Second Chance Brides (Texas Boardinghouse Brides 2)

by Vickie McDonough

  Dan took her hands. “What’s wrong? I can see that something’s bothering you. Is it the timing?”

  Leah stared at the ground, not wanting Dan to know how little she possessed. He had a house, nice furnishings, food, even a business, but what did she have to offer? She didn’t even want children, and that thought burned a hole in her heart. Would he still want to marry her if he knew?

  She needed to tell him, but she couldn’t do it now. She didn’t want to ruin the sweetness of the moment.

  He gently took hold of her upper arms again. “Leah, if it’s money you need, I have some. Not a lot, but plenty enough to buy you a wedding dress and whatever other fripperies a bride needs.”

  “You shouldn’t have to pay for everything. I just don’t have much to offer, and it doesn’t seem fair to you.”

  He pulled her to his chest, and she nuzzled in close. His head rested on hers, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Darlin’, you’re all I want. I don’t care if you’re wearing all you own. It’s you that’s important to me. Whenever I see you, my heart perks up and sings, like one of them songbirds outside my window each morning. Knowing you’re near helps me to keep going even though ma is gone. If I have you, I’m not alone.”

  She hugged him hard. “Thank you. I feel the same way.”

  He released his grip on her slightly, caught her gaze, and slowly bent toward her. His kiss was all—more—than she had dreamed about, and far too soon, he ended it.

  “I’d love to stand here all night, spoonin’ with you, darlin’, but I reckon we oughta head back before someone misses you.”

  She sighed, not wanting the tender moment to end. “I suppose you’re right. Besides, we need to get the table back in the church.”

  “Hmm…a dark church. No one there but us. Might be a good place to steal a kiss.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Mark watched his brother walk back to the dance after helping the marshal escort the cowboys to the saloon. Garrett’s eyes widened as he drew near. “Whoa, brother, looks like you’ve been in a fight.”

  “Yeah,” Mark said. “And it looks like you all but missed it. There’s not a mark on you. How is that possible when you were on the bottom of the pile?”

  “There are some wounds, but you just can’t see them.” Garrett held his side. “I suspect getting out of bed tomorrow will be a chore. Why are you so beat up? You usually hold your own better in a fight.”

  Mark held up his dirty cast. He’d be getting it off soon—and good riddance. “It didn’t seem right to crack people over the head with this thing. Besides, I didn’t want to take a chance on breaking my wrist all over. And fighting left-handed isn’t all that easy.”

  Garrett studied the dancers and then looked up at the sky. “I guess it’s about time to call a halt to this party. Be dark soon.”

  “Yeah, next time you might want to start it an hour or two earlier since the sun is setting sooner these days.”

  Mark watched a young couple walk away from the dancing. About twenty minutes ago, Dan and Leah had walked down the road to Denison. He glanced in that direction and saw them returning with Leah holding onto Dan’s arm.

  Garrett watched, too. “Looks like our plan may be working. Soon, I hope, we won’t have to pay room and board for Miss Bennett anymore.”

  “So, if both those boardinghouse brides get married, are you going to keep hosting the socials?”

  Shrugging, his brother started toward the dancers. “Who knows? People seem to be enjoying it, and we’ve met new people who have become customers, so that’s always a good thing.”

  “You do know folks are pokin’ fun and calling us matchmakers.”

  Grinning, Garrett rummaged through the crate of dishes. “Yeah, I heard. Sure wish there was some of that pie left. That Miss Bennett is a good cook.”

  “Yep, she’ll make some man a fine wife.”

  Garrett ran a finger over the juice left in a pie plate. “Yeah, it would be nice to have a wife who could cook so good.”

  “Why don’t you ask her to dance? Maybe you’ll like her.”

  “Nah, Dan has his eye on her.”

  Mark glanced at the couple as they drew near the dancers. Both faces were glowing, and the grins on their faces bested any among the dancers. Hmm…

  “You could always dance with Shannon.”

