“Thanks, Matt.” Slapping him on the back, he drained his coffee and headed toward the door.
*
Three hours later, Matthew slipped in the back door of the Blue Bonnet and took the dish towel from Annalise’s hand. “You go on now, honey. I’ll stay until Miss Laurie’s finished here and see her home.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.”
“I’m sure but there are a few customers over at The Duchess waiting for some of that apple pie.”
“Oh, I forgot all about the pies,” Annalise cried, taking off her apron and slipping on her cloak. “Tell Laurie I had to get these over to Callie Mae’s,” she continued as she bustled about the kitchen finding an empty box and placing the pies gently inside. “There’s still an awful lot to do here,” she said, frowning as she looked at the loaded down tray Laurie left beside the sink. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“No, I don’t mind washing a few dishes.”
“Alright,” she said picking up the box and pausing by the door. “It’s just that I… I’m a little nervous about getting back to The Duchess on my own,” she admitted quietly.
“There’s a man out there waiting for you and I believe he intends to see you safely home,” Matthew said grinning. “At least he’s been hanging around trying to look busy for a while.”
“Who?”
“Ty Wainwright,” he replied with a wink as he moved to open the door for her.
“Do you know him?” she asked, carefully avoiding his eyes.
“Very well.”
“So he’s not a drover just in town for a few days?”
“No, honey. Ty Wainwright owns a big spread north of town. Now you hurry along and don’t keep him cooling his heels any longer. He’ll see you get back to Callie Mae’s in one piece.”
“Is he a good man, Matthew?”
“I call him a friend and Ma likes him. You can’t get a much higher recommendation than that,” Matt assured her. She certainly was a funny girl. Just about every female in town had set her cap for one of the Wainwrights, starting with Ty’s granddad. Here she was a sad, quiet little thing, plain as could be, and Ty was about dancing on the boardwalk in his impatience for her to come out. Matt stood on the back stoop and watched her walk down the side of the building until Ty met her halfway, took the box from her hands, and offered her his arm.
*
The smell of fresh coffee greeted them as soon as they walked through the back door. Setting the box on the table, Ty turned and slipped the cloak from Annalise’s shoulders and hung it on a peg by the door.
“That sure smells good,” he remarked hopefully.
“Yes, it does. Would you like a cup of coffee and a piece of pie, Mr. Wainwright? It’s the least I can do. I appreciate you taking the time to see me home. Please, sit down.”
“It was my pleasure, Miss Martin, and yes, I believe I would like a piece of pie. Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked as she washed her hands and unpacked the box.
Annalise shook her head and took several small plates from the cupboard. Getting a sharp knife, she cut the pies into slices and placed one in front of Ty before loading the others onto a tray with some forks.
“I’ll just take these out to the bar. Matthew tells me there are a few customers waiting.”
As soon as she went through the swinging door, Ty got up, located two cups and poured them each a cup of coffee, placing them on the table. The sugar was in a pretty little bowl and he set that on the table as well. In the icebox he found a jug of milk and poured some into a small pitcher.
“Why Mr. Wainwright, I would have done that,” she exclaimed as she came back into the kitchen carrying an empty tray and rubbing her temple.
“I didn’t mind and you’ve been on your feet for hours. Sit down and enjoy your coffee. Have you a headache, Miss Martin?” he asked with concern.
“A little one. It’s very loud in there,” she said nodding toward the bar. “I don’t know how the other girls stand it, but in reality it’s probably from my hair,” she sighed. “I really should have it cut.”
“Your hair hurts?” he asked in confusion.
Annalise laughed. “No, my hair doesn’t hurt, but the weight of it hurts my head,” she explained with a twinkle in her eyes that would have shocked her friends. “When it’s been up for a long time it begins to well… weigh on me.”
“Why don’t you take it down,” he suggested firmly. “Why suffer needlessly?”
“That would hardly be proper, Mr. Wainwright,” Annalise said, gently probing the base of her skull.
