McKinnon's Bride (Willow Grove, Texas Series Book 1)

by Sharon Gillenwater

  “You could still kiss me.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I could.” He released her hand and put his arm across her back, supporting her, and leaned down. “And will.”

  He kept his passion carefully in check this time, but love flowed between them, pure, sweet, and precious.

  When he finally ended the kiss, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “How did you find out about Doolin?”

  “Quint.”

  She straightened, looking up at him. “I don’t understand.”

  “I saw Quint yesterday on the way home from town. Doolin is the head of the rustlers.”

  Jessie stared at him until the words soaked in. “He has an evil streak but rustling cattle? He wants to run for state office someday.”

  “Well, he won’t get to. Quint met him at the camp the other day. Doolin keeps some of the stolen cattle at his ranch and sells off the rest to someone in Colorado. He’s been running the same operation in New Mexico, but that crew has moved in here, too. They’re planning to hit my herd and someone else’s on Wednesday night. He said we’ll have a good chance to capture most of them if we surprise them at the camp early Thursday morning.”

  “What about Doolin?”

  “He might be there, too. Now that he trusts Quint, he may go back to his old routine of inspecting the cattle each morning after a raid. Doolin mentioned that he’d tried to hire you as his housekeeper, but you refused. Said he liked your fire as well as your beauty. He made it clear that he had things beside housekeeping in mind. Quint pretended that he didn’t care. Figured it would be safer for you. I think Doolin was giving Quint a warning, using a potential threat against you to keep him in line until they’re through with the rustling. Quint thinks Doolin is about to put an end to it.”

  “But you and the sheriff are going to do it for him.”

  “Along with Ty and Quint, maybe a few others. Until Doolin is behind bars, you need to be extra careful, sweetheart.”

  “Do you think we should move back to the ranch?”

  “I’d like nothing better. But if you moved back so soon after Quint found out about Doolin, he might get suspicious. It’s not likely, but we can’t take the chance. Supposedly, Doolin has already shot one man in cold blood for disagreeing with him.”

  A cold shiver raced down her spine, and Cade put his arm around her again.

  “Quint didn’t even think I should come to town again so soon, but I couldn’t stay away from you. I had to be sure Doolin hadn’t hurt you. And I needed to warn you about him.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “If I make a big show of courtin’ my woman, maybe he will think that’s all I’m up to.”

  “So this is all for show?”

  He nodded, sliding his other hand around her waist, and began nibbling on her earlobe. “Showing you how much I love you.”

  Chapter 18

  “Aren’t you going to race, Cade?” Brad, moved to stand in front of Jessie as everyone lined up on Main Street to watch the annual Fourth of July horse race.

  “No, son, I learned a long time ago that racing is for lighter men. Works a horse too hard to carry my weight and try to run full speed.”

  Brad considered the statement for so long, Cade wondered if he’d just lowered himself in the boy’s eyes. When he looked up with a slight frown, he was certain of it.

  “So you never could win?” asked Brad.

  “No. Though I never came in last, either.”

  “Wouldn’t be any fun if there was no chance to win. And it would be real bad to push the horse too hard. It might hurt him, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Then it’s good you don’t.”

  Cade felt a swell of pride at the boy’s wisdom. He glanced at Jessie, meeting her pleased smile with one of his own. Resting one hand on Brad’s shoulder, he said, “I’m glad you think so.”

  The boy glanced up with a grin that made Cade want to give him a hug, but he saved it for later. Though Brad smiled and laughed a whole lot more than he did when they first arrived, Cade figured such a display of affection in public would embarrass him.

  “Here they come!” someone shouted.

  “Johnny’s in the lead,” yelled Brad, jumping up and down, cheering for one of the younger men from the McKinnon Ranch. Ellie joined him, bouncing like a Mexican jumping bean. Cade and Jessie laughed at the kids and hollered their encouragement to the young wrangler, clapping and cheering wildly when he won.

