Mail Order Bride - Westward Secrets: A Clean Cowboy Romance Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 13) (14 page)

              Rick smiled at her hopeful expression and couldn’t refuse her.  “The Watering Hole it is, then.” 

              He leaned over and kissed her cheek before starting out.

              The saloon was in full-swing when they arrived.  Jake greeted them and poured their drinks.  Rick purposely guided Gina to a different table than where the bouncers usually sat.  He wanted to make it clear that this was a purely social occasion.  He wanted to give Gina a nice night out and didn’t want someone to think he was working.

              As they sat down, Rick noticed people staring at him, but he didn’t let on that he knew.  Gina also saw their scrutiny, but kept focused on Rick and the entertainment.

              Joe gave them a little wave as he and Jamie finished a song.  Gina saw one of the two fiddlers motion to someone standing to the side of the stage.  The fiddler was a tall, blond man with a muscular build.  A little bashfully, a boy who resembled the man came up on the stage.  He looked to be about twelve or thirteen.

              Seth handed his fiddle to the boy as Joe got everyone’s attention.

              “Ladies and gentleman, I have the honor of introducing a new fiddle player to you.  J.R. Samuels has been learning from his daddy and cousin and is ready to unveil his fiddling prowess.  Let’s give him a big welcome, folks.”

              Gina and Rick joined in the whistling and clapping as J.R. smiled shyly.  Seth said something to J.R. that made the boy smile.  Then he clapped his son on the back and went to join his wife, Maddie, at a table near the front.

              J.R. readied his fiddle and Ben smiled at him as he started playing.  Once the piano began, J.R. seemed to forget his nervousness and joined right in with Luke.  Many in the audience clapped or tapped their toes to the beat of the song.  It was a lively number and the fiddlers kept it going that way. 

About halfway through the song, Luke stopped playing and J.R. stepped forward.  He ripped off a hot fiddle solo and if he made a mistake, no one could tell.  When the solo was over and he stepped back again, the crowd went crazy in appreciation for his talent.  The boy gave no notice and kept playing.

When the song ended, Joe hollered, “How ’bout that J.R., everyone?  Let’s give him a big round of applause!”

Much stomping, clapping, and whistling filled the bar. 

Rick leaned over and said, “That’s Seth Samuels’ boy.  My sister, Maddie, is his mother.  I see she’s here.”

Gina nodded her understanding.  “J.R. plays very good fiddle.”

“Fiddle playing is a big attraction here.  He was definitely a big hit,” Rick said.

“Yes, he was.  With his kind of talent, it’s no wonder.  Why don’t you go over and talk to Maddie?” Gina suggested.

Rick felt his stomach tighten a little in apprehension.  “I don’t want to interrupt our evening.  We’ve had enough of that.”  He smiled at her.

“I don’t mind.  It might be a good time to do it,” Gina said.

“Are you sure?” Rick asked dubiously.

“Go ahead,” Gina said.  “I’ll be right here.”

“All right,” Rick said.

He decided that Gina was right.  A public setting might be a good place to approach Maddie.  Besides, he wanted to congratulate his nephew on a job well done.  He moved through the crowd and heard a few nasty comments.  Ignoring them, he found Maddie and J.R.

“Hi,” he said to them with a smile. “J.R., that was some excellent fiddle playing.”

J.R. smiled.  “Thanks.  So you’re my uncle, huh?”

“That’s right.  What do you think about that?” Rick asked.

“I think it’s neat that my uncle is a deputy.”

Rick grinned.  “I’m glad.”

“Sweetie, why don’t you get us a couple more sarsaparillas?” Maddie asked as she ran a hand over J.R.’s shoulders.

“Ma, I’m talkin’ to Uncle Rick,” the boy protested.

“J.R., please do as I asked,” Maddie said sternly.

The boy frowned.  “Yes, ma’am.”

Rick watched J.R. stride away.  It was obvious that Maddie didn’t want Rick around her son.

“Let’s get something straight, Rick.  You might be my brother, but that doesn’t mean that we’re family,” Maddie said in a cool voice.

