Faith (Goldwater Creek Mail-Order Brides 1) (8 page)

“
I
can see
why you wanted to keep your new wife all to yourself. If I was you, I’d want to keep her away from a handsome devil like me, too.” Jax felt a rush of jealousy even though Ryder’s gray eyes twinkled with mischief and he knew his friend was teasing.

“I wasn’t trying to keep her away from anyone.” Jax regretted his defensive tone and added. “Well, except for
you
.”

Jax swished the lemonade around in his glass, then scanned the bar for signs of Cleb. Luckily, the man was nowhere to be seen.

Ryder laughed. “I think you have a real gem there. You lucked out considering your ridiculous specifications for a wife.”

Jax shrugged. He
had
lucked out. Ryder had tried to talk him out of stipulating a plain, unassuming wife in his mail order bride letter. Ryder had said he’d regret saddling himself with an ugly woman he couldn’t even have a decent conversation with, but Jax had insisted. At the time, he couldn’t imagine having feelings for anyone ever again, so ugly and unintelligent worked for him. “Funny, how you think you want one thing and it turns out you end up getting what you actually need.”

“Ahhh … so you’re admitting it now. You have feelings for her, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“I could see it last night. And she has feelings for you, too.”

“You think so?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Jax grimaced. He sounded like an insecure schoolboy.

Ryder laughed. “With all your experience with the ladies, I wouldn’t think you’d have to ask.”

Raucous laughter from the table in the corner diverted their attention. Seated around the table were four scruffy-looking men. Cards and poker chips littered the surface of the table. A poker game was in session, even though it was only mid-morning.

Jax tensed. He knew all too well that poker games could easily get out of hand. “They’re laughing now, but one bad play and it could turn ugly … especially with someone like Kade Berringer there. I hope we don’t end up in the middle of a shoot-out.”

“Kade can be trouble.” Kade had appeared in town a month earlier. Neither Jax nor Ryder knew exactly what the man did for a living, though they had their suspicions it was something on the wrong side of the law. He wasn’t very pleasant, either, at least not evidenced by the few times they’d crossed his path—he’d been distant and unfriendly. A man of few words and even fewer smiles. In fact, Jax was surprised to hear him laughing. He didn’t know he had it in him.

Jax watched as Kade tilted back in his chair. Cocky. Arrogant. Long legs stretched out in front of him, long brown hair spilling down from under his buckskin hat. His angular face appeared hard and rugged. He had dark skin like someone who was accustomed to spending long days out of doors, and a perpetual stubble of dark hair on his chin.

But the thing that really put Jax off was the man’s eyes. They were piercing eyes of an unusual seafoam green, so pale they were almost translucent.

“I’d like to go kick that chair out from under him,” Ryder said.

Jax’s brows rose. “Why?” He was half surprised Ryder didn’t just go over and do it. Neither he nor Ryder had ever been afraid of a fight. Then again, these days they tried to keep a more respectable profile.

“I don’t like the way he treats his horse.” Ryder’s eyes were still narrowed on Kade.

“Oh?” Jax knew that Ryder’s Achilles’ heel was animals. His boyhood friend was a tough guy on the outside but a softy for anything with fur or feathers. It was too bad he didn’t show that side to more people, especially women, but Jax knew that was only because Ryder was afraid to appear vulnerable.

Ryder was the closest thing Goldwater Creek had to a veterinarian. He shoed horses, birthed cows, and tended to the needs of the townspeople’s animals.

Ryder had been reared on a family farm by his father and his grandmother. Bessie Mae still lived on that very farm and Ryder often worked there, helping her out. Jax didn’t think Ryder needed to actually work there. He had his own business, but Ryder doted on Bessie Mae and working the farm gave him a good excuse to check in on the old lady.

“He has a beautiful palomino, Goldenrod, but he doesn’t treat him right. He brought him in the other day and his shoes were a mess. Clearly, he’s been riding the horse hard and for a lot more miles than he should.”

Jax’s eyes flicked from Ryder to Kade who was now leaning with his forearms on the table, engrossed in his poker hand. Jax lowered his voice. “You mean like someone who was robbing stagecoaches?”

Ryder’s gray eyes met Jax’s. There had been a rash of stagecoach robberies coinciding with Kade’s arrival in town. Kade didn’t have a job, yet he always had plenty of money for drink, poker and women. It didn’t take much to put two and two together, but Jax and Ryder had no proof. So far it was all just speculation. They'd also speculated that Cleb had something to do with the robberies. Maybe the two of them were in on it together.

“Who knows?” Ryder turned back to his beer. “All I know is he’s trouble, and he’s certainly playing with a bunch of other unsavory characters.”

