Dream Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #1) (10 page)

The
girls giggled and one of them said, "Sage, you can be our first
customer."

Mrs.
Tully coughed and Mr. Tully patted her back.

Sage
sorta looked like he smiled, but Sarah wasn't sure. He continued, "Mr. and
Mrs. Hackstetter, you're farmers traveling west with your son to stake a claim
on some of that free land in California."

Mrs.
Hackstetter grinned and nudged her husband. Mr. Hackstetter didn't so much as
crack a smile. Obviously, he didn't want to participate. Sarah watched him
snarl at Jackson across the room.

The
next role was given to Mr. and Mrs. Tully. "You two are hoping to strike
it rich in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The wild mining town
of Placerville is your final destination."

The
elderly couple grinned at each other with such love that Sarah felt a pang of
jealousy for their adoration.

Sage
turned his attention to Sarah. "And Sarah, you're a wealthy widow hoping
to start a new life in the new territory and you haven't decided on your final
destination."

Sarah
politely smiled and nodded.

"Okay,
is everyone happy with their role? If not, speak up now." Sage waited a
few seconds. "I guess that's it then. Have fun choosing your costumes. You
can select two so you'll have a change of clothing. One outfit you'll wear the
day we leave, the other will be packed in a trunk in your wagon." He grinned.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you about my role and some of the other cowboys.
As I said the other night, I'm the wagon master. It's my job to get ya'll to
Cali in one piece and not scalped or robbed."

Mindy
and Mandy gasped and feigned shock. Everyone laughed.

Sage
pointed to Jackson. "And Jackson is the hired gunslinger sworn to protect
us. He's slick-as-snot with his six-shooter."

Everyone's
attention shifted to Jackson as he straightened away from the wall and tipped
his Stetson. Unexpectedly, he pulled his hand from an imaginary holster, shaped
his index finger and thumb into a gun, and then shot with his thumb toward Mrs.
Hackstetter. He mouthed the word "bang" and blew on the top of his
finger as if cooling it.

The
guests loved it and clapped. Sage frowned. The M girls pretended swooning.

Jackson
bowed slightly. "Ladies, gents, my pleasure."

Sarah
jotted notes and looked up to see Sage watching her. She quickly looked back at
her notebook.

Sage
said, "As for the rest of the hands, they're seasoned cowboys used to
making the trek from Colorado to California. The pay is low but the company
better." His grin widened. "Your costumes will help you get into
character. Oh, and by the way, don't be afraid to go for the Emmy." He
nodded toward the racks. "Help yourselves."

Mindy
and Mandy had no trepidation about scavenging through the clothing; even Mrs.
Hackstetter beelined it to the costumes. Before venturing to the racks, Sarah
waited until the twins had removed brightly colored satin dresses, a red one and
an orange one, and several other frilly ones, and hurried to their bedroom to
try them on. Mrs. Hackstetter stood next to her. "Since I'm a farmer's
wife, I don't think my outfit will be quite as eye-popping as the twins."
She removed a brown muslin farmer's dress.

Sarah
spotted a calico with a fitted bodice that would look nice on Mrs.
Hackstetter's slim figure. "But even a farmer's wife has a
Sunday-go-to-Meetin' outfit." She handed the pretty pink dress to her.
"This color looks lovely with your olive complexion."

"Thank
you, Sarah. We haven't had much chance to talk. Please call me Ann," she
responded shyly.

Sarah
liked her immediately. She had a quiet way and wasn't at all standoffish, just
bashful. Mr. Hackstetter walked up behind his wife and grumbled something about
the nonsense of dressing the part. Sarah didn't like him at all.

Since
she was a wealthy widow, Sarah reached for a lovely, jade green, brocade outing
jacket with puffed sleeves and matching walking skirt. A smooth front and
pretty pleated back gave the skirt a fashionable look. She also selected a
simple white Victorian blouse to wear under the jacket. She could remove the
jacket if she got too warm. For her second outfit, she chose an empire waist lavender
day dress with three quarter sleeves and high neckline. There were even
pantaloons and camisoles. She grinned and selected a couple of those, but
decided to forgo the corset. Gathering her choices, she smiled at Ann.
"Guess I'll try these on." Ann smiled back and then turned her attention
to her husband, trying to get him into the spirit of the adventure. Sarah
figured it had taken all of her courage just to defy him by staying for the
wagon train.