  After all the racers crossed the finish line, they made their way through the crowd to congratulate him. “Best riding I’ve ever seen,” said Cade with a grin, shaking the man’s hand. “Next time a cow breaks from the herd, I’ll know who to send after it.”

  Johnny laughed, rubbing his horse’s nose. “It was more Big Red than me. He couldn’t stand to let any of those other horses beat him. Did you bet on me, boss?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.

  “Nope. You know I’m not a bettin’ man, but I expect you’ll collect a tidy sum besides the twenty dollars for winning. Everybody figured Melrose and Lightning were a cinch to win.”

  “It was close.” The cowboy turned to the man who came in second place, offering him his hand.

  Melrose hesitated, then shook it, finally smiling at the younger man. “You won fair and square. I didn’t know Big Red could run like that.”

  “Neither did I. It’s the first real race we’ve ever been in.”

  “Let’s get together and talk. I might be interested in sponsoring you two on the racing circuit.”

  Johnny’s eyes widened, and he glanced uneasily at Cade. “I don’t know, Mr. Melrose. I’ve already got a job.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt to listen to his offer,” said Cade. “But come talk to me before you agree to anything.”

  “Yes, sir. I will.”

  They moved away so the young man could enjoy the limelight and headed back toward the picnic area by the creek on the outskirts of town.

  “Are you going to advise him to go?” Jessie curled her fingers around his arm.

  “Depends on what Melrose has in mind, and what Johnny wants to do. The racing circuit can be hard on a man and a horse. Mostly, I want to make sure Johnny understands the risks and that it might not be glory and good money. And to let him know that he’d have a job to return to if he does go. He’s a good hand.”

  “And you’re a good man.”

  “Darlin’, if you keep lookin’ at me like that, I’m going to kiss you right here.”

  Roses bloomed in her cheeks and she ducked her head. He glanced around to see if anyone was within hearing distance. Leaning a little closer, he said, “I love you, Jessie Monroe. I’ll shout it to the world if you want me to.”

  She laughed softly. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  Maybe not. But before the day was over, he intended for every man there—especially Doolin—to know that she was his.

  They reached the picnic area beneath the large grove of giant weeping willows that gave the town its name. The fragrance of roasting meat filled the air, although the breeze thankfully blew the smoke away from them. Cade and the other ranchers had dug the large barbecue pits that now held meat from four beeves cooking over a thick bed of coals. He had also helped fill the pits with mesquite branches and start the fires.

  On the flattest spot in the shade, wide boards from the lumber yard sat on top of sawhorses to form two forty-foot long tables for the rest of the food. The ladies had covered them with a variety of colored and patterned tablecloths. The wood practically groaned under the large assortment of food—ears of corn, fresh fruit, salads of all kinds, pickles, fancy yeast rolls, and more desserts than a man could sample in a month.

  Large metal washtubs filled with bottles of ginger ale and lemonade were nestled in the shallow water at the edge of the stream. Some families brought their own large covered jars of tea or lemonade and set them in the water to cool near where they spread a blanket or quilt.

  Since the celebration included women and children, t
he city council had decreed there would be no liquor allowed at the picnic. The saloons were still open, however, and only a few blocks away, so the men who associated alcohol with a good time wouldn’t die of thirst. The past two Independence Day celebrations had been relatively free of problems, but if anything happened, the sheriff and his deputy were on hand to take care of it.

  The city council had erected an elevated platform at one end of the grove where various officials could expound upon matters political and patriotic. McKinnon Brothers provided the wide bunting of red, white, and blue draped along the front of it.

  Cade spotted Ty walking over to a large iron triangle tied to a tree branch. “Looks like it’s about chow time. Brad, Ellie, come here, please.” The children hurried to join him and Jessie as their friends scurried to meet up with their parents.

