From Boss to Bridegroom (12 page)

Lifting her chin, she glared at him. “Not so simple. Once again, I get the feeling you're accusing me of something underhanded.”

“I admit your behavior has led me to wonder if you're hiding something. Are you?”

Ripping free of his grip, she gritted, “Goodbye, Quinn.”

He didn't say a word as she stalked away. In fact, it was his utter silence that had her glancing over her shoulder at him. Spying him shoving up his sleeves and examining his arms, she stumbled to a halt.

“What on earth are you doing?”

“Checking for scars.” A fierce scowl creased his features. “You, Nicole O'Malley, are the prickliest, most frustrating—” He rammed his fingers through his hair. “I had better stop before I say something I'll later wish unsaid.” With a stiff, formal bow, he said, “Until tomorrow, Duchess.”

Shocked into silence, Nicole watched him stride away, despising the awful way he'd uttered the endearment and wishing—absurdly—that things could be different between them.

Chapter Thirteen

Q
uinn was going to be sick.

Standing on the riverbank the next morning, he surveyed the destruction of property. The springhouse door stood ajar. Crocks had been dragged out and smashed to bits, the earth beneath them soaked with milk. Broken jars shone in the early light, jewel-hued vegetables lying discarded in the grass. Half-submerged cheese wheels littered the water's edge.

What a complete and utter waste.

He didn't hear Nicole's approach until she was right beside him. “Quinn, what happened?”

Having recovered from his irritation with her—he wasn't one to hold a grudge—he flicked her a quick glance, absorbing her serene, ice-blue-bedecked elegance. The shock and disgust swirling in his gut was reflected on her face.

“Someone is trying to send a message. What that might be, I have no inkling.”

She clasped her throat. “This is horrible. Can anything be saved?”

“The springhouse is empty. The perpetrator did a thorough job.”

The anger humming through his veins was understandable. The defeat riding along with it, on the other hand, wasn't something Quinn was used to handling.

“I have the funds to replace everything, of course.” He toed a shard of broken glass. “What bothers me is the malice behind the act. A waste like this is hard to take when there are people in the nation who don't have enough to eat.”

“When did you discover it?”

“Just a few minutes ago. Doesn't look like animals have disturbed anything which tells me it's a recent job.”

Her hand on his shoulder startled him. Glancing down into her jewel-bright eyes swimming with compassion, he wondered how one woman could evoke such opposing emotions. There were times he didn't know if he wanted to shake her or hug her. Or kiss—

Quinn crushed the thought before it could fully take hold.
Focus on the issue at hand, Darling.

Frustration broke through his reserve. “I don't understand why someone would do this. I've done everything I can to befriend the townspeople, to garner their trust. And now this...”

“It could be someone who doesn't like the fact you've taken Emmett's place.” She removed her hand, a dark frown forming. “Or it could be Kenneth and his friends.”

Quinn had seen the trio at the celebration and prayed they would keep their distance, for both their sakes. A public confrontation would've only served to embarrass Nicole and worsen general opinion of him.

“You've worked here for six months. Has anything like this happened during that time?”

“No, but you're forgetting you stood up for me. No one has ever done that.”

“I will always stand up for you, Nicole.”

His vow had obviously flustered her. When there was no snappy comeback, he sent her inside to put up a sign letting customers know there wouldn't be any dairy today. While she manned the store, he fetched Shane, who was equally disturbed by the senseless crime.

Shane helped him clean up. Quinn thanked the man, then went inside to find the store packed with customers. Nicole, who was dipping out flour for an impatient woman at the counter surrounded by four whining kids, cast him a
help me
look. Six people stood behind the woman. Sending up a prayer, he plastered on a pleasant smile and offered to help the next person in line. Their eagerness to conduct business and be on their way overruled their wariness of him, for he found himself with his own line for the first time since his arrival.

Fighting off a sudden attack of nerves, Quinn disbursed their orders without complication. Not only did he know the location of every item in his store, he was able to calculate trade credit. Being Nicole's helper all these weeks had paid off. When the last person in line smiled her genuine thanks and left satisfied with the service, he briefly closed his eyes. At last. Progress.
Thank you, God.

The small triumph eased somewhat his upset over the springhouse.

But then Kenneth, Timothy and Pete waltzed in, elbowing each other and laughing, and his mood soured again.

