Entranced as she imagined what it would be like to watch him without his shirt on, her cheeks seared with heat.
She waved Tully’s hat in front of her face to create a breeze and ignored the nudge Maggie gave her as he swung the hammer again and again.
“I’d forgotten how much fun it is to watch them,” Maggie said, wrapping her hand around Ian’s arm.
“They are a well-matched pair, for certain,” Ian observed, cheering loudly when Tully’s last strike finished the hole they drilled into the rock.
“You’re slowing down, old man,” Thane taunted Tully as they wiped sweat from their faces and retrieved their vests, ties, and hats from the women.
“Me? You were barely keeping up. Jemma might need to put you out to pasture.” Tully grunted when Thane’s elbow connected with his side in a playful jab.
“I think ye both did verra well, considering ye don’t do that sort of work every day.” Ian shook both their hands then they all watched as another team competed in the contest.
The competition ended with Thane and Tully taking second place to a pair of young men who’d recently moved to the area.
“I knew you’re getting too old to do this sort of thing,” Tully goaded Thane after they accepted their award.
“Me? I’m not the one with all the gray hair.” Thane gave Tully’s head a pointed look.
Tully’s eyes narrowed and he yanked the hat off Thane’s head full of thick hair. “At least I’m not going bald.” He tapped his friend on the top of his head then snickered when Thane reached up a hand and slapped his hat back down.
“That’s enough, you two. You’re worse than a bunch of bickering dunderheads,” Maggie said. She led the way back to where Jemma and the Greenfields watched the children play from the shade of the quilts beneath the tree.
“What did you two do?” Jemma asked, startled by Thane and Tully’s overheated appearances.
“We joined in a friendly little competition,” Thane said, plopping down beside his wife.
“And we would have won if this decrepit old fogy could have hustled a little faster.” Tully stretched out on the blanket.
Thane laughed. “It wouldn’t have mattered how fast I went when our winning depended on this lazy ol’ cuss moving with more speed and agility than a half-blind, rheumatic granny.”
“Rather than listen to these two toss insults back and forth, I’m going to get some ice cream,” Maggie said, tugging on Ian’s hand. “And you’re buying.”
“Yes, my bossy lass.” Ian grinned and followed Maggie over to a booth.
The remainder of the afternoon and early evening passed pleasantly among the friends. At one point, Brianna thought she recognized someone in the crowd from her life in Rhode Island, but decided that was preposterous. No one knew where to find her and the one person who cared enough to search for her was dead.
Chasing away her sad thoughts, she rejoined the lively conversation taking place among her friends. As soon as dusk settled, they watched the brilliant sparks of fireworks fill the sky.
Lily shrieked and covered her ears at the first explosion. Once Thane convinced her the world wasn’t about to end, she sat between Jack and Sammy, watching the colorful bursts overheard.
Surprised Sammy stayed with them most of the day, Brianna wondered if the boy would be missed by his family.
Once the fireworks ended, the crowd dispersed, prepared to go home. Brianna looked around for Sammy, but the child had already disappeared.
“May I walk you home, Miss Dumont?” Tully asked, bending down so his breath blew warm and soft across her ear.
The hint of mint made her smile. “You may, Sheriff.”
Brianna wasn’t in a hurry for the evening to end, so she slowly meandered through the park with Tully at her side. He kept his hands in his pockets as they walked and seemed lost in his thoughts.
“Do you know anything about Sammy?” Brianna asked as they turned onto the street where Maggie’s shop was located.
“Not much. I first noticed him around town in late spring. Other than the fact that Sammy seems to spend a lot of time wandering around town and occasionally works for Bowen, that’s the extent of my knowledge.” Tully studied her. “Why? You’re not planning on writing an article about him, too, are you?”
“No, don’t be ridiculous,” Brianna said, turning down the alley that would take them to the back door of the shop. “I’m merely curious. Sammy seems so forlorn sometimes, and hungry. He’s most always hungry.”