  Ty hit the inside sections of the triangle with a short iron bar, the clanging ring calling everyone to the table in the traditional cowboy manner. He kept it up until most of the people had gathered around, empty plates in hand.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, youngsters and scalawags, it is my honor to welcome you to the third annual Fourth of July picnic of Willow Grove.” The crowd cheered, and he paused for a minute. “Normally, this honor goes to the mayor, but he yelled so much during the horse race that he’s lost his voice.” Scattered cheering again sounded through the park. Ty laughed and held up his hands. “He assures me that he just needs to rest it for a little while so he can deliver his speech later on.” Good natured groaning brought laughter.

  “Our fair ladies have forbidden us to start with the desserts.” More groans, especially from the cowboys. “And they said we have to eat at least one vegetable. There are a lot to choose from, though, so I’m sure you can find something to your liking. They tell me that we should start with the beef—Rob is already slicing it up—then form a line on each side of the tables. You men with long arms might have to help the little ones—or the ladies—if they spot something they want on the other side of the table.”

  A ripple of laughter went through the crowd, and Cade smiled, proud of his brother. If anyone had told him twenty years earlier that one day he and Ty would be prosperous and leaders in the community, he would have scoffed. They’d come a long way from those frightened orphans who tearfully walked away from their mother’s grave to try to make it in the world on their own. He glanced at Jessie, love filling him body and soul. You’ve been good to me, Lord. Turning his gaze back to his brother, he silently prayed that God would bring someone into Ty’s life to fill the void left by his beloved Amanda.

  “We want to thank the ranchers who supplied the beef and dug the barbecue pits, and their range cooks who have tended to the cooking.” Most of the men involved merely nodded at the applause, but a few doffed their hats and bowed to the crowd, evoking more laughter.

  “We also want to give our lovely ladies a round of applause for all their hard work in providing everything else we have to eat. I don’t think anyone will go away hungry.” More applause and loud cheers from the men as the ladies preened. “After Reverend Peterson asks the blessing, we can all eat.”

  The reverend cleared his throat and waited a moment for the men to remove their hats. “Please bow your heads.”

  Cade slipped his hand around Jessie’s. The minister thanked the good Lord for the town, for Texas, and for living in a free country, along with a blessing for the food and the hands that prepared it. Cade added silent thanks for his family—Jessie and the kids and Ty. “Amen.”

  “Come get your plates, then line up with us,” Jessie told the youngsters. She selected her food, along with Ellie’s, while Cade helped Brad when he wanted something he couldn’t reach. Their plates were full before they were halfway down the table, so they headed back to the spot they had picked out earlier. Ty and Nola were right behind them. Cade had hauled a rocking chair along for Nola. The rest of them sat down on a couple of quilts spread out on the ground. Asa and Lydia were nearby, but they were so wrapped up in each other, they might as well have been alone.

  Ty eyed Cade’s heaping plate and chuckled. “I think you’d better move back to the ranch, Jessie. The poor man is starving.”

  “I doubt that. He’s been eating at our place more than at home.” Nola grinned affectionately at both men. She nodded at Ty’s equally full dish of food. “Looks to me like Mr. Boswell needs to enlarge his servings at the restaurant.”

  Ty laughed, set the plate on the quilt, and picked up an ear of corn. “They’re big enough. I just wanted to sample everything.”

  “Impossible.” Jessie watched the line of people moving along the tables. There was still plenty of food for everyone. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “Didn’t you have a Fourth of July picnic in Riverbend?” Cade asked around a bite of beef.

  “Yes. But everyone brought their own food. They didn’t barbecue or have a big potluck. Of course, there weren’t very many single men there, either.”

  “With all the ranches out here, the cowboys make up half the population. Probably two-thirds of it, if you’re only counting adults.”

  “At least,” said Ty. “It’s not just the cowboys. More than half the men in town are single. Which means you ladies won’t get to sit down once the music starts.”

  Nola laughed. “I will. These old legs don’t move like they used to.”

  “I’ll be brokenhearted if you don’t dance at least once with me.” Ty gave her a rakish smile. “We’ll pick a slow one.”

  Nola waved her hand at him and laughed. “Save that charm for the younger women, boy. I intend to watch and enjoy the music.”