Jax slid his eyes back to the table. It was true. Kade was playing with three men who had less than stellar reputations. Then again, his and Ryder’s reputations weren’t all that great, either, and if anyone knew you couldn’t judge a book by its cover, it was Jax.

“They used to say that
we
were unsavory,” Jax pointed out.

Ryder laughed. “We used to
be
unsavory.”

Jax snorted. “That’s true. I guess Mary saved me.” Jax was surprised to discover that it didn’t hurt as much to say Mary’s name. Perhaps he was healing from the hurt of losing her. Had Faith done that?

“You gave her a chance, Jax. You saved her, too,” Ryder said. “But she’s gone now and you have a whole future ahead of you. Mary wouldn’t want you to spend that alone.”

Jax nodded. He new that was true. “And that’s why we need to make sure that the other saloon girls get a chance at a future. Mary would want that, too.”

“We’re making good progress.” Ryder scanned the bar. “I heard Cleb took off towards Northbrook Pass this morning.”

A smile spread across Jax’s face. Distracting Cleb from the fact that they were planning to open a saloon at the other end of town had been difficult, but they’d hit on the perfect plan.

The area had become famous several years earlier when gold had been discovered at Pike’s Peak. People had flocked to what was then Kansas Territory and Nebraska Territory, the area swelling with prospective gold miners. Over a hundred thousand came and the Colorado Territory had been created. But now, the gold frenzy was dying down. Jax and Ryder knew the rumor of a fresh new gold mine would be too tempting for Cleb to ignore.

They’d started a rumor that Jax had discovered a secret gold mine north of town. Getting the word to Cleb’s ears and still making it seem like a big secret had been quite a trick. They’d apparently been successful, though, since Cleb had been spending a lot of time heading north to scout for the mine.

The ruse had had an added benefit of keeping him out of town and his focus on something other than harming the saloon girls.

“I heard his contacts in Boston are interested in the mine, too.” Ryder took a swig of his beer.

“We’ll have Cleb’s people and half of Boston looking for the nonexistent mine to the north of town,” Jax said.

“Which is perfect because it will keep them away from what we’re really doing to the west of town,” Ryder said. “Which brings us back to the question. Are you going to fill your new bride in on our activities?”

Jax gnawed on his bottom lip. He
did
want to tell Faith about the saloon. He wanted to tell her
everything
. But did he dare?

The truth was, he didn’t really know her. She hadn’t even been in his home for a week. Jax felt it was better to tread slowly. Ryder’s reminder that Cleb had ties to Boston had sent up warning bells for Jax—Faith had come from Boston. It was silly to think there could be a connection, but maybe he should be safe instead of sorry. Or maybe he was just stalling, trying to put off letting Faith into his heart fully … because to do that would mean to let go of Mary.

He would at least tell her about the saloon. He would have to because it was going to become a reality very soon if what he’d heard about Kendrick Saunders voting in their favor was true.

Ryder noticed his hesitation. “Oh, come on, Jax. You have to tell her. You have to let her in—you
are
married to her now.”

Jax’s temper flared at Ryder’s constant harping. He realized he’d mourned Mary for longer than he probably should have, but he’d loved her. In Jax’s world, you just didn’t replace something like that overnight. It took time to let someone else ‘in’.

“You seem to be so set on the institution of marriage. Why don’t
you
get married and share our plans with
your
wife?”

“You know me, I’m no one-woman man. I like to have a different one every night.” Ryder leaned back in his chair, the easy smile spreading across his face. Ryder liked to pretend that he never got attached, but Jax knew the real reason. Under Ryder’s easy smile was a world of hurt.

Jax still remembered how crushed Ryder had been when his mother had run off with an outlaw. They’d only been ten years old at the time and Jax could still remember how helpless he felt to see his friend crying to Maisie in their kitchen night after night. Ryder’s dad had been crushed, too, the poor man taking to drink and dying five years later. That was why Ryder doted on Bessie Mae so much—she was all he had.

When Jax had found Mary, he’d wanted that same happiness for his boyhood friend. But Ryder hadn't been ready. The truth was Ryder never stayed with one woman long enough because he couldn’t. He was terrified of becoming attached to anyone for fear they would run off, just like his mother.

Jax sighed. He knew it was a losing battle. Maybe someday he could help his friend, but right now he had his own problems with Faith. His heart was telling him to share everything with her. How could he expect her to trust him if he didn’t? But his brain was telling him to go slowly and be cautious. And cautious he would be. Too much was riding on this for him to be anything else.

His thoughts turned to the afternoon and his blood rushed with excitement at seeing Faith. Would she hate the idea of her husband owning a saloon? It wasn’t really something many wives aspired to. He didn’t think she would, not when the reason was to help give women like Rosie a job where they didn’t have to worry about being mistreated by someone like Cleb.

He remembered the look on her face when she’d asked why he didn’t do something about Cleb, and his heart warmed in anticipation of Faith’s approval.

