When the Heart Falls (31 page)
Read When the Heart Falls Online
Authors: Kimberly Lewis
She found that curious, but the relief that coursed through Brenna couldn’t trample the anger still festering deep within her breast for the man she sought out.
“
Would you happen to know where he lives?”
The giant looked as though he didn’t want to answer her and those dark eyes took on a dangerous glint.
“
Now what would you want with Nathan Hunter?”
Brenna didn’t know what about this man riled her more—the tone of his voice or the chilled look in his eyes.
“
I do appreciate your help sir with my near tumble, but I don’t see how that is any concern of yours.”
After a moment he still hadn’t answered.
“
He’s my grandfather if you must know,” she said indignantly.
Ethan didn’t think he could be more shocked if his brother walked down the streets of Briarwood buck naked. He studied the woman from head to toe, much like Bradford James had
done, but with different intent. He couldn’t tell much about her body as she kept it well covered in expensive blue wool and a deep green scarf. She stood about a foot shorter than his six feet four and he’d guess that she was nice and curvy underneath that coat. He did notice her hair—a deep, dark flaming red under a midnight-blue hat. Under the hat, expressive eyes as green as the summer pastures out at the ranch were surrounded by creamy white skin that looked to have been well guarded from the sun.
Now how can a beautiful foreigner be related to that bastard?
he thought
.
He couldn’t fault James for admiring the shiny penny newly arrived, but out west that could mean trouble and it didn’t mean he liked it.
Brenna found herself growing impatient as this man boldly studied her, though she had to admit that it didn’t bother her. Mr. James’s perusal disgusted her—this one merely irritated her. She grew impatient because after months of travel she was so close to finding her grandfather and this man wanted to gawk.
Finally he spoke. “The Double Bar is north of here. That’s Hunter’s spread, though I wasn’t aware of him having any relations still around here.”
“
Well, I haven’t exactly met him before,” she confessed and then wondered why.
What business was it of this man’s anyway?
If she wanted to be truthful with herself, it could be that from the moment she looked into those fascinating eyes and grinning face, she trusted him. Brenna didn’t want to ponder that since it could just be weariness from her travels, and she didn’t need to be making mistakes. The journey had been difficult enough convincing men she wasn’t alone. Brenna had even gone so far as to wear one of her mother’s old rings over the glove on her left hand. Whether others had thought her married or a widow, she didn’t care so long as they left her alone.
The stranger offered only a sardonic raising of his eyebrow, which plainly told Brenna that the man thought she was daft.
Well, so be it,
she thought.
Ethan did think she was daft and most definitely in over her head. He’d just as soon see the woman right back on the next stage out of there. In the meantime, he didn’t want to take her out to the old man’s place without more information. It didn’t matter that she obviously possessed gumption; he couldn’t risk it.
Hell, I’d try to keep a stray dog from the hands of that man,
he thought. For reasons he couldn’t fathom, he just appointed himself her protector, and he didn’t even know her name.
“
Well, I can certainly show you the way to the Double Bar, but you may want to stay in town for a couple of nights until you’ve had a chance to actually meet Hunter.”
“
Thank you sir, but I have no intention of staying with Nathan Hunter. If you could point me toward accommodations in town, I would be grateful.”
As an afterthought, Brenna stuck out her hand and said, “It seems I’ve forgotten my manners. Brenna Cameron.”
The man raised that infernal brow. “Ethan Gallagher.”
“
A pleasure to meet you Mr. Gallagher.”
In answer to her question, Ethan was about to point her across the street to Widow Dawson’s Boarding House but Bradford James chose that moment to come sauntering back out of the saloon.
“
Well, well. It don’t appear you’ve gone far Gallagher.” He tipped his hat to Brenna and smiled, showing discolored teeth. This man really had an unfortunate mouth.
“
I could say the same for you Bradford.” That smooth, deep voice took on a sharp tone. Brenna wondered why these two seemed at such odds, but decided to once again keep silent. She wasn’t in such desperate need of friends that she would be willing to shake hands with Mr. James.
Bradford lost his smile and wished he could shoot the one off of Gallagher’s pretty face. He decided to ignore Ethan and turned his attention back to the woman.
The idiotic sop was obviously intoxicated
, Brenna thought in disgust.
“
Ma’am, I’d be happy to escort you to your destination,” he slurred slightly, even as he held out his arm for her to take hold.
Brenna forced herself not to cringe openly and finally decided to break her silence. She really didn’t have time for the lout or his ridiculous advances. “That won’t be necessary sir, but I thank you for the gesture.” She hoped that would be the end of it, and in polite society it should have been. Apparently Mr. James never entered polite society.
“
Now ma’am, it ain’t safe for a lady like yerself to be walking around alone.”