  Garrett scratched behind his ear. “Don’t think so. Someone else already has his eye on her. I predict two weddings before long.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Mark swung his head sideways and glanced at Garrett, then sought out Shannon and found her dancing with Tommy Baxter, the twenty-year-old son of a local rancher. Didn’t she know he was just a wild colt who enjoyed wasting his father’s hard-earned money? Mark clenched his jaw.

  His brother slapped him on the shoulder so hard, Mark jumped. “What was that for?”

  “Are you so blind that you can’t see that you have feelings for Shannon?” Garrett waggled his brows.

  “That’s nonsense.” Mark crossed his arms, knowing his response came too fast.

  “Why? She’s a lovely girl, and smart, too. Look how fast she’s picked up the bookwork. In fact, I think we’ve gotten some new customers just because they come in to stare at her and all that pretty hair.”

  Mark glared askance. “What business of yours is her hair? I thought you didn’t like her.”

  “Maybe not at first. She was awful shy, but she’s coming around. It’s not so much I didn’t like her, as I didn’t think she had what it takes to live in Texas. But she’s proving tougher than I first gave her credit for.”

  “Come to think of it, she doesn’t seem as shy and scared as when she first came here.”

  “Yeah, and if you noticed that, other men will, too. Better stake your claim if you want her. A young woman as pretty and enticing as her won’t stay unmarried for long.”

  Mark leaned against a tree and scowled. He wasn’t sure what he felt for Shannon. His admiration of her had risen as she quickly caught on at work. And there was no doubt about her being pretty. Maybe she wasn’t gorgeous like a Dallas opera singer, but she had a sweet charm, and innocence about her. And she was a hard worker. He’d noticed how much cleaner and organized the office had been lately. He’d always tidied up but never had time to keep the place spotless as he would have preferred, but Shannon did. She’d even seen to it that his desk had been sanded and refinished and the ink stain gone.

  He watched her smile and sashay around in a wide circle. She tended to keep her hair up in that thing she called a chignon, but tonight, it flowed long and free. His fingers twitched, and he ached to touch those long, wavy strands. Maybe he should dance with her. He pushed away from the tree. He’d kept his distance until now, but what could one little dance hurt?

  After breakfast, Shannon headed toward the river for a quick stroll. She couldn’t get Mark out of her thoughts after dancing with him the night before last. Her chest warmed as she remembered how he’d claimed her for the final dance—a waltz.

  Knee-high grass swished around her skirts, and abundant sunshine brightened the morning. A rabbit zigzagged away from her. Everything looked beautiful. Thanks to recent rains, the grass had greened up again, and wildflowers were again turning their lovely faces toward the sky. She snapped off a tiny white daisy and sniffed. “For me? Why thank you, kind sir.”

  She held her hand to her chest. “You’d like to dance? I thought you would never ask.” Curtsying, she fanned her face. “Why, I’d be delighted to waltz with you, Mr. Corbett.” She spun around in a circle, round and round, until dizziness made her stop.

  Giggling, she shook her head as she tried to regain her equilibrium. “Silly lass.”

  The truth of the matter was so much less thrilling as she’d been stunned into silence and had simply nodded to Mark. He’d taken her hand with his cast and placed his other hand on her waist, but discreetly kept his distance, even though she longed for him to draw her close. She imagined holding up the
heavy cast for a complete dance had been tiring for him, and it had felt odd to her, clutching the hardened plaster. But they’d danced, and she’d loved every moment of it.

  She couldn’t say the same thing for him, though. He’d been stiff, didn’t talk, and focused somewhere over her head. Her lack of finesse with American dances must have embarrassed him. Or perhaps something was simply bothering him. She sighed, halfway dreading going to work today. But work she must.

  Making a wide arc around Lookout, she gathered a bouquet of yellow, white, and violet flowers, hoping to add a splash of color to the boring brown and grays of the office. As she strode up Main Street, she passed the livery and thought again how excited Leah had been Saturday night when she told the folks at the boardinghouse that she and Dan were getting married. Rachel had been so excited and offered to help her in any way.

  She, too, offered to help Leah, but the fires of jealousy had burned within her—and still did. Oh, she was happy for her friend and glad Leah wouldn’t have to depend on the Corbett brothers’ support much longer, but she longed for the same for herself. She wished Mark would pay her some real attention.