He was excited to show Faith the saloon, tell her about his ideas and dreams. To spend time with her. But there was one part of him that couldn’t help but worry if he was taking a step in the right direction, or making a huge mistake.

F
aith had nearly finished repairing
and patching one side of the book cover when she heard Jax ride up on Indigo. She shoved the book under her mattress and ran out into the hall. She wanted to keep the book repair a surprise.

Through the front window, she watched Jax dismount, her heart kicking as he came around to the front of Indigo and stroked the animal’s muzzle. Did he not know how dangerous horses were? Thankfully, the horse did nothing aggressive and Jax handed him off to Robertson, then spent a few minutes pointing at the barn while Robertson nodded. Giving him instructions, Faith assumed. Then he turned and walked toward the house, the noonday sun highlighting his square jaw and long legs.

She felt his presence like a magnet as he stepped into the foyer. Their eyes locked, causing a strange fluttering in her chest.

Jax seemed uncertain, as if he was nervous about what to say to her. The sunlight slanting in the window lit his eyes with golden color. Faith had to work to rip her gaze away.

“Were you out riding?” Faith glanced out the window towards the barn.

“I had business with Ryder. Actually, I want to show you what that business was about today if you are willing to go for a buggy ride with me.” Jax’s brows raised in question.

Faith looked down at her gray dress, suddenly aware that she didn’t look nearly as good as she had the night before. Where was Jax taking her? She wasn’t sure if he would want to be seen with someone in such a deplorable dress.

Jax must’ve sensed her thoughts. “I mean to give you a shopping budget. You can buy yourself a new wardrobe. Whatever you like.” His eyes drifted from her face down her body. “Though you do look good in that.”

Faith laughed, pulling at her worn, twice-turned cuffs. “Well, I doubt that. Though you are kind to say so. I don’t feel right about spending your money on clothing, though.”

Jax waved his hand. “You’re my wife. It is your money now, too.” As if to prove the point he pulled a small packet out of his pocket. It was clear and inside she could see a small pile of golden flakes. He held it out to her. “Here, take this. You can have Robertson take you shopping anytime you want. You can buy clothing in Coldwater Creek or you can go to Golden City.”

Faith held the packet in her palm. “It’s gold.”

“Yes, you can use it as currency. They can weigh it at the mercantile, or you can take it to the bank. I don’t have any coins, but if you prefer I could get those …”

She waved her hand. “No, no. I’ve just never seen gold before. Do you have a lot of it?”

Jax smiled. “Well this
is
gold-mining territory.” He held out his arm for her. “Now, if you will accompany me, I have much to show you.”

Faith took his arm. She was excited to be going on an adventure with him, but that excitement was overshadowed by the gold in her pocket. The gold all but proved there was a gold mine. Was Jax going to show to her the entrance of the mine today, and if he did would she relay that information to Lefty?

T
he trip
to town didn’t take long. Jax had dismissed Robertson, preferring to drive Faith himself. He almost laughed when the old man’s brows shot up to his forehead at the dismissal. Jax hadn’t wanted to have anything to do with the buggy since Mary’s death, but now his desire to be alone with Faith overrode his trepidation about the buggy.

He’d been careful to keep Faith away from Buttercup. Even though he knew Buttercup was a sweet and gentle horse, Faith’s aversion to the creature was obvious by the way she trembled and gave the animal a wide berth. Jax was somewhat relieved he wouldn’t have to worry about her taking to riding around in the buggy on her own.

He parked the buggy in the middle of town, then helped Faith out, taking care to make sure no one was watching them. Though it wouldn’t matter for much longer, he wanted to keep his interest in the building at the end of Main Street a secret at least until the town officials had met and approved all of his permits and licenses.

“This is what you wanted to show me?” Faith looked around her.

“Not exactly. What I want to show you is at the end of the street.” Jax walked slowly down the wooden sidewalk, relishing the nearness of her. Even though they weren’t touching, Faith walked close to him. He kept wanting to get even closer, as if she was a magnet and he a helpless piece of metal. When they reached the building, he stopped and turned to face it.

“Remember at the party when you asked me why I couldn’t help Rosie and the other girls?”

Faith’s pale blue eyes were wide with interest. She nodded her head.

“Well, the truth is I do want to help them. But the only way to do that is to get them out of the saloon. And the only way to do
that
is to open up a second saloon.”

Faith’s eyes flicked from his to the boarded-up building. “You plan to open one in
here
?”

Jax nodded. He pulled her closer into the inset doorway of the building so that no one could see them. Taking the key out of his pocket, he opened the door and then gestured for her to precede him inside to the dark interior.

A look of uncertainty flitted across Faith’s face. She glanced at him then out to the street, then into the dark building and stepped inside.