Charlene Sands (4 page)

Kate.

She was pushing at him, struggling to get out of his arms.

“Kate,” he rasped, his breaths coming in short bursts.

“Don’t, Cole,” she said, finally able to release herself from his iron-tight grip because he’d loosened it. “Don’t,” she said again, her face flush with color, her lips bruised from his kiss. She stepped back and put up her hand. Cole rubbed the back of his neck, staring at her.

Kate bore witness to gleaming passion in Cole’s blue gaze. She wondered where it had come from. Why was he suddenly here, kissing her like there was no tomorrow?

Yesterday it had been more than clear to Kate that Cole had truly moved on with his life…with Patricia Wesley. How could he come in here and kiss her that way, making her heart nearly stop from wanting so, when he was most certainly courting Patricia? Land’s sake, he was having dinner with the Wesleys on this very night!

She straightened her skirt and brushed aside the hair that had come undone from Cole’s embrace.
She
had nearly come undone. But she’d not be a fool twice in one lifetime. Chin raised, she asked in a shaky voice, “D-did…you bring the ordinance?”

Dumbfounded, Cole nodded. There was turmoil in those confused, brilliant blue eyes. “What just happened between us—”

“It was a kiss, Cole. That’s all.”

She made a move to pass him, but he caught her arm, holding her firm. “That’s
all?
”

She nodded, her eyes studying the floor.

He let out a string of curses. Kate flinched at hearing such language coming from Cole. He dropped her arm and she moved away, feeling his deep, penetrating gaze following her. When she had recovered from a kiss she’d only dreamed about, she turned to face him. “The ordinance?”

Anger lit his eyes, making them burn like blue embers. Kate was beyond caring about his sensibilities right now. She’d have enough of a time trying to forget the heart-robbing kiss they’d just shared.

Cole glanced around and found the papers on the floor. He must have tossed them the moment he had rushed to her aid. Retrieving them quickly, he arranged them in his hand before turning them over to her. “Here’s the damn ordinance.” Kate ignored his obvious irritation. She flipped through the pages, glancing at the signatures on the last one. “Your signature appears on the list.” She sent him an accusing stare.

“I bore witness to the signing,” he admitted. “It was designed to protect the town, Kate.”

“From the likes of me?” she asked plainly.

“Hell, Kate. That’s not what I meant. After what
happened with Jeb and some of the others, the town council thought it best to protect the citizens of this town.”

“I’m hardly a threat,” she said, tightening her grip on the papers.

“No, not you. But the saloon brings in rowdies and drunks. You have to remember what it was like before. Fights broke out, people got hurt. Sheriff Cullen was always tossing someone into a jail cell.” He went on, “It ain’t fitting for a woman, Kate. A woman’s place is with her family, at home.”

“I have no family, Cole.”

“You could, Kate. One day, you could have a fine family. But not if you open that saloon.”

Kate blinked at Cole’s blunt declaration. He was telling her that no decent law-abiding man would want a woman who ran a saloon. Especially not Sheriff Cole Bradshaw. It wasn’t proper, wasn’t what women were expected to do. At times, Cole’s rigid beliefs perplexed her so. “It was good enough for Mama. It’s good enough for me.”

“Kate, I’m warning you. The town doesn’t want the Silver Saddle to open again.”

“I believe you’re wrong, Sheriff. And I intend to prove it.”

“You’d best abide by the ordinance, Kate,” Cole said, taking in a sharp breath. Kate didn’t miss the threat in his tone.

“Or what?” She planted her hands firmly on her hips, her chin defiantly raised. She knew what he was
about to say, but it still twisted a knot inside her stomach.

He hesitated a moment, peering into her eyes. Bringing his focus lower to her lips, she heard his slight, almost silent, sigh. She waited a moment, and when he finally spoke it was with deep regret. “Or I’ll have to arrest you.”

C
ole sat in the Wesley dining room, glancing at Patricia and nodding politely as Edward Wesley spouted his current assessment of President Hayes’s recent win over his Democratic opponent, Tilden. “The country about came to blows over this. Goes to show you what happens when there’s a direct loss of control. Compromise is what got Hayes elected, I say.”