  At times she thought sure he liked her, but other times she was certain he didn’t. ’twas all so confusing. She heaved a frustrated sigh and looked up, noticing a crowd gathered outside the freight office, and for a moment, she considered heading back to the boardinghouse. The last thing she wanted was to get caught in the middle of a surly crowd. She heard the sound of a hammer; then she saw Luke remove his hat, tilt his head back, and laugh. He slapped his leg with his hat and leaned forward, still guffawing. Loud, masculine hoots and the roar of laughter filled the air.

  What in the world?

  Dan must have heard the noise, because he strode out of the livery and met her in the middle of the street. He was the biggest man in town, in height and breadth, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. Leah had roped herself a brawny man. The snake of jealousy raised its ugly head again, but Shannon whipped a prayer heavenward, lashing off the beast’s head. She’d be happy for her friends and not think of her own future at the moment.

  “What’s goin’ on?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I’ve no idea. The men are up to some shenanigans, I presume.”

  “Let’s find out what kind.” He offered his arm, and she accepted, grateful to have an escort through the dozen men.

  “Congratulations.”

  He smiled down at her. “Ah, so Leah told you?”

  “Aye, she’s so excited.”

  Dan stopped at the edge of the crowd. Fine for him, but she couldn’t see a thing over the tall men wearing hats. Worming her way to the front, she held a hand over her nose to avoid the putrid odor of the mob. Didn’t Texas men believe in bathing? She reached the front, glanced up, and saw a new sign tacked to the outer wall of the Corbett Brother’s Freight Office, right over the front window.

  Mirth made her mouth twitch, and a chuckle worked its way out. She giggled and finally burst out laughing. CORBETT BROTHERS’ MATCHMAKING SERVICE, the sign read. A large red heart encircled the lettering, and a cupid’s arrow broke through the middle.

  Shaking her head, she wondered how long the sign would stay up. She climbed the steps to the boardwalk and entered the office. Neither Mark nor Garrett were there yet. She put the flowers in a tall glass, grabbed the bucket by the back door, and went outside to pump water. After filling the bucket, she added water to the flower glass and sipped a drink from the ladle.

  Outside the front window, she noticed the crowd part and saw Garrett and Mark crossing the street from Polly’s Café. Both brothers looked curious, but from her higher vantage point, she could see the moment they saw the sign. Mark reached up as if to tear the sign down, but Garrett grabbed his arm. Mark jerked away and took the steps two at a time. He yanked open the door, jingling the bell, and then slammed it shut. He noticed her standing by the window and scowled. His puffy, purplish-black eye looked angry and painful. “I suppose you find this funny, too?”

  She tightened her lips, trying to keep a straight face. She needed this job. “Nay, sir.”

  A rebellious snort slipped out, and she grinned. “Oh, aye, I do. ’tis a hoot, it is. Just some men havin’ a wee bit of fun.”

  Mark’s serious expression melted, and an embarrassed grin made his swollen lips twitch. He hung his hat on a peg near the door and ran his hands through his hair. “I suppose you’re right. Garrett and I will once again be the laughingstock of the town.”

  “That’s not so bad a thing. You’ve done good, too. You helped Rachel and Luke to realize they still loved one another, and now Dan Howard and Leah are gettin’ married.”

  “Not just them.” Mark opened a thick law book that he frequently carried and thrust a newspaper at her. “Read this.”

  She unfolded the small Lookout paper and read the headline. ONE FIGHT, Two WEDDINGS. “I knew about Dan and Leah, but who else is getting married?”

  “Keep reading.” Mark dropped into Garrett’s chair and laced his hands behind his neck.

  “Two couples attending last Saturday’s social have pledged to marry.” She read about Dan and Leah and then about a young man from another town who was marrying a fifteen-year-old girl. She’d never liked the idea of a girl marrying so young, but life in Texas was hazardous at times, and folks didn’t live as long here as they did back East. “Well…it looks as if your social was a success.”