Nicole looked up from her ledger and paled. Quinn immediately went to stand next to her, resting a reassuring hand against the small of her back. “I will not let them hassle you.”

“No need to worry about me.” Edging sideways, she put distance between them, forcing him to drop his hand. He intercepted a customer's curious stare and understood her reaction.

“Right.”

Speculation about their relationship running rampant through town wasn't what either of them needed. Still, he stuck close to her, determined to prevent a repeat of last time. His assistant was a strong, independent woman, but going up against three oversize idiot males wasn't likely to have a good outcome.

Kenneth made eye contact across the store, his arrogant smirk making Quinn's blood boil. The young man was the only one with obvious motive for revenge. A bully like him wouldn't take kindly to being chastised in the midst of Main Street for all to see. As Nicole had suggested, he had reason to retaliate.

There was no way to prove his theory. Shane had promised to return that evening to conduct a second search, but he'd warned Quinn not to get his hopes up.

The men's laughter grated on his nerves. Nicole's composure became increasingly strained as she measured out fabric for a young lady. He could see the tightening about her mouth, the slight trembling in her hands.

Anger spiking, he was about to order them to leave when Megan and Lucian entered. The trio sobered at the sight of Nicole's sister and brother-in-law. While Lucian Beaumont was not related by blood, he was an imposing man both in physical stature and manner, his confidence a product of an upbringing and family situation that mirrored Quinn's.

As the couple approached the counter, Kenneth led his friends out the door.

Quinn was satisfied to see Nicole's stance soften with relief. The knowledge that he'd willingly shelter her from any and all trouble should've bothered him more than it did. He felt the same way toward his sister. Made sense that he'd feel this way about someone in his employ.

He greeted Lucian with genuine warmth.

The dark-haired man pointed at the sign in the window. “What happened to your dairy supply? Caleb been shorting you?”

“Not exactly.”

When he'd informed them both, Lucian's countenance grew troubled. “Do you have any suspects?”

“I have my suspicions, but no way of proving them. Yet.”

Glancing around at the handful of customers still browsing the aisles, the other man said quietly, “Why don't you join us for supper tonight? We've been meaning to invite you, anyway. It would give us a chance to discuss matters in private.”

“I'd like that.”

Tucking her hand in her husband's, Megan leaned across the counter. “Come with him, Nicole.”

She hesitated in tying up the fabric with a string. “Can't. I have too much to do after work.”

Quinn refused to be disappointed. He was in her company all day every day.

“Are you sure?” Megan persisted. “Can't your chores wait an hour or two?”

“No, I'm sorry they can't.” Noting her sister's crestfallen expression, she tacked on, “Maybe another time.”

The couple stuck around for ten more minutes before taking their leave. The rest of the day passed in a blur and, before he knew it, Shane was back for another search. Quinn left Nicole inside to lock up.

Fifteen minutes into their search, she descended the stairs and walked over to where he was crouched in the grass. She dangled her basket in front of his nose.

“Would you like to examine the contents? I have the ledger listing my purchases in my reticule.”

The sheriff gave her a brief, considering glance before returning his attention to the grassy expanse beneath his boots.

“Not this time.”

Sighing, she inclined her head in that regal way of hers. “Good evening, then.”

Watching her stride away, Quinn gave in to the needling sense that she was hiding something. He stood up and brushed off his pants. “I forgot I have some urgent business to tend to. Would you mind if I left you to it?”

The sheriff nudged the brim of his Stetson farther up his forehead, sharp blue gaze assessing. No doubt he saw right through Quinn's lame excuse.

“Go ahead. I'm almost finished here.”

Feeling foolish but intent on discovering Nicole's secrets, he followed her at a distance, praying she wouldn't turn around and spy him. What reason could he possibly give for following her?

When she ducked onto a barely discernible path leading into the heart of the forest, Quinn's gut clenched with dread.

Where was she going? And what would he find at the end of this path?

He wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

* * *

Nicole accepted the steaming bowl of fish stew, wondering how she could explain away—again—her lack of appetite once she returned home. Her mother was starting to become suspicious. Like Quinn. Suppressing a wave of irritation, she turned her attention to her friends.

“This is delicious, Lillian.”

