“Good day, Miss Adams” she said.
Although she’d become friendlier, she still didn’t linger in Silver’s presence and other than a pleasant greeting, they each went on their way. Of course many of the other women weren’t even as cordial as May Bell and they either pretended not to see Silver approach and ignored her or crossed the street to avoid having to acknowledge her altogether.
Though the rebuffs still hurt, her skin was getting thicker and slowly some of the younger women were coming around. It helped she was friends with Katie and Jillian and both were well-liked. While Eileen and Letty were also her friends most women their age weren’t as open-minded. But it was a beautiful morning, the sun was high and bright in the blue bowl of the sky, and Silver had time to herself to enjoy a nice walk through the countryside. She wasn’t going to let anything or anyone ruin it.
Once away from town, she happily picked daisies, remembering when she’d done so for Katie’s bridal bouquet. Poor Scott hadn’t even given Katie time to change or fuss before dragging her in front of the reverend but Silver had forced him to wait a little. She’d picked flowers for Katie, brushed and fussed with her beautiful red hair. Every bride deserved to feel pretty and Silver had made it her duty to see that Katie had.
Silver brought the white flowers to her nose, inhaled their sweet scent, and thought they’d make a lovely bouquet in her room. Humming to herself, her gaze intent on hunting flowers, she didn’t hear the horse and rider until they were nearly upon her. When a man’s voice called out Silver squealed and the flowers she’d gathered went flying.
As her hands went to her chest to ensure her heart hadn’t leapt from it, her gaze swung round.
“Mercy, Shane.” She breathed. “You scared the daylights out of me!”
He reined in his mount, leaned onto a muscular thigh.
Silver’s heart, which had yet to regain a steady rhythm, beat a rapid drum in her chest. This time, however, it had nothing to do with fear.
“I called out several times. I even waved.” He tipped his hat back and his steady grey eyes met hers. “Used to be a time you were skittish as a newborn colt; it would have been impossible to sneak up on you.”
“I remember those days well,” she said. “And I’m relieved they’re over.” Over, but not forgotten.
There wasn’t a day that she didn’t think of those days in Dakota Territory, especially the last few and what had led her to flee. There wasn’t a day she didn’t feel guilt over what she’d done.
For at least a year after she’d arrived in Marietta any sudden noise or movement had alarmed her and she’d jumped, terrified she’d been found. Shane hadn’t missed a thing and more than once he’d commented on it, asked her if there was something wrong. No, she’d always answered, it was only the lingering effects of travelling on her own from Dakota Territory.
It wasn’t a complete lie. There had been many times on the trail when she’d feared for her life. Wanting to save the money she had, Silver had ridden alone for a time, camped without fire so as not to attract attention. She’d caught a few stagecoaches but had decided against the train. She’d even had a few months as part of a wagon train. Always, she’d watched her back, aware of the looks the men—both married and unattached—aimed her way. Between the weather, bandits, unsavory saddle tramps, and the very real possibility she’d been followed, Silver had been more than a little skittish when she’d arrived in Marietta.
She’d told Shane most of this, she’d just never told him the entire truth, either. She was making amends. Every day she did what she could, what was in her power, to make things right. It might never be enough, but she was doing her best. Though Shane would never see it that way, which was why she had no intention of ever telling him.
Before her past ruined what thus far had been an enjoyable morning, Silver directed the conversation elsewhere.
“Where’s Mitch?” she asked. “Letty told me she saw the two of you ride out together earlier this morning.” Then she noticed the smear of dirt on Shane’s white sleeve, another longer trail of it down his right thigh.
Silver planted a hand on her hip. “Shane McCall, what did you do?”
His brows arched. “Because Mitch isn’t with me you think I did something to him?”
“Other than the day the feed mill went up in smoke I’ve never seen you look disheveled.” Not that she wouldn’t give her soul to see him in such a state, especially if she was the cause.
She pointed to his sleeve. “Look at you. You’ve got dirt all over you.”