Cole listened with only half an ear. His mind was on Kate, and how it had felt holding her in his arms this morning. He couldn’t quite get it out of his head, her body pressed against his, her lips warm and giving, as if she’d been born to kiss him. She’d grown up to become a beautiful woman. Strong willed and spirited, but beautiful just the same. Cole hoped he could talk her out of her fool notion to defy the town ordinance. But if it came right down to it, Cole knew he’d have to stop her. The law was the law. And he couldn’t bend the rules, not even for Kate.

“Don’t you agree, son?” Edward asked pointedly, driving thoughts of Kate from his head instantly.

Cole straightened in his seat. “What’s that, Mr. Wesley?”

“That if the South hadn’t wanted those Federal troops out of their cities, putting an end to Reconstruction, Hayes wouldn’t have ever taken office?”

“Father,” Patricia interrupted, “enough political talk for one evening, please. We don’t want Meggie getting bored.” Patricia smiled sweetly and reached over, adjusting the napkin on Meggie’s lap. “How are you enjoying the meal, Meggie? You haven’t touched your vegetables. Don’t you like them?”

Meggie put her head down. “No, ma’am.”

“They’ll put a shine to your pretty hair. Just a bite or two each day will do.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Patricia glanced at Cole. “Your daddy ate all of his vegetables,” she said, her light brown eyes sparkling.

She did look pretty tonight, Cole thought, watching the candlelight put a glow onto her creamy complexion. And she sure knew her manners. A woman like that would be perfect to help him raise Meggie all proper-like.

“Won’t you take one bite, Meggie, for me?”

Meggie shifted her attention to cast Cole an expectant look. He nodded, encouraging her. Where his daughter got her picky eating habits, he’d never
know. The Bradshaws had all been healthy eaters. “Go on, Megpie, have a taste of the carrots.”

His obstinate child twisted her lips into a pout. “Only if I hafta.” Meggie took a tiny bite, chewed it quickly then put down her fork.

Edward let out a big belly laugh. “The child sure knows what she wants, doesn’t she? I like her spirit, Cole.”

“She’s got the Bradshaw nature, that’s for sure, Edward.” Cole stroked Meggie’s head, both amazed and grateful at the powerful feelings he had for the child. She filled a hole in his life left by Jeb’s death. He and his wife, Lydia, had been Cole’s only family.

“She just needs a woman’s influence, Cole,” Patricia said, rising from her chair. “A girl’s got to understand the subtleties in life. There are certain things she can’t learn from a man.”

“I’m sure you’re right, Patricia,” Cole said, feeling himself being backed into a corner. He got enough lectures on the subject from Mrs. Gregory.

He rose slightly, the gentlemanly thing to do and watched Patricia come around the richly grained burl-wood table to reach for Meggie’s hand.

“Would you like to help me serve the dessert? We’re having peach cobbler. I’ll show you how to spoon on the cream.”

Meggie nodded. “’Kay,” she said, taking Patricia’s hand and giving Cole a long sour look as she walked by. Cole silently chuckled at his daughter’s behavior. Mrs. Gregory would have been appalled,
and although the elderly woman tried to teach Meggie right from wrong, she had enough to do keeping the house and tending to Meggie’s needs. Cole couldn’t expect any more of her. Right now, Cole found Meggie’s antics amusing, but he knew, eventually, he’d have to do something about it. Meggie needed a full-time mother. It was time Cole took a wife. He was tired of sleeping in a cold, lonely bed.

“I hear that Malone woman is planning on opening up the Silver Saddle again,” Edward said, after Patricia and Meggie left the room.

“That seems to be her plan,” Cole replied cautiously. He didn’t like discussing Kate with anybody, much less the man she blamed for pushing her out of town.

“Well, I hope you know what your duty is, son. She’d be going against the law. The town council—”

“She’s aware of the ordinance.” Cole leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs in a casual gesture he surely wasn’t feeling right about now. “I think she’ll come around.” He had to make sure of it. Cole didn’t need any trouble with the townsfolk. Not when he was up for reelection next fall. Her defying the ordinance would put him in a real uncomfortable spot. And Kate too would get hurt. That was the very last thing he wanted to have happen.

