A Cowboy's Temptation, page 6
She’d have preferred to get out of Chico. While Sheriff Paulson had made being arrested anything but a hardship, she was still anxious to see the last of the town. However, while she certainly didn’t have any good memories where the restaurant was concerned, the company would be infinitely better this time.
“I’d like that,” she answered.
Excited to spend more time with the most ruggedly handsome man she’d ever laid her eyes on, Katie hardly felt the blisters on her feet as they crossed the street. Although they weren’t nearly as sore as they’d been last night thanks to Sheriff Paulson having fetched a bucket of cold water to soak her feet in.
When she’d been in the restaurant yesterday, she’d been glad the chairs were positioned across from each other so she wouldn’t have to sit near Kurt. Now she wished the chairs were closer. She’d hoped Scott would touch her again, even accidentally, just to see if she’d feel another burst of heat as she had in the sheriff’s office when they’d shaken hands. Of course, that could still happen on the ride to the ranch. Regardless, this was certainly no hardship, as it afforded her a perfect view of his striking blue eyes.
The waitress came to their table just as Scott was hanging his hat on the back of his chair. Katie was chagrined to see it was the same woman as yesterday. She’d rather forget the debacle with Kurt. Clearly, the woman wasn’t of the same mind.
“Hello, again, Miss.”
Then she turned to Scott, seemed to forget herself for a moment. Katie couldn’t blame her. His clean-shaven face revealed cheekbones that would be every sculptor’s dream. Combined with the barely-there dimples that carved into his cheeks when he smiled, he was a sight that would have turned heads even in a big city like Philadelphia. Katie had never seen anyone like him. And it amused her that he didn’t seem to have the slightest idea why the waitress stood there staring.
He looked to Katie. “Would you like coffee?”
She shuddered. “The sheriff’s coffee was enough to keep me from drinking any for a while.”
Finally, the waitress seemed to remember why she was there. “We have sun tea, if you’d like.” Then she detailed the choices of meals and beverages.
After she left with their orders, Scott leaned into his chair, crossed his arms. His shirt pulled tight across his shoulders and chest, drawing attention to the muscles beneath. Mercy. Was there not a window or door they could open? Perhaps someone had a fan she could borrow? She raised her fingers to her lips and ensured the drool pooling in her mouth hadn’t escaped.
“The waitress recognized you,” Scott commented. “Did you run into her yesterday?”
Much as she didn’t want to dwell on what happened when she arrived in Chico, at least conversation was better than staring like a ninny. “I was here last evening. A”—she thought of Kurt and scowled—“a man from town who’d learned I’d been on the robbed coach invited me to supper.”
He accepted his drink with an absent thank-you. His gaze remained on Katie but she was glad he waited until their waitress stepped away before continuing.
“Was this the same man who accused you of stealing?”
Katie latched onto her glass, stared into the amber liquid. She couldn’t look at him when she told him the true reason Kurt had offered to buy her a meal. Would he think she’d mislead the man? Deserved the treatment she’d gotten?
“He offered to take me to Marietta. Said we could even share a horse.” She turned the glass within her palms. “When I told him I didn’t know him well enough to travel anywhere with him, he said I’d know him plenty by the end of the night. That’s when I realized the real reason he’d offered to buy me supper.”
“Son-of-a-bitch.” Scott hissed.
Katie’s gaze whipped to his.
“Sorry.” He grimaced. “I didn’t mean to cuss.”
“Oh, well, I did some cussing of my own. I told him I couldn’t be bought then I walked out just as my meal was being served.”
“Ah.” The corners of his mouth lifted; humor danced in his eyes. “I’d be cussing too, then.”
Her lips twitched. “Much as I hated going hungry, I was happy to be rid of him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Kurt and the sheriff found me outside the mercantile.”
“When do you think Kurt put the money in your bag?”
It surprised her that he didn’t question it had been Kurt who’d put it there. Scott didn’t know her and yet he didn’t doubt her word. Tension slid off her shoulders. She hadn’t realized she’d been worried he might not believe her.