He shrugged, grinned. “Mitch looks worse.”
Silver marched forward. “Did you hurt him?” She couldn’t see Shane harming anyone, let alone his own brother but—
“Easy, Silver. We had a little brotherly tussle but neither one of us drew blood. He’s fine. He simply wanted to stop in and see Wade and I couldn’t spare the time as I’ve already been gone longer than I’d planned.”
“Oh.” She blew out a breath. “All right, then.” She stepped back, where she couldn’t smell the scent of leather and man.
Shane eyed her closely. “Had it been Mitch coming back alone, would you have been as worried about me?”
More, but she wisely kept that to herself. Feigning indifference, she shrugged, turned and began gathering the flowers she’d dropped. “Likely I’d have eventually noticed you were missing.”
“Lucky me.” He chuckled.
Behind her, she heard the creak of leather, heard him drop to the ground.
“You missed one,” he said just as a white flower skimmed her shoulder and brushed her cheek.
Touched more than she should have been—after all he wasn’t picking her flowers, he was simply handing her one she’d dropped—Silver’s heart felt as though it were expanding in her chest.
“Thank you,” she said, deliberately not making eye contact lest he see the love she was feeling.
“I have to get back.” He sounded almost as disappointed as his words made her feel. “I promised Owen I wouldn’t be more than a few hours. But we can walk together if you’re heading that way.”
She hadn’t planned on going back so soon but a chance to have this time with Shane?
“I’d like that,” she answered and fell into step beside him.
A companionable silence fell between them as they walked toward Marietta, with Shane’s dark horse ambling along behind them.
“Has Mitch told you why he’s back?” Shane asked after a time.
“No. But I didn’t ask. Is that why you two fought?”
“Tussled. And that was because Mitch tripped me and knocked me flat. I set out this morning to ask him why he’d come home but”—he shook his head, sighed—“he distracted me.”
In the years Silver had known Shane she’d never seen him sad. Hearing it in his voice alarmed her and she touched his arm.
“Is everything all right?”
“If you could walk through that saloon your pa managed again, surrounded by nothing but memories, how would you feel?”
She knew exactly how as she’d gone back hundreds of times in her mind and each time she’d been filled with bittersweet memories.
“Happy and sad. I’d ache for what I lost, knowing I could never get it back but at the same time I’d feel as though he wasn’t quite so far away as he feels most days. But then feeling him, I’d want him to see him, talk to him, and it would hurt knowing I couldn’t.”
Shane tipped his head to the sky. “Mitch and I went home today, to where we spent the latter part of our childhood.”
Because Shane had never talked of his past to Silver before, she didn’t dare utter a sound lest he stop.
“I’ve never wanted to go back because of all the bad memories,” he stopped, looked at her. “You’ve heard the stories about my pa by now, I’m sure.”
Silver nodded.
“I figured. Anyhow, I had no desire to go back but when I caught Mitch this morning, that’s where he was heading and, as I was a
fter answers, I went along.” He swatted at a bee that buzzed between them. “There’s not much left of the place and, as I expected, the awful memories resurfaced, clear as the day they’d happened. But surprisingly the good ones were just as fresh, just as strong. Despite our circumstances, Mitch, Logan, and I had some good times there.”
“You were close back then?”
“Very.”
Now Silver understood some of Shane’s anger toward his brother. Oh, she didn’t doubt Shane thought little of Mitch’s gambling, but she suspected part of the reason he was bitter had more to do with the fact that Mitch had been gone for so long. However, that didn’t explain Shane’s mistrust toward him.
“Then isn’t it possible he just came back because he missed you?”
“It’s possible.” He conceded and tugged on the reins when his horse tried to stop and nibble at the grass. “But I have a feeling there’s more to it.”