Edward narrowed his eyes and gestured with a finger. “See that she does, Cole. Compromise is for weaklings.”

Cole didn’t like the way this conversation had turned. More than anyone else, Cole Bradshaw knew what his duty was. He took being sheriff of the county seriously. The only two things that really mattered to him were raising his daughter right and being the best damn sheriff the county had ever seen. He didn’t need Edward Wesley dictating to him, bank president or not, no matter how much influence the older man had over the town. “I took an oath to uphold the law, Edward. It’s what I plan to do.”

Patricia entered then, holding a platter of large crystal bowls filled with peach cobbler and a generous dollop of cream on each one. “Here we go,” she said cheerfully. “The coffee will be ready in one minute.”

Cole rose to help, taking the platter from her hands. He set it down carefully on the table.

Patricia began serving the dessert. Coming up close to Cole, she spoke into his ear. “Meggie gave you the biggest scoop of cream. I think she likes her daddy…just as much as I do,” she whispered.

Cole took the offered dish, casting Patricia a small smile. He waited for her to finish serving before taking his seat again, a gnawing ache growing in his gut. He liked Patricia, but hell, he wasn’t…ready, to make her a commitment.

Thoughts of Kate Malone pushed into his head again. Would he ever get the feel of her body or the taste of her sweet lips off his mind? He wasn’t going to allow her to run roughshod over his town, but damn it, the woman got his insides churning.

Cole forced himself to pay attention to Patricia. “Meggie was a big help in the kitchen, Cole,” she said pleasantly. “Next time you bring her over, I’ll show her how a lady sets a fine-looking table.”

Cole told Patricia that was a good idea, but out of the corner of his eye, he could see his little scamp of a daughter making a face. He’d better get her home right quick, he thought wryly.

Cole finished the peach cobbler and took a last sip of coffee before pushing his dish aside. “That was delicious. Patricia, Mr. Wesley, thank you both for your hospitality. I sure do appreciate you having us over for dinner, but I’m afraid it’s time for us to go.” Cole stood and pulled out Meggie’s chair. “Ready, Megpie?”

Meggie jumped down and took his hand. “Ready.”

Patricia bit her lip, rising slowly from the table. “Cole, why don’t you stay a little longer? Father wanted to show Meggie his checkerboard. And…and I thought you and I could take a little stroll.”

“That’s right. I learned to play checkers when I was just about Meggie’s age. I bet she’d be good, too,” Edward Wesley added.

“That’s a very nice offer, but I’ve got to get Meggie to bed. It’s getting late.”

“Another time perhaps?” Patricia said, smiling graciously.

Cole nodded. “Another time.”

Meggie yawned then, a big, wide opening of her little mouth. She rubbed her eyes too. His four-year-old
daughter
never
tired this early. Most nights, she complained she didn’t want to bed down at all.

Cole didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. There were too many doggone cunning females in the room for him. He thanked Edward and Patricia again for their hospitality and hightailed it out of the house.

Two days later, as Cole strode down the street heading for the jail, he noticed Kate, deep in concentration, muttering to herself as she worked on the weathered picket fence in her front yard. “Morning, Kate.”

She whirled around, seemingly surprised to see him. He had to pass this way every morning on his way to his office, but this was the first time he’d come across her. “Good morning,” she said without a smile.

“Working on the fence?”

“Trying to. The darn thing’s so old and beaten that I don’t know why I bother, but last night’s winds nearly ripped the wood in two. I plan on strengthening it, then covering the ugly boards with a thick coat of whitewash.”

Kate took the hammer and began to pound in a nail on the post nearest him. She missed and jammed her finger. “Ouch!” She jumped back and gripped her injured hand, tears misting in her eyes.

“You okay?”

She nodded, but he could see her frustration mounting. She’d been muttering when he’d come upon her.
Clearly she wasn’t enjoying this chore. And now, she’d hurt herself.

Cole came around the inside of the fence where she stood and took the hammer out of her hand. He unbuckled his gun belt and threw it across the porch rail.

“What are you doing?” Kate asked. She was sucking on the finger that she’d nearly crushed.

Cole averted his eyes. His mouth had already gone dry, watching her move that finger over her lips. “Helping.”