“Miss Martin, at the risk of being impolite, you live and work in a saloon, something that most people would not consider acceptable. I hardly think letting your hair down could break any further rules of etiquette,” he offered kindly.
“A good point, Mr. Wainwright,” she replied, her fingers reaching into her hair and plucking out several pins. In seconds her long dark hair was down her back and curling around her hips as she gently massaged her scalp. “Do I look frightening?” she asked with a laugh as his mouth dropped open.
Ty was momentarily speechless. Her hair hung in shimmering waves nearly to the top of her thighs and he fought the urge to take hold of her and bury his face in it. She was instantly transformed form a very sweet looking young girl, to the object of his darkest fantasies. It was incredible and stunning.
“On the contrary, Miss Martin, your hair is lovely and if you were my woman I would insist you never cut it. In fact, I would want you to wear it down the majority of the time, at least at home.”
Annalise froze, blushing as his words evoked an intimacy she’d never given much thought to.
When she failed to respond, Ty got up and moved around the table, pulling out her chair.
“Please sit with me,” he encouraged, sensing her confusion. “I’ll try not to embarrass you further.”
“Oh, you didn’t embarrass me, Mr. Wainwright. It’s just that I never expected a man, any man, to say those kinds of words to me,” she breathed, looking up at him curiously and remaining standing.
“Why ever not?” he asked, truly surprised.
“Well, I’m hardly the sort of woman poetry is written about. I’m fully aware that I’m plain and non-descript in most ways, compared to other women.”
Ty didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Certainly she was talking nonsense but she seemed to believe it whole-heartedly. Not one to procrastinate, he made an instant decision and instead of seating her in the chair, he sat down. In one swift movement he pulled Annalise Martin onto his lap and slipped his large hand into her silky hair. Cradling the back of her head, he held her firmly in place as his lips descended on hers with a passion that startled him. He wanted her and not in a casual way. He wanted to remove each and every scrap of her clothing and admire every inch of her. He wanted to show her how lovely and delicate she was, and that any man lucky enough to capture her heart would be blessed for all time, and most of all he wanted that man to be him.
Ty kissed her through her initial shock where she struggled briefly against his hold. He continued to kiss her until her lips parted slightly and he touched his tongue to hers, tasting her lips. He felt her arms creep up to his shoulders as though she thought to push him away and instead pull him closer as a surge of satisfaction rushed through him. When she was pliant and breathless he lifted his head.
“Let’s hear no more talk about you being in any way undesirable, Miss Martin. In fact, if I don’t return to my seat, I’m afraid I’ll frighten you and do something I’ll be ashamed of.”
Rising with her still in his arms, he bent and deposited her carefully on her chair before resuming his seat.
Annalise kept her head lowered, her hair hiding her face as she fixed her coffee in silence.
“Have I upset you, Miss Martin? Please forgive me for being so bold and forceful; I just couldn’t stand to hear you say those things when they are completely untrue.”
&n
bsp; “Don’t apologize, I beg you, Mr. Wainwright,” she whispered. “I’ve had my first kiss,” she sighed in wonder, lightly touching her lips as she finally met his gaze, “and it was so much more than I’ve read about.”
“Your first kiss?” he asked in surprise as he swallowed with difficulty. Oh Lord, she really was an innocent. Somehow that made the kiss all the more precious to him.
“Yes,” she admitted her cheeks pink. “I find I quite like it,” she continued, picking up her cup with a broad smile.
“I’m very happy to hear that, as I intend to kiss you again and often,” he smiled back.
“Do all men kiss like you, Mr. Wainwright?” she teased, her eyes bright with challenge as she flirted for the first time in her life.
“I couldn’t answer that, Miss Martin,” he shot back with a frown, “as I’ve had no experience kissing men. However, let me say this. I don’t expect you’ll be finding out the answer to that unless you want your bottom cheeks to be as pink as your face.”
Annalise straightened up and set her cup down on her saucer with a clink. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” she gasped, her hand flying to her chest.
