Unconventional Series Collection (17 page)

The plump, middle-aged woman with slightly
graying hair and rosy cheeks, smiled widely. "Howdy, folks. Welcome to
Sadie's Diner. I'm Sadie and sure glad you stopped in. Our special today is
roast beef, fried tators, mouth watering biscuits, and apple pie. Do ya'll want
menus or the special?"

Luke glanced at Angel. She said, "The
special is fine. Thank you."

He looked at Sadie's round face and decided she
was probably a good cook. "Make that two specials. I look forward to the
apple pie."

Sadie grinned. "You're gonna love it! It
was my granny's recipe."

Out the window, Luke watched the cowboys puffing
on their cigarettes. He'd placed Angel so she was facing away from them. They
were troublemakers through and through. Their stance and sullen faces gave them
away. He had no doubt they would have accosted Angel if he hadn't been with
her. An appreciation of her anxiety reinforced itself in his heart.

The dinner was excellent and Luke noticed that
Angel ate every bite. The woman had a great appetite considering they'd eaten a
quick lunch before leaving Dallas. When Sadie served huge slices of apple pie,
Luke grinned.
Oh yeah.

He waited for Angel to take the first bite and
watched her chew it, test it, and close her eyes with a look of bliss. Her
actions started his heart hammering and unbidden images raced across his mind of
the two of them… Quickly sipping his coffee he choked when he swallowed down
the wrong pipe.

"Are you okay?" Angel handed him a
glass of water.

"Fine. Fine. How's the pie?"

"It's delicious. Just the right amount of
sugar and cinnamon. The natural flavor of the apples isn't overwhelmed. I
simply must ask if this is a secret recipe."

The change in Angel's countenance as she spoke
overwhelmed Luke. She was beautiful beyond words.

Sadie walked over and asked how they liked their
pie. Luke realized that he had been so involved with watching Angel; he hadn't
even taken a bite. "Just give me a sec and I'll let you know." He
lifted a giant bite to his mouth and found himself closing his eyes in ecstasy,
too. With his mouthful, he mumbled, "I've died and gone to heaven."
He finished the sentence in his mind—
with my Angel.

Sadie laughed. "That's the reaction I
always get. Never fails."

While Luke enjoyed the rest of his pie, Angel
and Sadie began a conversation about apple pies. Watching Angel's animation in
talking about a subject obviously dear to her heart made Luke's heart expand.

Sadie said to Angel, "Honey, I don't give
my recipe out to just anybody, but I can see you're a baker."

Angel replied shyly, "Well, yes, I just
bought my own bakery and hope to have it running within two months. I'd love to
bake your pie recipe. I'll call it Sadie's Apple Pie, and give you all the
credit."

"Well, ain't that right nice. Okay, here's
the recipe and the secret." Sadie lowered her voice and whispered the
ingredients, and then she began a dissertation on the merits of different types
of apples, spices, and the perfect baking time and temperature. Luke was out of
his element and listened with fascination. He'd had no idea of the intricacies
involved in baking the perfect apple pie.

Someone shouted from the diner's entrance,
"Train leaves in ten minutes!"

Luke broke into the conversation. "Er,
honey, we better get going."

Still listening enraptured to Sadie, Angel said,
"Yes. Just a moment."

After a couple of minutes Luke pushed his chair
back and stood beside the table to hurry things along. Sadie laughed and said
to Angel, "Yer man's gettin' impatient. Better git goin'. Now don't fergit
the right amount of nutmeg."

Angel glanced up at Luke as he scooted her chair
back, a happy glow lighting her face. "What a lovely woman," she said
as she watched Sadie walk away.

Luke mentally shook his head at the change in
Angel just by talking about something dear to her heart.

Back on the platform they had to pass the two
cowboys. Luke switched places with Angel so that he was on the side next to
them. He held her elbow, but of her own volition she reached and grasped his
arm tightly. Just when he'd breathed a sigh of relief that the men were going
to ignore them, one of them said loud enough to be heard, "I'd sure like
ta git me some o' that fluff. Bet she's a screamer."