The
next day, Sarah smoothed the skirt of her brocade suit and preened in the
mirror. She certainly wasn't making a fashion statement, but the outfit made
her feel giddy with excitement—a real covered wagon adventure! She heard a
knock and Newt called, "Wagon train's a-waitin'."

Hurrying
outside, Sarah climbed into the Lazy M van being driven by Bobby Joe. She
carried her tote bag full of toiletries, underwear, and a notebook. Ann
Hackstetter patted the seat beside her and Sarah joined her new friend. Ann
whispered, "I'm so excited! I've never done anything like this!"
Sarah nodded in agreement.

Since
the Triple T was only ten miles away, it didn't take long to arrive. Sage
parked his truck beside the van. While he unloaded Jackel from the horse
trailer, Julie and Jacob, who had ridden with him, joined the group from the
van. Sarah glanced at Sage, but quickly averted her eyes when she met his gaze.
She wanted to avoid him at all costs. The only reason she hadn't made haste
after their fiasco was because of her research, and the fact that she wanted to
leave with no regrets—or so she'd convinced herself.

Two
more trucks from the Lazy M arrived towing horse trailers. Newt and Curley got
out of one, and Beaner, Ned, and Skipper got out of the other. Sarah heard Mr.
Hackstetter curse and she followed his gaze. Jackson was leaning against the
side of the barn. She glanced at Ann who was looking at the ground.

Sarah's
attention was redirected to Sage when he called for the pioneers to follow him
and his horse to the backside of the barn. Her excitement grew when she saw the
covered wagons hitched to mules. Ann giggled and nudged her. Sarah giggled and
nudged Ann back.

Sage
motioned the pioneers forward and then climbed onto the buckboard of what
looked to be a supply wagon. "Listen up, pioneers, as your wagon master, I
have a few instructions before we leave. First up, however, I'd like to
introduce Tommy Travis Tritt, owner of Triple T Ranch…I wonder why it's called
Triple T?" The group laughed.

Tommy
said a few words, and then Sage asked everyone to introduce themselves by stating
their first and last names and where they were from. The introductions helped
create a spirit of camaraderie among the Triple T guests and the Lazy M guests.

After
introductions, Sage gave another safety spiel and then said, "Okay, next
on the agenda, Newt has wagon train assignments. As you can see, each canvas is
painted with a name so you can always find your home-away-from-home for the
next three days."

Sarah
read the names: Cali or Bust, Gold Fever, New Beginnings, Desert Dust, Six
Shooter, and Wild West. The chuck wagon had the words "Chow Down"
painted on it.

Sage
jumped down from the buckboard and Newt climbed up, calling out assignments.
The Hackstetters got Six Shooter. Mr. and Mrs. Tully ended up with Gold Fever,
along with another couple about their age from the Triple T. The M twins got
Wild West and their wagon mates were two young women, Holly and Lia, also from
the Triple T. Sarah's wagon was New Beginnings that she shared with Julie, and
a mother and her adult daughter who'd recently arrived at the Lazy M, Flo and
Jill. The wagon, Desert Dust, got assigned to a family of five who'd come in
the night before, Don, Robin, and their three grade school children. The last
wagon, Cali or Bust, had three guys from the Triple T. Julie confided that they
were stockbrokers from New York and friends of Jackson. She said they'd been
participating for the past three years.

After
Newt gave assignments he told the group that each wagon contained a trunk with
necessities, including toilet paper and water bottles, along with their extra
costumes. He stepped down and Sage jumped back on the buckboard. "Are
there any questions before this train heads west?"

One
of the M twins lifted her hand. Sage nodded and she said, "Just one
question, Sage—where are
you
sleeping."

"Not
to worry. I'm bedding down in the great outdoors with the rest of the cowboys.
Now, before I send everyone to their wagons, I'd like to introduce our hired
gunslinger, Jackson Martinez, fastest gun in the West."

