Beauty and the Beasts [Bride Train 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (12 page)

“Angel, you’ve
got
to visit the Circle C for more of my kisses,” he drawled.

Sophie entered the kitchen from the back stairs, her arms full. Oz emphasized his words with a nod before taking the sheets and putting them by the stove for boiling. Sophie looked at her, and then Oz. She pursed her lips though Sarah saw the gleam in her eyes.

“Oscar Cutler, did you just kiss Miss Unsworth again?”

“Yes, ma’am, I surely did. Get used to it because I’m going to do it as much as I can.”

“Oh, Lord,” said Sarah, covering her red face.

Oz bowed, still grinning, and let himself out.

“Didya kiss her?”

Sophie and Sarah looked at each other. Billy’s voice carried far when he was excited, and the window was open. Sarah groaned, but Sophie covered her mouth to hold in a laugh.

“Billy, I told you a gentleman never tells.”

“But, did ya?”

Sarah cocked her head but didn’t hear a word.

“Ha! I knew she was sweet on you! Hey, you got two eyes!”

They heard Oz groan. Sophie looked out the window.

“He’s hauling the boy away by the shirt collar. I take it you’re the reason he’s no longer wearing that patch?”

“I asked to see his eye. When I didn’t faint, he decided he liked being able to see better.”

Sophie gave a knowing smile. “You do know he’ll demand more kisses?”

Heat flared up Sarah’s body. She nodded at Sophie’s wicked grin.

“I’m counting on it.”

“This is intolerable! If this building wasn’t so close to my bank, and my house, I would burn it to the ground, and everything in it!”

Hugh Jennet glared furiously at Luke, who blocked his path. Jennet clutched a white table napkin, and a dab of what looked like egg blotched his chin. Someone must have interrupted his breakfast with the news of Sarah’s bakery. Likely it was Maurice Lumley, the officious hotel desk clerk. The man stood behind Jennet with his usual haughty expression.

Knowing Jennet was due to arrive, Luke had ridden into town shortly after dawn. He waited on Sarah’s bench with Ben Elliott and Deputy Chambers as townspeople gathered like a cluster of wasps around a rotting apple.

As usual, Buford Hames, the reporter for the
Helena Observer
, was one of the first to arrive. First thing he did was pull a notebook from a pocket of his green and black plaid suit and a pencil from his hatband. Hames was always cheerful and smiling, interested in the tiniest of details provided by eager gossips. Luke thought he saw a flash of something mean when Hames looked at Sarah. No wonder, if he was one of Jennet’s cronies.

“Are you threatening Miss Unsworth and her business?” demanded Luke.

Since Jennet hadn’t yet met the new sheriff, Luke wanted the banker to know Sarah wasn’t alone. He’d never gotten along with the blowhard or his vicious-tongued wife.

“I will not have a ragged cowman insult me in front of my own bank!”

“Let me through!”

Luke winced at the demanding feminine voice. He looked over his shoulder to see a furious whirlwind in skirts marching toward them like a battleship at ramming speed.

“There’s nothing stopping Miss Unsworth from operating a bakery,” said Luke to Jennet. “You sold the building—”

“To Benjamin Elliott! I should have known an Elliott couldn’t be trusted.” Jennet curled his lip at Sarah, who’d managed to push her way next to Luke. “I would never have sold anything to this, this, strumpet!”

“Strumpet? Is that the best you can do?” Sarah laughed at the banker’s red face, though Luke noticed her fingers curled into fists. “You think you’re a big bug around here, but you’re nothing but a—”

“Sarah,” warned Luke.

“Why would an important banker be afraid of a small woman and her bakery?” Sarah jammed her fists on her hips and glared up at Jennet. “Would it be because I’m more competent, intelligent, and better at running a business?”

Luke cursed under his breath. The last thing she should do is antagonize the banker, especially in front of the whole town. Jennet’s mouth dropped open in a gasp before his eyes narrowed. A couple of guffaws came from the crowd.

“How dare you speak to me like that!”

“Actually,” replied Sarah, demurely smoothing her crisp white apron, “I find it quite easy.”

Jennet screwed up his face like a mad dog. Luke tensed, but Deputy Chambers stepped forward before Jennet could attack. Frank waved at both of them to back off and calm down. Luke figured Jennet’s teeth would be ground down to nothing if he didn’t relax his jaw. Sarah fluttered her eyelashes, taunting him with both her femininity and her refusal to give him respect. Billy, smiling widely, pushed her behind him, out of the way. The boy was tall enough that Sarah had to peek around him to see.