Silver thought back to the picnic and how Mitch’s gaze had flicked to his jacket when she’d asked him what brought him to town. How he’d seemed especially interested in Melissa’s family. Could Shane be right? Was there more to Mitch’s sudden appearance? Well, if there was, it wasn’t her business and if Mitch had a reason, it was up to him to tell Shane.
Ahead of them, Marietta grew larger with each step, the pretty, false-fronted buildings took shape, became more than distant shadows. It was her home and she loved it, couldn’t imagine living anywhere else than this picturesque town, nestled between two majestic mountain ranges. However, right then, she resented its intrusion. She could have gladly spent the day walking through a sunlit meadow with Shane.
“He won’t stay, Silver.”
She’d sensed that as well, that Mitch didn’t appear to be the lingering type. Still, it stung that Shane didn’t seem to even consider the fact that maybe, if Mitch fell in love with her, he’d stay. First she wasn’t enough for Shane and now she wasn’t enough for his brother?
“I suppose we’ll find out, won’t we?” she said, her tone clipped.
Shane stopped, turned her toward him. “I don’t want him to hurt you.”
Since he’d walked out after kissing her, they’d never talked about what happened. In fact, they’d each gone out of their way to pretend it hadn’t happened at all. It worked for the most part though their teasing felt less natural than it had before. Today they’d taken a large step toward rebuilding their friendship and easy camaraderie. Silver would be wise to let it be. But she wasn’t about to let Shane get away with interfering in her personal life. Especially when he didn’t want her in his.
She stepped out of his touch. “I’m not blind. I can see the type of man he is but whatever I choose or don’t choose to do with Mitch will be between him and me. Only him and me.”
His gaze narrowed. “What is it you’re planning to do with him?”
Fury began to simmer in her veins. Who did the man think he was? Did he really think he could kiss her breathless, walk away as though it hadn’t mattered, and then presume to interfere in her life? If he did, he was about to find out differently.
“Whatever I decide, Shane, is no business of yours and if you value our friendship, you’ll stay out of it.” She straightened her shoulders. “I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions and I’m strong enough to live with the consequences.”
She hadn’t meant her action to draw attention to her breasts but it did. His eyes locked onto them. She saw his Adam’s apple bob in his tanned throat. His chest rose and fell with quick breaths. Desire, hot and thick swept over her, filling her breasts and pebbling the nipples into rigid peaks. Even through her chemise and blouse, there was no masking her need.
His hands clenched at his sides. His lips parted and, through them, she heard his rapid breaths. Seeing his desire, knowing it matched hers, increased her fury. If he wasn’t so blasted stubborn, if he’d only see what he could have, what they could have...
Finally he dragged his gaze to hers. The passion she saw snapped the last of the grip she’d held on her temper.
Shoving him aside, she said, “You had your chance, Shane McCall. You could have had everything but you chose to walk away.”
Shane looked completely poleaxed. She took the opportunity while she’d shocked him speechless to push the flowers at him and march away. But she hadn’t gone more than a few steps before Shane grasped her elbow and spun her around.
Molten grey eyes met hers. “What do you mean ‘everything’?”
Chapter Five
Shane’s day had been exactly like the mountain ranges bordering Marietta, a series of peaks and valleys with more than one treacherous drop.
One of the peaks had been seeing his childhood lean-to and discovering the play swords still inside. Holding the weathered, wooden toy, he’d relived those stolen afternoons spent playing pirate in the trees and along the river. Despite their mother’s warning that they weren’t to play near the water, they always had.
Having his legs swept out from underneath him wasn’t exactly a high point in Shane’s day but tackling Mitch to the ground then shoving his face into the damp forest floor certainly had been.
The valleys of course were the bitter memories of his father and his abuse. The drinking, the hitting. The hole his ma’s death had left behind.
To top it off, he was still no closer to learning why Mitch was back. He’d had to let it go as Mitch had veered off not long after they’d settled back into their saddles to head to the Triple P. At least as long as Mitch was at Wade’s ranch, he wasn’t stirring up trouble.