“I’ve yet to meet a boy who didn’t have at least one hollow leg.” Tully guided her around a drunk who’d fallen asleep at the back of the alley. He frowned at the man, planning to roust him on his way back to the park. Celebrations like Independence Day meant he had a long night of work ahead of him.
“So you never grew out of that stage,” Brianna observed dryly as she took a key from her reticule and unlocked the back door. “Is that why you prefer a woman who cooks to any other type?”
Tully followed her inside and closed the door, drawing a startled glance from her. “I prefer a woman with a sharp mind who isn’t afraid to speak her opinions, stand up for what she believes in, and mothers sad little boys.”
He looked at her with such a soft, tender expression on his face, Brianna wondered how her heart could continue to function when it felt entirely melted.
One step brought him close enough that she could see embers burning in his eyes. A second step put him so near, the heat of his presence encircled her as he stared at her.
“You’re the type of woman I prefer, Brianna. And I don’t give a flying fritter if you can cook or not.”
The sound of his deep voice saying her name made it difficult for her to remain upright as her legs quaked.
Unsettled, she would have moved away from him, but he wrapped a brawny arm around her waist and drew her flush against him.
“In case I wasn’t clear earlier, I like you. You’re beautiful, intelligent, kind to everyone but me, and full of sass and pluck.”
Brianna watched his enticing lips move as he spoke, more interested in them pressing against hers than anything he said. “Pluck,” she muttered as she mentally braced herself for the impact of his kiss.
He lifted her up until their lips met in a fiery, heated clash that sent her senses reeling.
“Tully,” she whispered, knocking off his hat and trailing her hands through his hair.
What might have happened next would remain a mystery. Shots sounded from down the street and Tully lifted his head with a sigh.
“There are moments I purely hate my job.” He touched his forehead to hers then kissed her cheek. “Right now is one of them.”
He set her down and picked his hat up off the floor, settling it on his head. With one last quick peck to her lips, he opened the back door then glanced at her. “I enjoyed spending the day with you, Fred. Be a good girl and don’t open this door tonight for any reason.”
“I won’t, Tully. Thank you for today.” Brianna reached out and squeezed his hand as more shots rang out. “Please be careful.”
“Always,” Tully said with a cocky grin then ran down the alley. Brianna watched until he disappeared around the corner before shutting the door and locking it.
Her heart floated on air as she made her way upstairs to her apartment, convinced Tully cared for her, at least a fraction of how much she cared for him.
Tully raced down the street toward one of the busy saloons. As soon as he found the muttonhead who started shooting up the town, the idiot would wish he’d stayed sober or remained at home.
Accustomed to being called to duty at all hours of the day or night, Tully had never courted a woman before. The longing to turn around and rush back to Brianna was one of the reasons why he’d avoided getting involved with a female.
At that moment, he cared more about lingering in her embrace, blending his mouth with hers in fervent kisses, than he did about the drunks having a high time in his town.
> That kind of thinking could cloud his judgment and get someone killed.
Before he reached the saloon, Tully stopped and drew in a series of long, cleansing breaths. He had to cool his yearning for Brianna and clear thoughts of how much he was coming to care for her from his mind.
Later, after the troublemakers were gone or locked up for the night, he’d think about the flirty banter they’d exchanged, the flames that had flickered in her beautiful blue eyes, and how much he wanted to spend every day with her beside him.
For now, though, he had a job to do.
Swiftly pulling his gun from the holster at his hip, he pushed open the door to the saloon and focused on restoring order.
Chapter Thirteen
“If you don’t hurry it up, it’ll be hotter than the blacksmith’s bellows out there. The berry bushes don’t care if your bow is tied just so, or every hair is in place.” Tully called up the stairs to Brianna.
He’d asked her join him on a picnic and promised to take her to pick both wild huckleberries and blackberries. Maggie would appreciate the berries and Brianna thought it sounded like fun.