Cheeks pink, and damp tendrils adhering to her forehead, Lillian perched on the other bed with her bowl. “Tell me about the picnic. Did they have fried chicken?”

Nicole felt perspiration forming on her nape. The interior was stuffy and uncomfortable. It would only get worse as the summer progressed.

“I didn't see any, but I'm sure there was.”

Savoring another bite of the surprisingly fragrant stew, she hoped she'd remember to ask the twins to prepare some fried chicken so that she could sneak a few pieces to the girl. In the corner, a quieter-than-usual Patrick trained his attention on his meal.

She lowered her spoon. “I wish you could've been there. There were games and music.”

Patrick scowled into his bowl. At Lillian's wistful sigh, Nicole's appetite vanished. Forcing the rest of the contents down, she placed the dish in the bucket.

“I'll take these to the stream and wash them for you.”

“No.” His head shot up, pale eyes narrowing. “What would someone think if they saw you? We've already had one close call.”

Lillian stuck her tongue out at him.

“What happened?” Dismayed, Nicole looked from one to the other.

Patrick dragged his glowering gaze from his sister to answer her. “Lillian was doing her nightly washing in the stream when a couple of elderly hunters came waltzing through the woods. The only thing that saved her is the fact there was a full moon and she didn't have need of a lamp.”

“They didn't see me, though, did they?” Lillian didn't appear the least bothered.

But the near miss bothered Nicole. Gaze roaming the cramped shack, the pitiful state of their so-called home, she felt sick inside.

“We have to tell Shane,” she blurted. “This nightmare has to end.”

Lillian's light brows crumpling, she lowered her bowl to her lap and stared glumly at her brother. While the younger girl would never complain aloud, Nicole sensed she would willingly go to the sheriff if only Patrick would agree.

As expected, he shook his head. “Can't risk it.”

“This has nothing to do with me.” Nicole threw her hands up and paced the tiny space. “I have no problem helping you. Believe me, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to help. But it's killing me to see you living like this! You're my only true friends in this town.” Tears welled up in her eyes, taking her by surprise. “It's not fair.”

Lillian hurried over to wrap her in a hug. “I'm so thankful you found us. You were our answer to prayer.”

Astonished by the notion that God would willingly choose to use her to accomplish His ends, Nicole couldn't form a coherent response. She awkwardly patted Lillian's back and blinked away the tears.

Patrick watched them warily. “Crying isn't going to change my mind, you know,” he said, setting his bowl aside and using the cane to gain his footing.

“I'm tired of this half life.” Lillian pulled out of the hug to face him. “We have to consider bringing someone else in besides Nicole.”

“We don't know if we can trust this Sheriff Timmons.”

“Nicole trusts him. That's good enough for me.” Lillian put up a hand to stall his response. “Promise me you'll think about it.”

He heaved a sigh. “Fine.”

Somewhat mollified, the blonde's smile returned.

Nicole had her doubts he'd ever agree to her suggestion. “I have to go. Thank you for the meal.”

Outside, dusk had fallen. Patrick followed her through the door, his manner uncharacteristically self-conscious. Then he stunned her by giving her a one-armed hug.

Stepping back, he cleared his throat, the tips of his ears pink. “Thank you for all you've sacrificed for us. I'll never forget it.”

“I would do it all again,” she admitted. “You and your sister mean the world to me.”

Throat working, he gave a half wave and, shuffling inside, gently shut the door.

Bemused, she swung the empty basket to and fro as she traveled the familiar path. The waning light struggled to penetrate the trees. Shadows thickened, spurring her to walk faster.

She hadn't made it very far when, out of the bushes, flashed a tall male form. A firm hand clamped down on her arm. Nicole jumped and would've screamed had she not instantly recognized the distinctive hint of peppermint in the air.

“Quinn!” She was going to throttle him! “What do you think you're doing?”

Quinn towered over her, his hair mussed and tie askew, nostrils flaring. “Who was that young man?”

Fear temporarily eclipsed her ire. He'd seen Patrick. What if he told?

Tempted to retreat, Nicole ordered her feet to stay put. Gone was laid-back Quinn. This was intimidating Quinn, the one she'd glimpsed in the mercantile when Kenneth and his friends had come in. Anger poured off him in tangible waves, every inch of his muscled body primed for battle. He was one enemy she did not want to make.