Then Came You: A Prequel to The McPhee Clan

Bluebell, Montana Territory

Spring 1876

Oh, no, there he is
. Maebry O'Riley skidded to a stop on the boardwalk and peered through the front display window of Gunderson's Mercantile. Through the sun-glazed glass she could plainly see her nemesis, Lawrence Latimer, standing at the front counter, hat in hand, waxing on about something to poor Gemma Gunderson. Maebry's stomach cringed with sympathy as she squinted, bringing the spinster's face into clear focus. Yep, that was the exact look of agony Lawrence Latimer brought out in a woman.

Maebry grimaced. If she set foot inside the store right now, then she would be his next victim. Totally tempting to run in the other direction. She clutched her shopping list in one hand, debating the merits of going back to her employer empty-handed, without the special tea Maureen desired—no,
demanded
. But, that wouldn't be good. Not at all. So that meant running was not an option.

That meant her only option was to face the man. Maebry glanced down at the list she was inadvertently crushing in her palm. Oops. Just went to show how much she didn't want to deal with Lawrence. Frowning, she straightened the paper, palms a little damp, wondering if perhaps hiding was a better solution. Maybe she could duck behind the wagon and wait until Lawrence had finished tormenting Gemma, left the store and gone on his merry way.
Then
it would be safe to go shopping for Maureen's tea.

"I see that." A friendly baritone rumbled behind her, boots clomping to a stop on the boardwalk. "I know what you're thinking."

"Oops, I guess you caught me." She grimaced. She knew that voice, and knew it well. She spun around, squinting in the sunshine at the tall, brawny man with the sun to his back. Golden light outlined the jaunty tilt of his Stetson, the rock-jaw and iron shoulders. She'd know that silhouette anywhere. She squinted up at him. "Gil Blackburn. What are you doing in town?"

"Getting extra feed across the way." The new assistant foreman at the Rocking M Ranch jerked his head toward the store on the other side of the street. "Beckett says he feels a storm on the way. This time of year, and judging by the black clouds to the northwest, it's likely to be a mean one."

"Spring blizzards. Yay. My favorite." She rolled her eyes, wishing she could stop grinning so much. The man just had that effect on her. "Say, I have an idea."

"Uh oh. Women and their ideas scare me." The brawny cowboy's chiseled face softened into a grin.

Straight, white teeth, amazing smile, little glints of mischief in those navy blue eyes. If she let herself, she could be easily dazzled by the likes of Gil Blackburn. Good thing she had no intention of letting herself. She set her chin, determined to ignore his magnificence. She'd managed to do it for the past few months since Gil had hired on at the Rocking M Ranch. That was the way it had to continue to be.

"Oh, then this idea will definitely scare you," she informed him airily, offering him her arm. "I find myself in need of a beau."

"A beau?" He adjusted his hat, a hint of a grin curving his chiseled mouth. "I didn't know. I'm not sure I approve of such a forward woman. I like ladies who know how to let the man make the first move."

"You know perfectly well what I meant. I can read it in your eyes." Those big, gorgeous blue eyes that seemed to say everything about the man. His honor. His character. His kindness. Her heart gave a little leap, hoping her crush on him didn't show. After all, they worked together and, more importantly, she was not a free woman. "Keep in mind that if you don't help me out, I'll make sure every meal you get this week will be cold and burned."

"Well, little lady, you leave me no choice." He shrugged his impressive shoulders, flashed his dazzling grin. The sunshine bronzed him, warmed his dark brown hair to a chocolate color, outlined him with gold. "You know how I hate cold and burned food."

"I do." She glanced sideways at him, enamored. Why did the man always enamor her? "You're too easy, Gil."

"You mean gullible?"

"That, too."

"If only you didn't cook my every meal, I'd be heading across the street right now ordering oats instead of rescuing you from Lawrence." He reached for the door, gallant as always. "Do you want me to act enamored, or will escorting you through the store be enough?"

"Shh." She elbowed him lightly in the ribs, aware of the solid feel of him. Very solid, very manly. Whew, she felt just a tad dizzy and no surprise that was, as Gil likely rendered any woman he came across light-headed. The saving grace was that he didn't know he was devastatingly handsome. No, Gil was as humble and as down-to-earth as a man could get. Which only made him more attractive, of course.