Rick looked into her blue eyes and said, “You’re right.  We don’t know each other well enough, I guess.  Although some of your family has made it clear that they’re open to becoming better acquainted.  I’d like to get to know you, too.”

Maddie’s mind was in turmoil.  “I really don’t want to be seen with you right now.”

“What’s the matter, sis?  Ashamed to be seen with your illegitimate brother?” Rick asked with a smile.  “C’mon, Maddie.  Is it really so horrible?  Everything will die down after a while.”

Maddie stepped closer to him, her blue eyes blazing.  “I think it was very selfish of you to announce yourself without regard to the blight it would put on our family, especially our parents.  And I don’t understand why you waited so long to say anything.”

Rick didn’t back down.  “Wouldn’t you want to get to know your father if you were in my shoes?  Don’t I deserve to know him and my sisters?  I waited until I saw what kind of people you were.  Why claim you if you’re not good people?”

“If we weren’t good—never mind.  I don’t care what the others do, but I do not wish to associate with you and I don’t want you around our son,” Maddie said.

“I think you’re being a little melodramatic,” Rick said.  “What is it you think I’m going to do to J.R.?  It seems like he doesn’t have a problem with me being his uncle.”

“He is my son and you will do as I say.  Leave him alone,” Maddie said.  “And leave me alone, too.”

Rick gave her a half-bow and said, “As milady wishes.  Pardon me for my bad behavior.  I think you forget where you live now, Maddie.  This isn’t Pittsburgh and you are not some high society debutante.  You’re married to a rancher in the Midwest and you’re no better than anyone else.  You would do well to remember that.”  He gave her a sarcastic smile and moved away.

Maddie seethed as she watched him go.  How dare he speak to her that way?  She knew where she lived and to whom she was married.  That didn’t mean that she wasn’t embarrassed and hurt.  She turned back to the stage and tried to concentrate on the music. 

She loved watching Seth play fiddle and thought him the most handsome man on Earth.  She was always fascinated by how his big, strong hands that did hard labor during the day could also nimbly play fiddle with skill and accuracy.

She felt a moment’s shame over her harsh words to Rick, but quickly shoved it aside.  She had seen people looking at her and Rick as they’d spoken and their smiles had been slightly cruel.  Tears gathered in her eyes as she thought about it.  She blinked them away and refocused on her husband.  After a few minutes, she began wondering where J.R. had gotten to. 

She looked through the crowd, but couldn’t see him.  Maddie thought maybe he was with Jake, so she started moving through the tables and people.  A man stepped into her path as she was close to entering the bar area.

“Oh, excuse me,” she said and went to step around him.

He blocked her way and said, “Hi.  You know, Seth has himself a beautiful wife.”

“That’s very sweet.”  Maddie smiled and moved away again, only to be stopped by him once more.

“I was wonderin’ something.  Since your pa did a little foolin’ around, maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree,” he said with a drunken leer.

Maddie backed up but he followed her.  “Leave me alone.”  She began looking around for Reckless, but couldn’t see her nephew anywhere.

“Aw, c’mon.  Let’s have a little fun,” the man said.  He wasn’t a bad-looking man, just drunk.

Maddie saw people watching and grew furious.  “Listen, you drunken, poor excuse for a man.  You had better turn around and get out of my way before my husband comes down off that stage and kicks your can all over this saloon.”  Over the years, Maddie had picked up some of the rougher lingo of the area.

He laughed and said, “I like a woman with spunk.”

Rick appeared beside the man. “Yeah, me, too.”  He carried two drinks.

The guy said, “See?  He thinks you’re beautiful, too.”

“Sure do.”

“Don’t you like it when a woman speaks her mind?” the drunk said.

“Oh, yeah.  Both of you stay right there,” Rick said.  To the patrons at the table next to him he said, “Do you mind if I borrow this table?  You might want to move.”

Maddie couldn’t imagine what Rick was up to, but she figured since he was a bouncer that there must be a reason for his actions.  Maybe she was safer where she was.

The people at the table quickly left.

“Thanks for waiting,” Rick said to them.  “Maddie, will you hold these?”