“
Be that as it may sir, I am quite capable and as you can see, in good hands.” Brenna gestured toward Ethan hoping he would forgive her boldness and go along with her deception. The dark look that came over Mr. James didn’t reassure her.
“
She’s with you Gallagher?”
“
She is.”
Ethan said nothing more and Brenna slowly released the breath she didn’t realized she’d been holding. She did that a lot lately.
“
Well now ain’t that sweet. I hadn’t taken her for the type, but I guess you never can tell,” Bradford said with a beastly laugh, too drunk to keep quiet. Another equally ugly man—she hadn’t expected so many in one town—appeared to be a friend to the drunk although he hit Bradford in the ribs and told him to shut up.
Ethan ignored the other man and stepped around Brenna, blocking her view of Bradford as he spoke with him. “And what type would that be?” His smooth voice sounded cold and hard.
Brenna worried that she might have caused what could turn into an unpleasant altercation. She gently laid a soft hand on Ethan’s arm hoping to gain his attention. He ignored her. She found that annoying.
“
The type to bed down with the likes of you Gallagher, but with all of that money, she probably just shuts her eyes.”
Brenna cringed at the sickening laugh, but not nearly as much as the sound of a fist hitting bone and the blood that seemed to appear all over Mr. James’s face. Oddly, the crude comment about her being a whore didn’t bother her and she easily discarded it from her mind.
“
You’re having all of the fun without me again Ethan?”
Brenna turned to see another man about her age with dark brown hair and an easy smile. There could be no mistaking where those eyes came from. This one looked just as handsome as Ethan, and Brenna had no doubt they were related.
Ethan waited a moment to be sure that Bradford would stay on the ground and turned to his brother. “No, you’re just late as usual.” Ethan offered the younger man a genuine smile. “Are you finished up at the livery?”
His brother merely nodded as his attention turned to focus on Brenna. “The name is Gabriel Gallagher ma’am and it is indeed a pleasure.” The grin on the man’s face brought one to Brenna’s and she found herself delighted with his charm.
“
I am Brenna Cameron, Mr. Gallagher.”
“
Please, it’s Gabriel.”
“
Very well, Gabriel. Your brother kindly came to my aid with a certain . . . mishap.”
Ethan arched a brow at her as he looked back at Bradford being carted away to the doc by two of his equally inebriated friends. He half wondered how a genteel woman did no more than slightly shudder at what just took place.
Gabriel lifted his own brow in mocking laughter and said, “Yes, well Ethan is our local rescuer of damsels in distress.”
Ethan rolled his eyes at his brother.
Brenna laughed and replied, “Well I assure you that I am no longer in distress and merely here to visit . . . uh family.”
“
I know pretty much everyone in these parts, though no Camerons. Who might your family be?” asked Gabriel still smiling.
Brenna wondered if others felt the same way about her grandfather.
“
Nathan Hunter,” she said.
Ethan watched as the smile and charm left his brother’s chiseled face and waited for the smoldering ball of fury to erupt as it usually did when Hunter’s name was mentioned. He knew Gabriel wouldn’t take his anger out on a woman, but his hatred ran deep, like all of theirs.
“
I wasn’t aware of old Hunter still having any kin,” Gabriel finally replied.
Now why does everyone keep saying that?
wondered Brenna.
“
Yes well, he does. Now if you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I really should procure myself a room for the evening.” Turning to Ethan she said, “I do thank you for your assistance.”
Just as she was about to walk onto the street, a strong hand once again grabbed her from behind. Brenna turned and looked up into those dark eyes. She wasn’t used to being handled so casually or with such strength. No man of her acquaintance could compare to the ones they bred out here.
“
It would be best if you didn’t stay in town tonight Miss Cameron.”
“
And why is that Mr. Gallagher?”
“
I guarantee that bad element is just waiting to find you alone and Widow Dawson is hardly suitable protection.”
“
And what exactly are you suggesting sir? The saloon?”
“
Yes, what are you suggesting Ethan?” asked Gabriel, still not smiling. He knew his brother well enough to know what Ethan was thinking. Gabriel wouldn’t turn the lady away, but he was less than pleased with the situation.
Ethan shot his brother a dark look and turned back to those waiting green eyes.
Damn.
In the deepest part of his gut, Ethan knew he couldn’t just shrug this woman off and send her on her way. He felt protective of all women, as did his brother. They just couldn’t stand by and watch a woman being mistreated, whether it was their business or not. This however, seemed to be something more. A part of Ethan that he had believed died long ago also told him not to let this new arrival get away. He tried ignoring it, but of course duty came first and it was only Miss Cameron’s safety he had in mind. At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
“
You’ll come home with us.”
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