  Ty put his hand over his heart. “I’ve been spurned. Jessie, will you save a dance for me?”

  “Of—”

  “She will not,” Cade interrupted. “I’m claiming them all.” He grinned at Jessie. Judging from her expression, she couldn’t decide whether to be put out at him or flattered.

  “You do, and there’s liable to be a lynching.” Ty’s tone grew serious. “It’s up to you, Jessie, of course. But we’re mighty short on females. One dance with a pretty woman like you will go a long way to brightening a lonely man’s days for a long time.”

  Cade knew his brother was right, but he didn’t want to share her with anyone. Still, he remembered how a woman’s smile stayed with a man when he was out on the range for months at a time. “I reckon I could settle for every other one. I won’t like it, but I can live with it.”

  Jessie laughed and caught Ellie’s glass of lemonade as it tipped. “Better to live with it than be strung up.”

  They polished off their food and went back for dessert. When they were done with that, Jessie and Cade rinsed their dishes in the stream and packed them away. Ellie and Brad went off to play with some friends, following Jessie’s admonition to stay where she could see them.

  She and Cade leaned back against the tree, stretching their legs out in front of them on the quilt. Ty sprawled on the one next to them. “Time for a nap.”

  “You’re going to miss the mayor’s speech.” Cade nodded toward the platform where the gentleman hovered near the steps, talking to another alderman.

  “That’s the whole idea.” Ty grinned and settled his hat over his eyes. He tipped up the brim with one finger, meeting Cade’s gaze. “Next year, I plan to be the one making the speech.”

  “You’re going to run for mayor?” That was the first Cade had heard of it.

  “Yep.” Ty raised up, leaning on one elbow and spoke quietly. “Jacob has shown up drunk at three of the last four city council meetings. He finally admitted last night that his missus didn’t go to her sister’s for a visit. She’s left him. He plans to resign tomorrow and move back to Atlanta, too. See if he can patch things up with her.”

  “Is that the real reason he didn’t give the welcome speech? Is he drunk?” Jessie glanced anxiously toward the man.

  “No. He wasn’t drinking last night. He’d decided what he had to do an
d that lifted a load off his shoulders. Sweeny has been ridin’ herd on him since breakfast this morning, though, to make sure he’s all right. It would be a real shame if he made a fool of himself in front of everybody. He’s a good man and has done a lot for this town. I’d just as soon folks in general don’t learn about how he’s been this past month.

  “The council has already agreed to appoint me as interim mayor. Then I’ll run for the office in the next election, along with anyone else who wants to try for it.”

  “You’ll be a shoe-in,” said Nola. “Though Tate Doolin might run against you. He tries too hard to be friendly to everybody, just a bit too slick for my tastes. Bound to have political ambitions.”

  Cade and Jessie exchanged a glance, both trying hard not to let their feelings about the man show.

  Ty carefully ignored them and teased Nola. “Are you saying I’m slick? I’m a politician.”

  “No, you don’t strike me that way. ’Course I’ve known you since you were too young to shave, so reckon that clouds my judgment a mite. You’re smooth and charming, but honest as the day is long. Everybody knows it.”

  “Doolin has a reputation for honesty,” said Cade.

  “I’m not saying I ever heard anything against him, but he makes me uneasy. Can’t tell you why, he just does. Just don’t feel like I can trust him.”

  “I’ve never known your intuition to be wrong,” said Ty, finally glancing at Jessie.

  “There’s been a time or two,” said the older woman. “But a time or two in almost seventy years doesn’t count for much.”

  No it didn’t. And this time she was right on the money.

  Chapter 19

  Jessie had the best Fourth of July of her life. The children spent the afternoon playing with their new friends and even entered a few of the games. Ellie won third place in the race where each contestant carried an egg on a serving spoon. They didn’t discover until the race was over that the kids her age were given a boiled egg instead of a raw one like the older children. Brad and his friend Will came in second in the three legged race and were as proud as if they had won.