Second Chance Brides (19 page)

Shannon’s mouth twitched, and she broke into giggles. “Me, too. I thought the man had fallen in a faint because Mark and Garrett weren’t here.”

“And did you see his face when he heard me behind him?”

Shannon laughed. “Oh, the poor man was mortified.”

Leah attempted to sober. “I tried to back away when I realized what was happening, but I was close to dropping the basket after carrying it from the boardinghouse. And then I…snorted.”

Both women cackled again, and tears ran down Shannon’s cheeks. After a few more attempts to be somber and more fits of laughter, the women finally settled down. Leah poured the tea while Shannon wiped her cheeks and eyes.

“How many offers is that now?” Leah handed her a teacup.

Shannon opened the middle drawer of the desk, pulled out a plain sheet of paper, and made a mark on it. “That makes six so far.”

Leah shook her. “How come you’re getting so many offers, and I haven’t had a one?”

Shannon shook her head and sipped her tea. “Perhaps ’tis because you’re at the boardinghouse all day, and men either have to go through the marshal or his wife to get to you. I’m here most mornings, and the Corbetts are often gone. I’m free game, you might say.”

“Hmm…that does make sense when you put it that way. The marshal can be mighty intimidating, and so can Rachel. She’s gotten tougher since they’ve married, don’t you think?”

Shannon nodded. “Aye, there’s truth in what you say. Ever since she was kidnapped and Luke Davis declared his love for her, she’s been stronger, more confident.”

“You think having a good man love you like he does her makes a woman better?”

Shannon shrugged. “I’ve seen little of happy marriages. My parents’ was an arranged union. I don’t believe my mum ever came to love my father.” She stirred some sugar into her cup. “He was a hard man. But then perhaps he was that way because she didn’t love him.”

Leah stared into her cup. “My pa, too. All he did was work. My ma loves him, though.”

“Do you think it’s too much to hope to marry for love?”

Leah’s eyes twinkled, and she reached across the desk, touching Shannon’s arm. “No, and I’ll tell you why.” She looked into the back room and at the front door, as if making sure no one would overhear; then she leaned forward. “I’ve met someone.”

Surprise washed through Shannon. Nobody had come calling on Leah at the boardinghouse, and she hadn’t been seen around town with anyone in particular. When had she met someone? During the social? “Who is it?”

Leah grinned and popped a half-eaten cookie into her mouth. “Dan Howard.”

Shannon thought of the big man who ran the livery down the street. He was friends with the Corbetts and had been in the office a few times. He’d been kind and polite, not caring that a woman was working there. “I like Mr. Howard. He seems like a decent fellow.”

“Oh, he is. And you should see how he cares for his ailing mother. I’m going over tomorrow to visit her.”

Shannon ran her fingers around the edge of the tea saucer. “So does he return your affection?”

A soft smile lingered on Leah’s cheeks, causing a slash of jealousy to rise up in Shannon. She was happy for Leah, but at the same time, she longed for Mark to notice her.

“I think he does.” She leaned forward again, blue eyes dancing like a spring shower. “He kissed me.”

Shannon’s eyes widened. “Truly?”

Leah nodded.

“Blessit be. Are you thinking you could marry him? ’twould solve your problem of having the Corbetts support you. I know you don’t like that.”

“No, I don’t, but I wouldn’t marry just to escape that. I have feelings for Dan.”

“You’ve done a good job of hiding them.”

Leah poured more tea into both cups, sending a spicy scent into the air. “I’ll be honest; they come on fast and furious. I truly didn’t know a woman could fall for a man so quickly.”

Shannon stared out the window and saw the Corbetts riding by on their wagon. They’d probably go around and come down the alley and park in back. Her heart quickened at the thought of seeing Mark again. “I know just what you mean.”

Leah’s brows dashed upward. “You do?”

Her lips tugged up in a melancholy smile. “Aye.”

Leah clutched Shannon’s arm and leaned forward again. “Who is it? Tell me before I die of curiosity. I can’t for the life of me imagine who he is.”

Shannon glanced at the back door, knowing it was too soon for the brothers to have arrived. She looked at Leah, not sure if she should say anything, given Mark’s lack of interest shown to her. She shrugged.

“Oh, come on. I told you.”

Shannon sighed. “All right, but you can’t tell a soul. I don’t think he even knows of my attraction.”

“Truly?”

She nodded. “Aye.” She glanced at the back door again and nibbled her lip.

Leah shook her arm. “Tell me.”

“’Tis Mark.”

“Mark who?” Wrinkles plowed across Leah’s forehead, then suddenly, her eyes widened, and her mouth and nose crinkled on one side. “Surely you don’t mean Mark Corbett. Not after all he and his brother have done to us.”

Shannon didn’t respond, but sat staring into her nearly empty cup. How could she expect Leah to understand when she didn’t herself?

The front-door bell jingled, and Homer Sewell strode in. Shannon resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She didn’t want to deal with the man twice in one day. “How can I help you, Mr. Sewell?”

“Mark and Garrett back yet? Thought I saw their wagon.” He eyed the teacups and empty plate with disdain. “Them brothers won’t appreciate their business becomin’ a ladies’ tea parlor.”

Shannon peeked at Leah, who battled a smile. Both ladies filled the basket quickly. Shannon folded the towel and handed it to her friend.

“Well, I shall be off. See you at noon.”

Mr. Sewell stepped back and tipped his hat to Leah. Shannon noticed the back door open, and Mark walked in. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Well, if them brothers ain’t here, I’m leavin’.” Mr. Sewell backed toward the front door. Evidently he couldn’t see Mark from where he stood. “Don’t know why they let a gal tend to their business. Wimmen oughta be workin’ in a kitchen, not an office. It’s downright disturbin’.”