The
twins tittered and moved closer to the buckboard. Jackson hoisted himself up
when Sage jumped down. Pushing his Stetson back and effectuating a lazy cowboy
stance, he placed a hand over the butt of what looked to be a real six-shooter
slung low on his hip. Lightening fast, he slipped the gun from its holster and
twirled it. The crowd gasped. Using the tip of the gun to push his hat back
even further, he glanced pointedly at everyone.

"God,
he's good," Ann whispered to Sarah. Sarah had to agree. He was completely
in character.

He
drawled, "Listen up, pioneers, this train to Cali departs in fifteen
minutes. Travel is long and danger is high. My job is to see that ya'll make it
to the new frontier in one piece. Along the way, we might have to fend off
banditos or Indians. Just keep in mind you're headed for adventure and new
beginnings. I'll do my damndest to keep ya'll safe." He twirled his gun
again and holstered it in one smooth movement.

Sarah
looked at the M girls holding their cheeks and feigning vapors. Her gaze was
drawn past them to Sage. He was looking at her. For a second she couldn't draw
her eyes away and her heart slammed her ribs. She forced herself to turn toward
Ann. Ann was looking at Jackson with such longing that Sarah blinked. When she
blinked again, the expression was gone and she wondered if she'd imagined it.
Then she heard grumpy Mr. Hackstetter mumble something about "getting the
show on the road." Sarah felt sorry for Ann.

After
Jackson hopped off the buckboard, Sage instructed the pioneers to familiarize
themselves with their wagons. Sarah told Ann, "We'll get together later
and compare notes." Ann grinned and nodded.

Sarah
had to walk by Sage to get to her wagon.

"Hello
Sarah, did you bring your notepad?" His smile made butterflies go wild in
her stomach.

"I
did." She rushed past him and reached her wagon before her traveling
companions.

Ned
already stood beside the two mules harnessed to her wagon. "Howdy, Miz
Carter. I'll be drivin' you west. Let me help you up."

"Thank
you, Ned." Lifting her skirt, she grabbed hold of a side handle and placed
her foot on the buckboard."

She
heard Sage's voice behind her and felt hands on her waist. "I've got her,
Ned." Clumsily, she plopped onto the wooden seat and looked down at Sage.
His turquoise eyes and devastating grin tripped her heart rhythm again, which
made her mad. Primly, she said, "Thank you," and turned to look
inside the wagon, hoping he would just go away.

"Anytime,
Mims," he said low.

Sarah
turned an icy stare on him.

He
only laughed and walked to the next wagon to help its occupants.

Thirty
minutes later, all the pioneers were in place and anxious to move out. Cowboys
sat in the wagon seats ready to drive the mules.

Sage
rode Jackel around the ring of wagons, glancing over each one before stopping
beside the chuck wagon. In a loud voice, he yelled, "WESTWARD HO!"
Curley slapped the reins of the mules pulling Chow Down and the wagon lunged
forward. In turn, the other cowboys followed suit. Sarah's wagon was fifth in
line and she jerked backward when the mules clopped forward. Julie, sitting on
the trunk behind her, giggled, and held her upright. Flo and Jill were perched
at the back of the wagon with their legs dangling outside. Sarah heard Jill
say, "Mom, I'm so glad you talked me into coming!"

Sarah
asked Julie, "Do you ever get tired of doing this?"

"No,
never. It's my favorite time of summer."

Following
a well maintained dirt road, Sarah enjoyed the change in countryside from
rolling pastures to hills of dense trees.

Around
eleven, Sage halted the wagons in a clearing and waved the drivers into a
circle. Ned helped her down while Julie, Jill, and Flo jumped from the back of
the wagon. The pioneers stretched and gravitated toward each other in groups,
grinning and sharing their adventure. With notebook in hand, Sarah listened and
scribbled. She was getting first hand accounts of not only physical complaints,
but emotional exhilarations. Good stuff.

Curley
and some of the hands started a fire in the center of camp and hung a huge cast
iron pot over it. Giant cans of beans were opened and dumped into the pot.
Curley whipped up cornbread and baked it over the fire. By noon, the pioneers
were feasting on beans, cornbread, and corn on the cob. By two o'clock they
were back in their wagons waiting for Sage's shout.