His Tempting Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch - Spicy Version Book 5) (5 page)

“Howard has inspired me with the idea of inviting the people of Haskell, the children especially, to form their own acts, read poetry, sing, dance, or play musical instruments, as their talents dictate.”

“Especially the children,” Howard seconded. “I want to see the future of our great town up there on the stage that we build. Your sons and daughters are needed.” He boomed as if recruiting them all for war.

The townspeople in attendance hummed and murmured, nodding as if they liked the idea.

“I want to be in the show,” one of the young women with Bonneville spoke up in a near shriek. To Miriam, she looked to be the youngest of the group. “Say I can be in the show, Papa, say it. Say it!”

“I want to be on stage too,” the one who looked to be the oldest piped up. “I was born to be on the stage.”

Judging by the pose the young woman struck, Miriam wasn’t so sure. Unless, perhaps, it was as part of a comedy routine. Only the sickly sister didn’t leap up to pester her father.

“All right, all right.” Bonneville waved his daughters back to their seats, shaking his head. “I’ll support this…this entertainment. But only if I see a return on my investment. We will collect a portion of the box office takings, won’t we?” He glared at Miles.

To his credit, Miles didn’t even flinch. “Yes, sir,” he nodded as though speaking to the king. “We generally share our box office proceeds sixty-forty.”

“That’s more than generous,” Howard spoke up before Bonneville could argue, which he certainly looked as though he would do. “Any questions from the floor?”

“When will this performance take place?” a woman sitting a few rows in front of Miriam asked.

“Good question, Olivia.” Howard turned to Miles. “When?”

Miles shrugged and spread his arms. He stole a peek at Miriam and Juan, his eyes traveling on to Mr. Gunn for a moment before saying, “It will take at least a week to construct a stage. Perhaps more for rehearsals and costumes.”

“I would be willing to help with whatever costumes need to be made.” Miriam burst into a smile when her old friend, Wendy Montrose, spoke up at the other side of the room. Miriam and Wendy had been friendly at Hurst Home, but they hadn’t had a chance to speak in Haskell yet. If Wendy was offering to help with costumes, those costumes would be grand indeed. Miriam’s heart swelled with hope.

“Thank you, Wendy.” Howard smiled. “I’m sure Mr. Kopanari would welcome your help.” He shifted his weight, tilted his head to the side, and went on with, “How about two weeks and a bit? We could mount the production on Saturday, March 5
th
. Does that work for you, Mr. Kopanari?”

“Yes, sir, Howard, I believe it does.” Miles sent a smile to Miriam and Juan. “If my company members agree.”

More than two weeks of staying in Haskell. It could be as much as three, if they counted the time it would take to deconstruct the stage after the fact. Miriam could have three more weeks to spend with Cody. Three weeks to figure out how to apologize for running away from her promise to him. Three weeks to consider picking up where they’d left off?

No, that was out of the question.

Wasn’t it?

“I look forward to working with the kind people of this town,” Juan spoke first, flashing his romantic, Spanish smile to those who were watching. A few ladies in particular looked very happy indeed that he would stay around.

“Miriam?” Miles asked her.

Miriam peeked at Cody. He was trying hard to keep a straight face, but heat and energy rippled off of him.

“I would be happy to stay in Haskell,” she said, finishing by looking directly at Cody.

“Would you?” Cody whispered.

“It’s settled then.” Howard cut off any chance for Miriam to answer. “The Kopanari Company—aided by the citizens of Haskell—will mount an end-of-winter theatrical production on the evening of March 5
th
. I’m sure Mr. Kopanari would be willing to answer any questions you might have at the conclusion of tonight’s meeting.” Howard motioned for Miles to take his seat, picked up his gavel, and banged on his desk with gusto. “Now, moving right along to the baseball field.”

Miriam clapped her hands silently and grinned at Miles for a job well done as he returned to their bench. He met her enthusiasm with a relieved grin. “I give you partial credit for this,” he whispered as he sat beside her once more.