“He carried my bag to the restaurant. I’d wanted to wipe off some of the dust before going inside but he didn’t have the courtesy to look away.” She shook her head. “I really made it quite easy for him. I turned my back, tried to have a little privacy as I straightened my clothes. I imagine he did it then as my bag was beside me the rest of the time.”
“And he figured he’d either accuse you of stealing if you refused him or he’d take it from your bag...” He coughed, looked away.
“After.” She finished for him as she squirmed in her seat.
Katie had many male friends back home but one, her best friend, Alex, was more like a brother. While it certainly wasn’t proper, she and Alex had been known to have very frank conversations when it was just the two of them. Conversations about money, politics, goals. Because there was no attraction between her and Alex even the topic of sex was discussed without embarrassment and they’d had long talks on the matter.
Though they’d had longer, more in depth conversations on the subject than what she and Scott had just had, she’d never before reacted this way. Not once had she felt her heart beat in every part of her body, felt stirrings low in her belly.
Never had she felt more like a woman.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
Katie startled when the waitress suddenly appeared at her side with their dinners.
The woman didn’t seem to notice. Of course, she only had eyes for Scott. He, on the other hand, hadn’t missed her reaction.
“Everything all right?”
“Yes.” She lied, but she was hardly about to tell him how he affected her body over chicken potpie.
Taking her at her word, he thanked their waitress, reached for his fork. Katie saw the rejection on the woman’s face when she turned from the table.
“Looks delicious, doesn’t it?” he asked.
Relieved to have something else to focus on besides her attraction to Scott, Katie picked up her own utensil and pierced the golden crust of her pie. A billow of delectable steam rose from her food. With a rumble from her stomach she hoped to heaven only she heard, Katie began to eat. Her small bites were no match for Scott’s larger ones and soon he was scraping an empty plate.
After her father’s passing, in an effort to keep costs down, Katie had let go their long-time maid and learned to cook. She didn’t mind the task but cooking for her mother, who ate sparingly, was hardly rewarding. But she imagined it would be very satisfying to fix meals for a man with a healthy appetite, who would appreciate the food prepared.
While she also enjoyed a meal she didn’t have to cook herself, her appetite wasn’t anywhere near his and, full, she set her fork aside.
“Did you not like it?” Scott asked. “Mine was delicious.”
Katie looked down. There was still a third of hers remaining. “It was very good. But the sheriff brought me breakfast this morning and I suppose I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I was.” She hated to waste it but honestly, if she ate any more, she feared she’d be sick on the ride to Marietta.
He reached for her plate. “Do you mind?”
“Oh, no. Not at all.”
Then, both amazed and a little queasy, she watched Scott finish her meal and top it off with a bowl of bread pudding.
“Do you always eat like that?” She couldn’t help asking.
His grin was sheepish. “Yeah. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I just find it amazing that you look as good as you—”
Realizing what she’d just said, Katie shut her mouth. Lord, she really needed to work harder on thinking before she spoke. Between them, their faces could have lit a dark room.
He cleared his throat, reached for his hat. “If you’re ready, we should probably start heading back.”
Not only was he attractive, he was a gentleman. Many of the men she’d courted would have preened or asked her to explain what she meant simply so they could hear the compliment again. It spoke well of Scott that he chose to ignore it. She sensed it wasn’t only to keep from embarrassing her either. He didn’t strike her as a man who needed his ego stroked and, by the flush darkening his cheeks, wasn’t comfortable with it either.
“Well, look who’s back.”
Unlike this one.
Katie ignored Kurt, locked her gaze on Scott and came to her feet. “I’m ready to go.”
Judging by the hard look that came over Scott’s face, he’d made the connection. Slowly, deliberately, he rose to his full height. It was satisfying to see Kurt have to raise his chin to look Scott in the eye.
