by Jillian Hart
“Connie, I didn’t—”
“I can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices when they talk to me, as though talking to a poor wounded child. ”
“No one is—”
“I’ve spent a lifetime seeing my reflection through the pity in everyone’s eyes. I had hoped this job would be different, a fresh start, a chance to be judged on my own merit. I can assure you, had I known this job was another form of charity I wouldn’t have come. ”
“Juniper’s my cousin. My family meddled where they shouldn’t have, but they wouldn’t repeat something told to them in confidence. No one outside of my family knows your history.
You weren’t hired out of pity. We had plenty of applicants for your position. I chose you based on your application.” Which was true, based on what he’d known at the time.
“You read my application?” Surprise eased the pain in her honey-colored eyes.
“Of course I read it. You have the experience this town needs in a teacher, and likely the finest penmanship I’ve ever seen. I hired you because I believed you were qualified.”
“I am qualified. As a courtesy to your sister and all her hard work, I’ll give you a month to find my replacement.”
She turned and stormed from the room. Kyle collapsed into his chair.
I should be relieved she wants to go. After her reaction to the dresses, he sure as hell didn’t want to risk her discovering the extent of his involvement with her treatment in San Francisco.
He remembered her words: “I’ve spent a lifetime seeing my reflection through the pity in everyone’s eyes. I can assure you, had I known this job was another form of charity I wouldn’t have come.”
Her words twisted like knives into his gut. Pity wasn’t an image that came to mind when he thought of Connie, not even on the train—hell, not even in that burning house. The moment he’d scooped her into his arms her strength and the concern she’d shown for those who’d left her behind had won his admiration. During the long train ride to California he’d felt an overwhelming protectiveness toward her. Knowing he’d caused her such pain was a personal torture, one he’d worked hard to put out of his mind—until yesterday. Last night he hadn’t been able to light a cheroot without seeing her broken skin. He hadn’t had a smoke since she’d arrived.
The clothes hadn’t been out of pity—he’d bought them out of guilt. In truth, he owed her more than he could ever repay. As had happened in Montana, his shot at a quick solution had hurt her.
Swearing beneath his breath, he stood to gather the pile of rejected garments. Tossing the coat, shirts and petticoats over his arm, he realized the bundle didn’t include any of the items they’d stuffed into the chest of drawers.
“Mr. Darby!”
Her hostile voice carried through the house, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Oh, hell. She’d found them.
Chapter Five
Pretty as a buttercup in her soft yellow dress, Miss Constance Pauley greeted her students as she charmed their parents with her prim mannerisms and deceptively gentle smile. Watching her crouched down to talk to a girl doing her best to hide in her mama’s skirt, Kyle hardly believed she was the same woman who’d made him flinch in his hallway—he’d made his living facing down hardened outlaws, for crying out loud!
The reminder put a twinge in his back. Juniper hadn’t found any trace of the vandal in the valley but had taken to wearing his shoulder holster again, just in case trouble arrived. He recognized every face on the meadow, most of them single men from the lumber camp up the mountain. The number of unwed camp workers on the meadow likely outnumbered the students three to one. The moment the mom and daughter moved on from Constance’s welcome another lumberjack closed in, fumbling to remove his hat and introduce himself. Not about to be outdone, others gathered behind him.
Constance stepped back, Stella and May flanking her sides.
They’d all take heed to stand well back from the deceptively prim schoolteacher.
“They look like a herd of thirsty cattle at a watering hole,”
Juniper commented as he stepped up beside him.
Kyle grunted an agreement. “She’s been using our sisters as a shield.”
“Maybe you should step in and help with introductions.
You’re her host. Folks expect you to show her around.”
“I doubt she’d appreciate the offer,” he said, as she caught his gaze.
“Whoa,” said Juniper. “I felt that singe all the way over here.
What’d you do?”
“How was I supposed to know those clothes would turn her into Joan of Arc?”
“I tried to warn you.”
“When?”
“At the stockyard. I told you independent women didn’t take kindly to gifts.”
“Oh, she’s insisted on paying me back and gave me a month to find a new teacher.”
“She quit? Already? ”
“That’s what she said, and after the thrashing she gave me over the clothes I’m inclined to take her at her word.”
“You sure you didn’t do this on purpose?”
“I’m not so careless with my hide. You sure can’t judge a woman’s temper by her size.”
“Hell,” June said with a laugh. “I could have told you that.
You bes’ find a way to change her mind.”
“Marshal.” Abel Williams, a beast of a man with a full black beard, emerged from a group of lumberjacks. The mill foreman was one of many who still referred to him as the marshal. His first trip to Pine Ridge had been to round up the last of the Chandlers, and none too soon. “Miss Pauley seems a fine young lady.”
“She does,” agreed Jim Grimshaw, the mill manager.
“Marybeth and our girl are quite taken by her.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said, ignoring Juniper’s poignant stare.
“Frank wasn’t happy to be pulled off the flume line for schoolin’,” said Abel, “but he’ll do as he’s told.”
“By the number of lumberjacks standing on this meadow, you best rehire the kids.”