“I’m saying that I’m declaring for you, Miss Martin, and I expect you to behave yourself while we go through the courting process.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“To put it bluntly, I want you to be my wife at some point in the near future.” Ty was stunned at the words spilling from his mouth, but he couldn’t stop them. Somehow they felt right.
“Funny, that’s not how I imagined a marriage proposal worked. I thought the prospective groom would get down on one knee and ask me to marry him. The way you make it sound it’s an order, Mr. Wainwright,” she said accusingly, her eyes swimming with tears and disappointment.
Ty sighed and rubbed his cheek before getting out of his chair and rounding the table. “I’m sorry, Annalise. I’ve never done this before either and I guess I’m making a mess of things. I never expected to ride into town tonight and find the girl I want to make my bride,” he said, sinking to one knee and taking her hand in his. “Then when you indicated you liked kissing, I got a little jealous and to answer your question honestly, no, all men do not kiss alike. I expect it has something to do with the feelings they have for the girl they’re kissing and she for them.”
Annalise thought this over. It made sense and it was hard to imagine a kiss being any better than the one they’d just shared.
“What about the other thing you said, about what you would do if I kissed another man?” she demanded, determined to ferret out the true measure of his character before she agreed to anything.
“Well, I’m sorry for saying that too, at least in that way. I can’t imagine you doing anything bad enough to earn a spanking, what with you being so sweet and all, but it’s best you know beforehand that it’s a possibility, especially if I found out you kissed another man,” he said firmly, looking straight into her startled eyes.
“You would really strike me?” she whispered.
“I sure would, right on your cute little behind with my hand,” he said holding up his very large hand so she could get the full implication of what he was saying. “I’d spank your bottom until you were good and sorry for doing something you oughtn’t.”
“What if I hated it?” she asked, titling her head. There was a curious swirling in her tummy and a clenching she’d never experienced.
“Why, that would be a good thing,” Ty smiled as he fingered a section of her hair. “Then I wouldn’t have to do it very often at all.”
“I suppose that’s true, but I’m not at all sure I should accept your proposal. After all we only met tonight.”
Ty was not at all in favor of waiting so he did the only thing he could think of, he stood and pulled her into his arms. Her head naturally tipped up so she could look at him and his lips settled over hers once again, stealing her breath and her wits. He held her firmly yet gently as his hand traveled up and down her back from her shoulders to the base of her spine.
She felt his fingers tangle in her hair as he tightened his grip, pressing her breasts against his chest. Her feet left the floor as he straightened to his full height and one of his large hands strayed to her hips, molding her pliant form tightly to his. A tug on her hair, and she was offering her neck to his mouth, shivering with needs she couldn’t name. It was glorious.
“Marry me, be my bride,” he pleaded in her ear, nipping on her tiny lobe.
Annalise sighed in delight, but gave no answer until he smacked her bottom and growled the question again. “Answer me,” he demanded. “I want an answer!”
“Yes, Ty, yes,” she sighed, feathering kisses along his jaw. “I will marry you.”
His whoop of joy was so loud the girls came running, falling through the doorway just in time to see Ty twirl her around before setting her on her feet with a pat on her bottom.
“What’s going on in here?” Callie Mae demanded.
“I think I just got engaged,” Annalise giggled, holding Ty’s hand between her own.
“What?”
“Don’t worry, Callie Mae; I’ll stay until I work off what you’ve invested in me. I promise.”
“No,” Ty insisted. “I’ll pay whatever she owes you, Callie Mae, and I’ll find her a room in town until we can make the arrangements.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Annalise informed him. “I have an obligation and I won’t shirk it. I will continue to work here until it’s fulfilled.”
“Okay, but why do you have to live here?”
“This is my family, Ty. The only one I have. Don’t act like they aren’t good enough or this engagement will be over before it’s begun,” Annalise warned.
Staring into her eyes, he couldn’t see the shocked expressions on the other girl’s faces. The little brown sparrow had morphed into an eagle.