Maddie took the drinks but said nothing.

“Now, you don’t want to let her get away do you?” Rick said to the drunk.

“No.  Would you?” the guy asked.

“Well, that’s complicated, because of several different reasons.  But she’s married.  I wouldn’t mess with her husband,” Rick said.

“Who?  Seth?  I ain’t afraid of him.”

“Oh. Ok.  What about her brother?” Rick asked.

“I’m not afraid of him, either.  Hell, I hear his pa didn’t even know anything about him,” the man said.

Maddie looked between the man and Rick and couldn’t move.

“I heard that, too.  So you’re really going to go after her, even though she’s married and doesn’t want anything to do with you?” Rick asked.

“Hell, yeah,” the drunk said.

“Before you do that, I’d like you to meet someone,” Rick said.

“Who’s that?”
              Rick held out his hand and said, “Me.”

“Oh, nice to meet you… I don’t know your name,” the man said with a laugh as he put his hand in Rick’s.

“I’m so sorry.  I should have told you sooner.  I’m Rick Westlake, Maddie’s brother,” Rick said.

The guy barely had time to register his mistake before Rick slammed his head into the table with such force that he bounced off it and fell to the floor.  Rick grabbed the man’s shirt and hauled him within inches of his face.  “You ever bother my sister or any other woman in this bar again and I’ll take your head clean off instead of just giving you a bad headache.  Do you understand me?”

The man could do little more than nod his head. 

“Now get out of here and tell your friends that anyone who messes with my family will have to deal with me.  Got it?” Rick yelled.

The offender scrambled to his feet and walked unsteadily towards the door.  Rick turned back to Maddie, who had been too shocked to move, and said, “There you go, sis.  All taken care of.  I don’t think you’ll have any more problems with anyone.  Your son had to use the gents.  He’ll be along.  Thanks for holding my drinks.  Have a good night.”

Maddie had to remind herself to close her mouth as she stared after Rick as he worked his way back to Gina. 

She looked at him with humor in her eyes and said, “I see that went well.”

Rick sat down and gave her another drink.  “Swimmingly.”

“So that’s what it looks like when you get angry?” Gina asked and took a sip.

“That wasn’t angry.  That was merely irritated and having fun at the same time,” Rick answered.

Gina laughed as Reckless sat down at their table.  “I thought you were not working tonight?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m not.  That was purely recreational,” Rick said.  “With a little bit of family business mixed in.”

Reckless kicked his chair.  “Yes.  How come you did not tell me you are my uncle?”

“Why would I want to lay claim to you?  You’re ugly and annoying.”

Rick’s chair was kicked again.  “Hey, you’re going to make me spill my drink,” Rick protested.

“I’m sorry, but did you just say that Rick is your uncle?” Gina asked.

“Yes.  Since he is Aunt Maddie’s brother, that makes him my uncle,” Reckless said as if this was a simple conclusion.

“But you … don’t look related to Maddie,” Gina said.  She was trying not to offend Reckless.

Reckless grinned at her discomfort.  “I am more related on Uncle Seth’s side.  Uncle Marcus is my blood uncle, but Uncle Seth is my adopted uncle and so on.  See?”

Gina kicked his chair and said, “You’re enjoying this way too much,” in response to his teasing.

Reckless laughed.  “You will make a fine aunt.  I better get back to work before Joe’s very brave brave becomes his very fired brave.”

Gina laughed as he left.  “He’s so funny.”  Reckless’ statement about her making a fine aunt suddenly sunk in and she looked wide-eyed at Rick who smiled at her.

“Yes, he is.  You know, you could do worse than being married to a bouncer,” Rick said.

“You heard him?” Gina asked.  “I didn’t know what he meant at first.”

              “On second thought; marrying a bouncer is a terrible idea.”

              Gina played along.  “It is?”

              “Yes, because one of his alter-egos, the deputy, is the jealous type and if he finds out that you married the bouncer, well, it wouldn’t be pretty,” Rick said.

              “Hmm.  What if I marry the mountie?  Oh, sorry; former mountie?”