C
HAPTER
14

M
ark stood in the back doorway, his gaze landing on Shannon. A fire in his gut quickened. He didn’t like how his body reacted whenever she was near. His stomach swirled with queasiness. His mind worked as if it were trudging through a thick fog. His thoughts got confused, and his tongue seemed to quit working altogether. She was lovely, with her fair skin and auburn hair that his fingers ached to touch. She was young, but not so young that she wasn’t all woman. Why did she fluster him so?

He recognized Homer Sewell’s voice and cantankerous attitude before his eyes landed on the man. Mark stepped out of the back room, irritated at the man for lashing out at Shannon. “Good day, Homer.”

Relief was written all over the man’s wrinkled face. “’Bout time you got back here.”

“You know my brother and I have deliveries to make and are frequently gone. That’s why we hired Miss O’Neil to take orders and be here when we couldn’t. I don’t care for the way you treated her. She’s an employee of Corbett Freight, and as such, deserves the same kindness you’d show us.”

Mr. Sewell ducked his head and frowned. Mark’s gaze latched onto Shannon’s. Her wide green eyes stared back at him, and she sat up straighter. A tiny smile played at the corners of her enticing mouth. He broke his gaze and turned back to his customer.
I’ve no business noticing Shannon’s mouth
.

“So, Homer, you can either place your orders with Shannon when Garrett and I aren’t around or just keep coming back to town and try to meet up with us.”

“I don’t have time to do that. It’s a good half-day’s ride to Lookout.”

“I guess you could try getting your deliveries by stage.”

Homer shook his head. “Then I have to drive into town to get them. Costs me a whole day’s work. That’s why I pay y’all such extravagant prices.”

Mark shrugged. “Miss O’Neil has been working here for several weeks, and she’s learning fast. Next time you come in and we aren’t here, give her your order. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”

“Wimmen ain’t got no business working anywhere’s but at home.” He dug into his pocket and shoved a piece of paper and five silver dollars at Mark. The coins clinked in his hand. “Here’s what I need. When can you get it to me?”

Mark noted that he wanted several rolls of barbed fence wire, some lumber, and a bag of nails. Nothing that Shannon would have had trouble ordering. “You still want the Glidden Square Strand wiring?”

Homer nodded. “Yep, and get me another dozen pairs of leather gloves. That wire eats right through them.”

Mark did some mental calculations. “I’ll probably need another two or three dollars to get all that.”

Homer scowled but reached into his pocket and handed Mark a gold eagle coin. “Here, take this and give me those back.”

They made the exchange, and Homer went on his way. Mark pocketed the ten-dollar coin and handed Homer’s list to Shannon. “Why don’t you fill out his order form?”

Shannon wrinkled her mouth, drawing Mark’s gaze to it. “He wouldn’t like that much.”

Mark sat on the corner of his desk. “Try not to let men like him get to you. They’re old-fashioned and think God created women to be slaves to men.”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “Thank you for standing up for me. I tried to help him, but he didn’t want anything to do with me.”

“He’s a fool.”

Shannon’s gaze darted to his, and for a moment, they stared into each other’s eyes. His heart galloped, and he couldn’t look away for the life of him.

The back door banged, and they both jumped. Mark shot up off the desk.

“You gonna lollygag all day or help me with this load?”

“I was tending to business.”

Garrett waggled his brows. “Yeah, I can see that. How is business, Miss O’Neil?”

The pink on Shannon’s cheek now flamed red as a Texas star flower.

Mark straightened. “Homer Sewell gave her some trouble.” The grin on Garrett’s face changed into a scowl. “What kind of trouble?”

“Oh, you know his kind. Don’t think women should ever step out of the house except to do laundry and go to the privy.”

Shannon glanced down at the desk, her embarrassment obvious.

“Well, Homer’s a good customer, but you don’t have to take any guff off him.”

“What should I do when a man refuses to deal with me?” she asked.

Garrett pushed his hat back off his forehead. “I hadn’t really considered that would be a problem.”

Mark knew his brother hadn’t considered much when he’d decided to hire Shannon. He was just trying to figure out a way to get some work out of one of the boardinghouse brides in exchange for the money they were paying to support them. Garrett hadn’t considered having Shannon work in the office might be difficult for her—or their customers—at times. That was one of the reasons he objected. Some men weren’t trustworthy, and it bothered Mark when they had to leave Shannon alone for a long while when they were gone on deliveries.

“Well…I guess if you get any more hard-nosed fellows, just tell them they’ll have to come back when we’re here and talk with us.”

Shannon nodded, then pulled a form out of the desk drawer and began recording Homer Sewell’s order. She worked so diligently that he was having trouble keeping her busy. Too bad they couldn’t hire her to clean their house. It sure needed it, but it didn’t seem proper to ask an unmarried gal to clean for two old bachelors. Besides, having her scent teasing him at the office was bad enough. If she spent any time in his home, he was certain he would be awake all night thinking about her.

She nibbled on her lower lip as she concentrated on her work. How had she ever reminded him of Annabelle? There was nothing similar about the two women except maybe the color of their hair and their fair skin. Wisps of auburn hair hung down, curling in loose ringlets. They bounced each time she moved, and he longed to touch them and see if they were as soft as they looked. He swallowed hard. When had he grown to care for her?

Someone shoved him hard, and Mark stumbled sideways, bumping into the desk. “Gonna stand there enjoying the view all day?” Garrett grinned wide, showing all his teeth.

Mark ducked his head, embarrassed to be caught staring. Nothing could come of caring for Shannon O’Neil.

She was sweet.

Innocent.

Even if she did come to care for him one day, when she learned the truth about him, she’d hop the next stage out of town. No decent woman would want a man with a past like his.