“Me?” Miriam batted her eyelashes.

“It was your idea to stop in Haskell,” Miles said.

On her other side, Miriam thought she heard Cody murmur, “And I’m sure glad she did.”

Two hours later, after the most entertaining town meeting Miriam had ever been to, the walk back to the hotel didn’t seem half as bleak as the walk there had.

“And could you believe the way Howard silenced that poor Mr. Strong when he requested that the new teachers be single women?” Miriam laughed as she, Miles, Juan, Cody, and Mr. Gunn walked up the steps of The Cattleman Hotel’s front porch.

“‘Athos, if you want a new wife, you should place your order with Hurst Home, like any other man in town,’” Miles said in a perfect imitation of Howard’s response.

They were all in stitches as they entered the hotel lobby, turning heads as they did.

“That’s a good impression,” Cody said. “A little padding, some shoes with platforms, and you could do a skit in your show about Howard.”

Miriam gasped through her giggles. “We would never be so rude.”

“Oh, I’m sure Howard would love to see himself portrayed on stage,” Mr. Gunn contradicted her. “It’s the rest of town you’d have to worry about.”

Cody snorted. “Can you imagine the way Bonneville would react if Juan here played him?”

“Me, sir?” Juan shuddered into an offended look that was spot-on to the look that had been on Rex Bonneville’s face through most of the meeting.

Miriam had to hold her sides, she was laughing so hard.

“Howard is right about one thing,” Mr. Gunn went on, a mischievous flash in his eyes. “If Athos Strong wants a wife, he
should
send away to Hurst Home, like you did, right, Cody?”

“Uh…”

“Miles, let me show you the bookkeeping system I was talking about earlier.” Mr. Gunn tugged on Miles’s coat sleeve before Cody could come up with a reply, and the two of them set off across the lobby without another word.

“Coffee.” Juan used only one word before fleeing to the hotel’s restaurant.

Within five seconds, Miriam and Cody were standing alone in the sleepy lobby. Miriam turned to Cody, face still alight with mirth, and lifted her eyebrows. “Oh dear. It seems we have been left to our own devices.”

Cody rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her as if he wasn’t sure whether to run for the hills or sweep her into his arms for an entirely inappropriate kiss. “Looks like it.”

The silence crackled between them. Miriam clasped her hands in front of her, tilted her chin down slightly, and peeked up at Cody through long lashes. “Whatever shall we do?” She ran her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip.

Cody’s eyes were suddenly glued to her mouth. By the look of it, he wanted other things to be glued to her mouth too. He moved the hand that was rubbing his neck to scratch his jaw as if considering. At last, he said, “I dunno. It’s too late for a stroll.”

“And too cold,” Miriam agreed. She took a step closer to him. “We could have coffee.”

“At this time of night?” Cody inched toward her. “Besides, Juan is in there.” He nodded to the restaurant.

“We could…go somewhere else.” Miriam rested a hand on his chest. He was wearing too many thick layers for her to feel his heartbeat, but she imagined it was racing.

“There aren’t any other places in town to go,” he said. “Except the saloon. And I’m not taking you to the saloon.”

“Why not?” she teased him, drawing a circle on his chest with her gloved finger. “Are you chicken?”

Cody’s heated grin spread from ear to ear. He stopped her hand by pressing his own over it, and bent toward her. “No, ma’am. You’re the chicken one, remember? Afraid of little old me.”

She wasn’t sure if he meant it to be an insult, but she yanked her hand away and took a step back anyhow. Her flaring temper flickered a little too close to pleasure for her liking. Good or bad, Cody certain did get a reaction out of her.

“I was being sensible by staying on that train when I wasn’t sure about marrying you.” Rather than snap at him, she spoke in her most sensuous purr. “Just like you’re being sensible by not taking me to the saloon. There’s no telling who I might make friends with there, since you’re not being very friendly.”