But that had been this afternoon and it was past supper now. He anticipated Mitch would be back in town and figured his brother would be heading for Silver’s. Which meant Shane needed to be there as well.
Shane leaned back on his sofa, stared at his ceiling.
A series of peaks and valleys indeed. And the first treacherous drop, well, Silver’s parting words had managed that.
You could have had everything Shane McCall, but you chose to walk away.
He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. Why did she have to say that? Oh, he knew she hadn’t meant to. She’d looked stricken, her golden eyes had widened with shock then narrowed in fury. He himself had been too stunned to do anything but gape at her. Then she’d shoved the flowers into his chest and stormed away. Somehow he’d gotten his scrambled brain to work and he’d caught her, demanded what she’d meant by everything.
Then came the second, more perilous drop.
At first he thought she’d hit him. Her lips had twisted and her hand had come up. He’d easily caught her wrist but he hadn’t been prepared for her to launch herself at him. Suddenly she was pressed against him and her mouth, that glorious mouth, was on his. Like the kiss in the saloon, this one had been hot and hungry. Her tongue had been right there, demanding entry.
While she’d certainly started it, he hadn’t needed much time to catch up. Dropping the reins, he’d banded his arms around her and kissed her just as hungrily. Her hands delved into the hair at the back of his neck, then plowed upward, knocking his hat to the ground. Dimly, he was aware it was the second time she’d done that. The purr in her throat was that of a mountain lion and it went straight to his loins.
Back on the day Scott had recruited Shane and Silver to act as witnesses to his sudden marriage to Katie, Shane had overheard Silver reassuring Scott’s future wife. There hadn’t been any doubt in either Shane’s or Silver’s mind the need for a quick wedding but neither of them had judged. In fact, he’d heard Silver tell Katie that she could only dream of a man whose desire for her would override his good sense.
Those words had haunted him since, and he’d had many a dream about him and Silver making love. In his office, in his bed, in her saloon. In the grass, in the river. Hell, anywhere.
And earlier in the meadow, the green grass and distant cottonwoods would have suited him just fine.
But as quick as she’d started it, Silver had ended it. One
moment her tongue was rubbing against his, her fingers were mussing his hair and the next he felt every digit digging into his chest as she shoved him away. Her breath soughed through her swollen lips; her eyes were a tempest about to strike.
“You know damn well what I meant by ‘everything’.”
And then she’d spun away, with the stain of the daisies he still held smearing the bodice of her blouse. This time he hadn’t stopped her.
Yeah, he’d known what she’d meant by everything. Truthfully, he’d known all along that if the drunkard hadn’t interrupted them that day in the saloon they’d already have done ‘everything’.
And despite being irritable because he’d been half-aroused all the way back to Marietta and ever since, he needed to go to the saloon, needed to keep an eye on Mitch. Tonight it had nothing to do with Mitch’s reasons for coming to town and everything to do with his brother’s intentions toward Silver. Shane was more than aware that Silver was a grown woman; hell, his body couldn’t stop remembering just how much woman she was, but she’d been upset today and if she felt nearly half as stirred as he did, he didn’t want Mitch taking advantage.
Shane’s hands fell heavily onto his thighs as he sighed.
He might as well get it over with.
Pushing to his feet, he took his gun belt from the small table next to the door and buckled it on. He’d taken his vest off when he’d returned to town, as much because the garment felt unusually restricting as because it was dirty. Silver’s blouse wasn’t the only piece of clothing the daisies had been crushed against. He hadn’t bothered putting another on then and he didn’t now. The silver star, however, he pinned to his white shirt. Shane lifted his hat from the rack, settled it onto his head.
He couldn’t explain it, as it certainly wasn’t the first time he’d gone without a vest, but walking down the steps that led from his small living quarters over the jail to the boardwalk he felt...exposed somehow. As if someone were to look at him too closely they’d know what he and Silver had done, know how close he’d come to succumbing to his desire. Again.
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