“Alright, alright, I meant no offense. Callie Mae, tell her we’ve been friends for a long time. I meant no disrespect ladies. Boy, I can see I’m going to have to be careful how I word things,” he said wryly, shaking his head. “She’s a might feistier than I thought. Give me a kiss, honey and I’ll see you soon.”
Annalise stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek before he went out the door.
Immediately she was swarmed by her friends, demanding to know how she’d managed to snag one of the most eligible men in the territory the first time she ventured out on her own.
Annalise didn’t have any answers. “I really don’t know how it happened. One moment I was nearly run down in the street and the next I was saying yes to Ty’s proposal. It all seems like an incredible dream. Funny, I always thought I’d end up a spinster, minding someone else’s children. Quick, pinch me, Fancy, so I’ll know I’m awake.”
“I’ll pinch you,” Fancy replied smiling, “but I know you’re awake, maybe for the first time since I’ve known you,” she laughed, giving Annalise a hard pinch.
“Ouch!”
“See, I told you.”
“So how did you meet him?” Marilee asked breathlessly.
“Why is your hair down?” Jane inquired. “I’ll bet that’s why he was so taken with you. You have lovely hair, Annalise. I don’t know how a man could resist touching it.”
“Gosh, do you think that’s it?” Annalise gasped, fingering her long dark locks. “I’d hate to think that Ty would be so shallow.”
“Of course not,” Callie Mae added firmly, scowling at Jane. “Ty is one of the most respectable men I know. The Wainwrights own hundreds of acres of land and have a huge spread. He could marry just about any woman he wanted. I’m sure it was much more than your hair, Annalise. Anyone with half a brain can see what a special person you are if they just take the time to look. You’re sweet and kind and loving. I’m not a bit surprised that the first man to get to know you wants you for his own. Come on girls, let’s get back to work. Annalise, why don’t you go up the back way and rest for a while. I’m sure
you worked plenty hard at Laurie’s and need a break.”
“I would like a few quiet minutes to think,” Annalise replied gratefully. “My thoughts are a bit jumbled right now.”
“Take all the time you need, honey.”
“Thank you, Callie Mae,” Annalise said softly as she went up the stairs while Callie Mae and the girls filed back into the bar room.
Once in her room, Annalise slipped off her skirt and shirtwaist, draping them over a chair and loosened her corset. Picking up her brush she sat down and began drawing it through her hair. What did she really know about the man she’d just agreed to marry? They talked for maybe an hour.
Ty was very handsome with his warm brown eyes and sandy hair. He had an engaging smile and a pleasant speaking voice, deep but not rough or scary like some men. His body was hard and strong, he’d proven that when he’d easily swept her out of harm’s way and again when he lifted her into his arms, but he’d treated her gently and carefully, like a man fully aware of his strength.
He had a sense of humor, yet could be firm when he wanted, hence the threat of spankings if she didn’t behave herself. That was a little unnerving, but Annalise had no doubt she would be able to avoid the entire issue. After all, she was hardly a naughty girl by nature and most people considered her extremely compliant.
Ty’s kisses were earth shattering, causing her pulse to race and her breathing to accelerate to an alarming level. At one point she wondered if she might faint, but at the time it didn’t seem so frightening, not with him there to catch her.
Maybe she should consider kissing another man, just for comparison. Ty was adamantly against it of course and the last thing she wanted was to suffer the embarrassment of a spanking, but on the other hand, shouldn’t a girl have knowledge of such things before she walked down the aisle? What if all kisses from attractive men were delicious? If it turned out they were, would that make her a wanton woman, not suitable for marriage?
Oh, it was so confusing. Never in a million years had she imagined she would even get a genuine offer of marriage, unless of course it was from a widower looking for someone to take care of his children. Now she’d agreed to marry a man she barely knew, a young, handsome man who made her heart flutter. Ty had definite ideas about inappropriate behavior and its consequences. After spending nearly all of her life under the control of the orphanage matron, was she letting her newfound freedom slip through her fingers too easily?
Callie Mae and the Marine Page 12