Hames scribbled furiously in his little notebook. Whatever he wrote would benefit Jennet’s bank, not the bakery. After all, the banker had far more influence, both here and in the nearby cities. This confrontation, exaggerated appropriately, would sell newspapers. It would also bring the curious to Sarah’s bakery. If she could keep it open long enough, the whole town might benefit from the scandal.

Lumley whispered something to Jennet, who wiped the egg off his chin with his napkin and drew himself up to his full height. He was still half a foot shorter than Luke. His usual sneer reappeared, but there was an icy edge to it. Whatever Lumley said had given him confidence.

“Benjamin Elliott told me he represented a man in Bannack City,” declared Jennet to the sheriff. “I would never have sold my assay office to a woman, especially this one.”

He looked at Sarah as if she was a bug to be squashed. She crossed her eyes at him. Though Luke’s fury had grown with every minute, he still had to drop his head so his hat brim would cover his smile. Sarah would not be cowed by the bully. She might be small, but she had the attitude of a ferocious lapdog. Chambers put his hand over his mouth and coughed. A few others shuffled their feet, though most of the crowd stood behind Sarah so wouldn’t have seen what she did.

“Correction, Jennet,” said Ben calmly. “I said your gold was coming from Bannack City. I did not state anything about my client.”

“Client? She’s nothing but a—”

Luke stepped so close to Jennet that their coats touched. “Think carefully before finishing that sentence about my future wife,” he said quietly.

Frank Chambers sighed. “Stand down, Luke. He’s not worth going to jail.”

Sarah shot Luke an evil look after he stepped back. “For the last time, I’m not going to marry you!” Billy pushed her behind him again.

Jennet set both hands on his vest and tugged it down. He lifted his chin and turned to Chambers. “I thought I saw the last of you. Where’s the new sheriff?”

“He’s investigating something up the valley.”

“When will he be back? I wish to speak with him.”

“It can’t be soon enough. I’m too old for this.” Frank cleared his throat and looked around. “According to town law, until you have a written order from the town council, signed by yourself and the mayor, and with a majority of votes in favor of closing this bakery, Miss Unsworth may continue to operate her business.”

Jennet sputtered for a moment. After a final glare, he turned on his heel and stomped down the boardwalk to his house. He slammed the door so hard the window next to it rattled.

“Show’s over, folks. Get about your business.” Frank waved his hand to send the crowd away. Everyone but those directly involved moved away, except Hames.

“May I ask you a question, Miss Unsworth?” Hames didn’t wait for an answer. “Why are you so insistent on having a bakery when everyone knows a woman isn’t capable of running a business? After all, women were put on this earth as servants to men.”

Luke groaned as Sarah sputtered. He was glad he wasn’t holding a gun or she might grab it out of his hand and use it. The man knew how to provoke the reaction he wanted. Whatever Sarah said, especially if was titillating, would appear in print.

“I am more than capable, Mr. Hames. In fact, I can do almost anything as well as a man, if not better. And I will never be a servant!” She frowned and tilted her head, peering at the newspaperman. He quickly turned his back and sauntered after the crowd heading to Baldy’s. As usual he smiled and nodded, taking in their eager opinions.

“Jennet will send a rider to the mayor’s ranch within the hour,” warned Ben. “I hear Sheldrake was in town. He’d have told Rivers everything. If the mayor’s at his ranch, he’ll be here later today or tomorrow.” He watched the men crowding into Baldy’s Saloon. “We’ll be keeping our women in the valley while he’s in town.”

Frank grunted his agreement. “Once the mayor arrives, he and Jennet will haul all the business owners together and vote to shut you down.” He shook his head at Sarah. “With this going on, I don’t like the idea of you sleeping in the bakery all alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have Billy and Oliver.”

Sarah replied quickly, but Luke saw the concern in her eyes when she looked after Hames. Was she worried he’d write about how she came to be in Tanner’s Ford? It would certainly sell more newspapers. That could draw even more trouble into town, and might destroy Sarah’s new life.

“Billy’s only twelve,” said Frank, “and Oliver’s a cat who can’t even climb out of a tree. You need a man to protect you.”