Luke heard Angel's sharp intake of breath and
felt her hand tightened even more on his arm. "Don't fret, Angel," he
spoke calmly. He wanted to turn and shove a fist in the ignorant ol' boys'
mouths, and could probably have laid them both out in a brawl, but that would
have been a stupid move on his part with Angel present.

Returning to their seats, Luke noticed Angel's
animation had vanished. Once again, she wore a strained look. He cursed and
reached to hold her hand. She didn't pull it away, but neither did she return
his squeeze. The rude cowpokes entered and snickered as they walked to the back
of the coach. Only then did Angel return the pressure of his hand.

It was dark by the time the porter yelled,
"Bingham next stop!" The train slowed, brakes squealed, and the
whistle blew.

While the porters unloaded their suitcases, Luke
kept a sharp eye on the cowboys. They slung saddlebags over their shoulders and
seemed to have forgotten Angel as they rushed off the platform. He sensed
Angel's relief, but he still kept a vigilant watch. "There's a nice hotel
a few blocks over. I'll hail a carriage to take us there." He turned to
the only coach in the area and started to call for a ride when the driver
slapped the reins and it took off with other travelers. The area was clearing
fast and he didn't think it wise to hang around the lone street waiting for another
ride, but neither did he want to walk the empty streets. He had to make a decision.
He said, "Angel, you carry the small suitcase and I'll carry the other
two. We'll start walking toward the hotel and maybe another buggy will drive
by. It's not too far." Before he picked up the suitcases, he pulled his
derringer out of his calf holster and shoved it under his belt buckle while
Angel silently watched. "Come on; let's think about what we want to eat at
the hotel." He tried to lighten the mood.

With Angel close by his side they crossed the
almost deserted hard packed road to the boardwalk across the street. At the end
of the first block one of the grimy cowboys from the train suddenly stepped out
of the shadows of the side street. Waving a large pistol, he said, "Now
what's the hurry, little lady? You ain't fraid o' me and my pardner, are
ya?" The other man stepped into sight.

Luke said calmly, "Why don't you two visit
the saloon. There're plenty of pretty ladies there. My wife and I don't want
any trouble."

"Oh, you're wrong. Ain't no whores as purdy
as this one. When Nick and I seen her we just knew we had ta get some o' her.
So's if you wants ta live, you'd best step aside, let us have some fun, and
then she's all yers agin and nobody gits hurt."

"Mmm." Luke made a sound like he was
considering their request. Without removing his eyes from the cowboys, he said,
"Angel, what do you think? Do you want to take on both of these
blokes?" Luke heard her gasp and continued, "I've got a better idea.
Why don't the three of us have some fun? I'll even let you boys go first."
Angel whimpered and when the cowboy holding the gun glanced at her with a
lecherous expression, Luke slung one suitcase at the man's crotch and the other
at his hand holding the gun. The gun fired into the air and Luke pulled his
derringer from his waistband at the same time he stepped protectively in front
of Angel. The slimy cowboy yelled in pain and when he dropped his gun to grab
his privates, Luke kicked the weapon out of his reach. Training his derringer
on the other cowboy, he said, "It may be small, but I guarantee the bullet
hurts like hell. Com'on, make a move so I can shoot your sorry ass."

"Hey, mister, we was just funnin',"
said the cowboy who wasn't holding his privates.

"Unfasten your gun belt and drop it."

"Sure. Sure." The weasel reached and
unbuckled his belt and let it fall to the ground with his gun still holstered.

"Kick it over."

He obeyed.

"Angel, pick the guns up and hand them to
me."

Luke expected her to balk, but she was a trooper
and quickly retrieved the loose one and pulled the other one out of its holster.
He grinned, accepted both of them, and handed her the derringer. "Now,
boys, I'm what you call ambidextrous."

The men looked confused.

That means my left hand works just like my right
hand. I can shoot just as well with either. Now we're gonna mosey on down the
street, you in front of me, until I tell you to stop." The men stared at
him dumbfounded.