Jim laughed. “We’ve got a full shift working on the mountain today. Every man knows a function like this is bound to yield a crop of single women. Now there’s a man with courtin’ in mind.”
Günter dismounted at the edge of the meadow, a fistful of flowers clutched in his hand, track marks from a comb still visible in his usually shaggy hair.
Kyle’s stomach clenched at the thought of his Swedish friend wooing Constance. “Miss Pauley isn’t here to entertain suitors,”
he said, while thinking Günter wasn’t too tall to be knocked down a few notches.
“You didn’t hear?” asked Juniper. “Günter came by the hotel last night and asked for Ben’s permission to court Stella.”
“And he agreed?”
“Can’t see why not. Günter’s a good man, and your sister has had a steady stream of suitors for more than a year.”
“Stella? She’s only—”
“Eighteen.” Juniper slapped him on the shoulder. “Welcome to my hell, cousin. Our sisters didn’t stop growing just ’cause you were away.”
“Where have they all come from?” Constance asked. Each time she stepped from the schoolhouse, the number of men gathered outside seemed to have doubled.
“The lumber camp,” said Stella. “Everyone helped to build the schoolhouse so the entire community was invited.”
“Stella,” May said, nudging her cousin, “look who’s here.”
Constance followed her gaze and spotted Günter as he strode into the clearing with two of his deputies. Stella gasped and yanked her by the arm, dragging her in the opposite direction.
“Don’t you want to greet him?” Constance asked.
“No. I’d rather avoid him.”
Her reaction contradicted the friendly exchange she’d seen between them yesterday. Günter had stayed for supper and seemed wholly pleasant.
“Why?”
“Last night we w
ere talking on the porch and I was such a ninny.” As she hauled her through the crowd, Kyle’s voice rose above the hum of conversations, though Constance couldn’t make out his announcement. Stella didn’t slow her brisk strides until they reached the far side of the meadow. She looked on the verge of tears.
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“It was. He was being so charming and looking so handsome.
I wanted to kiss him so badly, I turned and ran into the house.”
She sniffed back tears. “He probably thinks I’m a goose, but I can’t help it.”
“I doubt that. Girls get crushes, Stella.” Or so she’d heard.
“Oh, no. I love him. I’ve tested it.”
“How on earth does one test such a thing?” she asked, alarmed by the prospects.
“Three years back, he kissed me. Not a friendly kiss, a real kiss. It was wonderful, and then he got mad. He said he had no business kissing a fifteen-year-old girl and he stopped coming to the ranch with Juniper. This past year a few young men have courted me. They were all gentlemen, but they weren’t Günter.
He just looks at me and my stomach turns to butterflies. He can smile in a way that…melts me. He’s so charming and easy to talk to—unless I’m making an utter fool of myself,” she added bitterly. “I see him so often now and it only gets harder. I don’t know what to do.”
“You could stop running from me,” said a voice from directly behind them.
Stella jumped, nearly knocking Constance over as they turned to see the sheriff standing behind them, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
“Günter! H-how long have you—”
“Since de’ butterflies,” he said, affection clear in his eyes.
Stella made a squeaking sound in her throat as her grip tightened, nearly making Constance wince.
“Good afternoon, Miss Pauley. You and Stella will have a full schoolhouse tomorrow. They are serving food now. Kyle has asked for you to join the family on their blanket.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Stella, I brought these for you.” He held out the colorful cluster of pink and white flowers.
“You brought me flowers?”
“I asked your father’s permission to call on you.”
Her glistening eyes rounded. “You did?”
“I would be honored if you would walk with me before we join the others.” He stepped closer and Stella released her bone-crushing hold, accepting the flowers he offered.
“They’re so pretty.”
“Not so pretty as you.”
They stood there, smiling at each other, and Constance suddenly felt like an intruder. She pivoted and walked toward the schoolhouse. Families fanned out blankets as others lined up along the food tables, filling their plates.
“Miss Pauley.” A rough-hewn man in a plaid shirt and red suspenders stepped in front of her and pulled off his hat. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thank you, but I’ve—”
“Good afternoon, Miss Pauley,” said another while more gathered around them until she was surrounded by towering men.
Good gracious.
“Have you chosen a place to sit?”
“She has.” Kyle appeared beside her, the steel in his voice mirrored in his hard gaze. “Miss Pauley, I’ll escort you to the food tables.” He extended his elbow.
The moment she touched his shirt the crowd of men parted like the Red Sea. His hand covered hers as he tugged her close to his side. The possessive move made her belly quiver but she didn’t protest. It wasn’t fear she felt, though his expression was positively formidable. She felt protected, safe.
“Thank you for rescuing me, yet again. I’m not used to such attention.”
“I don’t imagine the convent had a large population of lonely lumberjacks.”
“No,” she said, unable to fight her smile.
“I’ll serve you,” he said, taking a plate from the end of the food table.
“That’s not—”
“Yes, it is. With Stella detained and May taking refuge behind her books, I can’t run the risk of you being carted off by suitors before the first day of school. I’m your host and I haven’t been as attentive as I should.”