And made the teensy-weensy, little, miniscule crush she had on him a tad bigger.

The bell above the door jangled merrily, announcing their presence. Both Lawrence and Gemma turned toward the door, Lawrence smiling benevolently beneath his handlebar mustache, Gemma pleading with a
help me
look.

Maebry held up her list, hoping she looked in dire need of assistance. What else could she do, since she'd been in Gemma's shoes more times than she could count, enduring Lawrence's ardent attempts at courting? Girls had to stick together when it came to over-eager bachelors.

"Hi Gemma, I'm afraid I need some help. I have quite a few questions." She strolled into the shop, aware of the strapping man at her side. How could she not be aware of him? "Sorry to interrupt, I see you're with another customer, but you know Maureen."

"That I do." Beaming gratitude, Gemma launched out from behind the counter, her sensible brown dress snapping around her ankles, her practical black shoes drumming a light beat on the wood floor. "Sorry, Lawrence, I have customers. Lovely chatting with you."

"And with you, my fair lady." Lawrence tipped his bowler hat, his rapturous gaze following Gemma's progress away from the counter.

Then his gaze landed on Maebry and turned euphoric.

"Oh, Miss O'Riley." He bowed deeply, as if ready to start a new campaign to win her heart. "What a pleasure. Will I be seeing you at the Montgomery's May Day party tomorrow?"

"Likely, as Maureen has volunteered me as kitchen help for the day." She sidestepped a few inches closer to Gil, hoping Lawrence would get the hint. "So I'll be working."

"Such a pity." Lawrence schooled his too narrow face into an overly sincere show of commiseration. "Maureen should grant you at least part of the day for frivolity. I could save you a dance?"

"Oh, I'm not sure Gil would like that." Really, what did it take for Lawrence to give up? She patted Gil's muscled arm, trying not to notice how strong and manly he was. That was like not noticing the way gravity held your feet to the floor. Her heart gave a little wistful sigh of dreaminess, which she did her best to ignore. "Would you, Gil?"

"No, I'm afraid I wouldn't." Gil planted his feet, all six plus feet of towering muscle and might. "You're not trying to move in on my girl, are you, Latimer?"

"Uh." Lawrence swallowed, his narrow gaze arrowing to the tough, strapping cowboy. "I didn't realize you two were together. I simply assumed you were escorting her to town for ranch business."

"We work together, it's true." A muscle ticked along Gil's strong, square jaw. "But Maebry is my lady now."

"Oh, then congratulations are in order." Lawrence paled, looking disappointed. "You've got a fine one there, the prettiest in the county. Guess I'll be getting on with the rest of my errands. Have a good afternoon, Gemma. I'll see you soon."

"Lovely," Gemma called out a touch sarcastically from somewhere in the aisles of shelving.

Wow, he really was leaving. Just like that. It was really too good to be true. Maebry held her breath as Lawrence left with a jingle of the bell above the door and paraded down the boardwalk out of sight. He was gone. And she hadn't spent thirty minutes or more politely trying to get out of a conversation with him.

"I'm exhausted." Gemma called out from somewhere close, lost behind the tall shelves of goods. "Thank goodness you came along when you did. Maebry, that was excellent, bringing Gil. I've been trying to get rid of Lawrence for the last forty-five minutes."

"Maybe you need a pretend beau, too." Maebry reluctantly let go of Gil's arm. It had been nice while it lasted. Shyly, she gazed up at him through her lashes, hoping to keep her feelings veiled. Her little crush on him wasn't as small as she tried to make herself believe.

"Oh, you two were
pretending
?" Gemma's voice sounded closer, maybe an aisle away. "I was about to say congratulations, but I get it now. That was a very clever way to foil Lawrence's advances."

"I had no choice. He came by the ranch yesterday evening to ask me out for a drive." Maebry rolled her eyes, trying to keep her tone light. She did feel sorry for Lawrence, but that wasn't the reason it felt as if the sunlight had gone out. "I had to say no to him in front of half the kitchen staff and the cowboys who'd wandered over to watch. It was awful. It was so terrible, wasn't it Gil?"

"No. You let him down as gently as you could. If I'd known you'd wanted a pretend beau, I could have stepped up and sent him on his way right there and then." Gil's baritone gentled. "It would have saved you from being uncomfortable."