Luke said to Angel, "Push the suitcases
against the building. We'll come back for them."

Angel did as he asked.

"Thanks, darlin'." Luke motioned the
men forward. "GO!" They cursed and started down the boardwalk. At the
next street Luke instructed, "Turn right and just keep walking."

The cowboys mumbled and shuffled their feet so
Luke stuck the muzzle of a gun in each of their backs to remind them he meant
business. After a few more streets, they ended up in front of the sheriff's
office.

Luke kicked a boot against the door and yelled,
"Sheriff Yates, I got some good ol' boys who need to spend time
reconsidering their ways."

The light inside the building went out and the
curtain moved. A second later the light came back up, the door opened, and the
tip of a Smith and Wesson was followed by a tower of a man. Luke heard one of
the cowboys say, "Oh, shit."

The giant said to Luke, "Howdy, half-pint.
Good to see ya. Looks like you been busy tonight. What cha got goin'?"

"Hello, Sheriff. Good to see you, too.
These idiots are just beggin' for you to teach them manners around
ladies."

The sheriff scowled, "One thing I hate is
disrespectful ruffians." He grabbed both men by their collars and hauled
them inside the building. "Get your asses in here."

Luke nodded for Angel to precede him inside.
Setting the guns on the desk, he turned anxious eyes on her. Although she
looked pale, it didn't appear that she was going to faint or anything. She
handed him his derringer and inhaled a shaky breath. "Thank you," she
whispered.

He laughed low. "See Angel, I'm the right
man for the job. I'll get you to San Francisco."

A faint smile tilted her mouth and she glanced
toward the door the sheriff had hustled the cowpokes into. Sheriff Yates came
back into the room and laughed. "I'll take right good care of them boys.
Won't let them out of the hoosegow until you're gone. How many days do you want
them locked up?"

"Three would be nice, five even
better."

The sheriff glanced curiously at Angel and
turned scarlet. "Howdy ma'am. Sorry you were accosted. I been sheriff here
for twenty years and I don't allow stuff like that in my town."

Luke said, "Sheriff, I'd like to introduce
Angel Samson, my wife."

A big grin spread across the sheriff's face.
"Well, congratulations, boy!" He pumped Luke's hand. "And
congratulations to you, too, ma'am."

Angel murmured a thank you and Luke said,
"Guess we best be going. Thanks for taking care of those shit-hea…"
He glanced at Angel and winced. "Sorry. Didn't mean to say that in front
of you."

* * *

Angel thanked the sheriff again and then
followed Luke back to where they had left their suitcases. Fortunately, he was
able to hail a carriage to drive them to a well kept hotel. At the desk, he
requested the best suite and ordered a large supper brought to their room. He
turned to Angel, "Is steak and all the trimmings okay with you?"

"Perfectly okay." Exhaustion was
starting to overpower Angel and she longed for a bath. Before they followed the
boy the hotel clerk had summoned to transport their baggage, Luke said to the
clerk, "After supper is served, please have hot water brought up for my
wife to bathe."

Angel almost couldn't stop herself from kissing
Luke's cheek. First, he'd saved her from those hooligans, and now he'd ordered
dinner and a bath. She gave him a grateful smile.

Within a half hour, food was delivered to their
suite of two bedrooms and a sitting room. The heavenly aroma made Angel's
stomach growl and she didn't hesitate when Luke invited her to sit and dine.
They ate most of the meal in exhausted silence. When they started on their
pecan pie, Angel said timidly, "I'd like to thank you for placing yourself
in danger tonight and for this wonderful hotel and dinner." She smiled
shyly. "And also for the bath."

Luke leaned back in his chair. "No thanks
necessary."

"I feel I should reimburse you for this
expense."

There was a knock on the door and Luke said,
"That's probably water for your bath. As for reimbursement, I'll have none
of that. I'm an investor in this hotel." He opened the door and two
teenage boys pushed carts with pails of water into the room and asked which
bedroom to deliver it to. After the tub was full, Luke handed each of the boys
a tip that put big smiles on their faces.