Neither Scott’s height nor the pulsing in his jaw seemed to affect Kurt. Either that or the man was simply too stupid to heed caution because he sneered when he said, “I hope you got your money’s worth.”
Anticipating, Katie rushed to Scott’s side, grabbed his arm. She hoped he was right-handed as that’s the one she latched onto.
“Let’s go, Scott.”
He ignored her. In fact, he tried to shake her off. Katie dug her fingers into his arm, held fast.
“Well, ain’t you a feisty one.” Kurt leered. “Whatever he’s giving you, I’ll give you double.”
Beneath her fingers Scott went rigid. He was ready for a fight but he wasn’t the only one. Kurt had humiliated her yesterday but, by God, he wouldn’t get away with it again. With fury running hot in her veins Katie shoved her way between the men, glaring at Kurt.
“You’re nothing but a yellow-bellied ingrate and there isn’t enough gold in the world to ever let a piece of vermin like you touch me. Ever.”
She thought she heard some chuckles but the blood was roaring so loud in her ears she couldn’t be sure. And, truly, she didn’t care. Kurt’s face twisted in anger and she wished she could have added her palm print on his cheek. But figuring she’d made her point and afraid she’d do worse if they stayed any longer, Katie again grabbed Scott’s arm.
“There’s nothing left for us here.”
It was clear by the blood in Scott’s eye he very much wanted to stay but he gave a sharp nod. He squared away their bill with the waitress who, surprisingly given her clear attraction to Scott, winked at Katie as they left the restaurant. Once outside, Katie released her grip on Scott and marched to the wagon, which remained in front of the sheriff’s office.
Before she could climb in, Scott caught up with her. He grasped her and turned her toward him.
“You’re trembling.” He eased his grip, softly ran his hands up and down her arms.
“I’m mad.” She stomped her foot, shrugged off his touch. She had too much energy to stand still. “Twice in two days he thinks he can buy me. Why? Do I look like a whore to you?” She ran a hand down her curls. “I know my hair’s a mess but the bandits broke my brush and I—”
He grabbed her wrist. “Your hair is fine. In fact, it’s very pretty.” He lifted his hand as though to touch it, but lowered it to his side instead. “As for you looking like a whore...” His blue eyes darkened. “You don’t. And nobody has the right to treat you like one. Nobody.”
For a moment, he seemed to look past her, almost through her as though he were in another place and time. Just as she was wondering if he realized his hands were curled into fists, he shook them loose.
“You should have let me punch the smug bastard,” he grumbled.
“If anyone was going to hit him, I wanted the privilege but I didn’t want to give him any reason to have me sent back to jail.” Her lips curved. “One night was an adventure; two would be tiresome.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest, shook his broad shoulders. She much preferred his eyes alight with humor than darkened by shadows. And she really liked the way he made her feel, special and important. He’d come to her defense in a way few people in her life ever had. Not that her family would have condoned her being treated as a harlot, but there would have been a comment made, even if only in passing, about her not being careful enough. Being too trusting. Somehow, she’d have felt a portion of the blame laid at her feet. It was amazing to her that a man she’d known less than two hours showed more faith and trust in her than her family ever had.
Aware they were still drawing curious stares from those stopped on the boardwalk and riding through, Katie pointed to the wagon. “Shall we go?”
“Give me one minute,” he said and crossed into the mercantile.
After the chivalrous way he’d treated her so far she was a little surprised he simply left her there. But as she was anxious to get away from prying eyes and eager to see what the hours alone with Scott would bring, Katie dug out her bonnet then heaved the bag into the wagon. Lifting her skirt she climbed onto the seat, donned her hat. She knew by the sting on her nose and cheeks she’d sunburned yesterday and she didn’t want it to worsen.
Although a glance at the thickening clouds had her thinking she might not have to wear the hat for long.
Scott sprinted across the street. “I’d have helped if you’d waited.”
Imagining his hands on her, her belly quivered. Darn it, she shouldn’t have seated herself. “I didn’t want to delay us any longer,” she said instead. “I’ve taken enough of your time.”
