to scramble together himself, he knew each time he accepted he was giving her false hope.
And, he realized with a sigh, he needed to stop doing so. It wasn’t the first time he’d told himself that, but this time he intended to act on it. Kissing Silver had changed things. He could no longer pretend there was a chance he’d one day feel something romantic for Melissa. He knew now he never would.
Still, this wasn’t the time to tell her his true feelings. It would be especially mean to do it when she’d just invited him to spend her birthday with her. When she’d just prepared a nice meal for him. But once her birthday was over, no more than a few days after, he promised himself, he’d tell her the truth.
“What kind of cake?” he asked. Though the sky was wide and clear above them he started to feel closed in.
“I was thinking of making my strawberry jellyroll cake.”
Which, not coincidentally he was sure, was another of his favorites. He held back a sigh. “I suppose I could make time for a meal and some cake.”
Then, hoping he wasn’t being obvious, he looked around. The other couples who’d shared baskets were putting things away and starting to disperse. All except for Mitch and Silver. He had no idea what they were doing as they remained out of sight behind the church.
A Sheriff's Passion Page 3