  “Partly.” He stared at the cover of his book and ran his hand over it.

  What did he mean? It was only partly successful because she wasn’t getting married? She turned her back on him and stalked to the back room, where she wouldn’t have to look at him. Why would a man so bent on helping others find their life partner not want to find one for himself? He wasn’t getting any younger. Why, he had to be nearly ten years her senior.

  She busied herself dusting things that weren’t dirty; then she swept the floor and the back porch, banging crates and even kicking the bucket so that it dumped over and spilled onto the porch. The water ran through the spaces between the boards, disappearing. What was she doing here?

  She needed to focus on her work and forget about Mark Corbett. But every time she tried, those haunting blue eyes tormented her. What happened to him? Had a woman hurt him at some time?

  She had some ledger work that needed to be done, and she couldn’t avoid Mark all day. He hadn’t even mentioned the flowers she’d set on his desk.

  With the heavy ledger spread out on her desk—Mark’s desk, she took a seat. He’d opened his law book and was busy reading. Half an hour went by before Garrett intruded on the quiet. He swung the door open and barged in, shaking his head.

  “What do you think of our new sign?” He glanced from Mark to Shannon, eyes twinkling.

  Mark closed his book, leaving his finger in it to mark his place. “I say take it down. It’s just plain embarrassing.”

  Garrett turned to Shannon. “What do you think?”

  She gulped down the lump suddenly in her throat. She peeked at Mark, who stared intensely at her. Why did Garrett have to ask for her opinion when it was opposed to Mark’s? She shrugged. “It matters not what I think but what you two feel.”

  “I don’t know why…but I kind of like it.” He removed his hat and set it on a peg next to Mark’s.

  “We run a freight office, not a matrimonial society. We’ll be the laughingstock of the town,” Mark grumbled.

  Garrett grinned. “I’m afraid we’ve been that ever since we sent for those mail-order brides.”

  “Well, if I recall, that was your idea, just like finding mates for—” He slammed his mouth shut and peered at Shannon.

  She wanted to melt into one of the desk drawers and hide. They were talking as if she wasn’t even there. She stared down at the ledger, but the numbers blurred together. If only there was some other job in town that she could do. Perhaps she ought to think more seriously about going to a bigger city like Dallas.

&nbs
p; But she’d lose all the friends she’d just made. She’d be all alone again.

  Who was she kidding? She was alone.

  Rachel had Luke. Leah now had Dan.

  And even Jack had her friends and that old yellow dog.

  Tears blurred her eyes, and she closed the ledger. She wouldn’t sit here and listen to them talk about her like she was invisible. She stood and hoisted up the heavy ledger and turned toward the cabinet. The ledger banged the glass holding the flowers, and she turned in time to see it tip and fall.

  “Yikes!” Garrett jumped back, but not before the glass broke at his feet, splashing water all over his shoes.

  Shannon dropped the ledger back on the desk and strode into the back room and out the rear door, tears blurring her eyes. Couldn’t she do anything right? As the door slammed, she heard Garrett shout.

  “You’d better marry her or fire her, brother, before she kills us all.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Jack pulled another weed and tossed it in the slowly growing pile. Max rested in the shade of several tall cornstalks, his head on his front legs.

  “Why was it that vegetables die if they don’t get enough water but weeds always grow? And how come birds and bugs never eat weeds?”

  Max watched her, nothing moving but his eyes.

  “I wish you could talk, you dumb ol’ mutt.”

  She hated the hot chore that made her sweat. The only good thing was that her ma let her wear her overalls so she wouldn’t get her dresses dirty. Tired of kneeling, she sat down and looked at the three rows she still had to weed before she’d be done. She picked up a clod of dirt and lobbed it at a blackbird that was fixing to land on a stalk of corn. “Git, you varmint. I ain’t pullin’ the darn weeds just so you can eat our corn.”

  “Mm-mm. If’n your ma heard you say darn, she’d wash your mouth out with soap.”

  “Ricky! What’re you doin’ here?” Jack jumped to her feet and waved at her two friends. “Howdy, Jonesy.”