He hitched a shoulder. “It’s no trouble.”
He circled the rig, tugged on wheels and harnesses, took the time to stroke and talk to the pair of horses before climbing up.
The wagon creaked and shifted as he took his seat. Instead of taking the reins, however, he reached behind his back and held out a brand new hairbrush.
“You bought me a brush?” She twisted the strings of her bonnet, doubly glad now she’d put it on. Her hair must have looked especially awful if he’d felt the need to buy her such a personal item.
“Katie.” He untangled the strings from her hand, placed the brush in her palm. “I meant what I said. Your hair is pretty the way it is. I just thought that since the bandits broke yours, you’d want another.”
He’d come for her as a favor to Wade and Jillian but, since she’d met him, he’d bought her a meal, come to her defense, made her feel things she’d never felt before, and now had bought her a gift. Not because it was her birthday or out of expectation or guilt but because he thought she’d want it.
She clutched the brush in her lap. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”
For a moment he said nothing, simply looked at her.
Then he swallowed and, his voice sounding a little raspier than it had before, answered, “It was my pleasure.”
Scott drove the rig out of Chico, his thoughts and emotions as scrambled as the eggs Jillian had fixed him before heading out at dawn.
As a rule Scott didn’t have a problem with most folks. Unless they hurt him or someone he cared about, he was happy to make their acquaintance. So it wasn’t the fact that he liked Katie that troubled him. It was that he liked her. When he’d offered to come fetch her, he’d assumed it would be similar to the time he’d fetched Jillian for James and Eileen’s wedding. He’d simply be doing a friend a favor and other than a little conversation to pass the time, it would just be an ordinary day.
But there was nothing ordinary about this day and no amount of planning or visualizing could have prepared him for Katie. There was strength in her. He should have known there would be as her sister had it as well. Jillian had chosen a man’s profession then crossed the country to pursue her goal. She hadn’t let anything or anybody get in her way. But Katie’s strength surprised him because she hadn’t done the things her sister had.
She’d stayed in the city and, far as Scott knew, had never been outside it. Then to be robbed and jailed, well, he’d expected to find a simpering, young woman overwhelmed by it all and ready to hightail it back to the city.
Instead, he’d found her playing blackjack in jail.
His lips twitched at the memory.
She’d had a rough few days and yet she didn’t seem upset by it. She’d held her ground in front of Kurt, looked at her night in jail as an adventure. She hadn’t taken offense to his cussing and had done her own when Kurt attacked her character. When Scott had caught up with her and felt her trembles, he’d assumed she was ready to cry. Instead she was spitting mad. Yet she’d smiled while claiming another night in jail would be tiresome.
Her strength impressed him but her vulnerability drew him in. When he’d given her the brush he knew by the color blooming on her cheeks she’d believed he’d only done so because her hair was mussed. How could she not know her hair, even a little disheveled, was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen? Even now, hidden under a bonnet, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
But what had affected him the most was when she’d finally accepted his gift and clutched it in her lap. He’d bought Wade’s daughter Annabelle prettier things, ribbons for her hair, a doll for Christmas. And while the girl had squealed with joy and appreciated her present, she hadn’t looked as Katie had.
As though she couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing for her.
It made no sense. He knew from Jillian their family hadn’t been rich, but they’d hardly lived in squalor. Yet from Katie’s reaction it seemed as though his was the first gift she’d ever received. He knew it couldn’t be so but he also knew Jillian had been close to her father and he had the impression the opposite was true for the sisters. With a bed-ridden mother, Scott couldn’t help but wonder where Katie had fit in.
“Will we make it to Marietta before it rains?”
Scott had been pondering the same thing. While his mind had been occupied with thoughts of Katie, he’d been keeping an eye on the darkening sky. The temperature, though still warm enough that his jacket remained in the back of the wagon, was cooling. The smell of rain rode on the breeze.