Tully arrived right on time to pick her up, but she had yet to appear from her apartment.
Maggie grinned at him. “You realize hollering up the stairs isn’t likely to make her hurry any faster, don’t you?”
He forked his fingers through his hair and fiddled with his hat. “I know, but I’m not gonna wait on her all day. If she thinks I’ve got nothing better to do than…” Tully’s words trailed off when he glanced up at Brianna. Like a lively schoolgirl, she bounded down the stairs with her hair woven into a long braid and a pail in one hand. She wore a dark navy split skirt with a blue-sprigged blouse that perfectly matched her eyes.
“I’m ready,” she said with a bright smile, waving at Maggie before glancing at Tully. “From your yawping up the stairs, I thought you were anxious to go.”
“I am. Time’s wastin’ and the temperature’s climbin’ higher than a creeping vine in granny’s garden.” Tully opened the door and looked back at Maggie. “Have a good day, Mags.”
“You two have fun.” Maggie winked at Tully as he escorted Brianna outside and shut the door.
Brianna offered Tully a curious look. “I didn’t realize you have a grandmother.”
“I don’t,” Tully said, lifting her to sit in the saddle on Hoss’ back. “It’s just a saying.”
She settled herself in the seat and looped the handle of her pail over the saddle horn. Tully handed her the reins and she took them with a smile. “Your quaint colloquialisms are charming.”
“Is that a fancy way of saying you like the way I talk?” Tully teased, swinging up on Cotton and leading the way down the street.
“Perhaps. Or maybe it’s a polite way of saying you speak with an interesting rural point of view.”
He tossed her a glare then clucked to Cotton. The horse sped up to a trot as they headed out of town toward the hills.
“How far are we riding today?” Brianna asked.
“As far as we need to until we find a good patch of berries.” In his travels around the area, Tully had noticed several patches of ripe berries. If no one had beaten them to the ripe fruit, they wouldn’t have to ride too far out to find them. Although he looked forward to the good jam and pies Maggie had promised to make, Tully mostly wanted an excuse to spend the day with Brianna.
Work had kept him busier than usual the last few days and he hadn’t been able to spend any time with her.
The way his blood heated just looking at her, it probably was for the best anyway. He’d never felt like this about a woman before and the strange, unfamiliar feelings left him more than a little worried.
From Thane and Ian’s recent experiences in the miserable bliss of falling in love, Tully worried he may have caught the same incurable illness.
While Brianna studied their surroundings, Tully watched her. Enchanted with everything about her, he couldn’t get enough of seeing her, being with her. The golden brown rope of her hair bounced against her back with every step of the horse, making him want to tug out the ribbon and let it flow freely around her.
A distraction from his improper thoughts arrived in the form of a little used lane.
“I know where we are,” Brianna said, smiling as she rode beside him. “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”
“Where?” Tully asked.
“There.” Brianna pointed to a ramshackle dwelling as they guided the horses down the trail toward Clive Fisher’s place. They slowed the horses to an easy walk as they approached.
Tully motioned for Brianna to stop. “You wait here. Clive usually fires a warning shot or two before anyone gets this close.”
“He illustrated that tendency upon my first visit.” Brianna glanced around. “I hope Mr. Fisher is well.”
“I’ll check the cabin, but you wait here, just in case.” Tully rode ahead and dismounted by Clive’s abode. After knocking on the door and getting no response, he stuck his head inside. It was empty, so he tied Cotton’s reins to a post and walked out to the mine.
At the entrance, he cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered into the mine. “Clive! It’s Tully Barrett! Are you in there?”
He listened for a moment then called again. The sound of someone cussing made him grin as a figure emerged from the depths of the mine.
“Unless you’re here to arrest me, you best get off my property, Sheriff,” Clive warned. He wiped his sweaty face on a bandana that looked like it might have been used to scrub the hindquarters of a filthy swine.