Five different emotions muddled together on Cody’s face, all with about as much intensity as the jumble Miriam felt deep in her gut. “Oh, I can be very friendly, if given half a chance,” he rumbled, closing the gap she’d opened between them. He swooped close—so close Miriam lost her breath, her lips parting.

Just as quickly, Cody stepped back. “But you’re not gonna get that chance if you won’t give one to me.” Before Miriam could add anything, Cody reached up and touched the brim of his Stetson, then took another step away, “G’night, Miriam.”

“G’n—aah.” Miriam couldn’t work her way up to words before Cody pivoted and marched out the hotel’s front door. She was left standing there in the blast of cold air that he let in before shutting the door behind him. She clapped a hand to her chest. “Oh, dear.”

It was several more seconds before she could bring herself to move from her spot and head for the stairs leading to her room on the second floor. She was in serious trouble if Cody could leave her speechless like that.

“Mimi.”

Miriam started as she reached the stairway. At the top of the stairs, huddled together, twin looks of mischief on their faces, stood Meizhen and Meiying.

“Mimi,” Meizhen repeated. Neither twin had mastered the correct pronunciation of her name, so they’d settled for calling her ‘Mimi.’

Miriam picked up her skirts and rushed up the stairs as the twins gestured for her.

“Show?” Meiying asked.

“Yes!” Miriam scooped both twins into her arms when she reached the second-floor hallway, and the three jumped and hugged in excitement. “Miles convinced Howard Haskell—the town’s founder and mayor—to help us finance a performance. It will be held in the assembly room at the school on March 5
th
. Howard wanted to use the school to draw attention to the way it’s growing.” She had no worries about speaking quickly to the twins. They understood far more than they were able to speak themselves.

“We are safe,” Meizhen breathed out in relief. “So good.”

“So happy,” Meiying echoed.

“Yes, it’s perfect.” Miriam whisked them along the hall to the hotel room they were sharing. There was only one large bed, but a cot had been brought in for her. “It will be so nice to rest for a while, even though we have so much work to do before the show.”

“And handsome cowboy?” Meiying asked.

“What handsome cowboy?” Miriam used the excuse of taking off her coat to turn away from them. Her Chinese friends were smart and would know in an instant what she was hiding.

“Handsome cowboy in lobby.” Meizhen scolded her with a playful swat. “Very handsome.”

“Very
nice
,” Meiying added.

“Very
close
,” Meizhen took it further.

Both twins made a sound as though they knew all about what sort of things happened with handsome men. Of course, if their background was anything as hair-raising as Miriam’s own background, they probably knew all about those things and more.

“It’s nothing,” Miriam insisted. “Well, not nothing.” She crossed the room to hang up her coat and began undressing for bed.

“Tell about not nothing,” Meiying said, crawling onto the bed and laying on her stomach with her chin propped in her hands.

“Yes, tell, tell.” Meizhen copied her, and within seconds, the two of them were wide-eyed and eager to hear the story.

Miriam let out a breath. “Oh, very well.” She stood before the foot of the bed as though she’d just taken the stage. “Before coming out west, I was…I was staying at a place called Hurst Home. It’s a place where women in trouble can go to be safe.”

The twins exchanged sad looks, as though they could have used such a place.

“Hurst Home is owned by a man here in Haskell, and he and a few others had the idea that the women from Hurst Home could come here as mail-order brides to marry ranchers working in the area.”

“Oh.” Meizhen twisted to sit straight. “Mail-order bride.” She nodded fast, gesturing between her and Meiying.

“Yes.” Meiying sat too. “Mother was mail-order bride from Guangzhou.”

Meizhen nodded. “Mother and Father return to China for children. Brother Chi-ming come back here.”

“Send for us to be mail-order brides,” Meiying finished.

“You?” Miriam blinked, rushing to plop on the bed with her friends. “I had no idea.” She paused. “But…but you’re not married, are you?”

“No,” both sisters said in unison, shaking their heads.

“Arrive San Francisco, but cannot find brother,” Meiying said.