Luke had heard about Sarah needing help to haul her cat out of the tree behind Nora’s house. He’d never climb a tree, especially for something as ridiculous as a cat. He wiped his suddenly damp palms on his pants.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” insisted Sarah. “Once the doors are locked, no one can get in.”

“You can’t stay there anymore,” said Frank. “It’s too dangerous.” He held up his hand before she could get past a sputter. “Jennet is ready to burst about you owning the bakery. Rivers will soon be in town, and may bring his thugs. It just isn’t safe.”

“I won’t move out before the town council forces me,” said Sarah.

She stuck out her chin and settled her feet, ready to take the whole world on. Luke both admired and cursed her attitude. He recognized her need to stand tall and put her business first, but that wouldn’t keep her alive if a man was determined enough.

“Someone else could sleep nearby,” said Ben.

“I’m not a child.” Sarah huffed but didn’t continue when Frank raised a warning hand.

“No, you’re not,” agreed Luke, unable to hold back any longer. “You’re a woman. A very attractive, single woman who lives alone. The front windows are four feet wide by six feet high. There are even windows in the front doors. It would be very easy to break in and cause you problems.”

“They might get into the display room by the street,” replied Sarah with a pout, “but they could never get in the kitchen. That’s where the ladder to the loft is, and where I sleep.”

“Do you want to chance it?”

Sarah rubbed her left hip. “I’m not moving out before I have to,” she said with quiet dignity.

“Then someone will stay in front of the building each night,” said Luke. He sighed and looked at the false front. There was no roof over the door, or even a small overhang. Just a wooden bench.

“I’m not having some poor man lie in front of my door like a dog. I wouldn’t even let Daisy do that!”

“You need protection,” said Frank. “Otherwise, none of us will get any sleep.”

“If I have to have someone, they can sleep in the front room.”

“That’s not acceptable,” said Luke. “I wouldn’t trust anyone to be that close—”

“Then you do it.” Frank smirked when Luke sputtered. “The Circle C will protect Miss Unsworth instead of Billy. After all, you’re the ones wanting to marry her.” Frank held up his hand to stop Sarah interrupting. “Isn’t that why you kissed Oz in the dining room, Sarah? People won’t be too surprised if it’s the Circle C guarding you.”

Sarah looked at her feet. They waited while she cleared her throat. “Of course.” Her chest expanded when she inhaled. “There’s a good bolt on the kitchen side. That should protect what little virtue I may have.”

Luke hid his grimace and nodded. Sarah better shoot that bolt home. If Oz spent the night, he’d try to kiss her within the first few minutes. As for Gabe, after that kiss in the bakery, Luke wasn’t sure if his friend wouldn’t try the same thing. And yet the woman refused to kiss him, just because he wanted to marry her! Where was the logic in that?

Ben snickered. “You’re saying the very men who’ve been kissing the lady senseless, will protect her?”

“I do hope you are not implying anything untoward,” said Luke coldly. “The door between us will be bolted. On Sarah’s side.”

“Of course,” replied Ben.

He nodded solemnly, but Luke saw the laughter in his eyes. Luke was getting fed up with well-married men laughing at him. Ranger, Ben’s twin and one of the hardest men Luke knew, even cracked a smile or two now that Florence shared his bed. Luke heard that Ranger spent his evenings carving toy animals for the valley children, laughing as Dusty, his beast of a kitten, played in the shavings. Ben said Ranger’s new attitude had a lot to do with Sunbird bringing Ranger’s old carvings home from Texas. Everyone had thought they’d been burned long ago.

Sarah stared at them with a mulish expression. “Since you men have decided things to your satisfaction, I’d best get to my business while I still have it.” She whirled around and stomped into her bakery. She didn’t slam the door, likely because it had expensive glass.

“I expect Jennet to call a town council meeting tomorrow,” said Frank. “I’ll make sure they understand Sarah will be too busy working at the hotel to move out Saturday. They’ll have to wait until Sunday for her to leave.”

“Who’ll stay with her?” asked Ben.

“What if Oz stays tonight and Gabe Saturday?” Frank looked around for agreement.

“I think Sarah would agree with that,” said Ben with a smile. He pulled a paper out of his pocket. “I’d best head for the mercantile. Florence gave me a list.”

“I haven’t seen your dear wife in a while,” said Frank.

“Florence hasn’t, ah, been comfortable early in the morning.” Ben pulled on his collar and cleared his throat.