Tully tried not to wrinkle his nose, concluding the bit of cloth certainly smelled like it had. He took a step back and turned his head to the side, drawing in a breath of untainted air.
“What do you want?” Clive tersely asked.
“Your partner and I were riding by and thought we’d stop.” Tully grinned when Clive made a disgusted face and looked toward the clearing where Brianna waited.
“That little missy sure can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Don’t you have criminals to arrest? Or have you been demoted to escortin’ troublesome women around?” Clive offered him a smug sneer.
“As a matter of fact, it’s my day off and Miss Dumont is helping me with a project.” Tully walked upwind of Clive as they headed back to the cabin. “I thought she might like to check on the progress at the mine, since she owns part of it.”
Clive scowled. “Don’t rub it in, son. It’s bad enough I had to take a partner in the first place, but now I’ve got to put up with that pretty, prissy princess.”
Tully held back a smile and motioned for Brianna to ride up to the cabin.
It took only a moment for her to reach them. She smiled at Clive as she swung out of the saddle. “Good morning, Mr. Fisher. How does this day find you?”
“It finds me interrupted for no reason when I’m this close…” He held his forefinger close to his thumb, “to makin’ a big strike. That gold is just sittin’ in there, waitin’ for me to dig it out. Instead, I’m out here wastin’ my time palaverin’ with you.”
Brianna ignored his gruff tone. “It’s a pleasure to see you, too.”
Clive winked at her and stuffed his filthy handkerchief into his pocket. “In truth, missy, ain’t nothin’ changed since the last time you was here. I got about two ounces of gold dust and that’s it. But don’t give up. I can feel it in my bones. There are riches in that hole and I ain’t quittin’ until I find it.”
“I appreciate your tenacity, sir. Is there anything I can do to provide assistance?” Brianna took a shallow breath, wondering how a human could smell so bad and still be among the living.
“Not unless you’re plannin’ on getting’ your nice clothes dirty and comin’ into the mine to work.” Clive looked at her and cackled. “That’d be like puttin’ a rose in a bucket of coal. I don’t need nothin’ from you, honey, but I do thank you for askin’.”
Clive motioned toward his cabin. “Would yo
u like me to put on some coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Brianna said, glancing at Tully as he subtly shook his head.
He moved forward and took her elbow in his hand. “We really should get going, Clive. We’ll check on you another day.”
“I suppose if you think you need to, that’d be fine.” The miner shaded his eyes, watching as Tully lifted Brianna up to the saddle before he took Cotton’s reins in his hands.
Tully tipped his head to Clive and swung onto his horse. He almost fell off when the old man stepped close to him so Brianna wouldn’t hear him speak.
“When you gonna marry that lil’ gal?” Clive asked in a raspy whisper.
“What?” Tully shot him a surprised frown. “What in tarnation made you ask that?”
“Because you’re sweet on her, sure as I’m standin’ here, and I’d say she feels the same about you.” Clive cackled again, slapping his leg. “Never thought I’d see the day the mighty Tully Barrett fell in love.”
“Oh, shut your pie hole, you loony ol’ coot.” Tully grinned at Clive then rode over to where Brianna waited on Hoss.
“What were you two talking about?” she asked, turning around in the saddle to wave one more time at Clive.
“Nothing of your concern,” Tully said. He’d rather chew tacks than tell her what Clive said. Although he’d allowed the idea of marriage to flit through his head a few times in the past, the notion had lodged firmly in his brain the last few weeks.
Not that he wanted to, but he couldn’t get Brianna out of his mind. Somehow, between him throwing her in jail and the night they’d stared up at the stars, she’d taken up a permanent place in his heart.
Uncertain what to do about his feelings, Tully wasn’t ready to say anything to her, to make any promises. For all he knew, she’d head back to Rhode Island soon and he’d never see her again.
If only she’d be completely honest with him, tell him what really drove her from her home, he’d feel better prepared to contemplate a future with her.
Corsets and Cuffs: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 3) Page 18