As he talked he filled her plate from a wide assortment of meats and side dishes, not bothering to ask if she wanted chicken instead of ham, the mashed potatoes instead of fried.
“I will admit,” he said, adding a sprig of grapes and a roll, “I’ve allowed my pride to get in the way of my manners. It wasn’t my intention to upset you. I’m used to doing what I feel needs to be done.” He dug a serving ladle into a bowl of summer squash then paused before glancing down at her. “Do you like summer squash?”
“Yes, though I doubt I can eat all you’ve already chosen for me.”
He cringed. “I did it again, didn’t I?”
“If you’d chosen something I didn’t like, I would have said so.”
His lips hinted at a grin. “Going to go easy on me, are you?”
Suddenly flustered and flushed, she looked away with a curt nod. “So long as you keep our bargain, I see no reason to harbor ill feelings.”
“Fair enough. Would you like tea or punch?”
Constance picked up a cup of tea from the end of the table.
A girl with dark pigtails popped up beside them and retrieved a cup of punch. A nine-year-old, she recalled, Rebecca Miller. Her bright smile revealed two missing front teeth.
“Hi, Miss Pauley.”
“Rebecca,” she said as the girl streaked past.
“You’ve memorized their names already?”
“Stella helped me. You have a lovely family, by the way.”
“I suppose they pass muster most of the time.”
He was teasing, the warmth in his blue eyes having a startling effect on her pulse. Once they reached his family’s stretch of quilts, Constance sat on an open spot of blanket near Lily and May.
Preoccupied with food and conversation, she didn’t notice Kyle’s absence until much later. Corin and some other women had set out the desserts. Kyle stood a few yards out talking with a group of men. His gaze met hers, his lips shifting slightly, and Constance felt a burst of pleasing warmth. He looked away as a woman approached him, offering a piece of pie—and a flirtatious smile.
“I bet he eats a whole pie to be polite,” whispered May. “Jake stayed home with his younger sisters to avoid such foolishness.”
“Spring courtship is in the air,” said Lily. “Stella is positively glowing.”
Stella sat with Günter at the other end of the large quilt, her hand clasped in his as they talked quietly.
“She’ll marry him,” May said with certainty. “She cried for weeks when he stopped helping with the spring drive, and hasn’t fancied anyone else since. I imagine you’ll be swamped with suitors after today,” she said to Constance.
“Surely not. I came to Pine Ridge for a job, not a husband.”
“I feel the same way.All I can think about is going off to school.”
She glanced at the stack of books sitting beside her. “Are you planning to go to college?”
“Medical school. We have a family friend in San Francisco who’s been sending me medical journals. Kyle’s cousin, actually.
I believe you know him. Daniel Norwood.”
“Dr. Norwood is Kyle’s cousin? ”
May’s gray eyes widened. “I assumed you knew.”
“No.” His cousin? “Was it Kyle who sent me to San Francisco?”
“I think I’ve said more than I should have,” said May.
“You should ask Kyle,” Lily suggested.
She glanced over to see him accepting a fruit-filled offering from another flirtatious woman with red hair and fluttering blue eyes.
“I will.” She surged up.
“I thought she knew,” protested May as Constance made a swift beeline for the circle of men.
“Miss Pauley,” greeted an approaching lumberja
ck.
“Please excuse me.” She held up her hand and rushed past him, not slowing until she stood beside Kyle. “Mr. Darby, may I have a word with you?”
Kyle glanced at Constance, surprised by the interruption. He struggled to swallow a mouthful of baked apples. “Miss Pauley, is everything all right?”
“Splendid,” she said in a bright tone, but the tightness of her smile conveyed otherwise. “I’d like to speak with you a moment, unless I’m interrupt—”
“Not at all.” He excused himself from the conversation and quickly escorted her beyond the hum of conversation. “What’s wrong?”
She continued to the edge of the meadow before she stopped, crossing her arms as she looked up at him. “Why didn’t you tell me Daniel Norwood was your cousin?”
Oh, hell. “I didn’t see why it should matter,” he said, wondering who’d sold him out.
“It was you who sent me to California, not Doctor Mason?”
“You were hurt. I knew someone who could help you.”
“You didn’t even know me.”
“Didn’t seem to matter when I carried you from that boardinghouse and mattered even less when Doc Mason pulled out his saw, ready to cut off your legs.”
Constance gasped, and he realized he could have chosen a far more delicate delivery. “Hell, I didn’t mean to scare you. The point is, I knew someone who could provide the kind of doctoring you needed. I wired Daniel and he said to send you on, so I did.”
She eyed him warily for a long moment. “I was seen by a number of doctors. They told me funding had been arranged and I assumed…”
Kyle shifted uneasily. He didn’t want her to know about the money. She’d been ready to tear strips from his hide over the clothes.
“It was you.”
“They treated you and you can walk. That’s all that matters.”
Her brow creased and he waited for her temper to flare. Her tear-glazed eyes caught him off guard. Teardrops glistened down her cheeks, making him cringe.