“But…I can do it.”

He raised a brow. “I see how well you were doing.”

“I didn’t ask you…for help.”

Cole pounded in a few long nails then glared at her. “If you want this fence steady by the time the winds come later on, move aside. It’s going to take a while.”

“But I said I could do it.”

Cole set down the hammer and looked deep into her wintergreen eyes. “We aren’t kids anymore, Kate. You don’t always have to beat me at everything. There’s no prize at the end, no finish line. I’m helping because you need it. Now, if you want to do something useful, bring me something cold to drink.” Cole raked his gaze over her body and his gut tightened. She filled out a simple calico better than any woman Cole had ever known. She didn’t need silk or lace; Kate was female enough without all the frills. Cole
took a hard swallow and turned back to the task at hand. “My mouth’s all but parched.”

Twenty minutes later, and with nearly half the work accomplished, Cole took a break. He rubbed his sleeve across his forehead, wiping away sweat, then sat down on the grass near Kate and sipped his lemonade. “This half of the fence is good and tight now,” he said, glancing at Kate. “Should hold up to the winds. Won’t take me long to finish the rest.”

Kate looked at his work and shrugged sheepishly. “You were right, Cole. I’d still be working on that first post if you hadn’t come along.”

He grinned like a devil. He knew he probably shouldn’t tease her, but the temptation was too great. “You mean I bested you?”

Stunned by his remark, she flung the remaining drops of lemonade at him. “Cole Bradshaw!”

“Hey!” Good thing her glass was almost empty or he’d have had to go home to change a sticky shirt.

“You are such a, oh…never mind.”

She folded her arms across her middle and lifted her chin in the air, just as she’d done countless times in their youth. This was the Kate that Cole remembered best. She gave as good as she got, but it had been a simpler time then. Now their different beliefs separated them like a towering sugar pine being split in two.

“What am I, Kate?”

“I can’t tell you,” she said impishly, “or you
won’t finish my fence.” She chuckled and stood up, her coppery waves bouncing against her shoulder.

Cole, too, stood and they stared at each other with smiles lifting their lips. Emotion rushed through him then, and strong familiar yearnings. “Don’t build the saloon, Kate.”

Her smile evaporated, like water on the desert sand. “I have to, Cole.”

“And I have to stop you.”

“I know,” she whispered quietly, saying nothing else. She took his emptied glass into the house and never came back outside. It was better this way, he thought honestly. He’d finish her fence and be done with it. At least he didn’t have to gaze into her beautiful eyes and ache from need when she got real close. He knew what he was up against. She wouldn’t back down, and neither would he.

And in the end, no one would win.

Kate entered the Cable Brothers Livery later that afternoon with Cole’s words still ringing in her ear. It was his duty as sheriff to uphold the law, she knew, but Kate couldn’t see how opening the Silver Saddle would be breaking the law. As soon as she’d obtained the copy of the town ordinance, she’d sent it to a good friend of her mother’s back in Los Angeles. Mr. Robert Pendicott was the finest attorney-at-law in the city. If anyone could find a way around the ordinance, Kate believed it would be him. She was placing all of her faith in him and holding back nothing. Time, money
and energy would go into the rebuilding of the saloon and Kate was finally ready to begin.

Months ago, when her mama was alive, they’d placed an advance order for a long polished mahogany bar, two stained-glass windows with identical Silver Saddles etched in each and, as a safety precaution, an iron front door. Kate’s mother insisted on spending the extra money for iron-shuttered doors as protection against fire. It was becoming a common but expensive practice of saloon owners, as added insurance against wayward flames. They’d also ordered shiny brass spittoons, a large gilded mirror and the piano, too, was coming from the East.

Kate heard voices in the back of the livery and, as she walked further inside, was surprised to find Patricia Wesley speaking with Jethro Cable. She stopped and stood by a post, allowing them to finish their conversation with privacy. “And next time I rent a horse, I’d like one that doesn’t try to buck me every chance he got.”

Kate noted Jethro’s face flame with color. He yanked his hat off and ran a hand through his golden hair. “Miss Wesley, you’ve got to treat a horse with a certain respect. If you show him respect, he’ll show you the same.”